dmccombe7

I play mostly rock bands and i'm usually the only one that reads or uses music unless we have a keys player. Keys players generally read music and it works far better for me. I've played in a very few bands where guitarists didn't even know the chords they was playing. Needless to say i didn't stay long with them. Too disorganised for me. Dave

No matter what band i play with i always write out the bass part. Generally don't write it out as an exact manuscript style but have the bars and notes placed exactly as they should on A4 line paper. I find reading or knowing the basics has always been helpful for me. I learn the song first by ear to get a feel for the melody and then either using TABS or manuscript where available and the fact i write it out myself note for note is also an aid to remembering the structure of the songs. I have learned the song in my head and also have the memory of my hand written notes as a fall back and of course the short written notes as an absolute fall back if required on short notice gigs. Dave

Burke Shelley, John Wetton, Greg Lake, Glenn Hughes

For me the Dep is the guy filling in because the full time guy has another gig with his other band(s) If we all stuck to one band we wouldn't need Deps. Dave

You gotta laugh.

It can be a lot of work doing more than one band. You need to put in the additional time learning the songs, the rehearsal time with the bands and as long as everyone is aware of when the gigs are there shouldn't be too many problems. Most guys i know in several bands will be first come first served with the gigs. If a band puts a gig in the diary then the other bands need to be able to accept that. Maybe that's why we have so many Deps available these days I have no issue with guys being in more than one band altho i find it just takes up too much of my own time. That's just a personal priority for me tho. My current band the singer is in 2 bands and also does solo with backing tracks. Guitarist also in 3 bands and drummer in 2 bands. Some of their gigs are festivals gigs thru the summer so they don't gig regularly as an Ozzy Tribute. Just remember to be up front with it all. Might be worth casually asking if it woukld be an issue for the rest of the band. You might find they are already doing it themselves and haven't told you Dave

One other thing many of us seem to forget is the physical size of London. Its huge so when you say go across London that's further than me going into Glasgow. Dave

Better than yours i reckon but mostly towns and villages apart from the first 8 miles thru gorgeous countryside. I remember back in late 70's doing a training course at Foxboro in Redhill Surrey. 2 weeks course and i was bored at night so decided to get train home for the weekend. I got the train at Redhill and into London somewhere. Onto the tube to Euston and walked upstairs to my train to Glasgow. Off the train at Glasgow and then downstairs to the underground station and home to Motherwell station. I wasn't outside at all all the way from Redhill till i reached Motherwell. I was fair impressed by that. I just found London to be a bit over-whelming with far too many people. I don't envy anyone that lives there Dave

Like many i've had various basses and rigs that have come and gone. I still have my Warwick Thumb NT4 from 89 that i just love playing but too heavy now to do a full gig. My goto bass is my CIJ Geddy Jazz. Love playing it and i can get a good sound thru most rigs with it. My current fav rig is my GK1001RBii thru my Berg HT322 but the cab is a beast to carry. Like my Markbass combo and ext cab and it gives me a great sound no matter the venue but doesn't have the same tonal character as the other rig. At the moment i'm contemplating selling a fair bit of gear to fund a Mesa Subway rig that i will try before buying but i've not read any poor reviews on them and they do sound great in the VID clips i've watched and ones that guys have sent me to let me hear their set up without FOH support. So i guess i'm stil not 100% happy just yet. Dave

For me to get where i worked would be :- Bus to Lanark. 2omins Either a bus or train to Motherwell between 30mins and 60mins depending on train or bus. Train being quicker. Bus to Carfin 15mins Walk to work 10mins Total minimum estimated 75mins minimum. Bus to lanark is on the hour so if i started at 9am i would need to get the 7am bus getting me into work at maybe 8:15am That's 45 mins before i start. Knowing my company they would expect me to start working right away at no extra wages. Car = 45mins allowing for traffic (25miles) at 30mpg just under a gallon of fuel currently £1.29 a litre lets say £5 each way. Total return max £10 Leave the house 8am ish get to work approx 8:40 to 8:45. Public transport buying return tickets = £4 for bus to Lanark, think its about £6 for train then approx £3 for bus at Motherwell again so total £13 return

i normally use Google translations if required. Think they are ok. I've not had any threats when using them Dave

