peteb

A Walter Trout track – that’s cool…! Don’t expect too many favours from the sound crew, but if you’re friendly and give them a couple of reasonable requests you might get lucky and get a stand-up guy who do his best for you…

[quote name='Micky b' timestamp='1494521526' post='3296744'] Great feedback peeps! Much appreciated. I also couldn't seem to find an American standard online anywhere. Thanks again Mick. [/quote] Just seen a s\h 2013 Am Std P bass on a Facebook musicians market page up for sale for £750

[quote name='pineweasel' timestamp='1494442851' post='3296068'] I've not tried a Pro but you can still find the well regarded American Standard which it superseded for substantially less money, so I would look for one of those. [/quote] The last American Standard was excellent (or at least the one I tried out was)

[quote name='Grangur' timestamp='1494451010' post='3296181'] FWIW I read that as simply being realistic, even if it was, to some degree, stating the obvious; if you build up a good rep, then you might be able to command more. (even true in Sussex, so I believe) [/quote] I certainly didn't read your post as being patronising, just as you say realistic & stating the obvious [quote name='blue' timestamp='1494449628' post='3296159'] Not in Milwaukee. Actually your right, no matter what, a local band is never going to get more than $500.00 out of a bar.. Blue [/quote] It's just basic economics. The market will find a price where bars can make enough money to justify putting live music on whilst still making it worthwhile for bands to play. The average punter just wants to be entertained and hear some decent music - they don't care how much the band is paid or if they have three people onstage or six...

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1494436586' post='3296001'] If you are offering 3/4 part harmony with good musicians you should be playing venues that can afford at least $600.00. I personally don't advise play pubs for $250.00. Sounds like you have put a lot of work into the band. Set your pay accordingly. Blue [/quote] When it comes down to it the market will determine what a band will get paid. It doesn't matter how good you think you are or how many people are in the band, if a 3 piece playing the same venue can draw a bigger crowd then they will get paid the same fee or more...!

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1494358626' post='3295367'] Depends, if you play for a living and it's how you support your family, then that's a different story. If it's not how you make a living and your wife is cool with you gigging every Friday & Saturday night then your the exception to the rule. Blue [/quote] I think that you are exaggerating the impact of being a gigging musician on relationships. Of all the relationships I have been in over the years, I don't think that playing in a band has been a significant problem (god knows there have been plenty other issues). They all knew that I would be away gigging regularly when I met them and were generally pretty supportive. I would say that the same applies for most of my muso mates (with a few notable exceptions)...

Surely if the singer is off pitch in a Sabbath / Ozzy tribute band then he is just being authentic??

[quote name='lowregisterhead' timestamp='1494185850' post='3293905'] Brilliant - and long may he continue! I'm a good deal younger than him, but I'm determined to keep playing as long as I physically can, as long as there's someone who wants me to play. Or even if there isn't, I could do the solo looping thing... [/quote] Just seen Neil Murray in Snakecharmer tonight, playing a half full theatre in a small Yorkshire town. I sneaked back into the room after the show to check out the rig he was using, only to find Neil chatting with the roadcrew and helping to pack his own gear down. He has to be well into his mid 60s and this gig is hardly the highlight of his career, but if he is still happy to be out there playing I don't see any reason why we shouldn't be...!

[quote name='lowregisterhead' timestamp='1494155743' post='3293660'] And that too, of course. Perhaps the other matters can become more of an issue when you find you need to make a change for whatever reason. Like you, I'm hoping for another few years, before I have to deal with any of that. [/quote] Age doesn't have to be an issue. There is a guy on this forum who lives up the road from me who has just turned 70 and is still gigging regularly in 3 different pub bands. He keeps getting lighter weight gear in deference of his age and associated back problems, but the next time you see him he is back with his old valve amp and massive cab.

