Norris

My (ex-Clarky) Thunderbird has 'Nigel Tufnell' levels of sustain - and I like it that way. If you're playing a ballad (e.g. Still Got the Blues) and hit that last power note, it's great to still be there when the guitarist has finished with all the mega-widdling and to have enough volume left that you can damp it gently off at the end. On a side note, I used to have a sustain pedal. I've never actually used it on a gig, as it was a great way to get screeching feedback after a few seconds. It used the guitar signal level to light an LED, and had a pre-amp controlled by a light-dependant resistor. So the more the signal decayed, the dimmer the LED got, and the more boost from the pre-amp. And when you didn't play at all, it sat there loudly hissing. It was complete rubbish really

I once SOLD a bass because the other band members convinced me it kept going out of tune. This was long before digital tuners were quite so commonplace. After several gigs where we were well out of tune after about 1/2 hour of playing, I finally part-exchanged my beloved Rickenbacker 4002 for a 'modern' Aria Pro-II SB 1000. This bass also regularly 'went out of tune'. Then I discovered that the guitard kept his guitar case at home behind his sofa, snuggled up next to the frigging radiator! I've never forgiven him & bring it up at every available opportunity. I never really did like the Aria either.

Ha! My very first bass was a Kay SG copy - VERY cheap & cheerful in transparent red plywood. I wonder whatever happened to it.

Manicman Skint-ray

Beautiful!

Back in the late 80's our band was part of the lineup for a large barbeque-style gig. The 'stage' was a lorry trailer, but it did have decent lighting & PA, etc. I was standing backstage waiting to go on and watching one of the preceeding acts - about half a dozen chaps doing a 'balloon dance'. They were all naked apart from a couple of small balloons each. I got chatting to a bloke standing next to me, both of us agreeing that the dancers were crap and that the performance was money for old rope. We spent a good 10 or 15 minutes in much beer-powered criticism. I found out later that I'd been talking to Dave Edmunds

Alternatively, you could always grab an old 50's/60's number and rock it up a little. We have great fun with Del Shannon's Runaway. It started as an off the cuff lark about, but has now become a permanent member of the set

[quote name='SteveK' post='1245313' date='May 26 2011, 10:42 AM']Buy ... a boss octaver![/quote] Someone was selling one cheap at work a few months ago and I snapped it up. I've still not played with it...

[quote name='thumbo' post='1245403' date='May 26 2011, 11:40 AM']Just got done reading Keidis' autobiography ...[/quote] That's a very good read. More downs than ups, but then that's probably likely when you have had a serious habit like that.

I have done a lot of reading & theory in my youth (grade 8 trombone - orchestras, brass band, big band, etc. ), but not really on the bass, so now I'm rather rusty. I've not really needed it since I stopped blowing and drank beer instead

I'm happy with what I've got since buying my T-Bird off Clarky (750-1000 range ). I still like to look, and if I was to buy a bass it wouldn't be an expensive one. I'm not really into high end basses, so am happy with the Gibson/Fender stuff I've got (Aria is still mid-restoration). I'd love an Ampeg rig, but can't justify the cost/size for the gigs I do - the Peavey/GT-6B combination does all I want it to & fits in the boot of the car. I'm looking for a few cheap ultra-budget home studio bits, but that's about the extent of it. I'm also happy with all my stuff, so not looking to sell any of it either at the moment. Of course [b]if I save a bit of gig money[/b] and see a [i]really [/i]nice Ricky going for reasonable money, I could be GASed [color="#696969"]Hmmm... five stringer... EUB... precision... telecaster...[/color]

This [i]is[/i] a joke site ... right? Left over from 1st April? [quote]In 1961 Billy Wyman created the first fretless bass guitar by converting a Japanese fretted bass when he removed the frets.[/quote][quote]The first manufactured fretless bass was the Ampeg followed by AUB-1 and Fender.[/quote][quote]Amongst its most astounding achievements, Rickenbacker is credited with offering the 1st fretless bass.[/quote] ... and the Ibanez page reads like it was lifted straight from one of their catalogues

We were booked to play at a wedding. So we got there, set up, sound checked and waited for the guests to arrive. And waited... And waited... Around about 10 o'clock in the evening, we finally played... to the bride, groom and two other people that had turned up. (No, not even the parents of the couple!)

I'd save the Thunderbird & use the US Jazz to beat the flames out

My Peavey Databass amp. I bought it second hand about 15 years ago. It's just had it's second replacement BW speaker in it - the old one having worn out the stranded wires from the connectors down to the coil. It is light enough to carry around, small enough to pop into the car boot, and at 450W loud enough for any gig I've ever done (and never had the master volume above half way). A fabulous amp that has paid for itself time and time again.

I have just traded with mattyfunk13 - a straight swap of my multi-effects pedal for his condenser mic. Matt has communicated well throughout, and the mic arrived, very well packaged and in excellent condition as described. As the distance was too great to do a meet & exchange, Matt was happy for me to send the pedal once I'd received the mic, which he sent special delivery. Altogether a very smooth transaction with a trusting and trustworthy chap - thanks Matt.

I've had an early SB-1000 since the late 80's. I played it hard for many years, then dumped it in the loft when I bought my US Jazz. Last year it came out of the loft and was in such a poor state, it has gone away for complete renovation. Currently stripped back to bare wood, it is waiting for a good run of dry, warm weather for it's respray. Then, back in with the original (and still working) electronics, and a new set of gold plated tuners (to match the cleaned up brass bridge & nut). Then we'll see if I like it more than when I threw it in the loft all those years ago! [color="#696969"](and no, I'm not even going to consider any offers until I've had a play with it)[/color]

You mean there are basses for sale on this site?!

There seems to be more than a hint of trolling in places on this thread. Basically, it comes down to economics. If a band is no good (whether original, covers, tribute, derivative, or any other label you care to apply in between), places won't re-book them, audiences won't seek them out at other venues. If it is a good tight band, a bit of banter, a bit of a show ... things that give the audience a good night, they will get more work and get more of a following. To answer Bilbo's original question, yes cover bands do have followings and can 'pull' an audience ... but only if they are worth following in the first place.

We've had people travel all over the county to see us play, for the last 15 years or so. Using [url="http://www.facebook.com/CheezeBand"]facebook[/url] is a very good way of getting the regulars to turn up. Most places that put on entertainment will pull a crowd if the bands are of a decent quality, and the gigs are [u]regular[/u]. Pulling in your own following as well makes for a great night. If a place is going to put live bands on, you can't dabble - you've got to keep at it for at least 6 months so that the locals get used to it. Charging on the door never really works for covers bands. I remember one New Year's eve playing to an empty room after having packed out the place all year - because the landlord decided to charge that night. The regulars were all crammed in the bar where they could hear us without paying. Eventually the landlord relented and dropped the door charge - instant packed room again [u]Good[/u] covers bands [u]do[/u] pull an audience