discreet

This thread is hilarious. We seem to have quite a high opinion of ourselves! I like to think I'm a good bass player, but as far as pub gigs go (I don't do many) I'm not expecting adulation from teeming hordes of admirers! You can even be in a successful band in which other band members don't understand what a good rhythm section is, or how it works! Truth be told, they do what they do well enough, but for whatever reason, they are just not that focussed!

You're missing the point - this isn't about name bands or famous bass players - the thread is about what punters want from a bass player at a typical pub gig. My view is they don't want anything, because they're not concerned about individual players, they see the band as a unit. If they see anything at all, that is. Edit: You'd have to be pretty good at yodelling if you wanted to sing along to a Mark King bassline...

Only if they know that track already. And even then they won't be too sure what the issue is...

That's a case where punters have deliberately gone to see a specific band and know their material intimately beforehand. Not a typical pub gig, which is what the OP is referring to.

There is NO bass guitar on the original recording.

You know what, I'm not entirely sure they would! You're not as important as you thought you were - sorry to demote you like this.

Pub punters don't notice anything. They're dimly aware that a band is playing and depending on how drunk they are, they'll either talk loudly to each other or dance about wildly, spilling beer and bumping into things. As far as bass goes, what you do is largely irrelevant. Punters don't notice what gear you're using, or even care. A few might be aware of your guitar being somehow bigger than usual, but in general they can't tell the difference between a bass and a banjo at three paces. And they certainly don't understand which register you're playing in or where that powerful low sound is coming from. They don't differentiate between instruments - to them it's all one sound and that's how it should be.

There will be a NBD thread with detailed and plentiful pics in due course.

I thought I'd try to redress the balance a bit. Generally when things go as planned, people don't get online and say so...

UPS - Yet Another Courier Thread Here's yet another topic about couriers, once again featuring UPS. I sold a P Bass to a certain Mr D Blair of this parish (Kodiakblair) and arranged delivery through UPS (despite some recent hair-raising and negative threads about couriers on BC recently). UPS duly turned up when they said they would, collected the bass from me down here in this London, England, the intention being to deliver it safely and in good time to Mr Blair up there in that Falkirk, Scotland. I get 'courier anxiety' at the best of times - particularly when sending or receiving bass guitars - and spent the usual amount of time checking the online tracking information (about twelve times an hour) - while also frequently checking the tracking info for a second P Bass that had been despatched to me in London from Thomann in Germany - UPS taking care of things once the item is in the UK. Thus did the hours pass, me going through various scenarios in my head, along the lines of 'aliens stole the instruments for their "Sounds of Earth" collection - not covered by insurance', or 'the instruments were hijacked by a pack of pigs, have been partly eaten and they stink - not covered by insurance', or 'tramps intercepted the instruments and burnt them at their 'meths and self-abuse' brazier party at the council tip - not covered by insurance' ...and so on and so forth... Anyway, long story short - Mr Blair's bass arrived safely the day after collection, and in perfect condition. My bass arrived safely from Thomann in two days, and in perfect condition. No damage and no word of interference from aliens, pigs or tramps. So let's hear it for UPS, who did a really sterling job! Hooray! However... if YOU can personally deliver a bass from London to Falkirk in 24 hours for £24, or better still, deliver a bass from Bergebrach in Bavaria, Germany to London, UK in 48 hours for €10, please let me know - I may have some work for you...

Yes. The P has a baked-in low-mid push that really sits in the mix beautifully. It also records very well DI, which is why engineers and sound guys like it so much.

Haha! So do I. I've not found 760FS La Bellas to be tense. But I found TIs to be way too floppy. Fnarr.

Better, but if you want that 60s sound on the hits of the time, fit La Bellas. You may not want that sound, of course. My RW had them and it absolutely nailed the classic P tone.

Buy an Ampeg B15... Seriously though, if it sounds good to you, then it IS good. Are you using flats?

Davie bought a P Bass in yet another very smooth transaction. He is a fast payer, a great communicator and a top Basschatter. You can trust him to the ends of the Earth and I very much look forward to our next deal

I like flats on a P and I like flats on a Jazz - but just to be contrary, I'm currently very much enjoying rounds on a Jazz. There's something about Jazz basses that just seem to suit the sound of rounds better than flats. I have no idea why - just my opinion. Maybe because of the dual single coils? Or something?

Yes, that does make a big difference.

Absolutely, it's whatever works for the song. If you let fluffs and guffs through, even small ones, you know they're there and for you, the final result will forever be unlistenable. Get it right!

I think that's why I sold mine, which was a stupid reason. I should have refinished it: firstly that would have made me keep it - and secondly a refin would probably have reduced its resale value, which would have made me keep it. Doh!

Absolutely agree. The big deal is, if you don't have pre-CBS money and want the sound and feel of a Vintage P with vintage specs, a RW P will get you there for around £650 - £700 (used). One of the best Ps you will play - and not just 'for the money'. Why I sold mine is beyond me, but that's GAS for you...

Embrace these features! Once you're into 7.25" radius, all other boards seem way too FLAT. And narrow...

If you like P necks and 'that' P sound, it's for you. No upgrading or modding necessary - these are light, resonant and lovely. I have to get another!

Thats all great, but until he finds those people, the band is entirely notional. It's theoretical. It's nominal. It's not a 'real' band. Yet. Words, eh? Good luck to him.

I'd say he's forming a band. If it's a three-piece rock band and he's looking for two members, then at the moment it's just him - and effectively there is no band until he finds those other two people. Unless you can notionally be a three-piece band in your own mind and nowhere else. In which case I'd say you're probably differently-brained or something and have a marvellous imagination. Gosh, how special. Excelsior!