thumperbob 2002

Always have a bottle of water on stage- dont piss around with glasses ( other than free beer )

The most powerful head you can afford- nothing less than 200W for medium size gigs I have a marshall vba 400 which is a monster- much too loud but I like a lot of headroom- your cab will be important too. cheers Bob

Did our second monthly residency- Soul Night at the Weir in hessle- modern bar near hull. Our sax player brought his DK 1000 rig- it was the first time our main rig was smaller than our monitors- brilliant rig though- we use mackie 450s for our monitors- unbelievable!! We came, saw and conquered- another good gig for Soul Patrol- lots of people in -about 80-100 I`d say- usually on a thursday this bar has about 4 people in- may be time for a re-negotiation. This is our third gig in this band and even though there are the usual fluffs here and there we are certainly getting there - another 5- 6 gigs and we`ll be tight as they come. Nice to see some young girls enjoying themselves- we received 2 enquiries for function work and they were booked today- one wedding , one private party. A good venue to play all round. cheers Bob

[quote name='john_the_bass' post='249748' date='Jul 28 2008, 04:25 PM']HJ - yes I see what you're saying, I suppose it's not necessarily that the value of the instrument is going to go up, but that there's a guarantee that it's not going to go down - of course I don't necessarily mean buying new, but buying at a price which is pretty much the fair value of said instrument. As an example I have a 2005 USA Fender Precision - I paid £550 for it and I reckon, even in a crappy market, that marketed properly I could get £550 for it, even though if you look hard enough you can get lucky and pick one up for maybe £450? I'm not saying go out and buy a new one for what, £900? and expect it to still be worth 900 quid in 12 month's time - but do you know what I mean? I face not having any money very shortly - I hope it's not going to happen and I'm pretty sure it won't, but if it does, I'm going to have to start selling stuff off - to use my P Bass as an example, if I'd spent that £550 on shares and I had to sell those off at what they're currently worth, they'd only be about £300-worth now. Likewise, if I'd bought my 'Ray at full UK secondhand value when I did, it would probably have cost me about what - £900 early last year? I imported mine from the US at about the value they are now, so if I was desperate to sell it, I probably won't lose any or much cash on it - but I'd be facing a hit if I was desperate to sell and had picked up a UK bass Does that make sense or am I talking out of my bottom?[/quote] Some shares and funds have done very well- returning well over what a bass can make. However as a bass is a tool- it is what you can make with it that counts- i must`ve earnt in excess of £100,000 with my old musicman and trace elliot- these instruments owe me nothing and I part exd them for a Warwick that I enjoy playing but do not gig with. Go Figure!! I was always told that do not mix business with pleasure but sometimes the lines get blurred!! cheers Bob

Second gig for Soul Patrol at the Highway in Hull. Used to be a great venue but has had no live music for a while. New Landlords who had the award winning Springhead have decided to put on bands- asked us to play. Being our second gig we are still a little dodgy here and there ( mostly brass ) but we came, saw and conquered. Three encores later and we were asked to play a residency every week. We said it would be better if we did a soul night once per month- money negotiated and signed and sealed!! So we now have two regular gigs each month and some function work coming in- all local. A little more than we planned but we`ll see how it goes. A few musicians in the venue talking to us- one bass player, also named bob said of my Marshall VBA rig "its big" "very big " I told him I only bought it because it reminded me of an electric fire and that I wasnt very good etc ( humble me ) At the end of the night he was asking me where he could get one - it was the best bass sound he had ever heard- no FOH too! It was me who got the band together and a pal of mine who was there said that every song had a great bassline ( mostly Stax and Motown ) so he said " I wonder who chose the songs ?" Guess who? Roll on Thursday- our other residency. cheers Bob

Used loads of strings in the last 30 years- still unsure. Recently used Rotosound- seems fine and then changed to Daddarios nickel- felt just the same but a little more tension. Recorded the band with my H2 at a rehearsal and they sound great!! Couldnt really tell the difference on my own but they really cut through and are nice and warm in a band environment- I sound like Marcus Miller!! I use the Marshall VBA valve amp and an old peavey 2X10 with the ubiquitous Marcus Jazz. Play mainly in Soul bands.

