uk_lefty

Ouch. That's not good.

First off, I'm not disagreeing with you. I get what you're saying and I half agree, half don't. I'm on the fence. Just trying to work out the thought process and why this whole market exists... I think it's the whole knowing you want a certain bass but being able to choose a spec, colour, etc that potentially only you have, or is so rare you're not going to get hold of one coming up second hand quickly and easily. The only one I played was a gold 60s spec lefty. That just doesn't exist unless you have it made for you. I didn't like it, but the owner loved it. Good for him. At a Marcus Miller clinic he was talking about the Sire bass range. He plays a V7, not the more expensive V9 and V10 ranges. He said words to the effect that they all sound pretty much the same but the fancy wood tops and so on are there for you only as the player, for you to feel inspired to pick it up and play it. I think whether custom shop or not, a lot of us choose these superficial things about our basses that make us want to acquire them, and want to play them. The bass itself in a lab may not sound different to the cheaper versions, but if we are more inspired picking it up and coaxing different things out of it, or if we just love looking at it (or waxing it every Sunday night as I did with an old Warwick I had), it's done its job?

I've never had to do a return to Thomann but this shipping issue doesn't surprise me, sadly. I've got a cab coming from Musik Produktiv that's stuck waiting for clearance, whereas a separate order I had with them came in just a few days. It's not the retailer's fault, it's in the hands of the shipping company and various customs processes. I'd love to only buy from UK Retailers but take the example of the Sire V7. I really like buying from Anderson's and they're the UK importer. However, a left handed V7 on Anderson's, when in stock, costs £489. The in stock date keeps moving out, so I could pre order and wait and wait. On Thomann, it's actually in stock right now and costs £389. I'd love to buy in the UK to support local jobs and businesses, reduce carbon footprint of boxes flying all over the world, easier returns process.... But £100 difference is too much.

How do you combine it with the HX are you putting the Al in the Stomp's effects loop?

Long story, not interesting... But I call it the Lazy option for a reason! 😃👍

It's a funny one, the Sub feature. I quite like it as a "lazy octaver", I call it that because there's a song I'm doing where I want a clean octave down effect and it's easier to push this button than mess about with my Helix to find the octaver that isn't farty. Can't imagine using it as an always-on though, that would be too much.

What about if the venue keeps lighting the audience....

I've only ever played one and it was incredibly ordinary. I'd go to a big shop that stocks loads and play as many as possible, because I know there will be absolute gold there, it's just finding "the one" for you.

Me too, it's like a nervous twitch thing. Like guitarists always tuning between every song, or having a quick bash of the main riff of a song before the whole band is ready to play. If you're well rehearsed to just don't do that cr@p.

Phwooooaaah! They do the cherry colour version in left handed!! I was tempted but the scale length put me off. I bought a Jack Casady instead and now can't get a case to fit it.... Fuming. Fancied one of these though, could have used for acoustic and electric gigs easily.

I couldn't pick up the rhythm, whether it was an impatient, searching for an answer rhythm, or a rhythm of fanfare and anticipation.

.....?

Keynote looks like it should do the job?

Of course, you have to serve the song.

Spot on! Reminds me of a gig I did where the drummer (an excellent drummer who never moaned) found Sunshine of Your Love so easy he was having fun chucking spare drumsticks at people during the song because he could play it one handed. That's how he had fun with the song! Not sure I completely recommend that though!

I think that would time out and the screen would go blank?

Oh and it also needs to work where there's no WiFi signal... So Google slides is probably out. The iPad is my wife's, she only uses it for Netflix and web browsing, I'm not familiar with Apple and their apps etc.

Looking for advice please. I've got LOTS of material to learn for the new band, 38 songs for a gig on the 10th December to be precise. I am able to get through almost all of it with the aid of notes scribbled by pen (see image). The other guys use iPads clipped on to mic stands for their notes because of the sheer volume of songs they get through. I've got an old iPad, I've got a mic stand mount now. I just need to find a programme that can take my hand written notes, allow me to rearrange the order for different gigs, and won't let the screen time out on me during the gig. So far I've thought of scanning in my notes and putting one song per slide on Google Slides, would that work? Is anything better? The other guys each use different programs which are overkill, IMO.

Have a few songs that in your head are the ones you've always wanted to play, what your teenage beginner self thought he or she would be doing... But you've never had chance? Either the band will not do it or it won't fit with the general vibe... Drop in a YouTube link! Here's mine:

Ok then, I'll do it!

Sorry to hear that. They've been my courier of choice recently because they messed up delivering a bass but I could talk to someone quite quickly over the phone who set about ordering the driver back out to retrieve the parcel and deliver it correctly after 7pm. Their web tracking is awful. When you've booked a collection it says "delivery due..." Which makes you think you've done it wrong or they've messed up, but it's just a poorly built website.

https://youtu.be/JR3uz8rq4ng The Temptations Vs Black Sabbath

Auditions are a bit of a funny thing. I learned the hard way that one meeting and jam through a prescribed list of songs is ok, but the bad habits creep out after a few sessions. I had a guitarist who impressed enough at meeting 1, then slowly tried to take over, didn't learn the songs, just wanted to show off expensive gear, sat out some songs altogether, tried to push everyone else to do more... Muso types get too excited. When there's a new band they smell the opportunity to live out their teenage dream of rocking the stage with their favourite cover songs, that like in your audition don't always hang together as a coherent set (IMO some of those songs just don't work together for the same band to be playing unless they change the feel of those that don't fit). Everyone wants their spotlight Rock-God moment and nobody wants to play the four on the floor three chord wonders that have filled dancefloors for generations because "it's boring". Always had this argument with an old drummer. If a part is boring, IMO good! that means it's easy to remember, then if appropriate it's your responsibility to make it interesting without messing up the whole song. My advice would always be to go for an established band. They have a set, a following, recordings, and gigs. They also probably have their feet on the ground and realistic expectations. If joining a new venture it's ok to experiment with songs and sounds but build it towards an identity so it's not just a jukebox of "something for everyone". Something for everyone doesn't exist. I've never got to play some songs live that I have always, always wanted to (Fire by Crazy World of Arthur Brown) because it just wouldn't fit any band I've ever been in and would probably be a bit weird. But that's what a band needs to do, work together and work for their audience.

I need to look into this further. I really want to get the bass out the house but it's pristine, there's no way I want to relic it in the boot of the car! Anderson's today went and tried to put a Jack Casady in a Gator case for me but it wasn't a goer. Epiphone are showing as delivering to UK shops in 3 months!!

So far UPS have been really good with me. I've sent a bass and a cab and I arranged for them to get the Jack Casady for me. All gone well, they even talk to you on the phone if something goes wrong AND try to help.