OK... so age is now taking effect...

[la bam]

OK, so as many of us will probably have already come across, or will do soon.... Little awkward bits of getting older are now taking effect on being in a band. 

 

Like what? 

 

We'll, my main two are:

 

1. (this kills me to say..) weight of basses. Even though I'm fine with the weight, I can really feel it when the gig is over. 

So, a lighter bass for longer gigs (we do an average of 90 mins in one go) is an option. Any other ideas? We are fully no backline and iems so I've already saved on that. 

 

2. And this is causing the most hassle.... Eyesight. 

Its going worse as I get older, but now I can't really see a set list on the floor. Worse, I can't see what patches I'm on on my (albeit small) zoom ms60b+. 

 

The thing is, we are in a touring band (theatres /larger venue etc) where the look is just as much as the playing, so I can't have a stand, or anything obvious. I don't want to wear glasses, but if I did it still wouldn't work as I can see fine close up, but not further away.  So... on this one I don't know what to do? 

Get an ipad? A larger pedal with a large display so I can read it? (we do switch through a lot of different patches and sounds). 

 

Any other tips people have come across?

[Doctor J]

Lose the vanity and wear glasses, varifocal lenses allow you see up close and far away.

[Wombat]

You can get varifocal contact lenses now too…

[Rosie C]

10 minutes ago, Wombat said:

You can get varifocal contact lenses now too…

 

 

My optician suggested one eye short vision, one eye long vision, but I dismissed that out of hand as a crazy idea.  

 

As it happened, I failed the test for contacts - the callouses on my left hand fingers from bass-ing and mandolin-ing meant I couldn't feed the lens, and I couldnt' manage the "left lens in with the right hand" thing. So I wear glasses, though I am considering a monocle!

 

[Geek99]

20 minutes ago, la bam said:

OK, so as many of us will probably have already come across, or will do soon.... Little awkward bits of getting older are now taking effect on being in a band. 

 

Like what? 

 

We'll, my main two are:

 

1. (this kills me to say..) weight of basses. Even though I'm fine with the weight, I can really feel it when the gig is over. 

So, a lighter bass for longer gigs (we do an average of 90 mins in one go) is an option. Any other ideas? We are fully no backline and iems so I've already saved on that. 

 

2. And this is causing the most hassle.... Eyesight. 

Its going worse as I get older, but now I can't really see a set list on the floor. Worse, I can't see what patches I'm on on my (albeit small) zoom ms60b+. 

 

The thing is, we are in a touring band (theatres /larger venue etc) where the look is just as much as the playing, so I can't have a stand, or anything obvious. I don't want to wear glasses, but if I did it still wouldn't work as I can see fine close up, but not further away.  So... on this one I don't know what to do? 

Get an ipad? A larger pedal with a large display so I can read it? (we do switch through a lot of different patches and sounds). 

 

Any other tips people have come across?

Ppointed question? How old are you? What was your sight like before ? 
I was slightly shortsighted and age is making me go full on golden eagle rather than mr magoo

[Lozz196]

19 minutes ago, Doctor J said:

Lose the vanity and wear glasses, varifocal lenses allow you see up close and far away.

Good call, maybe having varifocals but as shades could also be an option in retaining “coolness”. 
 

 

[Geek99]

8 minutes ago, Rosie C said:

 

 

My optician suggested one eye short vision, one eye long vision, but I dismissed that out of hand as a crazy idea.  

 

As it happened, I failed the test for contacts - the callouses on my left hand fingers from bass-ing and mandolin-ing meant I couldn't feed the lens, and I couldnt' manage the "left lens in with the right hand" thing. So I wear glasses, though I am considering a monocle!

 

I wouldn’t actually dismiss it  - it’s a quite sensible suggestion 

my eyes switched dominance following an op wherein my weaker eye was made stronger. My brain switches to left eye dominant for distance and right eye only for close up  - took

about a week to mentally adjust 

Edited 4 hours ago by Geek99

[Bluewine]

30 minutes ago, la bam said:

OK, so as many of us will probably have already come across, or will do soon.... Little awkward bits of getting older are now taking effect on being in a band. 

 

Like what? 

 

We'll, my main two are:

 

1. (this kills me to say..) weight of basses. Even though I'm fine with the weight, I can really feel it when the gig is over. 

So, a lighter bass for longer gigs (we do an average of 90 mins in one go) is an option. Any other ideas? We are fully no backline and iems so I've already saved on that. 

 

2. And this is causing the most hassle.... Eyesight. 

Its going worse as I get older, but now I can't really see a set list on the floor. Worse, I can't see what patches I'm on on my (albeit small) zoom ms60b+. 

 

The thing is, we are in a touring band (theatres /larger venue etc) where the look is just as much as the playing, so I can't have a stand, or anything obvious. I don't want to wear glasses, but if I did it still wouldn't work as I can see fine close up, but not further away.  So... on this one I don't know what to do? 

Get an ipad? A larger pedal with a large display so I can read it? (we do switch through a lot of different patches and sounds). 

 

Any other tips people have come across?

 

I've seen many famous headliners well into their 70s using iPads and music stands.

 

Daryl

Edited 4 hours ago by Bluewine

[Geek99]

14 minutes ago, Bluewine said:

 

I've seen many famous headliners well into their 70s using iPads and music stands.

 

Daryl

He’s talking about himself again 😛 

Btw I see that pretty lady again in the summer fest pictures 👍

Edited 4 hours ago by Geek99

[neepheid]

24 minutes ago, Lozz196 said:

Good call, maybe having varifocals but as shades could also be an option in retaining “coolness”. 
 

 

 

I played last night in shades because I left my regular glasses in my car... at the drummer's house.

 

I wouldn't recommend it - could hardly read the set list on the floor. I imagine I looked hella cool though 😎

 

[markbunney]

I just got an Ibanez EHB to help with weight/back pain.

 

Its really light and am loving it so far.

 

I also just got a Shure GLX tuner/wireless as it has a large display.

 

Last week on my old tuner I managed to tune one string flat because I couldn’t see the display properly, which made for an awkward first song!

I need glasses for reading and close up stuff, but don’t really like playing with them on.

[Jackroadkill]

As far as the set-list goes, how about making a card up that can be slipped in a back pocket?

[Geek99]

8 minutes ago, neepheid said:

 

I played last night in shades because I left my regular glasses in my car... at the drummer's house.

 

I wouldn't recommend it - could hardly read the set list on the floor. I imagine I looked hella cool though 😎

 

A bass is enough - no shades required

the reaction at my local om to zombie with bass was far superior to a previous rendition by same singer/guitarists with no bass. One fist-bumped me and the other high fived me and shouted “bass solo!” (No pressure) 🫨

I threw a bit of Gary moores “cold day in hell” 

[Geek99]

Just now, Jackroadkill said:

As far as the set-list goes, how about making a card up that can be slipped in a back pocket?

Good idea. Or tape it to your top bout 

[tauzero]

Sit down. Eases the problem with weight and you're closer to the floor so better chance of reading the setlist and seeing which patch you're on.

[Bluewine]

1 hour ago, Geek99 said:

He’s talking about himself again 😛 

Btw I see that pretty lady again in the summer fest pictures 👍

 

The 99° degree weather was not good.

 

Daryl