Adrenochrome

My favourite bass is the next one I'm gonna play live. As I'm depping next, and need something in standard tuning, it'll likely by my Rose-Morris EB0.

I've played with just 1 guitarist for the last 6 or so years. I think the trick is to make sure that the bass is high up in the mix all the time, with plenty of mids in there (possibly drop some low bass and boost mids). So when the guitarist solos, you are already loud enough, it really needs to be audible rather than just 'thump'. Works for me and plenty of others. You can still use distortion, chords etc, but don't just use them when the guitarist plays intros/solos etc.

I use a cheap Samson Airline bass-specific bug and it suffers from none of the problems listed above. It's seen regular use from the tiniest pubs to 2000+ outdoor festivals and rallies. The points listed above as 'facts' are grossly inaccurate.

erm, that doesn't read very well. Some of the Soundgarden riffs sound best to my ears played with a low open D string, that kind of stuff.

I've done the lot over the years. I think that for certain types of music, some riffs played against a pedalled open C or D sound much better in drop tuning than against a fretted C or D on the 5-string. This is the main reason I'm not playing my 5-string at the moment, even though Delirium play everything in D-tuning or drop-C; I'm doing it all on 4-string basses.

Thanks for sharing A.

Interesting, a band I loved BiTD. BTW I saw Oceansize supporting TSOM a few years ago and they were one of the best support bands I've seen.

Cheers mate! We've had a good 5 years and ultimately not been able to find a good enough guitarist willing to hang around long term. Our singer is marrying our soundman in just over a month's time so we decided not to search for another new guitarist when this one leaves at the end of the month (to join a supposedly better paying band?!). Jon

it wasn't me

The Yamaha should be able to do the job pretty well. You may want to try different strings, possibly heavier gauge if things are feeling loose and/or you're downtuning at all.

This weekend's gigs are for everyone to have a blast (us included) and to raise much needed funds for the RotN to the Core campaign (some great raffle prizes on offer). It would be great to see anyone who's ever been involved in AOS down at either gig. On Sunday we'll be playing 3 full sets of music, and might even allow ourselves the occasional 'refreshment' as we are usually very sober when we play (I will NOT be driving home after this one!). I'm pleased to be playing the final 2 gigs at venues that have supported us very well; the Bridge in Huddersfield who've supported us since we started gigging properly, and the Tarn in Yeadon who've been fantastic with us and have also been our practice venue this year. Angel Of Sin will be on ice but we reserve the right to make music in the future in some format, which may or may not be as 'AOS'. ta, Jon

Yes and yes. Most have passive pups and an active pre-amp. Yes they need some sort of battery (or very rarely outside power source). And no they don't all sound cold/sterile/dry/artificial as many of the F-fascists might have you believe.

NO! But I really like a 'full range' sound; bass, mids, highs all there. I don't like a particularly trebly sound but I hate mud as well. Maybe that 'piano tone' is close to what I like.

People have had wildly differing experiences with them. Considering the vast numbers of amps/cabs in use the incidence of failures probably isn't that high. I've had a MAG 300r head (UK) for about 5 years and I've done literally hundreds of gigs and rehearsals with it never missing a beat. My 210 extension cab sounds okayish but it's light, small and does a job.

Hello and welcome Russ! Jon

Phil Spector - he pulled out a gun and made me do it... i don't like to talk about it. Real answer: Sting and Steve Harris

Hi Ahmed. I've never gigged this song but I have played the intro and opening riff during one of those "introduce the band" moments. I played it from the open D and hammered on at both the 10th and 12th frets. When the riff drops down a string the time sig is the same but there may be a little pause/rest in there. I've never worked it out to be honest!

Soz, I don't have time to do this properly. All my basses are about 3-3.5mm at the 12th fret which I consider to be MEDIUM action. All my basses tune EbAbDbGb have nickel rounds 45-105. My basses tuned DGCF (or CGCF) have nickel rounds 50-110. Strings are mainly Elites. ps I have my acoustic bass much higher for a better workout and more unamped volume.

[quote name='Dr.Dave' post='569171' date='Aug 14 2009, 04:00 PM']Ha! We were stuck in a cattle market in Skipton t'other week with Limehouse Lizzy , a lighting crew and no PA.Someone with the Limehouse set up caused a mix up that left the event sans PA and scuppered the gig. At one point we got a tip to try calling a bloke called 'Italian Tony' - sadly he couldn't help because he was in Italy. I thought it was so funny - ringing a number and asking to speak to 'Italian Tony' - sounds like a scene from Layer Cake or something. Ever used/worked with Dave Nutbrown and/of Starsound? - highly recommended.[/quote] It'll be the same Tony. I believe he was visiting family back home a few weeks ago. ARGH and others know him as well. No, not worked with those guys you mentioned. I should point out that many others have done a reasonable job and been fine to work with but the guys listed were outstanding.

Having grizzled about bad PA people, I'd now like to publically big-up our regular soundman Peter Malarkey, as well as Tony Bianco (Italian Tony), and Phil Munt of Showtec who've worked with us before at our own gigs and some of the festivals/rallies we've played. I'd recommend these guys very highly indeed.

[quote name='Dr.Dave' post='568925' date='Aug 14 2009, 12:37 PM']Same set up for us - I never really have a problem , I take a post eq DI (from my amp - I don't trust their DI boxes) and tell them to flat line it and leave it the f**k alone.[/quote] Agreed, this is my preferred option but the last bit they often struggle with. Of course this is for shared gigs only; on our own gigs Pete is an absolute star behind the desk and is at least as important as us 4 on stage.

[quote name='Dr.Dave' post='568868' date='Aug 14 2009, 11:59 AM']If the overall sound's good - that's good enough for me to be prepared to compromise. The music as a whole is more important than my bass sound.[/quote] I agree but when you only have 1x guitar, bass and drums I really do need more than just thump, especially during guitar solo/intros etc.

[quote name='EBS_freak' post='568734' date='Aug 14 2009, 10:20 AM']Really? If you asked the general public, I would wager Macca would come above Flea. I don't think the majority of the general public would even know who Flea is.[/quote] Could be. A lot of my colleagues who like pop/rock often don't seem aware of who plays bass vs guitar in bands, and even less so with singers who play an instrument as well. Macca [b]is[/b] more famous, I'm not sure how many punters see him as a 'bassist'.

For the general public, I reckon Flea could be regarded as the 'best' bass player. (I reckon he's got more people started playing bass than Jacob Jazzstoryface...)