[quote name='lowregisterhead' timestamp='1494149820' post='3293590'] That's a good point Rhys - so much of peoples' sense of identity is wrapped up in what they do, and even more so with musicians, IMHO. It's certainly the case for me. Whether it's to provide some consolation that our life isn't as ordinary or mundane as the next man, or to give us some sense of belonging to a special tribe of some sort, along with satisfying our ego with the chance of recognition by the public and our peers. Sorry if I'm getting a bit too deep and philosophical! [/quote] The identity thing is certainly true for me, but I don't see it as a negative thing - it's (a large part) of what I am and what I do...!

[quote name='hiram.k.hackenbacker' timestamp='1493969714' post='3292167'] Sorry blue, but I just find this remark very strange. Perhaps I've just been lucky, but I could never be in a band situation where I was made to feel this way. For me, it's 100% about the music and if I think something isn't right, it gets vocalised. [/quote] Unfortunately there are plenty of bands out there just like that, where only input from one or two members are welcome. It doesn't sit too well with me either - I'm pretty opinionated and don't like holding my tongue, but I have done just that on occasion

[quote name='Paul S' timestamp='1493666389' post='3289865'] I am toying with the idea of getting an all tube head but couldn't live with anything too heavy. 20kg would be about my limit, I think. From what I have read I could do a lot worse than the Stoneham Y1200 - [url="http://stonehamamps.co.uk/product/yi200-head/?"]http://stonehamamps.co.uk/product/yi200-head/?[/url] - it ticks an awful lot of my boxes. I am after an 'old school vintage tone' whatever the heck that is - nothing too broken or distorted. But what would be other possible contenders at that power/size/price/weight? [/quote] I used a Stoneham bass amp at a festival in the north east a bit ago and was very impressed, if that helps at all...

Just had a listen. Personally I think that the tune is quite weak but the arrangement and the bass playing are great. Impressive...

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1493465326' post='3288540'] I see a conveyor belt of players coming out of the music colleges who are at a technical level, a level of ability that couldn't have been dreamed of when I started, but the one thing that many of them can't manage is to sit on a groove. Do they teach simplicity at these colleges? If you want a dozen great notes in the blink of an eye, they are the players for you but if you want solid, soul wrenching and effective playing don't ask any of those guys. [/quote] So it's not just me then who thinks this??

There are a number of points raised here, most of which are true to some extent but the situation is not quite as grim as many are suggesting: [indent=1]1. There is still a decent following for live classic rock. To say that no one under 60 cares about this type of music is nonsense. I’m seeing an audience on a weekly basis predominantly made up of people in the thirties or forties, but with a fair sprinkling of 20 somethings.[/indent] [indent=1]2. However, kids don’t see rock music as the be all and end all as many people my age did when they were their age. They have many other competing attractions and even those who do like rock music don’t see it as their only outlet for entertainment.[/indent] [indent=1]3. We have an ageing population in the west and part of the reason why you tend to see more old than younger people at gigs is that there are actually more of them.[/indent] [indent=1]4. People generally do not have the same level of disposable income as they used to, which has seen the downturn of the pub trade in general and music pubs in particular. This is especially true of the younger end of the market. You have to make a gig more of an event to get an audience out now.[/indent] [indent=1]5. As someone said above, this has thinned out some of the worse bands and the worse venues. IMO this is a good thing! The better bands and venues are still doing alright.[/indent] [indent=1]6. The situation is somewhat different in many parts of mainland Europe, where people will still pack venues where there is a live band.[/indent] You have to bear in mind that things change and rock and roll is no longer the ubiquitous force it once was. However, there will always be a demand for decent live entertainment, especially music.

Would love to see that - don't suppose there's any chance that Neil could take the masterclass sessions on the road sometime and pass by West Yorkshire??

[quote name='dmccombe7' timestamp='1492848497' post='3283583'] Traded 2 Berg AE112 cabs with Mark for a Dingwall. Fair price for them too. Call him up and ask if he would be interested in a trade first or drop him a meassage with some pics of your bass to see what he thinks. Take the bass in and do the deal on the day. Not really much to it. Just remember that a trade in is usually less than you'd get private sale because the shop needs to make some knd of profit from your bass. Dave [/quote] Also remember that the bass you want to trade has to be vaguely compatible with their stock list. No one really goes to Bass Direct for a s/h Harley Benton bass!