Hi I have a Zoom H2 handy recorder and I have recorded some band practice sessions. Does anyone know how I edit down the time I have recorded eg 45mins into song size chunks- I have no idea how to do it or what I need to do it. Any held will be appreciated cheers Bob

[quote name='silverfoxnik' post='237798' date='Jul 12 2008, 09:07 AM']Great story! We played at The Elms in Worthing last night and it was one of those gigs where everyone in the band was a bit below par! It took me two-thirds of the gig to get up to what I would consider a decent level of playing.. Up till then my hands felt like they were coated in treacle!! Odd thing (or is it a sad thing?) is that the audience didn't seem to notice our failings at all?? They were quite happily singing, cheering and dancing the night away.. Playing a wedding at some caravan park in Bognor tonight the thought of which is enough to make me want to take up basket-weaving or patchwork quilt making instead.. [/quote] I always think that as long as the band is enjoying themselves the audience will too. Bit different playing in a muso venue though. cheers Bob

Had our first gig for my 7 piece Soul Band at a wine/ bistro pub bar thing just near me. The venue have never had any bands there before- just an open mic acoustic night and the odd single artist. The idea was to have a shakedown gig as we have some function work coming up and after a couple of months rehearsal our brass section were not really improving. I though the threat of a gig would sharpen them up. I went to see the owner of the bistro who really didnt know how to deal with bands- he wanted to put us on on a Sunday- the venue is particularly busy on that night- I told him to put us on on a Thursday- the venue is normally empty and I informed him we`ll get some posters done and try to get some people in the venue for him. After a bit of negotiation he agreed to pay us £100 ( the least I have ever played for!! ) but the idea was really to get us out there as a sort of paid practice for the well paying gigs we have lined up in the next few weeks. I have gigged with only one of the band before ( the drummer who is probably the best drummer in this area ) but the rest of the band were an unknown quantity- it showed- it was like dealing with children in soundcheck- some were quite nervous and did not really know what to do. Out trumpet was having a bad time with his partner so had to miss the soundcheck ( he had to go home to deal with the mrs ). We thought that he wasnt coming back. Anyhow the gig went really well- loads of people in the venue- Owner was amazed and has booked us for a monthly Soul night and has agreed to increase our pay by 300%. My Marcus and Marshall VBA and 4 X 12 filled the venue with warmth- we had a really simple rig- 900w Mackie active speakers, desk and backline ( no monitors ) -back to the old days!! The band really stepped up and the musicians there were all impressed that it was our first gig- said it sounded great. We also arranged another function gig with one of the audience- result!! It just goes to show that if you invest a bit of time in what may seem like a useless gig things turn out for the better in the end. The band are all looking forward to our next gigs and certainly, when the Soul Nights start we will be able to put in some off the wall stuff to keep our interest up ( and the audience )

Ive sung backing plus bass for years now- as long as you know the basslines well you should be OK- however just make sure you can hear yourself perfectly in the monitors. A little tip- to get in pitch start well of the mike- sing along with the main vox - then you should be able to harmonize once you have a note to pitch to. I still cant sing backing and play Your love keeps lifting me higher and higher by Jackie Wilson. I wonder if anyone can- it sounds simple enough ( it is ) but the timing is very difficult. cheers Bob

I always used to think it was the bass and amp but now realize ( after 30 years of playing) thats in all in your head (ears ) and fingers- good gear helps and will probably give you that extra 5% but most of it is in the fingers and the WAY you play- the head/ideas?

Learning it note for note will impress all the bass players in the audience who would just noodle along and kid themselves it sounds as good as the original- unless you are doing it on Jo Whileys show- then chnge it as much as you can!! cheers bob

Jamerson was an upright player with lazy right hand- only used one finger- didnt do him any harm. I think this guy likes to criticise to feel better about himself. Stll I think he should be given the right to reply- someone e-mail him and refer to this discussion. I think he fancies you and is trying his luck.

