peteb

Sounds like a band I would make to effort to see (some good suggestons her). How about [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-sIKX227Yk"]https://www.youtube....h?v=h-sIKX227Yk[/url] Also, just about anything of the first Tommy Bolin album (Teaser)

This is where YouTube is your friend! Just search for live versions...

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1477273428' post='3161051'] And in my case who you know didn't even matter.Couldn't have had a more "the right person" in my corner. The guy that vouged for me was the bass player for the organizer who said "No". Both have known each other and we're founding members of Milwaukee's premier blues band. They've known each other for over 50 years. Blue [/quote] That is a really bizarre situation - was there some dynamic between the two of them going on where you got caught in the middle or have you slept with his ex-wife or something??

I wouldn't blame your band mates - you can see where they are coming from, but you have every right to be p****d of with the way you've been treated by the pub.

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1477000223' post='3159244'] Agreed, getting outside of the State of WI is crucial. Milwaukee is very clicky and anytime I have reached out to those circles even though my abilities are equal if not better I always been answered with a big pile of rejection. You can't just show up and expect people to accept you. I remember I did go to a jam that consisted of local heavy hitters. I even had one if their own vet me or vouge for me. A new set opened and my guy introduced me and asked if I could play a couple of tunes with s well known guitarist and harp player. The organizer said "no" and they played without s bass player. Needless to say I don't think much of that circle or the organizer. And these guys were all older than me. Blue [/quote] That is a very odd attitude from someone running a jam session. Normally they are crying out for any new credible player just to freshen things up a bit. A lot of band leaders use the better jam sessions as a way of finding new guys that may not have been on their radar - you never know when you might need a bass player and the two or three guys you normally ring are unavailable. Move to Texas mate, things seem to be very different there...!

[quote name='ezbass' timestamp='1476799921' post='3157342'] Roscoe Beck's work on the the first Robben Ford and the Blue Line album does it for me. So many different techniques and styles, absolutely nailed. The guitar and drum work work are equally stunning too. [/quote] That's a very good call I would add JPJ on The Lemon Song & In My Time Of Dying as well as Mars Cowling on the Pat Travers live album (Go For What You Know).

[quote name='mikel' timestamp='1476735700' post='3156865'] /\ This. You have made your mind up you are better than the band and music you are playing. Asking a forum, based in Britain, what they think about you doing what you want to do, in the US music business, seems a bit odd. I for one have no idea what the gig situation is in the States. [/quote] I don't think there is anything wrong with asking people here for advice. A lot of the same factors apply and although the music scene in Milwaukee may be a bit different to the UK, but I know guys who play the Texas circuit and that's completely different again! Giving up a solid working band to play in a different arena to the bar circuit is a bit step, especially if you rely on the money you earn from that band. I can understand Blue wanting to run it past his peers to see what they think, even if they are from another country...!

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1476733955' post='3156836'] Guess it depends on your personal situation. My Milwaukee condo is not mortgaged. I own it free and clear. My point, my expenses are very low. Ideally I would do bar gigs during down times. Blue [/quote] That puts you in a good position if the right opportunity presents itself. Obviously you would need to put together a pickup band that is happy to play when you're available, possibly because they are in a similar position or have got other things going on. Teaching is always a good sideline, as is teching for other bands if you really like being on the road.

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1476732350' post='3156805'] Well, right now my band offers consistent bar, festival and fair gigs.I know where my next gig is well into 2017. It's still below my worth IMO. I have to do it until I find something better. I'm still not sure what your point is and a US functions band is not the sort of thing I'm looking for. I'm talking about bands that are on the road gigging 5 -6 nights a week with international travel. Blue [/quote] I think what he is trying to say is that these bands don't work anything like 52 weeks a year and you still need to pay the rent in the down periods. Everyone I know that does that kind of gig has a sideline they can fall back on when they're not on the road.

