JapanAxe

This is one of the reasons why I don't bother with big name gigs any more. Others include:[list] [*]Being so far from the stage that you can only 'see' the performers on TV screens. [*]Grossly over-priced refreshments. [*]Grossly over-priced parking. [*]Huge queues to leave the car park. [/list] I have much more fun these days seeing tribute bands. Last weekend I saw a Steely Dan tribute (£0) and Pink Floyd tribute (£5 to charity), and both were excellent. I cycled to the first gig, and (at Mrs Axe's insistence) drove 4 miles to the second, where parking was free.

Depends. In the band I front (on vocals and skinny-string), I never use a music stand. I occasionally forget my words, but it's worth it for the fact that I am free to engage with the audience, not looking down at a piece of paper. If I am depping on bass, I generally aim to learn my part, but if it's at short notice or very involved, I will sometimes take out the sheet music I have transcribed. Obviously if it's a sight-reading gig then a music stand is essential, and the issue then is whether to sit or stand. I am generally more comfortable standing than sitting, but this means having the music stand quite high if I want to avoid a painful neck as the gig progresses. As a gig-goer I hate to see (or indeed not see) a band obscured by a forest of music stands at chest height. IME brass and woodwind players can rarely get away without the music in front of them.

I generally go for Stax, Motown, or James Brown stuff, and listen out for phatness. If the bass starts making me improvise lines, it's a winner.

Very happy with lightweight cabs and my micro head, but also 'regressed' and got a traditional tranny head (with full valve front end) a while back. For sound, I wouldn't say I like one better than the other - they are different, and suit different gigs. EDIT: That's the Ampeg I'm talking about btw, and it's only 16kg. The Selmer is just for fun.

[s][color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif][size=3]Available New Year's Eve [/size][/font][/color][/s] Got a NYE gig now!

[s][color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif][size=3]Available New Year's Eve [/size][/font][/color][/s] Got a NYE gig now!

Not unusual for bridge pins to want to pop out when re-stringing. As a former Godin Acousticaster owner, I wonder where they got their inspiration. Hmmm....

Micro schmicro, get yerself one of these:

Not bass kit, but the original Sampson-era Matchless combos had hideous rigid handles like these:

Personally I am way too risk-averse to countenance doing anything like that.

@scoobystig - will you be gigging this around Swindon?

I always like to sleep on a decision like this, whether I am auditioner or auditionee, and the other party has always been happy to accept this.

Deserted mountainside castles will be in even shorter supply when I set out to build the P-bass version of this:

Beware: http://www.musiciansunion.org.uk/news/2013/09/09/grease-the-musical-rights-holders-withdraw-consent-for-performance-of-songs/