BottomE

[quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1336501364' post='1646561'] Can I tempt you with a tenner and save you the trouble..? [/quote] No, you cannot young man .

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1336494019' post='1646421'] It's a shame as many of us know just how good these bitsa basses turn out but even basses made by well established respected makers can struggle to hold there value so what chance have we got? [/quote] Yes - its true. The bass needs to be hanging up in a shop next to some Mexican Fenders so that people can be educated as to the beauty of a BITSA bass. Never mind. Screwdrivers and soldering iron here i come

[quote name='Twigman' timestamp='1336480333' post='1646127'] Yeah it was fun in a somewhat stressful way. (some promoters have a lot to learn ) It is bizarre to be sat in an office one day and be playing a gig in foreign parts the next, to a load of punters who know all the words to the songs and are going mental in front of you. [/quote] Must be great. Thats the kind of bizarre you want.

[quote name='Twigman' timestamp='1336429542' post='1645616'] Played Forte La Carnale in Salerno, Italy on Saturday. 350-400 paying punters @ €15 a pop - not bad This is a very live room - we had trouble with guitar feedback and onstage mixes........ We went out with the promoter on Friday night and turned in around 2.30am.....Saturday, soundchecked at 6.00pm and on stage at around 12.20am on Saturday night, played for over 2 hours and got back to the hotel around 4.30-5.00am....then flew home last night....still knackered tonight Back to normal life tomorrow. [/quote] sounds great - was it fun?

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1336423071' post='1645497'] TBF with my limited Fender knowledge even I would spot the cheapo single ply pick guard [/quote] Fair cop. I was dazzled by the sparkly bits.

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1336415385' post='1645349'] Just do what everyone else does, bang it on eBay as a genuine pre CBS P bass then get upset on here once it gets rumbled! [/quote] i wish i was that deceitful. Unfortunately i subscribe to the "goes around comes around" theory so won't be going down that route.

[quote name='Mr. Foxen' timestamp='1336411398' post='1645267'] I've bought a fair few bitsas just to get some parts I was after, an sold the rest as parts to cover the cost. Definitely the way to recoupe costs, unless you can sell it in such a way people try it. [/quote] You hit it on the head. Maybe i should try and give it a go locally through GumTree or something. I am sure that plugging it in would really help sell it. Shame to break it up though i could use the parts in another P Bass project i have going. Next is an early 80s Squier which sounds and feels bloody good already without being pimped

[quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1336404306' post='1645102'] Tough call. Normally I am not sentimental about these things but there is a right way of doing this.. Firstly.. you need a very good player and then decide what he brings ...personality, playing, etc etc Can you ask the other guy to leave just like that..? is it your call alone..? what do the other guys think.. who is friends with whom..? I don't agree that these things can't work as you are supposed to be a section and work together so it is a marriage of what you both have that is key. But then if the other guy is so far adrift, it would only be a question of when he gets to leave anyway. I only resent it if the guiy can't play but then again, I wouldn't stick around in that position anyway. If someone else is picking the band, then that is bad enough................ How come he has lasted so long..?? [/quote] Yes, very tough. The regular drummer is a great guy and a great drummer. Hes reliable and good fun to be around. Sure he can play the dancey stuff and we can get a crowd going but it has always felt slightly false almost unnatural - i couldn't quite put my finger on it till this weekend. I don't honestly believe that i want to upset the band and do anything rash but it was a real taster as to how much better the whole thing sounds with a more naturally funk oriented drummer.

[quote name='gary mac' timestamp='1336409011' post='1645208'] Although it looks damn fine and you like the way it plays, would be purchasers will still condsider it a bitsa. You will probably recoup more of your dosh if you part it out and sell all the components on here or ebay. [/quote] Shame really cos its a nice bass but maybe i'll do that. The ironic thing is that it sounds and plays better than any Mexican Fender that i have tried and seen sold for £300 ish.