Usually i get the train into Glasgow but its a bit of an adventure on its own. Not so bad getting there altho it can take 1.5hrs because of the train route where i can drive in less than an hour. On way home the local bus normally waits for the train getting in but if the train is even a few minutes delayed the bus leaves and its another hour till the next bus. Its over £20 for a taxi from station to our house. I usually make a day out of it with my wife. She does her clothes shops while i visit Guitar Guitar. Cost of fuel and parkng charges won't be much different than 2 off return train tickets "Simples" but not ideal Dave

Can't say i've ever used Paypal F&F so didn't know that. I still think its sellers responsibility to ensure the item reaches the buyer. He should have had it fully insured even if that meant stating on his post that courier insurance would be extra if not pick up only. Dave

Number of ways for me over past 8 yrs. Join My Band Gumtree Bandmix (you need to pay for membership tho) Current band was thru a FB advert altho it was thru a friends page and been lucky with this one as its a project i've been trying to put together for about 6yrs with no success and then this came out the blue. Thru mates or word of mouth. That can be either you asking around or ofers from people you know or who may already know of you as a bassist. Other ways :- Rehearsal studios usually have a post it board where bands are loking for members Local music shops used to have a post it board too Dave

I thought payment by Paypal would cover you. They have a 180 day policy that if you don't recieve the goods they will offer a full refund. I know this because i'm currently awaiting a decsion on Gift Experience going into liquidation and altho it was over the 180 day period they said they would investigate and if no response from seller in 10 days they would make a decision on it. Yours is only circa 90 days so should be covered. Dave

Well that would be me then usually right down the front.

I think Thin Lizzy Live and Dangerous. Sure some of that was recorded at Glasgow Apollo. Also sure some of Rush Live album was recorded at Glasgow Apollo altho can't remember which one 1st or 2nd would need to double check that. If they were then i was there. Was also at The Wall by Pink Floyd in Earls Court first time around. That might be on a live album or VID in those days. Dave

Nice subtle touch there. Stay in the good books with the "current" girlfriend. Dave

I've played and have some really cheap basses and they are far better than some expensive ones i've tried. Was disappointed with a Spector at £1200 i thought was like playing a plank of wood. The neck just didn't feel right but that's down to personal preference i guess

Well done. At least you've come to a decision. OR HAVE YOU ???? Dave

I use a laptop bag bought thru Amazon. Takes my leads, power cables and speaker cables, tuner and compressor pedals if required, notepad or music sheets whatever is required for rehearsals, spare batteries, pens, etc and keep my car keys and bank cards etc while rehearsing (its kept at my feet during rehearsals at all times i've even carried my GK MB200 as a spare but it gets a little crowded in there. At times i wish it was a little bigger tho. Another couple inches deeper. (ooh Matron !!!!!) Dave

Thoroughly enjoyed it. Its good to find out a bit about others on BC rather than just the name. Looking forward to the next one. Dave

They are open at weekends ? To be fair my wife has bought most of my basses as presents for special birthdays or even Xmas presents. I'm not a big spender thru the year so it balances out with her regular shopping trips Dave

Take the family with you and try and make a day out of it. I don't have the young baby to contend with but my wife came with me to Bass Direct and Mark and the staff made her very welcome. I think it was about 300miles each way. We left very early, stopped for coffee breaks every 2 hrs or thereabouts, got to shop and tried out the different basses in my budget. Ones i fancied first then what the shop thought i might like and afterwards we went for lunch with the bass tucked safely away and hidden from sight off course. Took our time going home and stopped off for an early dinner before getting home. I'm not saying drive those kind of distances but maybe a little clsoer for you i hope. I had given it a lot of thought and fair bit of planning to make sure i arrived at a reasoanable time and not be rushed into buying something because i had just driven 300miles. I've tried a Dean bass and it was OK but not really for me but if all you are doing is bedroom bass playing it should be adequate. If the 5 string is gonna be "the goto bass" then you would want a reasonably good quality instrument. I'm kinda hoping i'm helping here but maybe not Dave

But you don't look anywhere near that age Blue so be careful what you wear. You don't want to look older than need be