webby

So, it's pretty pointless then these days? It's there for authenticity's sake, especially on the Classic Vibe bass pictured, yeah?

Hi, Stupid question here.... Sometimes when I play I rest my thumb on the top of the pickup that extends up and above the E string. I've seen a lot of Precision basses with a 'thumb rest' screwed onto the pickguard below the G string. What's the idea of this? Why would you want a thumb rest there? See here in this image:

Does anyone have any experience or knowledge of these basses as I'd like to sell it now, but I've no idea what its worth or what it would compare to nowadays. For the record, I would like to replace it with something like a Squier Custom Vibe 60's P bass which, I feel, would be a big improvement, but truth be told, I don't really know. All I do know is that the Aria bass cost me around £200 brand new in '90/'91.

Oh, don't tell us then!

Well, it would appear that my time in U2Raw is up. I don't really want to get into a tit for tat slanging match (Grayboy's a nice guy) but I feel I come off rather badly in his post. He's not replying to my messages and I'd like to clear a few things up, so...... I started this thread in the first place to gather some unbiased opinions on a situation I was in. It's easier to talk to strangers sometimes. I declined to name the band at first cos I didn't want it to be personal, but the thread received some interesting comments and so I took the decision to post a video clip. After reading Grayboy's post yesterday, I texted him to explain my position. I felt there was no point turning up for rehearsal bearing in mind what he said. He has still not replied to my text. He also did not reply to my email of 30 Nov, before he posted here, in which I aired my views on whether I thought we were ready for gigging. I texted him sometime before that to ask what he thought of the vocals. He replied "a bit off sometimes, but he's better than me!". He didn't seem concerned by it at all. I wanted to bring it up at rehearsal last week but never found the right moment. He's already advertising for another bassist without my position being clear. [quote name='GrayBoy' post='1042858' date='Nov 30 2010, 08:09 PM']Hi All, thought I'd chip in - 'Edge' here! We've been practising since May and Webby is our third bassist. He's doing a good job and we're happy how he's doing. He's getting there with the songs we're trying and he'll give songs a go he's not practised so much and he pulls them off pretty well. A few more practices and jobs a goodun.[/quote] Thank you. I'm a novice really, I'd never played Bass in a band before, ever, but I really dug in and learnt a lot of songs in a short period. I still struggled with some though. I only started until October. [quote name='GrayBoy' post='1042858' date='Nov 30 2010, 08:09 PM']The aim has always been to get out gigging asap - we had hoped for some beer festivals or pub gardens in the summer. Obviously with our bassist leaving we had to start from scratch with Webby, but at the rate he was going we were confident the new year was a good bet. I put the vids up on YouTube so bookers could have a look at us before getting us in and the first one I tried (at a club in Bournemouth) booked us in for a Friday night. They put a lot of bands on so maybe they consider anything, but we were expecting either a support slot or a Monday or Sunday night playing to any friends that could be bothered to come out. So the vids can't be that bad.[/quote] No discussions ever took place about where the band wanted to go. I personally don't believe that the venue booked us on the strength of those youtube videos. [quote name='GrayBoy' post='1042858' date='Nov 30 2010, 08:09 PM']I agree with the comment that as Musos we're probably a bit too critical, and also recognise that we're not that great either, but we were always meant to be a pub band, knocking out U2 songs - hence the name - as opposed to a polished, backing track/look a like type band. It's supposed to be a laugh and any cash we get is by the by. If I were going for a respectable outfit and charging for it, I wouldn't be doing covers.[/quote] I'm not a Muso, but I know when something doesn't sound right, or good, and so do the punters. You can get away with the odd mistake yes, but the singer is the main focus and you can't get away with singing off key. The fact that we may not charge for the gig doesn't get away from the fact that we'd be less than good imo, and neither should it allow us to be. Yes, it's supposed to be fun and a laugh, but I don't want the laughs being at us. The band website doesn't really fit the 'pub band, knocking out U2 covers' point of view. In short, I don't think we were living up to the website. There are songs on there that we hadn't even played. [quote name='GrayBoy' post='1042858' date='Nov 30 2010, 08:09 PM']Just from my own point of view, despite our flaws, I think it's worth sticking with. I've been looking to get out gigging for over a year and this has looked the best bet. I really don't want to play Blues, Classic Rock or Metal. I'm not a very good guitarist (in the video, I'm not checking my FX as one post suggested - I'm looking at my fingers!) and to be sole guitar in a band with riffs I can cope with is a big plus. I wasn't even a U2 fan when I started. I downloaded some tracks and learnt them from scratch. Apart from the rehearsals which have happened on average every fortnight since May at a fiver a pop, I've spent loads of cash on guitars, effects, amps as well as countless hours poring over tab practising, looking at dvds, reading forums on delay settings and twiddling knobs. So you could say I'm somewhat invested! However, now I'm a U2 fan - take that whichever way you like.[/quote] Grayboy does an excellent job as 'Edge', no question, and I'm sure he would grace any band. However, the point about time and money spent is irrelevant as far as I am concerned. They started in May, I joined in October. The implication that time and money spent was wasted because of me is unfair. I too spent many hours learning 20-odd songs at the beginning. At the end of the day, two other Bass players left before me. Why? [quote name='GrayBoy' post='1042858' date='Nov 30 2010, 08:09 PM']Please don't do this. We want to get out gigging not spend another 8 months fiddling about only for you to realise that actually you can't get past the singing issue and leave us back where we were in September. This is costing us time and money. We were happy to give you a go, but it seems like it'd be better to let us find someone who recognises the band for what it is and let us get on with it.[/quote] Yes, you did give me a go, and I gave it a good go. Another issue; I arrive for rehearsal at 7pm. The singer turns up at about 8pm with the PA. The drummer turns up sometime between 7 and 8. This happened every week. Some nights, we didn't even get started til 8:30pm! I've no idea why this was happening. Nothing was ever said about it. With me being the new guy, I didn't wanna say anything. I was leaving my kids at the dinner table to take the 45min drive down to get there for 7pm. I stopped doing this about 3 weeks ago and started getting there for 7:30pm which was easier for me and not a problem for the band, but still, a bit shabby when the room's booked from 7pm.

