FinnDave

[quote name='inthedoghouse' timestamp='1491916816' post='3276436'] A very fit 59 (aarrghhhh!!!) here and kinda slipped into semi-retirement/retirement since losing my professional job of 33 years a couple of years ago. No real prospect of another job, although I've tried a couple of part-time jobs that didn't turn out to as I'd hoped. Plus my work pension takes me slightly over the personal allowance threshold so I'd pay full tax on a small income from another job. Oh well ... I only miss the income from my job, not the going to work part at all. One day does tend to feel pretty much like the next, and the previous day now though. The (very good) rock covers band I was in folded unexpectedly last year and since then I've been going crazy trying to find another suitable gigging band. JMB seems a waste of time with almost no suitable ads - and timewasters/dreamers (plus one [i]complete [/i]idiot I came across recently) too. The local Facebook music pages aren't any help and I've never been part of a clique of players locally or fairly locally. I've had a couple of hopeful false starts answering ads, but not followed them up as far as meeting because I knew deep down they weren't 'me' and don't want to let anybody down or be a timewaster. Ha ha, I think I'm developing OCD checking online for bands several times a day. I'm getting so disheartened now that I often feel like giving up completely even though guitars and bands have been one of my mains loves since I was 12 and first 'discovered' guitars. Someone joked earlier 'get a motorbike' ... I've had big bikes since I was old enough, and still have. Sport - no interest whatsoever. Reading - sometimes, but I get bored and lose concentration. Wine .... yessss!!! On a sunny day like today it's lovely sitting around with our sleepy dogs and not doing much at all. Oh well, I think I'll put the kettle on again and then check to see if April the giraffe has had her baby yet. Then it will only be a couple of hours before 'the other half' gets home. Thus is my life now. [/quote] Pretty much like my life, then, apart from the 'fit' bit, and that's down to bikes as well! I agree about JMB, around 99% dreamers and no-hopers. Though I found my regular band for the last 4 years through that, but true to form, the one who placed the 'bass player wanted' ad was a complete waste of space. Once I was integrated into the band it was my job to sack him! On my 5th large mug of tea today right now...and listening to a random selection from the 2500 odd Grateful Dead tracks on my computer.

[quote name='fleabag' timestamp='1491914671' post='3276412'] Instead of speculating and giving wild conjecture, it may be better to follow up the ads first, then make a judgement call. Its like trying to judge someone on a forum simply by the text they post. You could be totally wrong in your assumptions, till you meet up Or you could be totally right , but assumptions are the mother of all f**kups [/quote] But surely that's what forums are for, virtual places where people can share uninformed opinions about matters they know little about? Or have I been doing it wrong?

We're basically a three piece with a bit of harmonica going on. We started with a second guitarist, but it rapidly became apparent he was useless, took while to give him his marching orders, but the band is better without him. We sometimes play as a a three piece with no harp, and love it. more room to flex yer bass playing muscles!

The first ad is the only one I would take any notice of. Pretty much everything you need to know is in there (except where they're based), so you can make an informed decision on whether it's got potential for you before you call them. After that, it's just down to whether you like the music, and how you get on with the rest of the band.

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1491853872' post='3275930'] We send out posters to the clubs we play a few weeks in advance of the gig. Blue [/quote] We do that, but quite often they are nowhere to be seen when we get there! One place (which we refuse to play at now) edited our poster (sent by email) and replaced our current picture with one of a previous line-up, which included our former singer, over a year after we parted company.

Are you using pick or fingers? Moving your picking hand further towards the neck can reduce the brightness of the sound quite a bit. I have a couple of jazz basses, and use a pick, they sound quite mellow if you pick between the neck pickup and the end of the neck. I have strung both with flats since I had to start using a pick, that helped get rid of some of the brightness as well. It may take a combination of things to get the sound you are after. I'd always start off with free things, like technique, then work through the cheaper options, i.e. new strings, before splashing out on pick ups.

We play a mix of managed/owned pubs, and there doesn't seem to be any correlation between their musical taste/business sense and whether they own the place or just manage it. We've met good and bad in both roles.

I'm the gig hustler for the Wirebirds, but after 4 years I am getting sick of it, an increasing number of our gigs are coming in via agents/promoters, and I am happy to let them to the leg work and paperwork. OK, so they take a cut, but without them, we wouldn't have the gig in the first place, so we still get a whole lot more for the gig than we would have got sat at home.

We played in Swindon last night, so a home crowd for us. Good gig with no problems. Jenny Haan showed up and we had her up to sing a coulee of songs with us, which went down well with the audience. Good venue, decent acoustics and easy parking/load in and out, one of our favourites. Third time Ive played there this year (in two different bands).

