hiram.k.hackenbacker

@Dan Dare you’re going to have to tell your band they are wrong. Follow where the singer is going.

I’ve had more amp problems over the years than bass problems, but the few I’ve had with a bass would have been disastrous with no back-up available. My head just does not compute why you would not take a spare with you if you could. The one that sticks in my mind is one of the soldered joints on the jack socket on one of my J basses came apart. However fastidious we are about checking our instruments, I think most, if not all, would have struggled to foresee that happening.

Well, I wish you the best of luck continuing your record, but for those of us that have had something go wrong (and it's not just strings), I can assure you that once it does, you'd be a fool not to rethink the back-up plan. Of course, the degree of foolhardiness is dependant on the level of gig. I'd look pretty f***ing stupid as the bass player at an 80's theatre gig (as I often am) where there is no support (therefore no other bass players/equipment) and my bass went down for some reason. The only option, without a back-up, would be to stop the show and attempt to rectify it. If I can't, the show is over. A yardstick is, would @cetera turn up to a Leather & Lace show without a back-up. No, I don't think he would. If you're happy attending the occasional jam night or some other gig where there are several other basses, yes, you can mitigate against that risk, but it's not really in the spirit of the bassist role IMHO.

Erm. That’s 12 full years of music.

I’ve had the same conversation with Mrs.H recently and ’’75 to ‘85 was almost exactly what I chose (although you’ve nabbed an extra year there rather than a decade 😎). I went ‘75 to ‘84 and it captures some great artists for me, from the end of Gabriel’s tenure with Genesis to Frankie’s ‘Welcome to The Pleasuredome’. Then there’s punk, a good chunk of disco, the birth of electronica and some absolute classic rock. Also covers my first ever gigs, the classic Motorhead line-up (although I also love Phil & Mikkey), the heyday of Rush, Zappa in his prime….I could go on.

The thing is, having watched the gig, what was going on in the crowd and the weird reaction of Kerr didn't quite marry up. There were pockets of crowd that seemed properly into it at times, just not necessarily all of the crowd all of the time. That's what you get on a multi-band, you're never going to please all of the crowd as they're there for different reasons. In fairness to them, Thatcher did seem to want to make the effort with the crowd, although I can't condone his apparent alcohol abuse in front of a family type audience. I think they'll look back at the Dundee gig one day and realise they could have handled it far better.

Sounds like he forgot to change the amp from passive to active.

I wouldn’t say I dislike any of their material, it’s just I find they are a bit of a one trick pony. The fact that Mike Kerr is essentially doing everything apart from the drums doesn’t allow for much variation from what he’s playing. Quite limiting IMHO.

I’ve not seen them myself, but they came on with a bit of an attitude IMHO…. https://www.bbc.co.uk/events/ed8wxj/play/p0fctznf

I have no sympathy with them whatsoever. You get on stage and perform to the best of your ability and be thankful for it every time.

You OK up there? The air must be quite thin I would imagine 🙄

Just received an e-mail flyer for Royal Blood tickets at the London Eventim Apollo (or the Hammersmith Odeon as I prefer to call it). Ticket prices are E50 each. Not sure why they were double that where you are.

No, I don’t like doing that either. I did do it when I had my Deacon Limelight for the Queen tribute as JD usually had two blue picks under the top edge of his pickguard. Since I replaced it with the Shuker JJ, I feel less inclined to repeat the process as I don’t want to damage it. I’ve taken to using a tiny dob of blu-tack and sticking it to the bridge when I’m not using it.

I think I know what the response is going to be to that. Won’t be pretty 🤣

I’m not sure there are songs that I find easier with a pick, but I definitely swap between pick and finger style depending on how much attack I require. I don’t worry about tone or volume though. I’ll usually dial in a bit more treble if I’m using a pick, because most of the songs that require it have that gnarly pick sound that is more present in the mix anyway. I use Tortex Standard 1.0mm - the blue ones that John Deacon preferred. I don’t really like anything heavier than that.

3/6 in Sudbury then @WonkyOne. I wonder what the punters would think if they knew what they were paying for 🤔.

This is why you have to be careful what you post on a public forum. These comments could be interpreted a number of ways. Given that we don't know what will transpire when you visit the 'next show', if things escalate and the Police are called, you've already played your hand here. To be clear, I'm not defending MM. If half of what I've read is remotely accurate, then he deserves to be held to account for his alleged misdeeds. You'd also be a fool to think he is not monitoring this thread.

Report it to the Police as what? A civil debt?

Until recently, I’ve been predominantly a finger player. I’m now in a covers band that leans towards songs that need a bit of attack, so I started using a pick for all their stuff. I have no explanation as to why, but my brain just wants to start on an upstroke. Unless the riff dictates that it’s more difficult to do so (crossing strings/octaves etc), it’s usually an upstroke I’ll start on.

Me too. The person videoing it seems to be revelling in the players frustrations. One of those things that shouldn’t have made it to the internet. Bit sad really. I also hate seeing instruments destroyed for no reason.

Quality that. The main theme was one of John Barry's favourites and mine too.

No apology necessary. The overall sound level where we were sitting (Grand Circle) was fine, but JS was too loud in the mix. It was tamed slightly for the second half, but could have still come down a bit. Quite a few people didn't come back for the second half at ours either. My main gripe is that doesn't seem to know how to finish a tune. He just goes on and on, far beyond what was recorded with endless dives. Enjoyed it overall, but I wouldn't go again. Will be seeing Beller again soon with The Aristocrats. Looking forward to seeing them again.

There must be a fair degree of communication for you guys to have got where you're at? Transparency is a different beast. I can smell a fish from a mile off, so I have a fairly good nose for BS. Fortunately, all of the people I play alongside are also my friends, so I don't suffer from a lack of that. I can see how that would be an issue though, where there are differing agendas which aren't shared. I think you need to clear the air if it's troubling you.