uk_lefty

Looking like this isn't going to work... Back to the drawing board!

Thanks. I think they do one with wider string spacing (a 145 they call it) which is the same pup but broader...

I'm looking for opinion on this DiMarzio pickup. I've got a PJ bitsa with a bit of an untidy P rout, which is a shame because I've got a DiMarzio model P in there that sounds AMAZING. However, I think getting a big square pup might help cover the rout error and now that I adore DiMarzio pups thought this could be a good option.... I'd love to hear any first hand experience. It would be in the P position with a DiMarzio model J in the bridge position... Though tbh I hardly use that because the Model P is so, so good!

I've just knocked my 80s band on the head today, sadly. Rehearsals were not productive enough, not everyone was learning their parts or was maybe being half hearted. The guitarist sat us all down and said to make real progress we need a month of weekly rehearsals. I said great, but can't be August cos I'm away or busy every week! But the more I thought about it I thought about the fact that we had 14 songs on the go but very few could we just pitch up and play competently all the way through. Putting in more time and effort would have led to more frustration. I had quite a few nights after rehearsals where I couldn't sleep for a few hrs just thinking about things. I don't have that with the band I joined that was already established and I just slot in, learn my parts and when someone isn't so sure on a bit we are well rehearsed enough to pull that person through. Take a step back and see is it one person slowing things down, are people saying they want to do X but their commitment won't get them there? Might be a harsh decision to be made. Or be honest, tell them it's all good fun but it's going slow so you're prioritising another band that moves faster.

Agreed. I tried really hard to set my stall out early. My view is that you need to be able to describe what your covers band is. It can't be "we play stuff people like" or "a bit of everything, really" that means nothing. To be able to say "we play 80s pop songs with a female vocalist" immediately gives me a good idea of what the band is all about. That's my view, you have to be able to 'market' the band and be clear about what you are. Otherwise you're just yet another 3 middle aged blokes and a girl singer doing "Maria" because it's the easiest blondie song, Katy Perry because you think she's "new" when actually her more recognisable songs are 10 years behind us, and various other guff. Sadly other people like to say "I used to do this one, it's easy..." and don't quite get the point or move away from the point for their convenience or preference. There was no power struggle or anything I just found it hard. I look also at how I've been in my existing band, I've put such little effort in to songs I don't want to do, it's not really fair.

I think this is something I would be doing for "special birthdays" if it was a big band I really wanted to see. I'll still watch the likes of Black Stone Cherry in an ordinary venue, but for the big outdoor stuff unless it's the MK Bowl, which I saw Foo Fighters at and had a great time, I'd consider VIP. There's venues I am completely put off, like Knebworth, that it would have to be VIP or nothing.

So in the 9 month gap, which included some long lock down periods a lot happened and a lot didn't happen. We brought in the singer who the guitarist knew. She was pretty good, loves her 80s music... Then the cracks appear across the band.. That sounds too dramatic really but you get the idea. We have strayed away from the original concept and I'm getting uncomfortable. We are now discussing "modern" covers to add in, and disco... Its all gone a bit wrong. We persevere, conveniently ignore Katy Perry, add some new songs in, get back to the 80s roots. I think the singer is trying to help me steer the ship back on course. We rehearse, we try to learn songs. The guitarist plays synths too. He wants to bring his synth kit in and pre programme everything which pretty much sidelines me and the drummer. The drummer has a way of calmly saying "no" that puts an end to things, I really respect that. Synths arrive but no pre programmed sequencing stuff. We play a song where the guitarist engages an arpeggio with his feet, sounds fantastic. We play a song with him playing keys but he misses a key melodic motif of the song... He plays keys the way I play guitar which is I can do the basic chords but you're not getting lead and widdly bits. This sucks some energy out of big synth songs. I record some of the rehearsals and ask trusted friends "what do you think?" got some good feedback but one comment stuck with me: "does your guitarist ever learn any of the songs?". More rehearsals, frustration at my door for some breaks to the regular bi weekly meet up due to summer, family stuff, etc. Meet up again. We had three easy songs to learn, guitarist has not learned them and has not fully learned most of the other songs we were practicing. It's all a bit flat. Guitarist sits us all down and says for the band to go anywhere we need to rehearse more regularly. I agree. Then I start to think about everything, put it all together in my head. We've been going 9 months and we can fluently play 2 or 3 songs from a list of 12. The others we still need to sort arrangements for or critical parts. I suspect he only learns the songs he wants to do or has done before, but even then they aren't perfect. I haven't been perfect by any means but I've learned my parts adequately to play along with a band, as per my limited dep experience . I just don't think we have gelled enough to get each other through new songs like the band I've been in for 5 years does. I've reflected on it all and sent the note. I need to quit. I don't have the time and energy, and if I did I think it could be wasted. I don't want to blame one other person. We all were a bit ropey on different parts. I like all of these people, which makes it a bit harder. But the excitement wore off and the hard work became too hard with the end result becoming less and less realistic. Lesson learned on starting a band with random people off the Internet.

