uk_lefty

I think I may have missed an update... Well, almost two weeks ago we got a singer! It's been a palaver to find one, we had some promising leads and some that wouldn't be up to scratch. I'm so glad we kept on putting a set together. The drummer and I got our heads together and each contacted singers we had been in bands with before. The drummer's contact had been wanting to do less and less many years ago and couldn't be persuaded back to it, a female singer I knew from trying to set up an 80s band in the past. I didn't hold out much hope but wanted to give her a go... Well, she has kept her hand in and sounded really good doing almost the whole 'set' with us. The band unanimously agreed to bring her onboard. Risky Business is in business! A proper rehearsal booked for Tuesday night where we can get our keys sorted for the songs and work on arrangements and get used to playing together. Hoping to get some low-key pub gigs booked for early next year, give us something to aim for.

Well, I never thought it would happen... I got rid of my Spark amp and replaced it with playing electric guitar through my Fender Bassman amp and using a Headrush MX5 multi I picked up second hand. I started to experiment with the Headrush and it's pretty good for bass too so my Boss ME-90B is put to the side for a while. Well, a nice small multi effects pedal is great, but I wanted to add wireless. I've got a vocal effect pedal too, and I plan to get one of those MXR Synth pedals too... So I needed a board. This is what it looks like today, with space to spare for the synth. I could even mount the wireless transmitter for my IEMS on here but I think that's overkill potentially. I'll practice and gig this board next week and see how it compares to the trusty Boss ME-90B.

I have an irrational desire for a Markbass amp. I've got a Fender Bassman, Ash down ABM 600 rig and two separate multi effects pedals with good quality amp Sims. Yet when I hear someone playing through a Markbass rig there's a quality to the sound I am struggling to replicate: the punch. Is this baked in to Markbass amps? Or, is this something I can recreate with EQ and compression or something else? Unfortunately my multis (Headrush MX5 and Boss ME-90B) do not have a Markbass SIM. If I bought a third amp, would I even use it? I've gone in-ears now and my amps are becoming less and less used for gigs.

I used to like them, even went to see them live... Then they disappeared up their own derriere in my view, and I wouldn't bother with them now. Having said that my band plays two of their older songs and they get a good sing along going.

Its all perspectives isn't it? Rubbish is quite a shorthand way of expressing things like "not my cup of tea" and "inferior quality compared to other options". I wouldn't say Morrisey is a rubbish singer, I would say something like I'd rather lick horse wee off burning thistles, but that's my perspective and I don't expect everyone else to go along with it.

Nice!! Have always been fascinated by three pickup basses

....I quite like the Stingray like this at the moment.

I would love a proper Aria SB. Or for them to do their modern ones in left handed which they weirdly don't.

Can't believe I've never listened to this album! Really enjoying it.

I'm stuck on these... On one hand it's good to see the breakdown so you know (to a degree) where your money is going, but as you say if you can't actually remove any of those additional fees then it all just seems pointless.

I've had two five string Sires, a V7 Vintage and a V9. Excellent basses and loads of options on them, so you can really experiment if you've never had active or maple boards or whatever before. I felt I "needed" a 5 string then felt I didn't... The preamps are great, the maple boarded vintage V7 is really nice for snappy, trebly sounds and the pre let's you roll that off and make it thunderously deep... There's nothing not to like, apart from the headstock.

Already sorted with Mr Chilli! Interesting! Will send you a PM

Just received a message from the previous owner that it was bought like this new. I think this will be worth the effort to upgrade the electrics.

My Stingray acquired a little brother this morning. I think the previous owner has had the fingerboard professionally replaced, and a very good job has been done too. Hardware and electronics are not great but am hoping I can pickup some secondhand upgrades. Update: I am told by the previous owner it was bought as new in fretless. Lovely stuff.

Fretless Sterling Ray 34... Don't see many of these available. I also think this one was professionally defretted, I can't remember the lefties being available fretless. It has only arrived today but so far my thoughts: the fingerboard feels lovely, I think it's some kind of ebony. The neck profile is a bit slimmer than my US Stingray. Flatwounds sound great on it, I thought I'd need rounds of some kind but there are decent strings on it right now. Bad points: The machine heads feels a bit flimsy, will need to see how it settles. Also the preamp and pickup is nowhere near the league of my US Stingray. More discovery to be made after work

Make it a bass chat meet up? I didn't go to watch Amy Winehouse (before the Black album) because I didn't want to go alone. Then never got to see her at all. Massive missed opportunity. A friend of mine went through a divorce and she went to loads of gigs on her own, ended up making a massive network of friends. I'm not saying you're in that position, but at a gig you never have to be on your own. Unless it's one of my gigs, then it might just be you and the bar staff 😜

Thanks LeftJ. Unfortunately this one requires care and attention I am not qualified to give.

I think that's what I've bought through... If you have an O2 phone or maybe even Virgin Media subscriptions then you go through O2 priority and you get dibs on some gigs and events before general release. There may be other ways but that's the only one I know of.

Another rehearsal last night. The last one was cancelled with the sax player being sick and everyone else generally feeling ropey too. Nevertheless we soldiered on and learned a few new songs as well as tightened up the remainder. We are starting to really gel as a band now. Everyone does their homework and it's easy to have a go at new stuff together. This feels really good. We have a good half a set of material built up now with a clear plan on what we want to add. Still in need of a singer... The singer I really wanted seems to have lost interest. These things happen. No other good candidates have come forward. I know a lady singer who has fronted cover bands before who I could contact, and will have a nother push at advertising. Having a very-80's bass on hand has been something I've hopefully fixed. No Aria SBs or Washburn Status available in left handed I caught a defretted Sterling Ray 34 which should arrive today or tomorrow. Looking forward to receiving this! To be fair, all of my basses are 80s appropriate but something fretted and headless would be the dream... So the search isn't over (is it ever!!). Got to focus on getting a singer though...

Just got my tickets... Standing area. Going with a guitarist friend. What will be the split of the crowd in a ratio of bassists, guitarists, keys, drummers? Agree that it's a huge venue for what would be best in a sweaty little club but it's one night only so for me I just think it's too good an opportunity to miss.

Understood, but we do want to have an 80s pop band aesthetic, playing just any instruments and wearing our normal everyday clothes would not do the job.

I have a defretted Sterling Ray 34 on the way...!! It's something I've always wanted tor try so I couldn't resist at the price. A nice Aria SB would be a dream but maybe for another day

It's still up with no signs of movement but I am careful with it, keeping the load bearing parts nearest the wall fixings and having the acoustic guitar on there which weighs very little.