thepurpleblob

Believe it or not I just found out a similar thing happened to us on Friday night (I had to leave in a hurry - not in a bad way). The bar had been empty - 5 people the whole night. The manager didn't tell us not to play so we cracked on and played a good set for the 5 people there, who appeared to enjoy it. It turns out that at the end the manager refused to pay on the grounds that he hadn't made any money and we didn't bring anybody with us. What's more - my band colleagues went along with this. I'm a bit annoyed about it. Other than that we get on well with the staff in this place so I do understand wy they didn't want to make a big fuss, still

Stomach acids are nasty things and can be hard to shift. You can get special enzyme based cleaners if it's bad. That stops it ponging for ever. That's a new one... I'm normally shouting at people for putting glasses of beer on top of my rig!!

As the old joke goes.... "both bands spoiled by a woman". Niether were my favourite bands ever but both produced one or two of my favourite songs ever. I really have to say The Beatles for their influence and legacy... if nothing else.

[quote name='BigBassBob' timestamp='1331496977' post='1573837'] Unfortunately none of the band are union members and all payment was settled verbally so I don't think we have much to stand on legally. In all honesty, I'd just like them to cover transport costs but from the way they dealt with us I doubt we'll see a penny... and in turn I'd like to let other musicians out there know how we were treated. [/quote] I'm going to sound like a complete b*****d here... but if you let them away with it then you cheapen playing such gigs for all musicians. IANAL, but it's incredibly unlikely that they could muster a sensible defence against a claim. What were you doing there? Playing for free? Do you normally play for free? Anyway, the small claims process requires that you act reasonably. You write to the boss tomorrow explaining what happened calmly and ask for your pay. If nothing happens you write again explaining that you intend to take legal action. Then you do. However, they'll probably just pay. Also, I seem to recall that the MU are interested to hear about non-paying venues even if you are not a member.

Polite letter. Nasty letter. Small claims court. Nothing to do with you that they "double booked" the venu. I've only ever had problems vaguely similar to that. It usually centres around the manager who books the bands and the duty manager not speaking to each other or somesuch. Again, hardly your fault. It's tempting to say "you should have just walked" but on the night you want to do the professional thing and play the gig. I have asked a venue before now "look, if you don't really want us to play that's fine. Just pay the fee and we'll go!!"

Probably, but I wouldn't buy stuff like that of ebay. Try Maplin, CPC etc... "cermet" multi-turn ones are the ones to have but might be a touch of overkill. Cheap open ones can go nasty though.

TBH I play 4 and 5s not 6. But... the answer to this one is to lock up your fours and go play nothing but the six until it stops being frightening. Start by playing your usual stuff in the EADG strings until you get used to the two new strings being there.

Where did the smoke come from? If the horn is still functioning then at least the amp isn't dead. Personally, I would give it a try but start from zero everything and be prepared to switch off at the first sign of trouble. You could still be in for a new set of of output transistors.

A series resistor won't work (a bit of a lie but you'll never calculate the value because it depends on everything that's on the other side of it). The potentiometer is the answer.

[quote name='TimR' timestamp='1331393006' post='1572314'] Whenever I feel like that I go out and watch a band. I usually come back with the feeling that I'm not doing too badly. [/quote] Ahhhh.... you must have been to see me then

Always... it's a personality failing. I'd enjoy myself more and probably play better if I wasn't so self critical but there you are!! On the other hand a bit of humility is needed in order to progress.

Bit disapointing... 5 (yes five) punters It reminded me of a recent discussion - the owner was friendly enough but the first thing he said was "where are all your mates". To be fair, the way it had worked out nobody could come. Eventually my wife and her friend were persuaded to turn up so that made his original 3 into 5. This was right in the town centre of Hamilton in Scotland. The whole place was dead. What's happened to Friday nights? We gave it our best shot and our very small audience enjoyed themselves. Doubt we'll be asked back unfortunately.

[quote name='Coilte' timestamp='1331206868' post='1569321'] I'm surprised that the G&L L2500 has not been mentioned yet. The one in the link is a USA model. There is also the Indonesian "Tribute" which is a lot cheaper and almost as good. Worth checking out. Not sure about the string spacing. [url="http://www.glguitars.com/instruments/USA/basses/L2500/index.asp"]http://www.glguitars...L2500/index.asp[/url] [/quote] It's quite like the Stingray-5. Medium spacing on a typically chunky Fender-esque neck. Nice if that's your thing.

[quote name='dmccombe7' timestamp='1331205941' post='1569293'] At some point i will pub crawl Carluke to get a feel for it. Great Indian take-away though on main street. [/quote] Carluke is far too polite for any trouble. I actually live in Law Village and the pub there is definitely not polite in the slightest. However, the Indian take away is the business! I actually mean that areas like the OP is speaking about (and Viewpark and the like) have an attitude along the lines of taking the law into their own hands. One does not call the cops. In my experience, most of the bands I have played in take the same attitude. I wasn't brought up like that (in quiet Yorkshire) but there you go...

