Grangur

Just taken a listen there. Nice groove and tone there. Well done! Thanks for the heads up. http://jeffgaeth.com/audio/9_Forgotten_Reef_hifi.m3u

[quote name='gary mac' timestamp='1411369707' post='2558716'] Thanks Mr. Castle, will do that. [/quote] I just did that for my MB LM2. I got the socket from Maplin for about £5 inc postage. This is what I ordered. http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/speakon-jack-combi-pcb-mount-vertical-a57qt

[quote name='gary mac' timestamp='1411371717' post='2558740'] The date is up there matey but in the tag line [size=6]SATURDAY 27TH SEPTEMBER[/size] [size=6] [/size] [/quote] Doh!!

Nice one Gazza! Near us too. Do you have a particular night in mind?

I'm sure the %age of items on sale on ebay that are listed as [i]collection only[/i] is getting higher. Or is it just me? I recon this is down to large numbers of sales that do go wrong.

[quote name='gary mac' timestamp='1411326385' post='2558480'] I feel old as well mate, especially after last night when one of the drunken punters gave me abuse concerning my age. [/quote] That is totally out of order. Really sorry to hear that Gary.

[quote name='BILL POSTERS' timestamp='1411303421' post='2558240'] Have they gigged at all, You did mention that 2 had played together for years, but that doesn't necessarily mean seriously gigging does it ? [/quote] They've previously had 2 female singers and 2 bass players (1 died, 1 was much younger and couldn't play, apparently) They've never spoken in terms of "that gig we did at..." @ UglyDog; Good point. Yes, I do enjoy it. Certainly given all the comments here I'm going to give it a few more weeks and see if they are as open to suggestions as the leader says he is. [quote name='scalpy' timestamp='1411294801' post='2558145'] Even if you're not enjoying it, give everyone the impression you are. You can turn around the whole atmosphere of a rehearsal with a bit of positivity and it makes it ten times easier to deliver any criticism. A session drummer I once had a conversation with, number 1 hits in Europe to his name etc, told me any session he does is always the absolute best thing he's ever played, even if he's playing the most mediocre material with any old muso. There's no barrier because of experience to not adopt that mentality. [/quote] I do, I do! It's always better to keep the enthusiasm up as much as I can. I'm sure of that. I also know it's better to give folk a compliment before giving the bad news. Such as to the keys player: "I like the solo you played in Xxxxxx. Just a thought here; as (Guitarist) is here playing rhythm, have you thought of trying that solo without playing the chord in the background as the same time? I'm just thinking it may give a crisper sound." @ Doddy; True, true. I've not read many such threads. Your comment is open and honest and welcomed. [quote name='hubrad' timestamp='1411297605' post='2558179'] .....I'd say stick with it if you're enjoying it, move on if not. It has to work for all concerned. I actually quite like the idea of doing different versions of classic songs, as long as the band makes it a valid different version. Hey, plenty of those classic artists did it with their own songs, just to keep it fresh. Johnny B.Goode is a fine song, but playing it every night for years on end must get a little stale. Often gets turned into a bit of a guitarists' w@nkfest! [/quote] Good point. Actually All of our tracks are either a w@nkfest for the guitarist or the keys-man. Right now all the good bass lines are already being done on the keys. I recon this is due to them not having a bass-man for a while. I've started working on the solos and bass-lines, so I can justify winning them back to the bass. If I don't then I'll be stuck on I, 3, 5, 3 (e.g.) forever. Something I know those 2 don't enjoy is singing all the numbers. I'm working on the lyrics too. If I can get to sing a few, they'll want, even more, to keep me - giving me more power and influence.

That is a really extreme response isn't it? It surprising that the landlord doesn't warn the act he books.

Thanks to everyone for aome great advice. You've got me feeling a lot better about this band. Thry say "Rome wasn't built in a day". I can't go in on week 3 and tell them all how to do it, but maybe we can build something good. There was a point in the last rehearsal when the drums started a solid blues 4/4 and I started a 12 bar and a jam started. It sounded real cool for about 4 bars, until the leader stopped and said, "OK what are we going to play next?" If we can recapture that fresh sound and take it on. We could make something.

If you like active soapbars then the EAP LTD basses are amazing value for money they're about 380 new. You should be able to get a used one for about 200. The neck is really smooth and fast and the sound is great.

Back on subject, if one may be so bold, one reality that makes me want to stick with this band is it's better to learn and possibly mess up here than to go for a better band and get fired for not making the grade.

Thank all dor some interesting comments. Thabks JTUK for asking about the leader. He's originally a drummer, but they couldn't get a guitarist so he took the job. Thinking about it, he does rather have the attitude that we 3 need the practice. We simply need to catch up with him. He says he's open to comment and input. It will be interesting to see if he can take it. After all, I've not been in a band in the last 50 years, but I have been listening to music. So I know the need for light and shade, change in rhythm etc.

