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[quote name='waynepunkdude' timestamp='1363697841' post='2015973'] I haven't got the time mate, wedding is on the 30th but once I get back from my honeymoon I shall re-join. [/quote] Have a great wedding. My only advice there is take every minute of it in & enjoy the whole day. Where you off to on honeymoon?

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1363690203' post='2015783'] OK, yes, it's true. I just didn't want to argue about it. OK then, to be quite clear: [b]IF YOU CAN'T PLAY BY EAR, THEN YOU'RE A POOR EXCUSE FOR A BASS-PLAYER!![/b] There, I've said it. Now I'm going to spend the rest of the day in the shed. *spends rest of day in shed* [/quote] Come to think of it now, I actually agree with you! *wants to spend rest of day in shed, but stuck at work*

Just like changing from Wilson to Ping isn't gonna improve how good you are at putting I suppose. Are you entering the photo comp this month?

When I'm playing keys, I am aware of every note I play. When I'm playing bass, I can tell you the notes, but I'm not always aware which ones I'm playing when doing a run. When I'm playing guitar, I lose it on the B string.

[quote name='bartelby' timestamp='1363681769' post='2015573'] I also read it as Lazytits! [/quote] [quote name='MiltyG565' timestamp='1363681909' post='2015576'] We should start a club! [/quote] Sounds like a band that comprises of bassists that sit in armchairs (& possibly with foot stools) in front of the audience.

[quote name='Stacker' timestamp='1363675831' post='2015520'] I think Milty has an illness or condition that may impede him from playing in a band. Sure he'll clarify, though. [/quote] I think he knows I know that. I do hope all that changes soon though.

[quote name='MiltyG565' timestamp='1363639241' post='2015190'] I don't gig because i can't. I've had offers, but i've had to turn them down For the same reason why i don't drive, or work, or do much at all really. [/quote] You mean lazyitis?

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1363643624' post='2015323'] True, and I wasn't implying that - just in case anyone thought so. I can't imagine doing it any other way, is all. [/quote] Oh yes you was! You was saying "If you can't play by ear, then you're a poor excuse of a bassist!" Only messin

[quote name='MiltyG565' timestamp='1363643549' post='2015318'] I agree, and you aren't wrong, but so many of the songs i see are well tabbed if you take the time to find the right version. Loads of crap, but there are good ones. Sometimes you have to forgive the lack of timing in tabs. Most tabs i use, i just get the general idea, then fit it in to the song, but i know some people would play it like it was written on the tab. [/quote] Songsterr is often quite good, but sometimes it can throw back some stinkers.

In fairness to some (and by some, I mean a select very few), the "tab" sites are quite often guff & often the one guy does a bad transcription & then folk share it on other sites. Some folk can't transcribe by ear. Doesn't necessarily make them a poor bassist though. Try finding the bass tab for Jamiroquai's Planet Home. I worked it out by ear & thought I'd check it against some "tabs", but there's sod all that's correct! I think if you really want to know a song, buy the actual transcription from a publisher.

[quote name='flyfisher' timestamp='1363634358' post='2015103'] That sounds like a bit of a conflict. I also gig because I love playing . . . . so much so that money doesn't come into it. [/quote] No conflict. If it's a pub/club & the organisers are making money, I want paid. If it's a free event & no one is gaining money (usually charity events), then I'll play for free as we might gain a bit extra publicity too & maybe get paid gigs on the back of it. It's not my main occupation & the band is just about to start (never had a jam yet with the new line up & all 5 of us are meeting just for a band discussion on Wednesday, so we have no songs written in full as yet). It's an originals acid jazz/house/breakbeat band with possibly a couple of unusual covers, so I expect the first couple of gigs to be low paid. Though I do have a couple of friends who own or run venues that will give us paid gigs without hearing us (based on hearing previous bands I've been in) & there's some festivals locally that we can use to boost publicity. But once we have a name & a couple of gigs under our belt, I'd not step in a pub for less than £250.

I gig because I love playing. I won't play for nowt unless there is a good reason (such as arranging to do a charity event). In my last band we always arranged payment before the gig.

Are all the strings the same brand? I replaced a string a while back & it was massively quieter than the rest, so I replaced the lot. Like you've done, pickup height would be the 1st thing to adjust. Have a wee look at the string height too & make sure they're even.