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1476643613' post='3155937'] I'm starting to think a little differently about the 4 hour bar gig, festival and fair market. Last night we opened for a national act. All I needed was my bass, and pedal board. Lighting and sound provided. We played for an hour and we're paid twice our 4 hour bar fee. Ok, whether you like it or not this is a business, at least it is for me. I think I'm devaluing myself in the bar band market and should start making plans to move up a bit. It's a hard business and I'm still up for the challenge. Comments, thoughts? Blue [/quote] The thing is how many of the better paying bigger gigs will you play in a year and how will that stack up against your constant schedule of bar gigs that provide a regular income??

I played a biker rally at Pontins at Southport in December once (The Rally In The Chalet)! The main hall was ok, just full of drunk bikers, but the rest of the company was something else. You can just about imagine what type of people who would go to an old holiday camp in northern England in December - like something out of the night of the living dead...!

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1476383764' post='3153882'] I only ask because we're opening for Morland & Arbuckle a national act that does that Delta and Mississippi Hill Country blues stuff this weekend. I noticed they have a gig coming up at the Great British Rock and Blues Festival in Skegness, UK. Should be a fun gig, sound, lights and back line provided. We only have to play an hour set. I'll be home early for a change. Blue [/quote] I've played that festival - headlining the smaller stage (Jaks) on the Friday night in 2013 It's a good event, nowhere near as grim as some of the other holiday camps I've played...!

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1476144362' post='3151801'] Every musician I know who is, is gigless. Blue [/quote] I'm pretty fussy about what I play and who with and certainly won't play music I don't like but I'm pretty busy!

[quote name='ivansc' timestamp='1476142228' post='3151784'] Way ahead of ya, Blue. First actual paying gig in 1954 (on banjo but who is counting?) and I am still playing all the gigs I can get at 72. So don't worry about how you will be coping in 10 years time. You will be just fine. [/quote] That's really cool - gives hope to those of us hitting middle age

[quote name='mikel' timestamp='1475932898' post='3149877'] To play devils advocate. Surely playing from music is more akin to mimicking what others have played? In fact it is playing exactly what others have already played. To use another analogy. Its like learning a language by reading books, its ok for theory but you only learn to converse with other by doing it. [/quote] First point - you seem to be confusing knowing some musical theory with reading music! That's not to say that it is perfectly valid to play a line as written in many musical situations. Second point - yes

[quote name='ambient' timestamp='1475700767' post='3148158'] It's interesting to see that people class being able to copy or learn to play a bass line, as being able to play. Whilst I totally understand that for many it's all about the playing with others, and doing gigs. To me it's kind of like buying a painting by numbers set, and saying you can paint. [/quote] [quote name='ambient' timestamp='1475706324' post='3148196'] By painting by numbers, I mean someone learning a song/cover without really having any understanding of what they're actually playing. Getting a piece of TAB off a website, sitting down and watching someone play it on Youtube, or listening to it on Spotify and just copying it, isn't playing a musical instrument, and least to me. It's like painting all the number 2s red, all the 5s brown and ending top with the Mona Lisa or something. [/quote] Whilst I completely disagree with your first statement, I can see where coming from with the second. To be a decent musician you do need to have a reasonable understanding of how music works beyond merely knowing where to put your fingers on the fretboard.

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1475455236' post='3146079'] Never. No one touches my bass and I never lend my back line. They are the tools for my job and represent a substantial investment on my part. This is one rule that is fixed in stone. [/quote] I really don't understand that. I'm sure that I have pretty similar type of gear to you and while I wouldn't let a drunk punter have a go on my bass, if you were at the gig I would be more than happy to get you up to sit in or try out my bass / rig if you wanted to (or use my bass as a spare if we were on the same bill). Similarly, I have on a few occasions lent my amp to mates when theirs has been in for repair to help them make a gig and similarly I have borrowed amps that belong to friends a couple of times when mine was in the shop. Obviously it always has to be guys you can trust, but sometimes you have to help people out and in return they will help you when you need it...

[quote name='louisthebass' timestamp='1475358255' post='3145416'] I've got an iGig515 bag - not light, but offers great all round protection especially if you've got a bass with a 35" scale. Mono Vertigo (lighter bag) is also a good bag - have got one of those as well. [/quote] Is it still possible to get iGig bags in this country?? I've got the double bag that has done hundreds of gigs and still going strong. Great bag with loads of storage.

