bassist_lewis

I just threw this together this afternoon, experimenting with two camera angles and all the random footage I've accumulated over the last month. https://youtu.be/dJWurxpGPMc

In my experience you get work with tribute and function bands because you know someone, which could be a player in the band who recommends you to whoever organises the band (this quite often is another member of the band) or you know the agent for a band, but getting work as an individual (ie not a solo performer) through an agent is much less common, as, again in my experience, agents don't tend to get too involved in the day to day running of the band, they just handle bookings. The answer, as always in music, is you have to know a guy (or girl). You could go through ads on gumtree or the like, but in my experience these tend to be amateur level bands playing a handful of gigs a year who don't know a lot of musicians. The full-time professionals I know ALWAYS hire people they've played with already or come highly recommended. Some agencies run free showcases for prospective clients to come and see the band, some bands do them themselves, or just do a gig at a pub and invite clients. But once you're in, you are IN. It takes a long time to get steady work but, after 7 years, I turn away about as much work as I take on.

Another vote for Notion. I tried a few of the free ones, they look crappy, are difficult to use and crash often. Notion is reliable and the learning curve isn't too steep.

The A is 12mm and the D is 11mm. At the end of the fingerboard

I've been playing consistently for about a year and I find my left hand tiring easy, particularly when I'm doing walking/jazz stuff, which is the majority of the gigs I do. I want to take the action down a bit and I have it booked in with the luthier next week so I wondered what was a "normal" height for predominantly pizz playing? Currently my action is 10mm on the E and 8mm on th G, measured at the end of th fingerboard. Thanks guys.

I've owned a few 5s, off the top of my head: an Aria, Lakland 5502, Lakland Darryl Jones and a Callowhill MPB. The latter is the best bass I've owned and also happens to be a 5 string. It's short scale - the B is killer btw - so it's super comfy to play, it's really light (everyone always comments when they pick it up) and I love the sound, kind of P-bass-like (it only has a P pickup) but maybe less 'grunt'.

I maybe highlighted my dislike of new strings a bit too strongly! I think it is something to do with the resonance of my new bedroom, I moved my amp through to the kitchen and the problem went away.

I've had a set of DR Lo-Riders (I think) on my bass for about 18 months and I was curious about the DR Sunbeams - nickel wound on a round core, supposedly more 'old school' sounding - so I changed them a few days ago. But now I seem to have a dead spot around the 7th fret on the E string, the notes don't seem to have as strong a fundamental as the other frets on that string and a slight dip in volume (could be because of a loss of mids rather than actual volume lost). This doesn't happen on any of the other strings. Does anyone have any insight as to why this would happen? And that's why I hate new strings, I had my sound nailed and now it's gone 😭 I might even get my old strings out the bin and put them back on!

The wombtone looks incredible but way more than I need. I don't go after synthy tones (...yet...), I'm more likely to be going for Anthony Jackson's sound on "For the love of money".

Hey guys, just wondered if people have recommendations for phasers for bass. I used to have an EBS DPhaser years ago but just wondered what else was out there that was worth looking at. Cheers!

I went through the exact same thing last year so I have a good idea how you're feeling, though I didn't end up going away as I my career really took off last year. It's definitely a good time to do it, no responsibilities, no ties. It's a little easier to get on the cruise ships if you're in an established band but still work on your reading - quick tip, get a bass clef version of the real book and read through a few tunes one after another, gets you used to reading stuff you don't know rather than just learning the tune by heart. One of my friends has been doing the playing in bars abroad thing for about 2 years. The agency put you in a band, it's a steep learning curve but you don't have to be able to read. Couple of things to be aware of: you'll be with the same 5 or 6 people every day for 6 months, which can be pretty hellish if you don't get on; playing 6 days a week is a big stress on your body; going away like that makes it near impossible to establish a stable long term career. The up side: you meet a lot of great people playing all over the world; you can work on your chops; you get to see the world!!! You can party hard and you'll have a ton of stories when you come back. As for getting your career going at home, if you live in or near a big city then you'll have lots of opportunities. Check out jam nights, answer ads on gumtree. Try and make your own opportunities, play with everyone you can, practice practice practice! You get work based on contacts and reputation so turn up on time, have a good attitude, learn the material, play for the song, diversify - don't turn your nose up at any work or any one (you never know who'll give you your next big break) and don't rely on any one thing for your income. And learn to drive.

The luthier of my bass very sadly died last month making said instrument now completely irreplaceable - I had hoped to have a second one built as a spare in the future. It is currently insured for £2100, the price it would have cost to buy a new one but with that now being impossible do I increase the amount it's insured for or just leave it? Thanks

I've tried googling this and I guess I don't don't what word to use because I can't find anything. I have a Lehle basswitch DI, and while it doesn't come with a power supply, it does come with the endpin plug bit so you wire that to any power supply you want. Currently I'm using a power supply from Maplin with the changeable fixtures and it's a bit wobbly so I'd like to change it bit I don't know how to wire it, anyone out there who does know? Thanks

I saw/read an interview with VW and he said himself that when he goes on stage as Victor Wooten the audience is expecting him to play a certain way. So he plays in the way that's expected of him in that role.

A pro keyboard player friend of mine thinks nothing of leaving his gear in his car because he has insurance that covers it (Allianz, apparently). I intend to do the same but insurance isn't much use when my cab would take 6 weeks to replace, my bass would take a year (assuming he was still building) and the company that made my amp doesn't exist anymore 😮

[quote name='eude' timestamp='1463558503' post='3052216'] That's extremely kind of you mate, look forward to hearing/seeing it and thanks for the info on your strings too Eude [/quote] One of my bands did a live session. There's bits of low B all over but particularly at 1:30 onwards. https://youtu.be/6WGWKcTD_CM Better late than never!

[quote name='eude' timestamp='1463483462' post='3051657'] Hey mate, have you got any sound/video clips of the bass in use, especially the low B? Also, what strings are you using, have you gone custom, or are you going off the shelf? Cheers, Eude [/quote] I do not currently but I'll throw some together in my free time this week. I think Tim put standard DRs on it, not sure exactly what type but they're rounds. The low B is D'Addario.

I have a Callowhill MPB short scale 5 string and, to my ears, it's the best low B I've played. its one of the few Bs IME that's useable beyond the 4th fret. There's nothing special about the neck construction (one piece maple, maybe quartersawn?), the luthier said it was to do with angles at the bridge and nut. The only thing I've done is test a few gauges of low B (125, 130, 135) and, not surprisingly, the 135 was the best.

I don't know the brand but they're the ones that came with the bass from thomann

When I'm bowing I've noticed that sometimes the note will change pitch slightly (semitone or a bit less) and back again. Before you ask, it's not my left hand shifting. I've also found that the strings constantly go out of tune after a day or two, could these be related? Thanks

We'll I've gone and bought it anyway so I'll just have to find for myself!

It's all in the topic. I'm looking at buying a double bass and one thing is holding me back: if you don't have a car how do you get your double bass around town? The bass trolley? The wheel that goes in the end pin hole? A roadie?!

Phil Jobes big head. Quit expensive but all you need us your instrument cable and headphones. They also come with a few cables to plug into the auxiliary input (iPod, phones etc)