fretmeister

Be kind. Ask him to tell the others within say, a week, or you will have to because it's getting in the way of making arrangements. He might actually want to back out but finds it easier to tell you as the new guy than his long standing mates. He might even be expecting you to tell them and might be surprised you haven't. Doesn't have to be an aggressive conversation - ask him in a way that doesn't close any doors in the future.

We are definitely using different definition of "learned."

Film session musicians get the sheet music. Rainey formally studied music - piano, trumpet, bass, violin and went to college majoring in brass instruments. He's not a valid comparator for an average covers band - and as you noted - even he gets 3 attempts. Carol Kaye is equally qualified. Point is - they aren't learning the song by listening to it. Film sessions are fully scored. All the players get notation. If the conductor wants a particular player to not sight read it they get an arrangement chart and asked to improv it. They are playing what is on the page in front of them and trusting the other players to do the same. No memory needed, no chance of missing a change. No need to actually learn it at all. Can play it, get paid, go home and forget it completely. That still isn't the same sport as listening to the track on a CD and knowing it. Unless that definition is now expanding to listening once but being allowed to pause it every 3 seconds to take notes.

Just seen this. My definition of learning the song means being able to play it (with the other players) to a performance standard. Anything under performance standard means to me that it has not been learned. All stages up until it is ready to be performed is "still learning it."

Many runs are part of the hook and in a covers band that is important because the audience expects them to be there. Many recordings are not clear enough to get the chord voicings right in 1 listen. And the bass player looking for interesting lines is moving the goalposts. Could be a U2 tune with crotchet root notes that could be worked out in 1 listen. But what is the point of that if the drums, vocal, and guitar parts cannot be? And that's assuming only 3 players and 1 singer - no harmony instrument parts or vocal parts. Getting a rough idea of a tune in a single listen is vastly different for that song to be ready for a performance by multiple players. A jam along to youtube isn't even the same sport as a gig with other people. Are you really claiming that a band could be in the dressing room, put the CD on for 1 listen and then go out and perform it after that single listen? No chance. Even the greatest sight-readers on earth rehearse.

Spoken like a player of a traditionally single note at a time instrument.

One listen? To performance standard? No even a conservatoire trained 1st chair for the London Phil would say that was accurate even if it was 7 Nation Army.

He should be telling them.

Sandberg California VS4 Passive. They tend to peek just over £1K, and about two thirds of that used. The ones you might see at £1200+ new will be the active ones or with the aged finish. Sandberg necks are lovely. The stock pickup can be a bit modern so maybe look for a used one and use the balance to stick in a nice Aguilar 60s wind pickup or a Fender custom shop one.

940 lb seems quite light for some of these.

Right - I am loving the bass, the way it plays, feels etc etc.... but not the pickups without using my EQ-200 to sort it out. So I've ordered a set of the Aguilar DCB pickups. Hopefully arrive in a few days and I'll get them fitted next week.

I love that band. Got to be a candidate for the most fun live band in the world a the moment.

Loads of options. Almost every tune can be covered in a way that makes it fun.

Interesting thread. I'd be amazed if you could assemble say 4 people and a 25 song set list where everybody likes every song, and even more amazed if all the liked songs were suitable for actually getting a decent covers gig. To me it comes down to the numbers. In a 25 song set list I would expect to really love maybe 5 of them. Enjoy another 10. Tolerate 5, and hate the rest. And I'd expect the rest of the band to have similar feelings. And if we are all mates, then I'll gladly play my mate's favourite tune that I hate if I get to play my favourite. And if regular Friday night gigs are the priority - then all that still goes out the window if the punters don't want to hear the songs I love. Now if you don't mind - I have to go and practice some Mariah for this years Xmas show..... [/urgh]

I wonder just how upset the wife would be....

any photos?

I've got the Neotech Mega Bass Strap which is very nice if a little bouncy, and also a silly money Levi's 4.5 inch wide leather one that is a bit more rigid. Damn expensive though.

These guys can make you one. I have a couple of theirs. https://www.originalscratchplates.com/ Or try Strings & Things as they are the official EBMM people for the UK. If EBMM actually make a clear one at all.

better demo on that thread.

I've told my wife it's your fault if I come home with a new amp over the next few days! She's scary. Good luck to you!

That Fletcher Munson curve is a right git sometimes. Always have to EQ at gig volume for it to work properly. When I'm using my Helix then I have 2 sets of patches - good for the house and good for a gig. They are really very different but they work in their intended places.

My local PMT has a few 800s in stock so I might arrange to trip to try a few and find a quiet one.

I don't even have the bass anymore. It got too heavy for me after surgery. It is still the very best bass I've ever owned.

I hate to ask [stuck record] but what's the fan noise like on the RM800? ta

Tecamp / Eich are the cleanest amps I've ever used. Horrible things as a bass amp. Great as a power amp.