Bought a dodgy Hartke amp from Shep. Properly nice guy to deal with and very rapid delivery. Cheers

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1331198525' post='1569127'] I bought a Musicman SR5 as my first 5 string bass. But in the end I wanted the same string spacing as my 4 string so I went for the 19mm Lakland. Wide spacing isn't a problem. You just have to adapt your technique, practice and don't keep chopping and changing between 4's and 5's. [/quote] I did exactly the same thing... the SR5 is a nice bass but I found the strings to be a bit 'crammed in', the Lakland just has a bit more room on the neck. I also have a TRB5 which is incredibly similar in neck shape for half the price (if you can find one). As has been said, however, you need to try some.

[quote name='Chris Horton' timestamp='1331134263' post='1568206'] [size=5][sub]I would recommend a Yamaha TRB,[/sub][/size] [size=5][sub]But then I am a little bit biased as i am selling one if you are interested [/sub][/size] [/quote] So would I, but they are about as wide a spacing as you can get - all the way up !!

Spacing on a 5 is a minefield. I was quite the opposite I wanted wide spacing. I think you'll find that (19mm) at the bridge (same as most 4 strings) is unusual and tends to turn up on more expensive models. You also have to consider what happens at the other end too - the spacing can vary widely there too. And, how close do the B and G strings get to the edge - I don't like models where the strings are really close to the edge. Moan moan moan

Hmmm..... been in some dodgy places in the west of Scotland too. Unfortunately, phoning the police is simply not the done thing - it would actually make it worse (the police are, of course, mostly useless and you would definitely get stabbed or a kicking). Having said that, most of these nutters are full of sh*t and getting into a conversation with them is too complicated for them. What you should have said is, "sure mate, we'll play anything you like". He won't notice you didn't and if he does swear blind you did and claim he must have been outside for a fag. Just don't get into arguments with these low-lives!! I was told once something along the lines that if I didn't support the right football team I wasn't getting out of the place alive. I just laughed and said I was from England where they don't have proper football Note to dmmcombe7 above who appears to live 10 mins up the road from me.... stay away from Viewpark

[quote name='neepheid' timestamp='1331119675' post='1567847'] Then I play, and if people afterwards are saying nice things to me then I'm learning to accept it and not listen to the little voice inside my head whispering that I've got away with it (that is: pulling the wool over everyone's eyes and pretending that I'm a bassist) for another gig. [/quote] It took me a LONG time to be able to just say "thanks!" if someone threw me a compliment. I still really want to say "oh, I just got lucky tonight" or "I must be down low in the mix then!" etc. etc....... not that I get many compliments

[quote name='4000' timestamp='1331109594' post='1567620'] BTW, very sorry to hear about your issues and glad you've found ways of coping. I'll see how it goes but I'm certainly not averse to professional help having had some success with counselling before now (although not the NHS sort which was beyond hopeless!). [/quote] Thanks. They say one in three have mental health problems. There are a lot of people a lot worse off than me. I can't say it has ever held me back but some people can't leave the house. The NHS support where I live is actually very good but this is Scotland which does seem to be a bit more organised on average. The big thing that I took away is that I have "always been mad" - well displayed the symptoms - I'd just never realised. That was quite liberating. I know we've moved a long way from stage fright but I think some people (like me) are just wound up a bit tight and it's well worth digging around for the root causes.

[quote name='REDLAWMAN' timestamp='1331028241' post='1566386'] Gottcha. I know when the changes are going to happen, it's just that I don't yet know instinctively which chord to move to, but I guess that that comes with experience and that it will come in time and with more practice. [/quote] A lot of stuff follows some well trodden patterns and you start to be able to make a good guess and what's coming next (classic example - blues songs). However, unless you are a mind reader, being able to do that kind of thing all the time is overly ambitious. That would take years of experience and still lots of luck. I think that professional players who play all the time just seem to know every song ever written - it's part of the job description!!

[quote name='REDLAWMAN' timestamp='1331027131' post='1566364'] Thanks very much everyone for taking the time to come in on this; much appreciated. For future reference, how exactly do musicians usually communicate what and where the changes are? In relation to the actual chords, I understand, for example, that if they say a song is a I, IV, V in G, then it's G, C, D or I, ii, IV, V, vii, then it's G, Am, C, D, G dim, but how exactly do they articulate/explain what and where the changes occur to you? [/quote] They write them down on a bit of paper Yes - you are correct (without checking very carefully). In my experience, most people just write the chords out - especially if it's covers. I've never seen the chord numbers written out or discussed like that outside of written discussions. I'm a covers band person, though, so my experience is limited. Where the changes are is (again, tempered by my covers background) down to having listened to the music. You should be able to tell when the chord changes. If you know for sure what the chords are then it's pretty easy (usually).