[quote name='thebrig' timestamp='1492641888' post='3282006'] Just got home from our rehearsal tonight, and after many mistakes on songs we have played a number of times before, and even more on some the newer ones, I said to the guys that we are wasting a lot of rehearsal time going over and over songs where we should at least know the structures, and they couldn't see where I'm coming from. So I explained to them that we agreed to learn from the same versions which are in a band folder on Dropbox, and I said that I don't expect them to play their parts note for note, but at least learn the structures correctly, but the singer said that even though he listens to the songs and sings along to them with no problems, he said that he forgets them when we get to rehearsals, (he also forgets them when we are playing live unfortunately). Our set was agreed in December and I learn't all 33 songs within a month, I know them all to a level where I would be happy to play them live, I'm not the brightest person around, and I'm a steady but average bass player, but I know them well because I have put some effort into learning them, they are probably better on their instruments than I am on mine, but I just think that they are happy to plod along and accept mediocracy, so I think I will make a decision after the next rehearsal, they know how I feel, and if they haven't made a conscious effort to work out a way of learning the songs properly and remembering them, then I think I will call it a day. So again, my question is, [b]Am I wrong to in wanting to learn the set/songs properly? [/b] [/quote] One thing I would say is that perhaps learning 33 songs in a month is a bit over-facing. Maybe you should pick them off 3 or 4 at a time??

Personally, I have always found Marcus to be very helpful. I think the point is that Bass Direct caters to a specific niche and is not aimed at entry level or people looking for standard Ashdown type gear (not that there is necessarily anything wrong with those products). None of the staff are in any way ‘professional’ salesmen, which for me is one of the best things about the shop – it means that they are honest and not just after a quick sale. Mark once advised me against buying a cab from him because he said another one I had been offered suited my needs better (he was right). I have bought a load of gear from BD, used them to sell a few basses on commission and even occasionally just rung up to ask for advice. As far as I’m concerned, the service has always been great and there they have told me any nonsense just to try and get a sale, unlike many other music shops I have been to. Someone has just mentioned a certain rival emporium – the guy who runs that maybe friendly and enthusiastic but his knowledge is nowhere near the level of Mark or Marcus at BD and he is very definitely a salesman. So, who would you rather trust??

I came across this show a while ago. I particularly liked the interview with Kevin Chown - an interesting insight in what it is to be a working pro rock bass player in the modern world... [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fztHkKrSo2U&t=2s"]https://www.youtube....ztHkKrSo2U&t=2s[/url]

A few years ago, I found myself helping to stage manage at a big(ish) blues festival. There were a lot of pro musicians playing there and a few pretty big bands on UK blues scene on the bill, many of whom were quite funk orientated. Virtually all of the bass players in the main acts turned up with a jazz bass of some description (usually an American Fender in sunburst for some reason, although the headliner’s bassist used a Lakland)…

From what I can remember, being in the band can’t but help increase your chances of pulling, assuming that you are interested (happily married for a while now so not an issue for me anymore). So, a quick ‘woop’ for Blue maybe in order. My missus comes to gigs when she fancies it and if it is practical. She will usually come to the local gigs with the rock covers band with her friends if she hasn’t got to work an early shift the next day. She generally won’t come to the shows a bit further away unless there is room in the van. Sometimes she will come with me on the long-distance blues gigs because she worries about me driving home on my own in the early hours (obviously depending on work, etc). it really isn’t an issue for her or any of the other WAGS – they come when they feel like it and generally treat it as a night out…

[quote name='Conan' timestamp='1490356359' post='3264539'] Sounds like my kinda band!! These guys come pretty close, and get plenty of gigs in the North East. Outstanding band, and their bass player is a member on here (JD1) - http://www.groovetrain.co.uk/ [/quote] John Dawson - stunning bass player & great bloke