uk_lefty

Hey would love to connect on there, what's the radio show all about? Egg and chips too!!!!

I'd play in the metal band as it develops to just get out playing/ rehearsing. It will never hurt to learn something new. If a bluesier band comes along, great, check it out and have a decision to make. Right now it's not a choice. Plus, if from playing metal you've learned some ways to match guitar riffs and some ways to create heavy breakdowns that could lend itself to the bluesier stuff (I'm thinking Black Stone Cherry kind of thing) then you've got a new string to your bow that can benefit the band.

A few years back I was given the idea to put stuff on Instagram. Keeping it music related it was just photos of basses. More recently I've done more photos of basses and tried to advertise gigs but realistically I don't think any of my 90ish followers actually care or attend the gigs, they're just there cos I once put up a nice photo of a bass. Does anyone use Instagram for music stuff? What are you doing with it, keeping a personal record of things, advertising gigs or dep services... Something else? How much effort do you put into it if any? I'm thinking of changing mine up a bit. I had the idea a few weeks back where after feeling like a rock-demi-God post gig getting home at 2am I was brought back to reality by being woken by my kids at 6am and later that day getting excited after buying some tree loppers in Wickes. The juxtaposition of this felt far more real than anything that usually goes on social media. I've thought of doing some kind of semi tongue-in-cheek self deprecating posts that highlight my life as a bassist in a rock band where we can have photos and videos that make us look like superstars... Then actually I get into my Volvo estate and do the tedious stuff everyone does, like taking stuff to the tip... But, who would care enough to read it?

If Fender put F holes in anything it should be an "F" in the Fender font IMO.

Me too! Mine gets played quite aggressively with a pick when I'm gigging it and I often thought I might be bashing the pickup and making them loose. My solution is to now and then try to tighten it with the edge of the pick, but I also keep a small screwdriver from a Christmas cracker in my case for it and properly see to the screws with that when needed and practical to do so.

Sorry meant to say... So it's probably a factory second or B stock or something cos they know it's only getting 2hrs use before perhaps being sold to the highest bidder and hung on a wall forever more.

He used to wrap them in tape to create "unique" basses for shows then sells them after for thousands to someone who gets a VIP backstage pass and the stage used instrument. Have to admit it's a bit of a weird "signature" for someone I'd associate with Thunderbird type shapes.

Tried this last night. The mixer isn't very sophisticated so I'm not sure it's perfect but I think I've managed to get to an even volume across the board by setting my DI Pedal to 12 o'clock then setting levels on all other pedals. It's my Marshall Jackhammer OD/ Distortion that's causing the issue. I need only the tiniest, tiniest smidge of volume on that pedal, and the volume and gain are on concentric pots so I have to be v careful. I've got it where I want it for Saturday without too much fuss though, thanks for the advice on the mixer, would never have thought of that!

You have an awesome brother. And an awesome bass.

I suspected so... £600 or thereabouts and I'd be tempted.

Also this one, a bit pricey but looks in fantastic condition, Ibanez Musician Ibanez Musician M924 1981 - Natural https://reverb.com/item/71047193?utm_source=android-app&utm_medium=android-share&utm_campaign=listing&utm_content=71047193

This looks interesting... Fender custom shop Jaco lefty Fender JACO PASTORIUS TRIBUTE FRETLESS JAZZ BASS® 2018 - Sunburst Relic https://reverb.com/item/71010189?utm_source=android-app&utm_medium=android-share&utm_campaign=listing&utm_content=71010189

I did this with my MIM Jazz and it looks fantastic. But.... For me playing a jazz bass is all about using the pickup as a thumb anchor and playing over the pickups for different sounds. The neck pickup cover is a good arm rest for slapping but I rarely do that. I found the bridge pickup cover awkward because it took away one of the main places I liked to play on a jazz. Just try it with tape, see how it affects you and how much you need to adjust if any.

Instead of a backdrop our drummer has rigged up a monitor in his bass drum that plays through hours of clips of the band, the band logo with different backgrounds, etc. It gets lots of attention.

Thank you, fully understand your point and for some scenarios I completely agree.

Excellent tips, thank you. I'll run it all through my mixer tomorrow. This is all quite new to me in the sense that I used to use multi fx and have things under control. I've now got more individual pedals (better sound, more time practicing less time programming) and this I think is where my volume issues are coming from. I've bought some tiny sticker "gems" from a craft shop, seeing my daughter use them in her artworks, and will use these to colour code where I want my settings on the more sensitive pedals.

Is there a rule of thumb or magic formula for keeping volumes under control? I've got various effects that I need to use to add texture and make up for one guitar dropping out that all come with their own volume boost. It confused the sound man no end at my last gig, even though I had told him, so I ended up having to use the boost for the whole set after he lowered my volume so much it was the only way to be heard. My guitarist says he's been told 3db of boost is enough, and he has a pedal that tells him where 3db is. Is there a similar magic formula for bass? What would be the best way to set that across pedals? Is it a case of get it right through my rig at low volumes at home then it's all ok? Or is it something that can only really be done through the gig rig and PA at full volume? Thanks!

Next week.... Thoroughly chat with soundman! It's a short set so I might even print out the set list and let him know what bass FX will be used, or is that going too far and being all "ME ME ME!!!"?

So.... Got to the venue, soundman tells me they've got 18" subs and I can see there's good quality monitoring so all good. Went ampless, DI pedal to PA. Slight tweak to boost bass on the EQ otherwise everything middle on the pedal. I told the soundman I had a boost pedal and we tested the levels. Problem is on the second song he heard the boost pedal and lowered my overall output so I had to be on boost for the rest of the set with nowhere else to go!

I've got a festival gig tonight. Full PA but zero backline and playing early. Going to try and go straight from my MXR M80..... He who dares, etc.

I find when there's a lull in band activity I am thinking about my gear and buying/ selling stuff to make improvements to what I can offer. I've recently splurged on five Marshall guitar effects pedals, three are on my bass board, one came as part of a package deal and the other my guitarist has. If I was busy gigging I wouldn't have had the time to think about this. I also think the forums are full of people saying "this is a game changer" and there's either words to describe the gear or maybe a sound clip, but it's too easy to chase that quick fix that worked for someone else. Rather, consider if it works with your existing kit, playing style, etc... My band recently reminded me of my audition less than 2yrs ago when my modest pedal board was an HX Stomp and outboard tuner and wah. "I'm not really a pedals guy" I said. I've gone through tons of pedals since then, always trying to find something that gives the band a sound off a popular song, or to create something that crosses over from bass onto keyboard territory. Today, I'm almost happy with my rig. Tomorrow, the search continues!

I'm associated with being the guy awkwardly stood there while the singer gets adulation and complements. My favourite is "are you in the band?" Said in a surprised tone. The only thing consistent about my rig is the Ashdown stack. I rotate my basses regularly so apart from my Stingray which gets the most action I don't think there ever would be an association. Would be nice if there was a little recognition though...

Noooooooooooooooooooooooo I'm after a P bass. That's a steal. It's hard enough keeping up with eBay, Reverb, Gumtree and the BC Marketplace, I keep forgetting about these real-world auctions.

Yup.... Sorry it took so long!