uk_lefty

It doesn't matter how many times you jam along to a CD or listen to songs in your car, you need the whole band rehearsal for nailing the structure and feel of songs. My band practices every week, gig once a month most of the year, more often in summer. We mix up the rehearsal to bring in new songs but songs we've played every set since day 1 still get rehearsed where there's odd length verses and bridges in irregular places, it has to be done!

[quote name='mxm' timestamp='1487509243' post='3240288'] There was deffo something like that in the (Wunjos?) basement, Denmark St., yesterday - sorry I wasn't really paying too much attention at the time ! May be worth contacting them ?!! [/quote] Will do!

[quote name='Monkey Steve' timestamp='1487338047' post='3239110'] And a lot of people who think they can sing but just can't. One more thing to blame X Factor for is the rise of people who are convinced that they are amazing singers because their friends all told them they were excellent at a karaoke night last month. Or have only ever sung along to songs in their car or their bedroom and never actually hear themselves or played with a band. Put them next to a drum kit and a guitar amp and suddenly they have no mic technique and no way to cope with normal band volumes so all you get is out of tune wailing. [/quote] I used to be a decent sportsman and told a singer (who had never been in a band or on stage but her boyfriend said she was good...!) That I couldn't commit to practice three times a week cos I had training and so on. "What?! You'd rather do that than be in a band with me?!" "Yes."

Was not was, walk the dinosaur

This has all got a bit out of hand since my facaetious comment about wearing two watches... Are there any more useful gig tips?

Don't give up! I moved to my current area not knowing anyone and left an ok band that I had become good friends with... Joined a start up covers band that inevitably failed as it had no real direction. But the drummer from that band put me in touch with what looked like a really professional covers band, Facebook and Twitter set up, photos of big outdoor gigs, etc. They held auditions and I had to sit and wait while another bassist played then left... Seemed too serious for me who, like you, just wants to play good songs loud and have a few beers... But turns out the band are like that too. The singer is a pub landlord who has rehearsal as his one night out with the boys of the week, gigs are when we can all make it with nobody getting a shoeing for not brig available... Been in the band almost a year and made some great friends and playing what to my mind are good quality gigs for a few quid to cover costs. It is out there, you just need to kiss a lot of frogs first, so to speak.

Saw one on eBay, brand new out in the US. Never seen them before and can't find any others, is this for real? Black with a maple fretboard... Perfect. Would love to get one as a cheap way of working out whether I want the real thing. Played one of the Sterling by musicman eight hundred quid basses in a shop and wasn't impressed but don't think I gave it a proper go... Can anyone find these three hundred quid basses kack handed in the UK?

Get off in time for next band or make sure we stop before noise curfew. Really, I don't need it, I often take them off to play but for no reason whatsoever I genuinely wore two watches at my last gig. I take a phone on to do a band-selfie with the crowd which is fun.

One digital, one traditional, of course.

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1486994338' post='3236083'] I'd say no watches on stage at all - unless you're Flavor Flav! [/quote] I wore two watches at my last gig. On the same wrist. What does that mean?!?!?!

I could only buy a relic instrument if the wear doesn't have a gloss or poly coat over the top of it! It's artificially worn to a point and no more is permissible!! I don't like a lot of the relic jobs out there, even sandberg. The whole one colour over another thing baffles me too but if other people like it it's their choice. I don't think I've ever seen anyone else with a relic instrument on my local love circuit apart from my guitarist who just bought a Vintage brand strat for peanuts to knock about with. My jazz is mid nineties and has many many dings and chips out of the paint and the neck is starting to darken in some areas and fade in others. On stage you wouldn't notice any of it though.

[quote name='TheGreek' timestamp='1486920242' post='3235526'] Sometimes we get paid in our pocket..sometimes in our hearts.. [/quote] Very well said!

DV247 were great with me when I ordered a pedal that didn't work, they replaced it immediately, and when that didn't work I go a refund. Really good service and friendly on the phone. Have bought various bits from Gear4, an acoustic guitar a few years back and recently a bass case. I used them because while they were same price as some others they are Yorkshire based and that swung it for me. Recently used Andertons for the first time and found them excellent, best price and great service when I phoned realising I hadn't added some essentials to my order.

