thebrig

[quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1376035823' post='2168751'] Positive side..? Has gigging experience Picks up new songs quite quickly Has an 'ear'... Negative side..? No reading (what..? Not even slowly..?) No theory I wold go for 'intermediate, could do better'. Why would one not at least start reading, and at least elementary theory..? A decent minimum knowledge of how modern music 'works' is not only a 'must', but opens so many doors and opportunities, as well as being fascinating. What's not to like..? It would put you on the road from 'good' to 'pretty damned good', if you worked on it a bit. Just my tuppence-worth... [/quote] It's probably because I started playing at the age of 54, I'm now 61, and I never really thought that I would ever get to the stage where I can play pretty good bass lines, and be good enough to play with excellent musicians in gigging bands, but if I could turn the clock back, I would definitely learn as much as I can about music.

I was just wondering how you assess your ability level. For example, when advertising online for musicians etc, they often ask what your level is, and most people usually put either, [i][b]Beginner[/b][/i], [i][b]Good[/b][/i], [i][b]Intermediate[/b][/i], [i][b]Excellent[/b][/i] or [i][b]Pro[/b][/i]. So what level would you say I am? I have been playing for around seven years now, have around five years gigging experience with Function, Rock and R&B bands. I've never had lessons, can't read music, don't know any theory etc.. but I can listen to most songs and learn to play them in very little time at all, almost "note for note" on a lot of them, or add my own little twist to them. I think my timing and feel for the music is pretty good, and no one has ever said that I am the weak link in the band. What is the difference between [i][b]Intermediate[/b][/i] and [i][b]Good[/b][/i], and would I fall into one of these categories? Or should I really be classed as a [i][b]Beginner[/b][/i], because I don't know any theory, don't read, and have never had lessons? Just curious!

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1376031431' post='2168692'] Seems like a lot of effort for some screws. What's wrong with just buying some new ones? [/quote] Exactly! [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fender-Pickguard-Mounting-Screws-/281126874165?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item417477ac35"]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fender-Pickguard-Mounting-Screws-/281126874165?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item417477ac35[/url]

I've had wrist/hand problems for years and have tried almost every bass out there, having bought and sold nearly FOURTY in the past seven years, all second hand I might add, so I never really lost anything, but it did me a great chance to try them all out for a few months at a time. Here is a list of some of the basses I have owned: Precisions (USA/CIJ/MIM), Jazzes (USA/MIM), Warwick Corvettes, Ibanez SR500, Ibanez SR1200 Premium, Musicman Sterling, plus many more. I like the sound and vibe of the precisions the best, but found the width of the neck a nightmare for my arthritic hands, The Jazzes played great, but the sound just didn’t do it for me. The Warwick Corvettes are beautifully put together, and sounded great, but two had really skinny necks, more like an Ibanez SR, but one had a really chunky deep neck but with a 38mm nut width, it felt great to play, but unfortunately, it was made of bubinga and weighed a ton, so I had to pass it on. The Ibanez SR’s are lovely, but the necks are a bit too skinny, but certainly worth a try. The Musicman Sterling just did not feel right at all, and my hand cramped up. So because I prefer the Precisions, I decided to purchase an American model about a year ago, I got myself a "Mighty Mite" Jazz neck with a rosewood board from “BlueBass” on eBay, stuck it on, and now I have my dream bass. It plays like a Jazz, but still sounds like a Precision. Perfect! Mighty Mite necks are great IMO, and for around £100, it can make a massive difference to your playing experience. If you do take this route, make sure you keep the original neck, just in case you do want to sell it on.

It's not the excessive buzzing and rattling that winds me up, it's the fact that in around 95% of bass demo's, they insist on slapping!

Our intentions really are no more than to just play the local pub circuit If we get offered better venues, then great, but we just want to have fun, and any money earned would be a bonus. The vast majority of Feelgood songs were covers, and they were really just a pub band anyway. And don't forget, they were often described as the "Best Pub Band" in the world.

[quote name='KevB' timestamp='1371208569' post='2111180'] Yep, as others have said the two are not mutually exclusive. Have a DF set and go out as a full trib but then have a more varied set for other gigs. There's a bunch of guys do the rounds where I am that go out under 2 totally different names and wear different gear doing either a 60's nostagia set or a commercial classic rock set but the band members are the same. At xmas or new year they often appear as both bands and effectively become their own support act! [/quote] Do they ask for double bubble?

[quote name='Junkyard Rocket' timestamp='1371140183' post='2110435'] I agree & the UK domain is available [url="http://www.nominet.org.uk/whois/lookup?query=drgoodfeel.co.uk"]http://www.nominet.o...rgoodfeel.co.uk[/url] [/quote] We already have what we think is a great name, and we also have the [b].com[/b] domain as well. Please keep the advice coming, as we are following all your comments with great interest.

I don’t think the look will be too difficult, and as for effects? simple, we don’t use any! Please keep the suggestions and ideas coming BC’ers.

I think that hedging our bets by playing alternative material might be a good idea. I must say, we will only be looking to play the local circuit, unless it really takes off and we get offered bigger gigs, but for now, it's just for fun!

