Telebass

No GAS. All done.

[quote name='Muzz' timestamp='1421760220' post='2664606'] I have probably £4-5k (new replacement price) of Shukers/Dingwall on my guitar stand at every gig, posh wedding or local pub. Doesn't give me a second's thought, tho obviously I keep an eye on them. I've gigged every bass I've owned. [/quote] That's the way to do it.

If you're worried about gigging your favourite bass, regardless of what it cost, you probably shouldn't be gigging. If you don't give a damn because it's cheap, and you treat it like firewood, you probably shouldn't be allowed near any musical instruments...

[quote name='The Saint' timestamp='1421443995' post='2661453'] [size=5]OK, not much help to you guys in the UK but here in France we have our own issues.[/size] [size=5]I live right down on the Med, so we have a ready-made market of holiday people keen to enjoy themselves. Which is great from May through to September as there are literally hundreds of bars within a 45 minute drive. [/size] [size=5]All the beach resorts have live music through the summer and if you start to include the hotels, self-catering resorts and camp sites it opens up even more venues. In one resort nearby, the evenings are a cacophony of noise with 10-15 bars in a row all sporting a live band. And every place is jam full of punters.[/size] [size=5]We’re tapping into the expat market of summer garden-parties, which promises to be lucrative. [/size] [size=5]We’re also getting approaches from festival organisers. Now that’s good money and a lot of fun.[/size] [size=5]We started gigging in the spring and at first I couldn’t believe how easy it was to get gigs. Really….!![/size] [size=5]I’d walk into 10 bars and come out with 6 confirmed bookings. This was for a new band with no history, no website with the request coming from a guy sounding like Officer Crabtree out of ‘Allo ‘Allo…. My French is/was crap and they trusted me…!! [/size] [size=5]The first couple of gigs were for food and beer only, so they could get an idea of what we were about. But every gig resulted in being asked back for a decent fee. I soon found out that every band is fed and watered (as mentioned above) without question so they must have thought I was mad.[/size] [size=5]Anyway, within 3 months we were out at least 2 or 3 times a week. And that continued right through to late September. [/size] [size=5]And that’s when I realised just how seasonal this area is for music. The boss would just came up at the end of the night, thank us and said ‘see you in May’…[/size] [size=5]We’re lucky in that a few of the local village bars kept us on during the winter, but for a much reduced fee. But it keeps the band together and sometimes it really is a paid rehearsal.[/size] [size=5]We’ve had no bad experiences from bar owners. All have been as good as gold, always get paid the agreed fee, cash ready in the envelope and never quibbling about the bar tab, although we all drive so not too much of an issue.[/size] [size=5]So, to answer your points…[/size] [indent=1][i]1 Location, is it down town where a lot of people including your fans can access it[/i][/indent] [indent=1][size=5][i]2 Is it sitting out in the middle of no where [/i][/size][/indent] [indent=1][size=5][size=5][i]3 Does the Manager or owner have experience with live rock bands [/i][/size][/size][/indent] [indent=1][size=5][size=5][size=5][i]4 Does the Manager understand his clientele [/i][/size][/size][/size][/indent] [indent=1][size=5][size=5][size=5][size=5][i] 5 Do they have a history of having live bands at least once a week, do they book bands like yours[/i][/size][/size][/size][/size][/indent] [indent=1][size=5][size=5][size=5][size=5][size=5]The first two are answered above. The last three are[/size][/size][/size][/size][/size][/indent] [indent=1][size=5][size=5][size=5][size=5][size=5][size=5]all yes, very much so. They wouldn’t last long if they didn’t.[/size][/size][/size][/size][/size][/size][/indent] [indent=1][size=5][size=5][size=5][size=5][size=5][size=5][size=5]Do they appreciate the kind of music we do? No, most couldn’t care less..!![/size][/size][/size][/size][/size][/size][/size][/indent] [indent=1][size=5][size=5][size=5][size=5][size=5][size=5][size=5][size=5]I’ve hit on a big plus for me as the singer. I speak English..![/size][/size][/size][/size][/size][/size][/size][/size][/indent] [indent=1][size=5][size=5][size=5][size=5][size=5][size=5][size=5][size=5][size=5]Most French front men and girls have awful accents when singing. I know I’d have the same issues if I tried to sing in French..! So similar bands to us can be quite painful to listen to.[/size][/size][/size][/size][/size][/size][/size][/size][/size][/indent] [indent=1][size=5][size=5][size=5][size=5][size=5][size=5][size=5][size=5][size=5][size=5]So immediately the band sound more authentic because, as far they’re concerned, we could be English or American. We play early rock and roll and rockabilly so it works well. [/size][/size][/size][/size][/size][/size][/size][/size][/size][/size][/indent] [indent=1][size=5][size=5][size=5][size=5][size=5][size=5][size=5][size=5][size=5][size=5][size=5]I tried to get my French guitarist to do the chat to the audience, but he refused. I asked why and he replied that it sounded better when I did the banter in English. “But they can’t understand an effing thing I‘m saying…..” He smiled and said that it was what the punters were used to. They watch videos of English and American bands pratttling on so it was all quite normal. I swear I’m going to recite a nursey ryhme one night and see if I get any reaction. Apart from my American drummer…!![/size][/size][/size][/size][/size][/size][/size][/size][/size][/size][/size][/indent] [indent=1][size=5][size=5][size=5][size=5][size=5][size=5][size=5][size=5][size=5][size=5][size=5][size=5]So we certainly don’t get any negativity from gigging. We have quite a few venues that we can play every 6 weeks or so and that keeps it fresh. And if we’re gigging 2-3 times a week in the summer, that’s about as much as I want. And keeps the money coming in..![/size][/size][/size][/size][/size][/size][/size][/size][/size][/size][/size][/size][/indent] [indent=1][size=5][size=5][size=5][size=5][size=5][size=5][size=5][size=5][size=5][size=5][size=5][size=5][size=5]I hope I haven't made all this sound too rosy. I don't want you lot coming down here and nicking all my gigs...[/size][/size][/size][/size][/size][/size][/size][/size][/size][/size][/size][/size][/size][/indent] [indent=1][size=5][size=5][size=5][size=5][size=5][size=5][size=5][size=5][size=5][size=5][size=5][size=5][size=5][size=5]Graham[/size][/size][/size][/size][/size][/size][/size][/size][/size][/size][/size][/size][/size][/size][/indent] [/quote] Brilliant post!

