FinnDave

[quote name='inthedoghouse' timestamp='1492363410' post='3279701'] Unfortunately you have to order directly. Sometimes I've been taxed for import and sometimes I haven't. They occasionally come up on eBay, but not very often. [/quote] Thanks, I'll get in touch with them when I need another strap. The Mono strap I bought last week from Bass Direct is working out fine, third gig for it tonight.

They look interesting, do you have to order direct from the States though?

For anyone interested, we have just put up a complete recording of last night's gig on soundcloud, and intend to add future gigs there. We'll probably add some from the last few months as well when we (well, me in this instance!) have time. https://soundcloud.com/finndave-1/tap-n-barrel-15042017

Recently started gigging my Super Twin again, after 8 months of neglect because I was in love with the sound of a combo I bought. The combo is a bit heavy though, so last couple of gigs I've taken the Barefaced and an Ashdown head, bass heaven!

[quote name='Burrito' timestamp='1492333199' post='3279410'] Continuing the theme of good gigs in Swindon, we rocked The Rolleston! A personal favourite show for me. [attachment=243143:IMG_2030.JPG] [/quote] Yeah, that's a good gig, the Rally, we were there a month or two ago.

Good gig in Swindon last night, reasonable number there, good load in/out, the gig flew by, it was the usual length (2 1/2 hours minus the 15 minute break) but felt short. Back in Swindon tonight, quite a few at last night's gig told us they'd be at tonights as well.

[quote name='fleabag' timestamp='1492266644' post='3279102'] Did someone mention that BD wont let you take a bass from the wall to try out ? Eh ? So you have to gauge how much you like or dislike the plank by staring at it ? [/quote] In my experience, PMT have the same policy, makes sense if they want to avoid damage to the stock.

I had my first experience of Bass Direct a week ago. I had not heard of the place (I live a sheltered life!) but it turned out to be about an hour away from home. I phoned them to ask whether they had a specific strap in stock, they told me they did, so I drove there, bought the strap, had a quick browse and came home. The strap is fine, service was fine, stock level impressive though not of much personal interest, I'm happy with my Fenders and Epiphone Casady, my Ashdowns and my Barefaced. The basses they had hanging up certainly looked impressive, and shiny, but I'd be worried about gigging those pieces of art. Not much to tell, really, went to shop, bought what I went there for, came home. Oh yes, the strap was well priced, certainly cheaper than I've seen the same model for elsewhere.

Our guitarist, who has lived and worked in the States, does tell people to buy more drinks during our gigs, I'd never made the connection, but he might have picked that up in America.

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1492185728' post='3278574'] The usual advice is for 2 or 3 wraps around the post, finishing with the string at the bottom of the post. [/quote] That's certainly how I've always done it, never had a string slip or break, never felt any reason to change how I string my basses.

In all of the bands I'm in, playing the songs like the originals is definitely not encouraged. In my primary gigging band (The Wirebirds) we play a lot of songs I have never heard the original of, and wouldn't want to. If a band strives to reproduce a song note for not, why not just put the CD on and mime? I think the only song for which I had to listen to the original bass line was 'White Rabbit' as the Jack Casady's bass playing is so prominent, but we haven't played that since we parted company with our female singer. As for making mistakes, well we are all human, and cock ups happen. The main thing is to keep playing, 95% of the time the audience won't notice. A couple of gigs ago our vocalist sang the entire first verse of a completely different song to the one we were playing, only the band realised though! The audience only notices that sort of thing if the band stutters to a premature stop and looks awkwardly at each other. Learning to cover mistakes is much easier than learning to avoid them!

Gong had some good titles for songs, 'Squeezing sponges over policemen's heads' is one I can remember without looking anything up!

All but one of my basses are strung with D'Addario chromes, the exception is a Precision with D'Addario nickel round wounds, simply because I haven't bothered to change it yet.

[quote name='bazztard' timestamp='1491969388' post='3276808'] well done. the advantage of playing newer songs is that the girlies like to get up and dance to them, and I like watching them dancing [/quote] I do as well, but have to force myself to look away as I tend to forget where we are in the song!

I've recently joined a start-up band of experienced people just to play a Sunday afternoon once month (got a 12 month booking), although that's already looking like it will be two afternoons. Those are nice, relatively easy gigs if you can get them. Four hours over here would be two gigs! Just remembered, we've been asked to to share a Thursday night residency as well, which helps break up the week.

Do you get gigs on weekdays as well as weekends? Most of our bookings are Saturday nights, and's there's only so many Saturdays in a year! This weekend we are playing Saturday and Sunday, and at the end of the month we have a late afternoon gig followed by a night (starts at eleven) slot at a biker rally. That's going to be a long day! Both gigs are 2 x 1 hour slots, but there's a whole lot of packing up, driving to the next venue, unpacking and setting up again between as well.

I've got 6 gigs this month, which is quite a lot for us. It's hard to get that many usually without playing he same places more than once or travelling a long way. I would like to get a gig every week, but even that is not too easy to find round here.

Main difference between Mex standard and US standard Precision or Jazz are better bridge, tuners and pick ups, better quality wood (in fewer pieces, I have heard claimed). The US does cost about double what the Mexican does, though, and the Mex standard is a perfectly good bass. The US is just better, but it's hard to say it's twice as good. They seem tougher, more durable, stand up to knocks better, screws stay tight in the US basses better than in the Mexican ones. Then again, it's a quick job to test and tighten a few screws every now and then.

I've just sold my Mexican standard Precision, but have no intention of parting with my pair of US Standards. There is a significant difference in quality and sound, in my opinion. I still have a Mexican Jazz, the 60s classic, simply because it means too much to me to sell, but my US Standard Jazz is a better bass. Having said that, for the last couple of months all I have played is my Epiphone Jack Casady!

A Fender bass, Ashdown ABM500 and Barefaced cab will cover almost anything, I reckon.

You should be able to pick up a US Standard for that price, I am sure PMT had some in their current sale. I had an email showing all the stuff but I've deleted it. Pretty sure there was a US Standard Jazz for £999 in there.

OK, to be (slightly more) serious, though, the ads are on line, and the original post was about the impact they had on their intended readership, so in this case, it is necessary to judge the people behind the ad from their words on line. If they are not effective at communicating what they are looking for, then they are unlikely to find it. Or summat!

Thanks for the like, we 59 year olds have got to stick together! I get stick from the mere just-turned-50 types about being old, and sneered at by the over 60s for being too young to understand. We must be the forgotten year!