Hi I have built a bass which is: Squier body Fender US neck and tuners Fender US Original Precision Pickups it plays pretty well and sounds, well, like a P Bass. I enjoyed the process of building that i want to do another one and in fact have already paid for a bass that is being shipped tomorrow and have another one too that is going to get pimped. The P Bass project cost in total about £300. What kind of money do you think i should be looking for if i sell it? I'd be looking to sell it with a quality soft case and matching strap. Thanks

Hiya I am glad that you have found something that has worked for you. Back pain is a killer for bass players - i should know my Cruise bass weighs an absolute ton and is probably responsible for the breakdown in my back that occurred last year. I won't sell it but i don't gig it anymore as its a monster. Great at home on the lap though. I did Pilates and joined a Gym. I go three times a week to the gym and do a lot of cardio and some weights. I also do a Pilates class and do one particular exercise (about 5 minutes) daily. I'd say my back problems have pretty much gone away (and i am starting to look a bit buff too )

2 gigs this weekend with a difference. We had 2 deps, one on keys and one on drums. Our drummer sent a text on Thursday afternoon saying that he'd done his back in and couldn't make the Friday gig. Within 5 minutes of posting on Facebook i had 5 telephone numbers of drummers. The first guy i try is free for both gigs - i ask him to do it arranging to meet him for the first time at the Friday gig. Friday comes and when i get to the venue the dep drummer is already setup and going through the set list with the singer. He's really excited and seems like a nice chap. 1-2-3-4 for the first song and bang - the guys has such great feel and timing that i am in heaven. We clicked instantly and it was like playing new songs all over again . The difference it made was astonishing and made me really look forward to the Saturday party in a barn gig that was coming. Saturday night - again he's setup and ready to go. Also worked on some of the other tracks in the set that he didn't know. The gig is an absolute blinder - 3 encores - dancing all night from the off and a really funky set. So two great gigs, good money and met a fab drummer. He's taken my number and asked if i would get involved with some other projects - of course i said "yes" but heres the dilemma. Should i ask him to join the band? The current drummer is great and a super guy but his approach is very "rock" when ultimately we are a party band playing soul, funk and disco stuff. I'd forgotten how limiting this can be and have grown used to it but after the liberation this weekend with a funky drummer its going to be really hard to go back to the full on approach that our permanent drummer has. The dep also had a better appreciation of the whole song in the way that he brought it down a bit for verses, up for soloing and a real feel for his role overall. So two great gigs but left feeling like the next one is going to be an anti-climax.

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1336140446' post='1641547'] If you're going to dress up like our Korean friend then it needs to be total below the waist depilation... [/quote] I am sensing that you guys are gettng a bit excited by this.

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1336133652' post='1641356'] Sounds like it'll be a toss-up, all right. This is very fruity, people. [/quote]

Yeah - i am zoning out a lot these days. I have found myself almost waking up on stage then realising that i am playing a gig in front of a load of people. Its brilliant. No idea if what i am playing makes any sense but not had any complaints yet. Once i get the groove going i am off into a different world - my eyes start doing a flickering thing which might look a bit scary now i thnk about it. The tone is in the zone.

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1336128646' post='1641264'] You're not going to wax first? [/quote] Its a toss up between a Hollywood or a Brazillian. Maybe we should do a poll?

[quote name='JayPH' timestamp='1336120271' post='1641065'] Stop it mate your cracking me up now. Maybe we should all get together and play bass and JO in our wives dresses. Nothing queer mind. Just honest dress wearing bass playing men who like to JO together [/quote] Yeah none of that gay stuff though, of course, thats totally acceptable - live and let live. Just hairy blokes playing bass in womens clothing. Nothing more natural than that.

My wife and kids are away this weekend so i might be having a look in the wardrobe. Trouble is shes a size 8 and i'm not. Still, i am sure i'll find something that will make me play better

[quote name='JayPH' timestamp='1336065550' post='1640458'] Well it's worth a try in my case because I'm bloody rubbish haha I agree. How much of a f*** can one guy not give [/quote] That is the essence of it innit? He looks so happy that it has to be worth a try.

PuPs = pickups JB =- Jazz Bass

[quote name='JayPH' timestamp='1335986914' post='1639233'] I'm in. Do you think it will improve our playing? [/quote] Yes, i do.

WOT thanks for posting. Nice version - really laid back. Great pop song.

[quote name='gafbass02' timestamp='1335983563' post='1639164'] VERY tempted to put a video of me in youtube playing in my wifes clothes now lol [/quote] We should start a thread?

I heard a show on the radio that featured his work shortly after he died and thought that his songs were really well put together. It made me check him out on YouTube. Thanks for posting the clip.

Click tracks Metronomes How about stressing that the drummer doesn't need to do a fill at the end of every 4 bars On the beat versus Off the beat Note lengths Slow clapping exercise Keeping the groove when playing 16ths Good luck i am sure there are a lot of things you can do