uk_lefty

I've been through quite a lot of basses and though I'm "done" with acquiring new ones I'd love a Status if finances ever allow for it.

My method is a bit ham-fisted but it works for me. Listen to the song a lot If the bass follows under the rhythm guitar then I find a "reliable" set of chords and lyrics so I can busk along to it If the bass has a distinctive riff I'll try to find reliable tabs or play along videos on YouTube Write down the song structure (example: intro, v1, pre, chorus, V2, pre, chorus, solo, chorus X2) with notes next to most. So if the verse goes C D G C D G and doesn't change from that then I'll write CDG x2 next to V1 and leave v2 and all other verse prompts blank This is the really odd part... I then take a photo of my notes on my iPad and that's what I use during gigs. I can memorise a lot of songs but we are always working on something new or we have songs we will only play at a wedding etc. so they come out less often so I can't memorise everything. Still, I could just type my notes on the iPad but I am stuck in my habit now!

Fair point. But we do get a lot for nothing these days: gumtree, Facebook marketplace, etc. and then the way that sellers can be completely shafted in any kind of dispute makes me question the value.

So I've been with the current band for almost three years now. In that time our set has evolved but there's a distinctive style to how we play (all covers but rocked up versions of pop songs etc). Well, we have a gig that the lead guitarist can't make it to. So last night we rehearsed as a three piece to try and work out what from our existing bank of songs would be both appropriate and workable. And then it happened. We were throwing ideas around for songs we either haven't played in years, have never played together... Some I had never heard at all! We ended up busking through nine new songs, but because we've played together and learned lots of songs together some felt like finished products, some others just need a little tightening up. Overall it was just really fun to throw ideas out and then "have a go" but it turns out really well. Abba, Dancing Queen...? I've never even tried to play it, gave it a go, loved it, sounded great. We would never do that in the full band, ever. "I'd always wanted to do the Baywatch theme tune..." I thought out loud, expecting to be shot down. Guitarist "did it years ago in solo acoustic stuff..." We start to play it and it sounds and feels excellent. No lead guitar? No problem. Fretless bass and some more fills than usual and we are away. Had an absolute blast.

I've always found Reverb ok to be fair. Less messing about than eBay but still using some common sense you can quickly see who's a scammer or a time waster.

eBay's selling fees are crazy, taking a percent of the postage is a complete p!ss take. But. They get the widest audience so for me and my left handed items it's a necessary evil if I don't get a bite on here or Reverb quickly enough

Back in my day.... I started at 15 with a book (accompanying CD was missing) and not even a tuner. The book was full of tunes I'd never heard of and it was really slow going. What got me really learning was getting tabs for my favourite songs, finding the easier ones and playing them constantly. Then reading shed loads of bass player interviews and absorbing information from there. Having you in the house as someone who already plays will help start with some pace unlike my months of de-tuned plodding.

Fender USA Jazz in Miami Blue

I need to add, I am very impressed with the results after just a couple of minutes of giving what are probably quite crap instructions

The band I am in is The Desert Penguins. I used some free app to create the first attached image. I specifically asked for a black scratch plate on the Strat.... I then tried to get some images just for me. AI does not yet fully understand the concept of left handedness, and when it does it doesn't get 1957 black P bass, with black scratch plate and chrome pickup cover.

Following the playlist, fantastic to put some sounds to names/ pictures 😎

I definitely think there are some that I will "miss". I've got two Darkglass pedals that are absolutely phenomenal, for instance. But, there are two things colliding: the need for simplicity and frankly the need for cash. I will, though, do a proper video review thingy with it because as was said earlier these product demos just scrape the surface. Of course, none of them ever say "hmmm, that sounds sh!t" on the synths for example! But, it does look like you could do a better version by combining chorus, Octave and fuzz... So we will see! Mine won't arrive until some point in July.

Ooops!

Just in case... This is the best review I've seen so far.

If that was on quotation marks with Unknown as the source...

I hear you. One of the guitarists and me are very similar in terms of how we strive for better gear and different sounds all the time. But while I'm sure I can hear and feel the difference with separate pedals over good quality digital multi effects I need to simplify and work within the limitations of my gear instead of chasing something I won't reach.

I'm done with separate pedals... Thing is I've spent so much time, effort and money building up a pedalboard I was 90% happy with... Oh well, every day is a school day

I've only gone and ordered one 🫡

The MXR DI is a great pedal, excellent choice! I can't speak highly enough of my Darkglass Duality Fuzz. I absolutely love it. I have the older version with more dials and the flexibility on it is excellent for whether you want buzz-saw rough rock bass fuzz or a softer and more modern sounding fuzz to go with other effects to make a synth type sound.

I'm @rr_on_bass if anyone is interested in photos of left handed basses.

Clear perspex, circuit board showing... Find some way to get an LED in there to light it up. A guitarist I played with for a while had this on his strat, looked quite cool.