Same, drummer commented first...once I'd pointed it out!

I went from a 4 to a 5 and no-one in the band noticed until I pointed it out. ..

It's always down to the bottom line. Even Leo did no different, but as he had control (more accurately, Forest White had control), things were a bit more consistent.

My intention is to use my CMD121H. Should be plenty, no drummers likely to be involved!

Me too...

I eat nothing from inside a shell. Except nuts. They don't move on their own...

Despite being what can only be called a Fender fan boy, I've reached the point where I know what I want from my Fenders, and, essentially, Fender don't make them that way. So I made my own... One is built from all Fender parts, so that's my 'Fender'. The other is built from (mostly) Squier parts, so that's a Squier. I also have a Squier 5er. They are all Precision-shaped objects. To me, that's what counts now. I love Precisions. I'd never willingly gig anything else. And I have owned two USA Fenders that were poor, one a bit (81), the other an absolute train wreck (68). I don't like any other style of bass. But the point is, each to his own.

The standard round heel will fit ok. It's when putting Tele bass necks on standard Precisions etc (a la Tim Bogert) that you need to get the chisels out...

On the longer drives, say back from somewhere in Cornwall, then even on the dual carriageway, I'll set the cruise to 60 and just drift home listening to the BBC World Service. No rush, very peaceful, next to zero traffic. I'm missing things like this. I MUST restart my gigging life! Not to mention needing the money...

I'm really missing posting on this thread...

Nice cab...

Hercules, for everything.

Exactly what Bluejay said. Have two 4s, one with ECB81 Chromes, the other with TI 344 Jazz Flats. P5 has ECB81-5 Chromes. Will change the Chromes to ECB84s when needed, as I find that the D and G are noticeably to stiffer on the 81 sets. If you want easy and good - sounding, grit your teeth and your wallet and get the TIs. They're cheaper, really, as you won't have to change them for 5+ years if you look after them!

I take it all back. Rabbie was right!