Well, it's come time to knock this one on the head. Excitement inevitably gave way to frustration. It's a shame because I really wanted this to work... More details to follow...

I was once in a nightclub in Chicago. My mates and I saw a beaded curtain with a small booth behind it, a small table and seating for four people. We said to the bouncer "what's that all about?" "VIP area." "can we go in?" "yeah, sure..." and he pulled the curtains back for us. We sat in there for five minutes then came out again.

The prices of second hand gear are very low at the moment, on the forum and elsewhere. Even then there's not a lot of buyers. I think once more gigs are successfully completed they might creep back up. But then you've got the mega deals on things like TC Electronics 800w amp and 4x10 and all the TC pedals that could just be pulling the *rse out of the market too.

Sometimes too much choice is bad for you! Personally I love black hardware and I think it will help the nicer parts of the bass stand out. A white pearl plate would be lovely.

That is a work of art. Absolutely spectacular. If I had made that I wouldn't let anyone else touch it, let alone sell it!

Not as a VIP but I saw Pearl Jam in Hyde Park at some point in the last 15 years... Best live band I have ever seen. I am not a die hard PJ fan, though Ten was a massive inspiration to me as I was starting out on bass. Best gig I have ever ever seen. I would also consider the VIP thing for this reason, which is also a reason to absolutely not do the VIP thing depending on your slant. When I saw them it was at a Hard Rock Calling event, festival without camping type set up. Saw some of the earlier bands and was quite near the front so just stayed there. Just before PJ came on ten thousand more people came in. As they hit the stage it was like being in the sea when a much bigger wave than you're expecting comes behind you, I was pretty much lifted off my feet and carried forward. Some kids was crowd surfing from back to front and I didn't see him coming, so my hands weren't up and he landed on top of my head, breaking my sunglasses and knackering my neck for days. However, I saw the best concert of my life and being surrounded by die hard fans somehow made the experience better, a bit like being a footy game where everyone is excited and nobody is being a n0b. Towards the end we moved to the side and got a great view and a bit of a calmer experience, but it wasn't the same as being in the thick of it. I am now conflicted about Pearl Jam. I'm scared if I ever watch them again they won't be as good. But I've seen other bands multiple times who just got better and better... Massive conflict!

That neck is heavenly.

I had the case too! Faux leather with a zip. Loved it for the pure 80s-Ness of the whole package.

And at three grand new anything less than 2500 is a bargain. There should be a small market for my Aria, sadly its all Australians and Americans that want it and the cost of shipping prevents me selling it!

Well, over £1200 with still 2 days to go. That's me well, well put of contention. What a bass!

Oooh a fretless precision! Lovely. Glad the cab has a very good new home.

Sadly as I got in to playing gigs the good local originals bands were finding it hard to get gigs, I stead it all became Tribute bands. We had some good covers bands who did the local circuit, but the teenage originals bands were dying out, probably with underage drinking being tightened up on too. I later started working at a pub I had played in with my band and they got me booking acts for them, on all the advertising I included "No Tribute Bands!" because being a bit of a snob at the time I thought it was destroying everything. Really it was just a change of management at the venue every teenager aspired to playing in!

I saw a few of their videos when they came out and just assumed because he's a big unit anyway...!

Yes that confused me a bit, releasing 4 different "signature" variants. I'm not aware of ever seeing him use a short scale but I'm not an avid TC fan, though I do appreciate his work. Not to detract anything from it though, they will be excellent, excellent basses.

In a 1hr set about sixty percent of the photos were of me playing the headless which I only had out for a couple of songs, which is a bit embarrassing. Singers don't like that though, neither do lead guitarists!

I had one and LOVED it. I never got on with the EQ but passive with decent strings it sounded great and was a photographer magnet! Mine had the EMG pickups and not the later stock generic ones. One of my favourite recordings I have with it is actually playing a bit of 12 bar blues, I found the tone really versatile. My only small issue was the string spacing was too tight for me, so great for fingerstyle but I expected it to be a slap machine, sadly not for my terrible technique. Listen to Hoochie Coochie Man by clive mustang on #SoundCloud https://soundcloud.app.goo.gl/Fw9Rv