LOL, thanks guys. I guess I knew that already. What worries me a bit about it is the level of "transferable skills" I'd be getting. I can't even claim to play Johnny B Goode in a style that others would recognise.

Here I am a 55 year old band-virgin. I've just lost my cherry to a local band consisting of Guitar (band Leader), Keys (Wannabe Leader), Drums (Hasn't played since the 70s) and me on Bass (never before been in a band) I saw the ad in the local music emporium: Old fogies want a bass player for 60s, 70s, 80s covers.... etc. I call them up and get sent a set-list of 9 songs to work on, complete with chord charts, with the over-riding info; "Don't worry about listening to the records of these, we play them different to the originals." Errr... what does that mean exactly? So I practice a bit and listen to the records. Besides what else can I can I do? The day of the try-out comes closer and I get another 9 songs sent to me... more of the same style of covers, with a couple of originals thrown in. The try-out comes and we wizzzz through about 12 songs in 4 hours. 1 play-through of each song. I play a bit of 12-bar and a bit of walking, and get lost on a couple, but I fumble through. I've got the gig. (yeahy!!) It does strike me, though, that the keys and the guitarist are belting it out for attention all at the same time. It all sounds a bit messy and some songs I hardly recognise from the originals, but wow I'm in my first band!!. Yesterday's rehearsal comes along. The drummer is on hols and the guitarist (leader) is going to play drums. I've practised "Wonderful Tonight" and "Route 66" that goes well(ish). OK, well I've got a bit more of a clue of what's going on. All the rest goes a lot better than the previous week. I can't honestly say I recognise "Route 66" as the same as the old Stones number. On other tracks we come to play them and I get things like "Roll Over Beethoven, but we play this as a swing number". Errr.. really, I think. When we play Rock n Roll, they're sung like ballads and there's no rock in it at all. Actually it's all a bit all the same. (Or is it cos of my noob bass playing?) The thing is, I want to be good and learn stuff up front as per this quote: [quote name='PlungerModerno' timestamp='1411070247' post='2556282'] . . rehearsal is for making sure the songs you learn from practice actually work in the context you'll be performing them. You'll be rehearsing a lot more if that's when you first see the material! [/quote] But if each song is played in a different style to the original, how can I learn them? The keys and the leader have played together in bands for about 50 years, but they don't seem to be able to take it in turns to solo and stand back to give room for the other. The keys player sounds like some wurlitzer organ on a bad night at a holiday camp. The guitarist sounds like a Hank Marvin wannabe on speed. (He has a C&W background btw) I could learn some more from them and just get practice playing with others. If I were to walk into a pub though, and we were on stage, I don't think I'd stay to buy a drink. Bottom line... do I walk or stay?

Here's a couple of places I found: http://www.simscustom.com/html/00pickguards.htm http://www.jacksinstrumentservices.com/custom-scratchplate-cutting.html

Hi Yan, welcome to BC. Feel free to ask. No questions are stupid.... but you will get stupid some answers. But that's some of the fun As a mature bassist you're in good company here.

The whole thing is pointless. After all, where did Bishops Stortford come? Unless EVERY town in the UK is listed, it means nothing as the missing towns would have to appear somewhere in the list. The fact that Redditch gets a mention it probably comes far above my beloved ( ) Bishops Stortford

Hocus Pocus or Sylvia by Focus A great listen from this era. They are challenging though

If we're to believe that role-models have an effect on youth, then talent shows don't help, when all they seem only interested in the voice - thanks to Simon Cowell and others. Also, when you see a band on the box, the camera seems to always be pointed at the singer. They seldom show the instrument being played.

[quote name='Osiris' timestamp='1410884816' post='2554330'] Cheers for the lightning reply, Howie! Am I right in thinking that it needs to be USB A to USB B cable - [url="http://www.thatcable.com/product/USB-2-0-A-Male-to-B-Male-High-Speed-Cable-Lead"]like this one[/url] ? [/quote] That's what I use.

Would this thread have more useful meaning if folk backed up their preferences with info on what genre of music they play? OK, this may be a noob question, but IMHO it could be interesting to to see if some patterns appear in the preferences.

[quote name='gary mac' timestamp='1410854712' post='2553781'] Thanks Richard, however, we should warn Lozz that we are really not very Punk. [/quote] I'm sure Lozz's taste goes far and wide. I'm good thanks, Gary. I've not seen your PMs. I'll drop you a line.

I have to say, Lozz, you won't regret the journey. DefunkT are a good band. I've seen them a few times and they give a good evenings entertainment. IMHO of course

Considering the amount of time and materials, plus security in knowing it won't be a bodge job, it sounds like a fair price to me.