Im 40 mins away from Doncaster so I would be interested- plus the Thumb NT5 I bought form there needs some adjustment so two birds etc cheers bob

Ghost Town- The specials Lip up Fatty- Bad Manners special Brew- Bad Manners Enjoy Yourself- Specials Cheers Bob

[size="2"][/size]I`ll have a go- looking forward to seeing what the other guys do- should be quite interesting cheers bob

Amps: Fender Bassman 100 Ampeg V4B Peavey horrible something amp- all into Peavey 2 X 15 Ampeg Pre-amp with Marshall 500W power amp into 4 X10 and 1X 15 Fender Cabs Trace Elliot 2 X 10 Combo expensive one Trace Elliot 1 X 15 combo- cheap one - couldnt tell the difference Crate 50W pracetice amp- still got it Marshall VBA400 and Marshall 4 X 12 cab- still got this rig More rigs than these but I forgot them all. Best Looking Amp - Ampeg V4B Loudest Amp - Marshall VBA400- unbelievable Best Live Sound - ABCs rig I used in 1985- first time I used a 4 X 10- I didnt know speakers this small existed!! Best Studio Sound - Through and Ampeg pre-amp straight into the desk Most Commented Upon (positive) Live Sound from Punters -Trace Elliot rigs- probably because I was doing 28 gigs per month for three years - never again! Most Frustrating Set Up to get a sound out of - Ampeg Pre + power amp + two cabs- too much EQ- keep it simple is better My opinion after just over 30 years worth of Gigging!

Marshall VBA400 and 4 X 12 cab + warwick thumb NT 5- loud,loud,loud and warm Cheers Bob[attachment=8578:DSC01431.JPG]

I have a vba 400 valve amp and the vbc 4X12 cab. best- warmest sound I have ever had- loud- the amp is not too bad weight wise- the cab is a little on the heavy side- as I only do one- 2 gigs per month that is OK. Any more and I think this would be a little too much. I use warwick and jazz basses and this amp can do it all. The eq is not as flexible as others I`v tried but to amplify the sound of a good bass I am delighted and cannot think of anything better.

I have just got rid of an early Musicman- had it for 10 years- as usual wanted something different- made money on it which for me was surprising.

Thanks very much for your replies- I love the Fender jazz vibe- what about a Sadowsky- does that have that active growl- I realise I am a bit spoilt with my warwick Thumb NT but my what an ugly bass when propped next to my Jazz. I love the classic look.

Did a gig- late 80s- my bass fell off its stand after the first encore and I snapped a peg ( 70s Jazz ) I was so out of it ( pretty big gig ) that we played another two encores before I noticed the peg was missing - didnt even go out of tune ( as I remember it) I remember my dads pal welded it next day so it was ready for my next gig. Loved that bass ( it was nicked outside another venue- blame pissed roadies ) Suffice to say I would recognise that bass immediately- strange blue colourings on E string peg. I would pay £5K to get that one back- I still look at at at a gig I did in `87 on Youtube. Never mind. Cheers Bob

Hi I play a Warwick 5 Thru neck- love the sound but Im having so much fun playing my Marcus Miller 4 string that I would love a Jazz that has as good a sound as my warwick- is there any? The Warwick can sound low, thick and mean- growl to excess!! The Jazz is a little limiting- even with the pre-amp and vintage fender p-ups. Marcus`s sounds great- his fingerstyle sound is the best- listen to the "bass player tv" clinic- unbelievable. I play mostly soul and funk- some gospel so his sound would work- any ideas? I sound miles better on the Warwick so my humble finger skills on giving me a sound do work- I dont want to sound like Marcus ( though I would like to ) I just want a jazz to give me that sustain/ growl/ warmth of a good Warwick. My budget is massive by the way!! What should I buy- money no object. Help really appreciated. Cheers Bob