deepbass5

Hi JTUK All sounds familiar. I am with you on this. The bottom line is we are all in competition, you're down south, I'm down south, If there are lazy bands in my area who don't want to put out their best performance they can stay in that comfort zone, Great, I for one rely on the fact this happens to other bands It means we don't have to try even harder to just stand still. There will always be a new kid on the block. So no harm in an honest chat about wanting to be in the best band in the area. If apathy still reigns, maybe it’s time to get a new band together with that vision and drive. Suggestion. Do you collectively go and see other local bands perform. This sometimes is a wakeup call. It a tough one, good luck.

Nice one Jimmyb. Having a look at the "show us your Sunburst" thread. It's no wonder Old fenders are rare all you buggers have um stashed under ya beds. Leo would turn in his grave if he knew the old firm was having to scratch new ones just to keep up with demand.

I didn't know you could play poker with bass guitars, but some of you have two decks on the go, thats gotta be cheating. I'm out

Had one a while now, It does everything i need it to.

I don't think any of us would have issue with our fave bass shops selling of stock cheap, so they can feed the kids at the end of the week, In these times the only way these shops can move some of this high end gear is mark it as ex display and slash some pounds off. It avoids awkward questions with their suppliers over RRP. Win Win. I would do the same. Nothing wrong with the gear.

[quote name='BottomE' timestamp='1334855994' post='1622500'] I know what you mean. It is a little depressing to see loads of bands doing the circuit with the same set lists. We are a bit in the same boat as you. It would be easy to stay the same and carry on playing the "standard" set, after all it brings in the cash. I'd say learn as many tunes as possible because it provides options and keeps you fresh. If you have a big menu of songs to choose from you (and the audience) will have less chance to get bored. [/quote] This We have enough numbers now to be able to do a 60's night or a 70's night and cover everything from Jazz standards to GaGa as well. I think that is a good point from Bottom. Many bands only have enough numbers for 2 x 45 min spots so cannot alter things if the crowd wants it and the band gets bored too. Way out costumes will not wow the crowed if they have heard it all before.

None of us should lose sight of the fact someone is paying you to put on a professional show that they and their family and friends can dance to. Or at least enjoy listening to. So right away you are tide to conform to the customers’ expectations. You need to play what people want, this will still include Mustang Sally and Brown eyed girl, despite the jibes on this site. We still find British 60's numbers get the best reaction from any decade we cover. As far as clothes go, a Tux is still required for many society dinners, coloured shirts and trousers of every combination has been done by most serious working bands now and still works. I actually think the Killers look with white or black tie is more dated than say and Hawaiian shirt and jeans. It is down to what the punter perceives to be right, if you do not look right to them on your website you won’t even know they have past you up for the four penguins in tuxedos or the hairy bikers in denim

you will never be band ready until you have been in a band. So don't wait. Its the only place to learn.

[quote name='pburrows' timestamp='1334786134' post='1621419'] Think I agree. They feel rough as f**k. Why would anyone use these strings? They do say stainless steel on them but I've only ever used nickel coated before. Horrible things. Anyone else out there use 'em? [/quote] I'm with these guys, I used them for about fifteen years, but they have changed and I can't go back. But I have had duds usually one string they dont ring right can be "dull" or have a two tone sound like a harmonic to them which sounds odd against the others that ring true. send them back they will change them

Try these, he does bone nut blanks that should do you. under £3 save you making too much soup. http://www.luthierssupplies.co.uk/

I as others have been drawn to L42 and MK, only to dislike them once I had taken up the bass. Frankly the keyboard took over and the Bass part and MK became relegated to the rhythm guitar part. Louis Johnson is guilty as charged. Any style over egged for the sake of it becomes annoying. But some can use it tastefully and it still appeals.e.g. V Wooten in 'bela fleck' applies tasteful solos. But feel Slap 'n' pop is best as it first appeared as sparse colouring to add interest to repetitive rhythm based 70's funk numbers, just icing to add a little sparkle.

Why not pop into Halfords on your way home, probably get a packet for that price. They are only car interior lamps, used as they limit the current as they gently overload and go pop. so act like a slow blow fuse

I used to get the PA, the lights and my base gear in a Sierra Estate. I actually bought gear that would fit, and cut 4 " off my PA stands. Bags etc in the rear foot wells, metal stands across those. Bought two Trace 1 x15 with horns because these just went across door to door behind the rear seats. Bass lay on top of those. 2 xHisys 1's stood up behind those, PA amp, monitor amp, and bass amp next to those. Music stands and cloths bags on top. It was realising that the wife and I would never survive a head on smash, each week we drove into the night leaving our two young kids with a baby sitter, so we agreed we had to get a van with a bulk head. Never looked back. It belongs to the wife and she uses it every day to drive to work. Loves it, VW transporter 6 seater kombi

What Bill said. But nice to see no one jumping in with - you need a 12k rig mate. I always worry about outdoor gigs as I own the band PA, and use the PA for vocal only on all but a few gigs, but do have bass bins and extra amp for these occasions, just to help but only help. I mic bass drum and hi hat and one above. I mic the guitar cab just to give him some spread, and my bass DI. To help my bottom end. It is important to find out what the organiser has in mind. Not expecting Queen at Wembley coverage. But play to your own comfort levels so you can hear each other, so monitors could be more important, and play to a specific area as you would in a hall, don’t try and reach the end of the road and sound crap or blow horns and cook amps. You'll be fine

I'm with Bilbo and Doddy. But understand those countering their point, but if a drummer is that bad you won't be playing with him long. In our Functions band our drummer is like a recording and I have no issues, in the Swing band I play in the drummer sometimes speeds up, but different sections pull the rhythm section all the time, trumpets speed up, sax entries slow the piece down. And I believe they should follow the drummer regardless, as I have said on other threads If you have a rhythm section that’s what it is for, follow it and the band will sound good, fight it and the audience will notice as well. As most here on B.C. I would guess play in just rhythm sections 4 -5 piece bands it must be a collective responsibility, but helps if you can find the best drummer in town.

Shame this was one outfit i would have liked to see.

USSR

Scales should be fun and sound like this, So for best bass intro has to go to http://youtu.be/W-apaIOOoAo

And this, I have just jumped in with an edit as i think that is sea sick steve in this video clip ?? [media]http://youtu.be/1aVHLL5egRY[/media]

Like this, http://youtu.be/8WEtxJ4-sh4

I have used comfort straps for over ten years now they are good but one of mine is coming undone(stichiing) there was also that thread scare, about the plastic buckles breaking and dropping the bass to the floor. from a thread i put up ref Pino's bass strap, check these out these are good. http://www.alangregory.co.uk/music/Neotech_Mega_Bass_Guitar_Strap.html

[b]tredders[/b], yours is definitely sweet. It has got me thinking, and I just bought an old ESP P bass to get back into 4 strings playing. And so may be tempted that way.

I would order one tomorrow, but fear I may not be gigging by the time it arrives What I would like to commission is not conducive to grey hair and Jazz gigs is nearer the point.