peteb

It seems that you can play the basics that pretty much all blues bass players use but want to understand why what you are playing is the right thing Just a suggestion if you don’t want to go down the teacher route – get on youtube with a bass and a pair of headphones handy and pick some accomplished player that you rate playing a blues song and learn their part note for note, a bar at a time if necessary. For some reason I’m thinking of someone like Roscoe Beck playing with Robben Ford, maybe ‘Talk To Your Daughter’ (not too simple but still recognisable as a 12 bar), but obviously it could be anyone who takes your fancy. Once you have got the line down and can play it pretty well then try taking it apart and analysing it, working out which mode he uses over each chord, when he uses a chromatic run, plays a lick, etc. Once you think that you have worked out what makes the part work, try playing a simple blues that you know (maybe ‘Red House’ or whatever) and see if you can incorporate bits of the part you have just learned into the way you play ‘Red House’ (or whatever familiar track you choose) Then pick another song from another player and do the same thing again!

Good luck mate!

I was generally pretty good at auditions (mainly cos I’m not bad at picking up songs up pretty quickly) and have been in a few bands that have done a lot of auditions. I would say that the main thing is obviously to learn the material properly. Don’t be afraid to ask to run thru the more complicated sections and check riffs, etc. Make sure that you play the song rather than showing off, but if you do get a chance to show your chops a bit, go for it – remember that you have to stand out from everyone else they try out. But don’t ruin their songs by overplaying! Also, try and sell yourself without being a dick about it. If you look the part without it seeming that you’re trying too hard – well that can’t hurt either! They are going to have to work closely with you over a period of time so it obviously helps if you can get on with them so be friendly, reasonable, etc Always remember that you can be the best player that they see but if you’re not what they are looking for they will go for the guy who seems to them to be the best fit, so don’t take it personally……

[quote name='Delberthot' timestamp='1318803795' post='1406445'] I thought I was going to be reading a story about a guy who beat up Michael Jackson but its the other Jaco and a different type of beating [/quote] [size=4][color=#222222][font=Arial]No, the Michael Jackson story (allegedly) concerns a very well known producer...!![/font][/color][/size]

Seems a bit too good to be true! Anyone here tried one??

[quote name='Soliloquy' timestamp='1317559137' post='1391737'] I really used to hate getting back from a gig stinking of stale cigarette smoke. Then the following morning unpacking my gear to find that too stank of stale cigarette smoke. It's soooooo nice now it's banned in pubs etc. [/quote] Just a shame that there's no bleedin' audience now!

[quote name='skankdelvar' timestamp='1317381687' post='1390090'] It's good to know you're out there for the rest of us. Far too many arse-kissing amateurs (like me) cave in to these wine bar managers and their egregious bleatings of 'Please turn it down'. Before you know it, the rebellious flame of Rock and Roll[sup][size=1]Tm[/size][/sup] flickers and dies. And then we might just as well be jazzers.[/quote] I know that you were trying to be ironic but you do actually have a point there!

[quote name='Dr.Dave' timestamp='1317326268' post='1389615']If I'd wanted to compromise I'd have joined a cub band and made a lot of cash - but I didn't. We explain to all venues new to us what we are and what we do. If that's not what they want we all shake hands and we don't play there. If we get asked to turn down at a venue we do so - we don't want to upset anyone - but we let our feelings be known as we took trouble to explain what sort of band we are before we took the booking , and we never play there again.[/quote] Well said sir! Pretty much what I was trying to say but articulated much more concisely........

[quote name='dave_bass5' timestamp='1317238551' post='1388598'] So what is your approach? [/quote] Seeing as you asked……….. Until recently I was playing in rock covers band that played the bike rally circuit and had quite a decent local following around the music pub venues. One of the things that several people said to us was that they liked us was because “it was just like watching a ‘proper’ band at St Georges” (the local concert hall)! Now we were playing pubs and not concert halls so there were obviously certain compromises to be made, but watch defines bands at that level is where you draw the line and refuse to compromise too much! We always had a decent PA, some lights and played proper live arrangements (including harmonies) at a proper stage volume, not excessively loud but enough to make everything sound right and louder than many other (but not all) pub bands! Most landlords loved us because we got a decent crowd and those who didn’t – well we just didn’t play at their pubs (I should say that we were by no means unique and there were 3 or 4 similar bands in the area that had a similar approach and always got an audience) I now play in a band that plays in a different genre and travels around a bit, not quite as loud but as it now has the same drummer it’s in the same ballpark. I’m just about to set off to my 5[sup]th[/sup] gig in 7 days (and one of the days off involved a ferry and a 500 mile drive back from a gig), so I’m not exactly short of gigs! Fairy nuff if you’re happy playing social club gigs thru an agent – that’s great and obviously different rules apply – but I did that (very briefly) and like you said, found it a bit soul destroying. I’d rather be down the pub! [quote name='Monckyman' timestamp='1317248838' post='1388774'] I wouldn`t rise to it, it`s a wind up. Some folk here obviously earn their rent in other ways and can afford to have "integrity" involved in their Classic Rock Covers band. ok. [/quote] That’s a f***in dumb statement if you don’t mind me saying so! I make a few quid from music but it is by far the leeast significant part of my income compared to my day job. I’m hardly likely to expect to make a decent living from playing rock covers in pubs! As far as integrity goes….. the rock band always thought that we were four aging rock musicians keeping our hand in by playing a set based on Van Halen covers with the odd bit of nonsense thrown in (a HM version of a Britney Spears song complete with a guitar solo nicked from an old Dio song anyone?) - I don’t any of us were too bothered by integrity – doesn’t mean that we should strive to be crap!