Why doesn't he just use a fender Dimension....?

[quote name='Kevin Dean' timestamp='1486486578' post='3232209'] Maybe it's because most people use two ? [/quote] True. But most of the more expensive lightweight cabs take more wattage, and a lot of the new class d head units pump out more than 500 watts. I'd have thought cabs would follow the trend with head units really. 250 works for me now with my current set up, but if I upgrade from a combo to a new head and cab then this may get left behind unfortunately.

My only criticism of the cab would be power handling seems low. I expected more than 250w

Saw them at download 2016 as part of this tour and was comprehensively underwhelmed, I'm sad to say. I think Ozzy has gone on too long. Musically the band was good but without any dynamism from the vocals (or tuning or timing) it was a bit hollow. Wish I'd seen them many years earlier

So this came out for a gig last night, in a big hall with around a hundred and twenty people and no pa support for the bass. I paired the cab with the tone-man 300 combo and switched off the tweeter. I played my p bass, hohner B2a and jazz bass in drop D. The cab gave added depth to the sound and with the tweeter disabled the high notes were nice and even. I slapped the jazz and the hohner a tiny bit and played some imitation reggae, as well as straight ahead rock. The sound was excellent on stage and clear off it, no need for pa support. I use a hartke bass attack for my eq and had a scooped mid sound throughout. I have to say that now I have one of these lightweight cabs I want a 2x10 and a head to replace the combo. The ease of transportation is so much better than a heavy combo which really does make a difference. The sound from the cab is probably better quality than the combo but I suppose that is to be expected from the difference in product range. All in all I am glad I bought this new rather than spend less on a second hand heavy weight cab. I can't fault the quality and the tone holding up with the amp being pushed at 75% volume for a thirty five song gig. If I can sneak them in the house I would love to buy the 2x10 and a rootmaster head unit.

I saw a bassist in a rage tribute band play in full clown outfit including white gloves. Played every line note perfect, no idea how he managed it.

Whether it's a personal favourite chillies album or not it's a great "bass album" there's no denying. Is he making complex lines sound simple or simple lines sound complex? I'm not sure, but it is a cracking album in every respect. Great to hear the bass isolated, one of the album's that spurred me on to learn more in my frustrated early bass playing days

I used rounds on my fretless for years and there are some scars on the fretboard. Living in small towns before the days of reliable internet shopping and choice of strings I had to. I used nickel rather than stainless to go easy on the board but am going to take a punt on the Ernie ball cobalts for a round sound but with the flat feel under the finger tip. I mainly used Ernie ball flats on this fretless since 2006 and I'm only on my second set of them.

[quote name='LewisK1975' timestamp='1485950926' post='3227914'] The idea was to hold the tug bar with your fingers and play the bass near the neck with your thumb. [/quote] Hmmmm wouldn't be my preference

I don't understand what a tug bar is for?

Bought a delay pedal from skb558. Arrived quickly and kept in touch by text. Thoroughly decent chap, sent me a fantastic pedal for a reasonable price and offered extra comms which could help anyone worrying about PayPal transfer of money outside a structured web transaction. Deal with confidence!

[quote name='redbandit599' timestamp='1485385320' post='3223674'] For the OP, Download can be fun if you go with it. Plenty of stages, so lots of variety. The mud last year was biblical though!I If you really don't fancy it why not see if your Mrs has a metal interested friend to go with, I know loads of girls who go, and it's a friendly crowd. If you think you might have a tendency to be one of those who end up huddled on a fold up chair under a tarp - then probably more fun for all if you bale. That might sound a bit off, don't mean to be! \m/ 😀 [/quote] I went for the first time last year. I am too old. To the OP, be careful where you camp. There is a very active airport runway inches from your face if you're camped in the wrong bit. The line up looks great (to me) this year and in the side tents you might find something a bit different. It's a nice crowd too, people are friendly if you're lost or whatever. Just hope you have good weather and security don't physically force you out from under the only bit of shelter in to the rain for no reason.