FinnDave

My main arguments against playing for free are as above, that it makes life harder for musicians who need to play to put food on the table, and also that we all have to buy our equipment, maintain it, store it, and transport it. I have a larger car than I need for everything in my life except music, so have to bear the expense of buying, insuring, taxing and fuelling a larger car than necessary for 90% of the time. But my main beef with free gigs is that the band is not respected. People tend to value objects and other people based in what they are worth to them. A band that turns up and plays for nothing is exactly worth that to the promoter/landlord or whoever put the gig on - nothing. If they are paying a few hundred pounds to have you play, they treat with the respect that their investment in you deserves. I have never received shoddy treatment from anyone who has been paying to have us play, but at free gigs, you are a worthless commodity and I have often been treated accordingly. I have driven myself and equipment into Oxford several times, a distance of 10-12 miles, paid to park, hung around at a venue that has booked us, only to be told they are out of time and we can't play. A complete and utter waste of my time and money.

Played a pub gig with Franklin's Tower last night. It always interests me to see how the music of the Grateful Dead goes down to an audience unfamiliar with it. It was at my local pub, so there were quite a few people there who turned out to see me play (for some reason!), locals out for a meal and/or drink and one or two Deadheads who'd come just to see us. It was an outdoor gig in a marquee, which works well for us. We need to work on our set length, though - the first 'short' set lasted an hour and half, so break between sets was taken up deciding which songs to drop. We still managed nearly an hour and half for the second set, though. I was almost asleep by the end, running on automatic. People told us they'd enjoyed it, which was nice of them. The band usually plays for free or for a drink at most, so they were amazed that we were well paid. I'd arranged the gig, and I don't like playing for nothing unless it is for a genuine charity. Overall, a good start to the weekend. I have a gig in Swindon this afternoon with The Wirebirds, and another in Oxford tomorrow with Franklins Tower again. I am not planning to do very much on Monday!

I've been to Bass Direct a few times, my only complaint is that there is too much temptation there and they make it very easy to spend money!

I think I have managed to independently arrive at the 'floating thumb' technique. Whatever it is, I now have the speed and feel I had before my accident and no longer need a pick. Having said that, I played some of my best gigs using a pick - but I think they would have been even better if I had been able to use my fingers.

I have never felt the need to buy a 1957 Precision bass - and if I did, I would expect it to look as old and worn out as I am!

I've been playing bass for about 50 years, always finger style until 2017 when a motorcycle accident meant I couldn't use my right hand fingers properly So, I switched to using a pick. Took a week or two to get used to it, but as Bassfinger says, when I listen to recordings of the same songs played with the same band, I have to check the date to know whether I was using pick or fingers. I found the best pick for me was a 3mm Dunlop, absolutely no chance of any flex, so it had the feel of direct contact with the strings that finger style did. About two years ago, I was fiddling around with one of my basses and realised I was playing fingerstyle, but bending from my knuckle joint instead of the base of my finger as I had previously, until the loss of tendon ruled that out. I don't think I have played with a plectrum since. Still can't tell in recordings which I was using, though!

Nothing to do with bitterns, then. I was born in 57, so I must be one as well (not a bittern, obviously).

I don't have clue what a boomer is, but I can't see the market in old electric instruments lasting forever.

My GD band (Franklin's Tower) often tell the audience that the only have time for two more songs - Dark Star and Playing in the Band.

Far more important question - where did you get the T shirt? I certainly didn't get one with my LBT!

If the Terror Bass is anything like my Little Bass Thing, then it needs to be prevented from vibrating off the cabinet - very light amp with hard plastic feet.

Played another Wirebirds gig in Witney last night. Same venue as four weeks ago, went well but our lights proved to be inadequate - we were playing in total darkness by the end! Good fun though, paid OK and several free beers (decent stuff, it's an independent bar with links to a local small brewery). My wife drove there and back, so no dodgy driving! Going to look at stage lights on line today!

I have always used all four fingers on my left hand, but after a recent fall which involve me putting my left hand down to protect my head (instinctual, actually the wrong priority) I have had some trouble with my left hand, last weekend's gig saw my little finger develop a painful cramp, but I played on, albeit a little less enthusiastically.

My keyboard skills are very rudimentary, but after my motorcycle accident (last 2015) I was unable to play a real bass for more than 5-10 minutes and used a synth to cover the time it took for my right hand to recover. I currently have three Behringer synths, a Neutron (plus a keyboard), an Odyssey, and a 2600. I bought them to use at home but one of my bands is already asking me to bring them to gigs.

If I really want to sound like a synth, I use a synth instead of a bass.

That's good to know - I usually have both the Elf and a Sansamp in my gig tote bag.

Then you'll have to flog 'em - you know it makes sense!

I'm definitely a 'hang 'em or flog 'em' type these days - there's only so much space on the wall, so if I can't hang 'em, I have to flog 'em!

Going to be hard to beat that lot - but here are my five Fenders which is my complete bass collection.

Around 1975/6 I was playing in a local heavy rock band - bass, drums, 2 guitars. We rehearsed in the front room of one of the guitarists - just a normal semi. His mum and sister would sit in the next room watching TV and occasionally would pop in with tea and biscuits for us. We were using 100 watt stacks and a full drum kit - I would have thought that we were clearly audible up to at least 1/4 mile away, possibly more. I don't remember there being any soundproofing, though I think we did close the windows. No one ever complained, nor even mentioned it.

Different strokes, for sure. If we all liked the same thing, music would quickly become very stale.

I'd hold out for snacks and beers, myself

Per person, obviously.

Most blues bands, about 75% of the Grateful Dead's output, anything well played that has warmth and passion behind it. My introduction to music that wasn't on the radio was back in about 1973/4 when Virgin released Gong's Camembert Electrique album for about 50p. I have loved Gong and their offshoots ever since, though stopped buying anything after Daevid Allen left though I still see them when they are on tour. I have a ticket tp see them with the Ozrics in Oxford in November.