dmccombe7

Wow that sounds like an impressive rig. I was using the studio rig today. An EBS HD360 thru an Ampeg 810. My own rig is a Mesa Mpulse 600 via Mesa PH212 playing 70's Glam Rock covers so quite a mix from Under Moon of Love to Hellraiser and Saturday Nights Alright. Sounded good in them all. Dave

First rehearsal with the new LaBella low tension flats. At home i thought they sounded a bit dull and thud sounding. Today in a band setting they were absolutely perfect. They didn't have the attack of the rounds i was using but it wasn't overly noticeable in most songs. Most enjoyable part was no sore fingers on my plucking hand and no blisters. My fingers glided along the strings which was an unusual feeling when playing in earnest but really pleased with them. Think i'll need to fiddle about with my EQ to get just right with a bit more mid to top end just to clarify things. At times i found the bass getting a little lost in the mix. Not a big issue and can be sorted i reckon. Tension on the strings was pretty close to the rounds i normally use but the other thing i noticed was no fret rattle. I quite enjoyed not hearing as much rattle from the strings. All in all i think i'm pretty happy with them. Dave

That was excellent. I might just place an order for that album. The singer has a very addictive voice. Superb playing by all My kind of music

An honest bass player. Refreshing ad. Tell it like it is then everyone knows what they are getting up front Dave

Lot of the time it needs to be the right band for the right audience to get a great night. Having played in rock and prog bands over the years some of the audiences we had just weren't into that style of music even tho i was loving it. On the other hand the gigs i've done where the audience are hugely enjoying the band are usually good commercial covers bands. Playing in a 70's Glam Rock band means we generally have a specific age group that enjoy the music more. Party nights suit us and everyone will enjoy a bit of Glam Rock mainly because the songs from that era are so well known even to this day.. I wouldn't play this kind of music wearing my Glam outfit in a pub gig in some parts of Glasgow. I'd be hung out to dry in 5 mins Dave

I guess a lot of it is down to most people having smart phones nowadays.

Forgot to add that with my current band a lot of people (women) want their pics taken because of the Glam outfits. This was something new to me and never been asked for after show pics before this band. I def like that part even if i am soaking with sweat they just love it. Dave

Any gig i turn up and its a full house just makes my day that people have paid to come and watch us as a band. I'll always appreciate that moment when i step out on stage to see it. Also at the end of the night if someone comes over and still sober makes a good comment about either myself or the band in general. Just makes the night all worth the effort. I do still enjoy playing in this band. We get a good laugh together and get along so well. Dave

I keep a tube in my gig bag and put on 10-15mins before playing. Put it on in the car before you get out to the gig. Lats a good couple of hrs too.

I get this regularly on my fretting hand index finger. Had it for years and it comes when i play for a while. Worse if playing rock music and holding same note doing 8ths. If its too bad i use a tiny spot of Voltorol on my fingertip. Works a treat. It must be a trapped nerve of some kind as i've had it for couple years now. Guessing @41Hz is spot on with his diagram on this. If it happens during a gig i just use the pad a bit more and that works too. Seems fine if i'm playing different notes or strings a lot and moving it. Only when i hold the same note for a while. Dave

Out of curiosity what style of music are you playing @machinehead Is that a Mesa head you're using in the pic. ? Dave

I'm hoping that's the case. My rounds do feel a little dull at home too at low volumes. The amp and cab def comes into its own when pushed a bit, more so the cab. Looking forward to trying it out. Good to hear others experience with flats. thanks for letting me know. If they don't work on my Sandberg they will probably end up on my Jazz. Dave

Decided to put my LaBella low tension flats on my Sandberg VM4 fretted today and get a little used to them for Sun rehearsals. First flats in about 30+yrs when i had fretless basses. Have to say i love the feel of them as my fingers seem to glide over them. My only concern is they have quite a dull sound compared to my Sandberg rounds or even the nickels i use. I expected that to be fair but i'm not sure how it will come across within the band. I'm hoping it will be ok tho as i def like the feel. Its a 70's Glam Rock covers band so this could be an expensive fail altho i will just swap them onto another bass if they don't work and go back to my rounds again. Might have a look at other types like maybe ground wound or similar if these don't work. Some investigation is required just in case. Here's hoping all will be well at rehearsals tho Dave

Remember taping their album from my mate around that time. Twelfth Night on one side and IQ on the other. Great albums from both bands. Pretty sure they also played my local venue The Heathery Bar in Wishaw around then too. It was the biggest bar venue in UK holding 200-300 if i remember right. Lot of the big bands played there incl Marillion, Iron Maiden (very early years), Jack Bruce, Pallas, Frankie Miller, to name a few Dave

Sounds like you're on top of your issues. Lot of great info in this. Dave

The man's a legend on BC. Think he plays bass as well. Seriously one of the god guys on here. Dave

Not as good as the Rutles

Good news that its manageable. As a simple quick change get a Gruvgear duo strap. When i had back problems i used one for approx 6mths and once my back muscles had strengthened thru exercise i dropped the extra strap from it and now used as a normal bass strap which is by far the comfiest one i've ever had. Bass Direct is where i got mine. They come in different lengths too.

I can only watch people like Jaco, Jeff Berlin, Victor Wooten, Michael Manring in small dozes rather than a full album. I really like Manrings material and have been almost tempted but decided i would just get bored with it and i couldn't play along with it cause i'm rubbish in comparison. So i just watch small clips on Youtube. Put them in a proper band and it changes it for me. I have several Brand X, Bruford etc type albums with some of these guys playing and it works far better for me Dave

All getting a bit involved and over-analysed. I just didn't like it. Same as back in 80's i didn't like some songs but i did like the majority. No change for me here then. Is it possible that when you are younger with a more active imagination you tend to listen to the words more and read more into it than the writer meant. I'm thinking Floyd, Rush 2112 and even Bowie's 5 years kind of thing back in my day. Now i just like a good tune. Lyrics don't have as much influence as they used to. Dave

Probably because at one time when we were younger we actually liked the show. With age comes a lack of understanding the tastes of the younger musical generation. Or its just the Victor Meldrew syndrome creeping up on us older chaps. "I don't believe it" Dave

I wouldn't say scrap it but maybe vary the style of acts for a wider audience. There are many new bands out there from all musical genres that could do with the publicity and show time. When was the last time we had a prog band, a classic rock style band or even a jazz rock band. Old genres of music i know but then again some of the material i've seen on the show recently has been done before. I usually record it when i realise its on and if i don't like something then i fast forward it. I've come across a few bands on the show that i otherwise would never have heard of. Band of Horses being one of my favs a few yrs ago. Dave

Yep i do the same. I buy a bass and think its the end of GAS and then after a few mths maybe even a year i realise my old trusty Jazz is still my fav bass. At the moment i'm on my Sandberg VM4 and pretty happy with that. Gives me a tone i wasn't expecting but i like it and it suits the band i'm in. Dave