[quote name='spiltmilk_2000' timestamp='1475339431' post='3145205'] Sorry to hijack but does anyone have any experience of the gruv gear gig blade?? [/quote] Yep, I've got one! A very nice gigbag with some good features but not as easy to walk with it over one shoulder as I thought. Still, a good bag.

[quote name='Skybone' timestamp='1475185224' post='3143943'] I had that book as well. The flexi disk was a pain and sounded dreadful. Must have worked though, still playing after 30-odd years. I learned by reading the book, playing along to records & joining bands. [/quote] Is that the book with the picture of the cool looking black dude with an Afro and a Precision sat on a stool?? If so I followed exactly the same course as you with the addition of a handful of lessons above the local music shop with a keyboard player who doubled on bass, which were quite good actually and gave me the confidence to keep going...

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1474791326' post='3140446'] Thank goodness for the high quality replacement and upgrade industry that grew out of the reality of owning and playing a Fender in the 70's. [/quote] Yep - I've never had a Fender that I have kept stock [quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1474791692' post='3140451'] Exactly. Fender have finally addressed their issues and then they bin the model. Strange decision, but this is where they should have been in 1975. I was going to say that Fender know their business, but, after getting so close to Chapter 11 maybe they don't. [/quote] Ironic isn't it - 40 years to sort out QC issues then they stop making them (if it's true of course)! [quote name='LayDownThaFunk' timestamp='1474792661' post='3140461'] I get the 'Fender' sound and how many people want it but so many builders now do it better at a lower price. [/quote] You and I know that - unfortunately there are so many others who don't...!

[quote name='LayDownThaFunk' timestamp='1474750051' post='3140295'] People see a badge and want it. Like wine, tasting with their eyes. Snobs as most people call them. [/quote] But there is more to it than that! Fender created such an iconic image and the reference sound for so much of popular music that many band leaders and producers (not to mention audiences) just want to you to turn up with a Fender bass. I pretty much started out on 70s precisions, but after a few years decided that there were better basses out there and sold them to get a variety of instruments over the years (some great, some not so great). However, I have recently got a couple of American Fenders as that is what people seem to want to see me play in certain genres. When I got a 57RI Precision a year or so ago the drummer / band leader of one of my bands was going on about a gorgeous bass it was and saying that his (very good) bass playing mate was saying ‘Pete’s got a proper bass at last’! The guitar player (who should know better) was going on about how it sounded better in the mix, etc. Now there is no way that it was better than the Xotic jazz that I was using in that band before, but you cannot deny the appeal that a traditional Fender bass has to so many people, who just think that is what a bass guitar should be…!

I recently played an American Std Precision in a music shop and was surprised at just how good it was, easily on a par with what you might expect from something like a US Lakland. Even the CS pickup sounded great (I’m not normally a big fan of stock Fender pickups). At the same time, I tried one of the more expensive MIM P basses, which was very poor in comparison. To me, Fender’s strength is in producing the classic models that helped to define most genres of popular or rock music over the past 60 years, essentially an American built 4 string passive workhorse bass (either a Precision or a Jazz). I’ve got a Fender P bass, mainly because other people prefer you to use one a lot of time on certain types of gigs. Like others, I would prefer them to concentrate on a limited range (with a few optional upgrades) and to ensure that quality control (a problem in the past) remains high. Discontinuing the American Series would seem to be a move away from that…!

[quote name='spencer.b' timestamp='1473806619' post='3133353'] Can't imagine them working much as a pop cover band doing those tunes anyway mate [/quote] I'm sure that they will get plenty of pub gigs if they're any good. Still not sure bout [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Bohemian Rhapsody though...![/font][/color]

[quote name='FinnDave' timestamp='1473314841' post='3128904'] The current US standards are bloody good basses. I have both types (P & J), the P is 2012 and the J 2016, both are excellent. I also have a CiJ P (60s style) and a Classic 60s J, both good basses but not as good as the US standards. [/quote] I recently tried out a new Am Std P bass and I was really surprised at how good it was! By comparison, a MIM roadworn P bass I played at the same time was pretty poor.