mcnach

I can see both sides. On the one hand, if I'm asked to learn song X, I learn it, and find that they play some other version or a rehash... I'd be like "why didn't you give me your version to start with?". At the same time... I'm the guy who might be joining whatever it is they're doing, so my place is to make my bassline fit in. If I'm playing a cover and my note perfect line does not fit what they play, then it's for me to change it to something that does. Anything else is being a little precious, IMO. In general, 'though, I have to like the music, the people, and what they want to do with the music. If one fails, then I would not be interested.

Me too, and I don't mind simple repetitive basslines. But I find blues lethargic rather than hypnotic.

That's what I recall too. I had to double check, and indeed he's credited as writer on that one. I don't know. edit: ha! it looks like the horns section had been playing strings for a bit (trombonist in question playing cello!) and this period was right before their departure from the band... so maybe he didn't even play in the recording? It sounds like it was a band with far too much drama.

Join a ska band! Only half joking... Back in late 2009 I don't think I had ever paid any attention to any in the ska universe, but a drummer friend of mine invited me to join this new project. Monday evenings at 8pm. I was tired, I was hungry (straight from work). It was cold, miserable weather. I was going through a bad period personally as well. I'd drag myself to the rehearsal... I didn't drive then, it was a bad bus ride... Every Monday I'd tell myself "what am I doing? I'll come along but I have to tell them I can't continue". However, I arrived... sax is practicing some harmonies with the trombone... and my bass amp was in front of them, one on each side... so I got the full brasstereo effect... and 10 minutes later I was all smiles, happy, and revitalised. Of course, everybody is different but if you're here chances are you probably enjoy music more than the average person. For me, music is the drug that always helps me. No, it doesn't fix anything and doesn't cure me... but makes things more bearable and at times it's entirely changed my outlook. Still does. And that band? lasted a month... drummer had issues, and we disbanded. Months later they reformed with another bass player and no trombone. But the ska bug had bitten. Our paths crossed again and I've been their bass player for two and a half years now

Two 5-string Stingray basses, with two humbuckers. One fretted and one fretless. That's for maximum versatility. Do I need maximum versatility, 'though? Nah. I just need something that sounds good in many situations. A Precision and a single humbucker Stingray for me, both fretted, then I'll sneak in a fretless Precision when you're not looking.

Yeah, there must be... but I'm not going to check

Indeed. I tend to read, sleep, and spend too much time loitering in venues/bars drinking with bandmates watching the clock go really slow. Sometimes I wish I had put a bicycle in the minibus, at least I could escape and explore... not that we ever go to places worth exploring much. Coventry? Nah... Years ago I had a DVD of a concert of a metal band... I can't remember who they were, I think Firewind, but not sure. Among the extras, there was a little documentary about what the band does while on tour. It was very interesting as it was so not 'rockandroll'... One of the guitarists had a stack of movies burnt on DVD and he'd spend time by himself watching movies and on skype with his wife and young child... The singer would go into town to walk around and explore and if possible find a cinema to watch whatever (there was an anecdote where he forgot the time difference compared to the previous night and he was happily in the cinema, mobile phone off, while the band was getting ready to go on... and they actually started playing without him after a long delay, a long instrumental intro before the singer finally arrived in a hurry)... Booooring. The things we do for those 2h onstage, eh? The first 'rock star' that I ever met properly was the guitarist in Ten, during the UK leg of a European tour. I was in a group with a few others who knew him, and after the concert at a venue in Glasgow he joined us and had a few beers together. I loved all the stories, and it all sounded like such an exciting life... Until at one point he mentions that no, they are not even staying in a hotel... "did you see that bus? That's my room for the next couple of weeks". He could have rented a car and drive home in 3 and a half hours to spend the night with his family and it sounded very tempting... Touring... how boring. I'd still do it though. But, my mini-tours of 3-4 days have always felt exhausting.

One of the co-writers of "Come on Eileen" plays trombone with one of my bands... Nobody ever reaIises that, but I used to be a bit nervous someone would notice and ask for that song (I'm not a fan ) Is there even trombone on that song? I'm not going to play it now to find out 😛

With an originals ska band, we have been asked quite insistently for Wonderwall by a bunch of drunks. Eventually the singer would announce each song as Wonderwall. It took three songs before they let it rest

(not sure why anything needs to get heated... ) It was just a joke, about the Fodera 'copies' found on AliExpress, like the one shown in the previously posted video. The guy is great to watch, so I'll post it again:

The bassline on The Cardigans song... I kind of like it. Very simple, but it works. Although I can't stand the song. As for the Nugent one... what's the point of that aimless soloing? Someone called it probably the best solo of all time... Guitar onanism more like. In that respect, I applaud the bassplayer for doing all he can to send the audience to sleep, hoping that way they would not realise just how terrible the song is.

Well, there's this chap in AliExpress who...

That would be, according to the guy I mentioned earlier, as bad a review as they could give! edit: It could also be that Fodera does not advertise in the magazine quite as much as Fender... so they can afford to be more honest?

I know someone who used to work for the magazine Guitarist. On the subject of scoring reviews, he said it was frustrating that he could not give his honest opinion because the manufacturers buy advertisements in the magazine, and you can't write negative things... so the scores were generally high, but reviewers tried to give subtle hints in the write up so that alert readers could read between the lines what the negatives were. At one point so many of the scores were 5/5 that an instrument with solid 4/5 across the panel would indicate they were not very impressed with it. Crazy.

Yes, some end up being a waste of time... but when someone comes to the audition unprepared for it, it's a waste of time before it starts: it shows lack of consideration.

Not if you play bass. Chances are nobody would have noticed you...

Reviews in guitar magazines being biased? Noooo...

That's nice.

Best cheap nice sounding strings? Warwick Red... they're a bit rough 'though. However, I only change strings about once a year, so DR Fat Beams (or Sunbeams if you prefer nickel) may be more expensive, but it's not a hardship when you consider their life. They sound better and *feel* much better.

+1 Having someone turn up at an audition who has not prepared... I don't even want to play 5 minutes with them. I find it a bit of a fosters-take and I probably would not be very nice to them. If you are not going to prepare... tell them now. Then it's up to them if they want to cancel, meet without you, or meet with you still regardless.

If you need the money... go for the paid one. If you don't need the money... don't go for either and keep looking. One of the worst things I did in the past was settling with bands that didn't really do it for me just because I had no others on the horizon. They rarely get better, and at least I ended up resenting the time I had to invest, and didn't really do a great job as my heart wasn't in it. Best to keep looking, I think. Being in an active band requires a fair amount of work, effort... that must be compensated by a mix of financial rewards and fun. If you don't have either... the outlook is bleak, I think.

@bridge I think the consensus is... you have the wrong song, you need to change it

Actually, speeding it up often makes the bassline clearer. Go to 2x (rarely going higher helps) faster, it might help here too.