[quote name='JTUK' post='1040030' date='Nov 28 2010, 03:52 PM']ok...I'll rephase that, better. Bono, like him or not, has a decent voice and they are songs that are made for him, of course. His songs, his keys, his chosen vocal line which ALL suits him and to hardly any disadvantage at all...he may have spot tuned it in the studio as well, over a zillion takes etc etc The vocalist is your central point and connection to the audience and the band music is secondary . If the gtr can make a passable nod to the Edge's sound and playing, that is what most will concentrate on after the vocals. The gtr is hamstrung if he has to play out of key....but that itself may or may not be something you can get around. Dropping the songs by 2 tones may well undo them as versions...that remains to be seen, but you will stand or fall on the success of the singer to be able cut it. I don't think he is too bad..in that I think he lacks confidence rather than a decent vocal sound...if he can up his game by whatever means, then you may then be in business. Us musos can be a picky bunch and hard to please, so I was commenting more on that aspect really. call it arrogance or whatever, but I KNOW that if our band can be pleased with a version, the opinions of the punters/audience is virtually a given. The only thing they can have to complain about is that they just don't like that tune...which I can live with, they wouldn't be able to say it wasn't well done...in 99% of cases. In rehearsal, I don't care how rough it may have sounded and what means we had to go to to achieve the decent end result, but the song needs to work and connect when done live.. that is the final arbiter..fave song and girlfriends love song etc etc ..all out of the window if it sucks when you play it...and then it doesn't make it into the set. Your limitation is that as a U2 cover band...you can't pick anything but a U2 song and that may just not suit his voice the most favourably.[/quote] All fair comment mate, and I agree. However, the fact that it's a U2 act is down to him as he's a U2 fan, as I am too, and that's what he wanted to do. I only joined about 6 weeks ago. We have a gig in early Jan. I don't think we're ready to take bookings yet, and the next few weeks are a busy time for everyone. That and any bad weather that comes our way may result in a rehearsal or 2 being cancelled.

[quote name='JTUK' post='1039594' date='Nov 28 2010, 07:34 AM']I don't think he or the band will get that much work as a U2 tribute band[/quote] My confidence needs a lift after that!

[quote name='SteveO' post='1039193' date='Nov 27 2010, 07:29 PM']Looking at that clip the first thing that springs to mind is whether the singer can hear himself. Some notes are in key, some are wandering a lot. Our front-girl was pretty hit and miss until we worked out that she had crap monitoring and was struggling to hear herself. The second thing that springs to mind is how he's the only one who seems to care about the music. Get up, get in there, get a bit of eye contact with each other and make it look as if you are loving every second of it. Its amazing how much better everyone plays when there's a buzz going on. Sitting at the back looking bored is not going to inspire anyone. This is not personal to you btw, your drummer looks like he's thinking of last nights eastenders and the guitarist seems to be wondering if he's brought enough fx. Anyway, hopefully he will get a wake up call from seeing that, realise that there is a major problem and work on his pitch training.[/quote] It's funny, we video'd quite a few songs, and my back was killing me, so i sat down for that one as it was a bit of a laid back song, and that's the one that gets put up on YT!! But, you may well be right about the monitoring. The sound was sh*t that night.

[quote name='hitchy64' post='1039119' date='Nov 27 2010, 06:35 PM']O dear. You are the weekest link, by by!![/quote] Sorry, me? Or the singer? Just checking. At the end of the day, it's the singer's band, he got it together as far as I know.

[quote name='KK Jale' post='1038959' date='Nov 27 2010, 04:50 PM']He's not great, but mostly he just can't handle that key. Not many could. IMO you shouldn't dream of going on stage with that song in Bb. Rehearse it right down in G or even F, and record it again, and compare. If it's better, then give him a chance and go ahead and have fun and do a few shows and get some experience. Many bands implode after three gigs anyway so you don't have to worry about commitment...[/quote] But it's a U2 tribute act. We'd have to then do everything lower keys, and some, if not most, of the songs would suffer by doing that. p.s, the original is in C# !!

There are 2 other clips. Most are played tuned down to Eb, but that one was played in an even lower key.

[quote name='icastle' post='1038909' date='Nov 27 2010, 04:06 PM']Flat with a capital F I'm afraid [/quote] Indeed.

Here's a rehearsal clip:

Not mine, but maybe someone here owns this? [url="http://bournemouth.gumtree.com/bournemouth/09/65017209.html"]http://bournemouth.gumtree.com/bournemouth/09/65017209.html[/url]