Spend a little time with your rig on your own. Set all the tone controls (Bass, Mid, Treble, etc) to 12 o'clock (or flat). Set the volume & then play about with everything & get to know what everything does. One thing to bear in mind. When you get an awesome sound without the band, it'll probably sound crap when the band is playing. Quite often it's a case of setting all flat & then adjusting things to fit the overall sound of the band (& make sure the guitarist rolls off the low end or you'll be as well playing up the dusty end).

An amp is split into 2 stages. Pre & power. The input gain is how much signal from your bass is going into the pre amp. Increase this until it starts to clip (sound bad) & then turn it back a bit. The output volume (or whatever it's called on your amp) is how much is going into the power amp section. Put your input gain right down & turn your output (volume) to @ 1/4 on (so it's not too loud). Turn everything on your bass full & then turn your input gain up whilst playing until it starts to clip, then turn it back a touch (just until it no longer clips). now you don't have to touch this ever again unless you change your bass. Use the output to control how loud you want the amp to be (keep an ear on the cab for any farting, etc.

Get your cab in a corner. What size & how many drivers are in your cab? For £1k there's plenty of choice for loud rigs & going 2nd hand will get you a lot more bang for your buck. If you're not deaf already, get yourself (& your bandmates) some lugplugs. Lots of close range cymbal bashing in a small place will soon kill your hearing. I'd suggest to your drummer to rehearse using hotrods too. My last drummer did & it made a huge difference to how loud the rest of the band was at rehearsal.

[quote name='ezbass' timestamp='1363371559' post='2012041'] Well I matched it to my normal rig settings at home (much to the neighbourhood's disgust no doubt) and there was loads more left on tap, which of course I tried But of course this is not a fair test and the real baptism of fire will be next week. I'll post my findings after. [/quote] You can indeed just plug an active bass straight into a power amp. The active circuit is really just a pre amp. I used to take just my bass down to jam nights & plug straight into the desk. No DI. Oh, that is a very nice rig.

I tried that app, it's crap.

I never use paper at a gig. I prefer to learn the song before playing it in front of people. I do plan on using the iPad at gigs, but using iMPC for playing loops & samples or playing a synth app.

I think 51mon would be the chap to ask as he seems to know a lot about them. I'm sure he made a thread about compressors. IIRC, he suggests avoiding compressors that don't have a meter. He did recommend the Markbass Compressore as one of the stomp boxes he rates.

Aww man! This was 1/2 price in December & I couldn't get it, now I can't get it until the 27th. Guess it's not for me yet.

Dr Dave has just said what I was gonna post. Don't start with your flashiest song for your first gig. Choose something that you can all play easily & sound good. The first gigging song is your most nerve wracking one & once you get the initial "ooh, an audience are watching me" stage out the way, you can then break out your fave basslines. My singer always said that the first song is usually a throw away number that no one will remember, but it needs to get the audience's attention. Chuck the slow songs in the middle & maybe one near the end & finish with 2 really good songs that get everyone dancing & wanting more. All the best with it & remember.... Have FUN!

I use the full site on my phone & iPad, but haven't tried the mobile one since the first version (which wasn't very good). Gonna give it a try next time I'm mobile BCing.

[quote name='funkgod' timestamp='1363209620' post='2009963'] For smaller club gigs i have for over 15 years been using a SWR 350 super redhead, in that time i have tried a few just to see what they were like, tried the Eden metro, but it could not get to the volume of the red head with out farting, i took it back after 1 gig, i did spend time at a practice with it trying but was disappointed with it. I also tried the markbass cmd102p that was about the same, so back to the swr, it might just be my playing style but the eden and the markbass did not work for me. i have for bigger gigs an extension cab for the red head with two eminence 10 KAPPA 400w each which take alot of shifting, and an swr500 and swr 6x10 cab for the outdoor gigs. i think even today the red head takes some beating for its size, and the sound of it i love. if you are looking for an swr used then go for the early Super redhead 350, i have not tried the later 400 one some info here.... [url="http://www.swramps.com/en-GB/products/search.php/?partno=4420100010"]http://www.swramps.c...rtno=4420100010[/url] [/quote] Super Redhead is a lovely combo & was nearly getting one. Surprised to hear that the MB never had the volume for you as I found the MB quite a bit louder than every other 2x10 combo I tried (& I like quite a bass heavy sound). My 2p for Tony, take all the recommendations on here & try them all out. Find what suits you the best.

Looks like you're sitting with a handful of tracks & an instrument for an hour or two.