Yep, a lot of it seems to be down to what the LL likes to listen to, regardless of its effect on sales over the bar.

[quote name='PaulWarning' timestamp='1491651453' post='3274561'] Lennon covered it on his Rock and Roll album, think he had a hit with it as well [/quote] Didn't know that, never been much of a fan of his, and never really listened to hits! Only know the song because I play it with a band from time to time.

[quote name='danonearth' timestamp='1491643784' post='3274486'] Thanks Dandelion, Yes, I usually go by that rule, but today we played ‘Stand by Me’ by John Lennon, [/quote] John Lennon?? Thought it was originally sung by Ben E. King, and written by him with Leiber & Stoller. Unless there're two song with that name.

Yep, place we've played on 8-10 times over the last 3 or 4 years, new people running it and they have told me the place isn't suitable for live music. The previous managers had live music at least once a week for years. Shame, it was a good gig, good crowd used to be in there. I expect they've moved somewhere else now.

[quote name='hubrad' timestamp='1491581792' post='3274145'] Mono.. the whole range is animal-free. :-) I have a few Betty padded straps now; some have experienced some buckle slippage, but I've not found it problematic. Very comfortable! [/quote] Yep, that's exactly what I bought today, hopefully without the optional buckle slippage. I'll gig it tomorrow and add a bit of velcro if it turns out I bought the optional extra by mistake! I'll be using it with my Epiphone Jack Casady, since I bought it I haven't played any of my Fenders!

The power of Bass chat! Took a 30 min each way 'diversion', popped into Bass Direct, bought a Mono 'Betty' (long) strap, drooled over basses I had never heard of and couldn't begin to afford, then bought the wife lunch in Cropredy. Very successful day out, much of which wouldn't have happened without the input received here!

[quote name='markstuk' timestamp='1491553757' post='3273858'] No just one man band. You might want to drive one more junction on the m40 and go to bass direct [/quote] Bass Direct do have suitable straps in stock...and only half an hour further on up the road (good song, that!), so hopefully I can fit in a trip there before lunch! Good tip!

[quote name='The59Sound' timestamp='1491554127' post='3273861'] Neotech Mega straps are really good. [/quote] They look good, just checked the manufacturer's site, unfortunately the end pieces are leather, which I am anxious to avoid.

[quote name='markstuk' timestamp='1491553757' post='3273858'] No just one man band. You might want to drive one more junction on the m40 and go to bass direct [/quote] Not a bad idea, but looking at the map, it's nearly double the distance, and I'm going to Banbury (Cropredy, actually) as I'm taking my wife to lunch, not sure a diversion to a bass shop would be that welcome! I'll try suggesting it.....

[quote name='markstuk' timestamp='1491552491' post='3273835'] I use DiMarzio 3" straps although you need to use their ends.. [url="http://www.gear4music.com/Guitar-and-Bass/DiMarzio-ClipLock-3-Wide-Nylon-Quick-Release-Black-Guitar-Strap/1C39?origin=product-ads&gclid=CjwKEAjw8ZzHBRCUwrrV59XinXUSJADSTE5k0nUhRDHE-84J4ZXL2oAgVW2dUvcGkkWGya3M_TNLLhoCLr3w_wcB"]http://www.gear4musi...TNLLhoCLr3w_wcB[/url] [/quote] Just noticed you're in Banbury, I'm coming up there today, anywhere sell guitar straps in town?

They look interesting, but I don't think the ends would work on my Casady bass, do the short sections of strap sty with the bass? If so, that won't work as the strap button is on the heel of the neck, so the strap would probably damage the back of the bass in the case.

I really need to get some new straps. I use the standard ones that Fender bundle with their basses for my Fenders, but they are a little short and slippy for my Epiphone Casady bass. The strap should be able to accept Dunlop strap locks, as most of my basses have them fitted, and must be leather-free. Preferably more than the standard two inches wide, three would be better. Spent some time googling but haven't seen anything suitable yet, so hoping someone can point me in the right direction. Cheers!

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1491370233' post='3272399'] Finn Dave, In the States whoever is running an open mic is paid. Maybe not as much as a band, but the owner pays. Blue [/quote] I've not been involved in running them (done best to avoid) but we have acted as house band a couple of times at an open mic/jam at a local music venue and were not paid for that. Be interesting to hear other people's experiences of the UK open mic scene from that perspective.

Even worse, a member of my main band loves them, and doesn't see the harm in them. He even runs one at his local social club!