[quote name='dave_bass5' timestamp='1317232307' post='1388494'] LOL. Thats just your opinion, which of course you are welcome to. Im happy doing what im doing. [/quote] Which is cool....! But not an approach that I would be prepared to take...........

[quote name='dave_bass5' timestamp='1317218570' post='1388251'] I am, I love gigging and have never personally turned one down. If we are booked to play a venue we assume we are there to entertain someone, other than the person paying. While we might not get on with the boss we feel that if just one person is listening and enjoying it then we are doing a good job, no matter how hard we are struggling (and we do, a lot). Its not all about us, its about playing music for other peoples enjoyment. [/quote] [size=4][color=black][font=Arial]I'm afraid, my friend, that attitude will ensure that you are doomed to mediocrity! [/font][/color][/size]

Used to play this song a few years ago Great tune to play live but unfortunately we ended up dropping it as only a few punters seemed to know it (did Green Tinted Sixties Mind instead)!

[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMFHs5-22kM"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMFHs5-22kM[/url]

[quote name='51m0n' timestamp='1317128148' post='1387063'] There are plenty of bands and only a few venues though..... [/quote] But there are only a limited number of bands that will bring in punters and help to establish a pub as a successful music venue In my experience, there are very few complaints about noise from landlords who have a pub packed full of thirsty customers who have come to see the band!

[quote name='51m0n' timestamp='1317127338' post='1387039'] Who exactly do you think is really losing out if you dont get asked back? [/quote] If you are good quality band who can get a significant number of people to drink in his pub who otherwise would not go there (and potentially return to see other bands if they had a good time), then obviously it is the landlord who is losing out the most! Tha band (if any good) can always go and play at a more suitable venue, again taking trade away from the original pub.....

[quote name='skankdelvar' timestamp='1317125966' post='1387000'] I think you're confusing 'simplistic' with 'simple'. As for the widely-held animus against pub managers who don't understand the 'Entertainment' industry, that's probably because they're in the 'Leisure' industry. It may seem like a fine distinction but there is a world of variance. In a pub, one is a side-issue. In a music venue one is the focus. Learning to differentiate will benefit one's sense of place and - consequently - one's fragile self-esteem. A cursory examination of those foldy stand-up things that landlords leave outside their establishment reveals that 93% of them extend an offer of 'Live Music'. Just like landlord Bob Roseyring, landlord of the Cat & Bagpipes. He's got a foldy sign with 'Live Music' on it. To which end and to comply with advertising standards, he sets out to hire a 'band'. Something to keep the punters vaguely amused... At the other end of the phone, local man Wal Giggley (43) is beside himself with excitement. His covers band (The W. Giggley Band) finally has a gig. As he replaces the receiver on its rest, his pitifully few synapses are flooded with dreams of local stardom. Time to get the Marshall out of the garage. Elsewhere in town, plumber Gary Plumbob plans a night out with the object of his manly affections, Miss Renee Hedgehogge. A few pints, the famous Cat & Bagpipes 'Oxtail Soup in a basket' and he'll pop the question. Live Music? All the better to smooth the path. A fatal concatenation of circumstances has been set in play, whereby Bob will use excessive force to restrain Gary who is inserting a table leg in Wal's rectum. In due course, Miss Hedgehogge will weep as Gary lies paraplegically immobile, Bob will languish at Her Majesty's Pleasure and Wal will walk funny for the rest of his life. Lives will be shattered and the course of history shall be altered. It was all due to assumptions. The landlord assumed the band would assess the audience and tailor its act accordingly. The punters wanted a quiet drink and assumed the band would respect that. And the band assumed that a quiet family pub was an appropriate venue to unleash the mighty force of Rock And Roll and - let's face it - they haven't got anywhere else to do it (U T M F O R&R, that is). O tempora, O mores. We can all learn from this, I think [/quote] I think that the lesson we can learn from this tragic sequence of events is that Wal should not be so desperate to take every gig that is offered to him and that Bob should have done his homework about the suitability of certain types of live entertainment for his pub and booked that nice acoustic folk duo, the Good Ole Boys, from the next village instead Gary has only himself to blame, but then he did always have a problem with his temper Miss Hedgehogge is, of course, totally blameless in this whole sorry affair!