[color=#222222]After nearly TWO years trying to find musicians who want to play good old fashioned no-nonsense Rhythm & Blues, with loads of Dr Feelgood thrown in, I have now got the band I want. But because people have told us we have nailed the Feelgood sound, we are wondering if we should become a Dr Feelgood “tribute” band. Our guitarist is a self-confessed Wilko Johnson nut! he is left-handed who plays right-handed with the backs of his fingers just like Wilko, and he really nails Wilko’s choppy sound, and can do the walk/machine gun. Our vocalist lives near Canvey Island (Feelgood country), and has that gravelly Lee Brilleaux voice, and plays blues harp. The drummer is well suited to this style of music. Me? Well I would be happy to walk back and forth while playing my bass lines. To sum up, we really do sound like Dr Feelgood! [u][i]So what we want to know now is:[/i][/u][/color] [color=#222222]Have any of you out there ever played in a “tribute” band, and if so, what advice can you give us? [b][i]What are the advantages/disadvantages? Would we get more/less bookings? Would we need an agent? Would we alienate some of the audience by playing music by one particular band? Would we need to do the whole package, for example, dressing and acting like them etc..?[/i][/b] All comments/advice would be much appreciated.[/color]

Love it! Which one is you?

Genz Benz Streamliner 900 in bag over my shoulder + Barefaced Super 12 in one hand. I love it, and so does my back!

FOUR BASSIST? I'm intrigued! Please tell me more.

[i]I was sent a list of seventeen songs the day before an audition about 9 months ago, and I actually learnt them all reasonably well, only to find out at the audition, that they only knew about 4 or 5 of them themselves![/i]

[quote name='bonzodog' timestamp='1370427456' post='2100571'] Sorry if this topic has been mentioned before but I am a relatively newbie. I have played in a few bands over the years and am currently in one and setting up another working covers band. I always seem to be in a minority when it comes to being conscious of how the band looks on stage. I don't mean dancing around (although I do prefer to move a bit rather than stand still). I mean the tidiness of the stage itself and what we wear. I have known fellow band mates in the past leave guitar cases and drum cases littered around the stage and leads end up becoming like a plate of spaghetti. I worked the clubs as a singer for years and it used to annoy me when the club would leave stacks of chairs and tables on the stage and also the dreaded shimmer curtain were always half hanging off so I suppose this is where I am getting it from. Do you think this is an issue or am I being over the top? BTW I am not writing in continuous lines for a reason, my post wont let me start a new line or paragraph for some reason!! [/quote]BTW [i]I am not writing in continuous lines for a reason, my post wont let me start a new line or paragraph for some reason!![/i] I thought I had a problem with my computer, as I have the same problem, if I want to start new paragraphs, I have to first write in "notepad" and copy and paste into Basschat. So is this a common problem with Basschat users, or is it my computer?

[quote name='PTB' timestamp='1367602796' post='2067529'] I play in a band fronted by a harp player. I'll ask him if he knows of anyone in your area & let you know if he does. [/quote] Cheers!

[quote name='charic' timestamp='1367590709' post='2067346'] Ummm... A harp looks like this What the hell are you guys talking about? [/quote] Maybe that's why they are hard to find, can't be much fun lugging one of those around!

The harp player who teaches, has recommended one of his students to us, he lives locally, and he is coming along on the 15th May. I will let you know how it goes.

[quote name='Floyd' timestamp='1367588206' post='2067305'] Hey this is our stuff. This was our gig last night.......... [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgAsY0CaYfk[/media] [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWR2KPmlmjI[/media] [/quote] Looks like everyone is having a great time, well done!

[quote name='gapiro' timestamp='1367567355' post='2066884'] I know at least two goodones in Cambridge but they both have no transport! [/quote] We had one from Cambridgeshire for a couple of rehearsals, and he was brilliant, but he is a paramedic and unfortunately, he found the travelling too much after a twelve hour shift.

[quote name='skankdelvar' timestamp='1367544029' post='2066800'] Good point. That said, Brilleaux was a fantastic frontman but no Charlie Musselwhite or Kim Wilson. I'm sure almost [i]anyone[/i] could master the harp part for 'Going Back Home' in a month or so. Another option is to do it yourself. Jon Paris, bassplayer with Johnny Winter - playing harp on a neckbrace from 25:14 [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWtAajmiTcA[/media] [/quote] Our guitarist tried doing this on Wednesday at rehearsal, but unfortunately, he tied himself up in knots trying to play the "Wilko" riffs and harp at the same time.

[quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1367529013' post='2066652'] I think they`re all at home sulking after bands started tuning to Eb to stop them getting up on stage & jamming uninvited On a serious note though, once your band is up & running Brig, keep us informed - would love to see a band doing this type of music, and nice & local for me. [/quote] Will do Lozz

Strangely, today I was told by a very well known harp player who also teaches harp, that it takes about three years for a novice to reach intermediate level, so add that to the two years already gone, that's five years just to sort out a harp player.

Tell him to move, it's nice in St Albans!