[quote name='skankdelvar' timestamp='1317123444' post='1386949'] I know many bands who can't play worth a sh*t. The louder they get, the sh*tt*r they're worth. But you are exactly right. There is nothing finer than a crushingly loud band in full flight and I'm sure your lot delivers the goods to universal satisfaction. The problem arises when some knob totters into the back room of the Cat and Bagpipes (Try our Sunday Lunch Special) with a JCM800 full-stack and proceeds to plaster bloody gobbets of innocent punter all over the rear wall. I have been that knob and I repent most wholeheartedly. [/quote] Surely the point is that the Cat and Bagpipes shouldn't be putting on rock bands in the first place!

[quote name='BottomE' timestamp='1317038354' post='1385705']I'd just say to them - and i have said this - "Don't book bands - get yourself a disco, duo or have a quiz" but not something WITH ACOUSTIC DRUMS. I just don't get why they would book a full band if noise is an issue. Its like a vegetarian ordering a bacon sandwhich then complaining its got meat in. Derrr - hello. There is a limit to how low you can go on drums and believe me our poor drummer was using spaghetti sticks and was using the lightest touch on his bass pedal. It wasn't good enough for the venue. We had a quick chat in the break and decided we didn't need the gig or the money or the hassle so we packed up and left.[/quote] Totally agree! As far as I'm concerned my job is to entertain punters who have come to see a powerful rock band and to get them to come back to see us again and again I'm prepared to be reasonable but we will not play below a certain level as we're not prepared to put on a half assed performance just to keep an idiot landlord happy. If I was the OP, I would have maybe turned down once and if that didn't satisfy the landlord I would have told him to lay us off and not book bands any more! BTW - I gig pretty much every weekend

I picked up an all white (no scratchplate) passive jabba about a year ago and installed an East j-retro deluxe active circuit (see avatar <<) A very striking looking bass if a touch on the heavy side (about 9.5 lbs); it’s very well put together bass and plays very well indeed. It sounded good in its original passive state, but the East pre-amp really brings it to life (have to be careful with the settings thru)! It has been gigged a lot in the past year and it seems to have made a good impression and I’m very happy with it. As I said in the Sandberg thread, I was after a ‘super jazz’ and couldn’t afford the £2k plus for a Sadowsky or a Nordstrand and the Mayones was a good alternative. I played a Fodera jazz a while ago and actually preferred the Jabba, which is saying something!!

To be fair, when I rang Bass Direct and said that I was really after a ‘super jazz’ but was considering a Sandberg (which he stocks), he could have tried to sell me one over the phone. However, he said ‘I think you can do better than that’ and went thru what he thought were the alternatives that he could offer me. Mark is rather opinionated and I don’t agree with everything that he says, but he does get to compare lots of different gear and he is always very honest (to the extent of advising me to buy from someone else when he couldn’t match an offer I had been given), so it is always worth giving what he says some serious consideration!

Does it run off a standard 9V dc power supply? Can anyone give me an opinion on how it compares to an Aguilar TLC pedal?

[quote name='silddx' timestamp='1316365880' post='1376991'] I had a chat with Mark at Bass Direct and I am going to try a Mayones Jabba on his recommendation, it ticks more of my boxes than the Sandys. Got to shift my Status Vintage first though! [/quote] Exactly what I happened when I was interested in a Sandberg! I did get the Mayones and it has been great – a real ‘super jazz’ for a fraction of the cost of many of the alternatives……

I was interested in a Sandberg but tried the Mayones after being advised that it was probably a better take on a modern version of a traditional Fender I fear that the OP, after his triumphant return to this forum, may be falling back into bad habits! Regardless of the merits of Sandberg basses, he is unlikely to find one appreciably better than the rather nice bass that he has just acquired. If I may I would suggest that should consider spending a bit more time playing and getting used to that before setting off on a never-ending quest for the mythical ideal bass!!

If you are looking for an alternative have you considered a Mayones (hand built in Poland – [url="http://www.mayones.com/en/dokumenty/basses)?"]http://www.mayones.com/en/dokumenty/basses)?[/url]? I got a passive jazz from Mark at Bass Direct and put an East active circuit in it. It’s a great bass – really well put together with a great feel and sounds really nice!

I would say if he's a good drummer and a decent guy then keep him - it sounds as if the other guys are reasonably happy about the situation and you may risk marginalising your own position in the band. It is not as if his points are particularly unreasonable. Thirty gigs a year and rehearsing once a week is about right for a good classic rock covers band and playing fewer but better gigs for more money (and travelling further afield) isn't a bad idea IF you can get the right bookings! If you want to gig more, why not look for a side project or dep for another band!