FinnDave

proper bass porn!

Playing a naked bass has to be better than playing bass naked (in my case, anyway!)

I've had several things delivered and collected by UPS in the last week, and I have to say that based on that very small sample, they do an excellent job. Probably down to the individual driver, as he has called back later in the day when he found no one at home at nine AM, and on one occasion, stopped in the street and delved in the back of the truck to pass my package into the car I was in. Definitely a great level of personal service, though I suspect that's just the way he is, a decent and caring bloke who likes to do his job to the best of his ability.

Yeah, it's too easy to get carried away!

He'd have to find the E string in that maze of strings first.

I'm a proper daredevil, I play with a pick (or a plectrum, whichever comes to hand) and use a bass without a pickplate or a scratchguard. Radical, or what?

Damn those pesky Americans, fancy making up words to describe things on instruments they invented!

I currently spend an or so each morning working through new (to me) songs that are likely to appear in upcoming set lists with the GD tribute I play in, and then another hour in the afternoon when I'll put on one of the many Grateful Dead live CDs I have and just play along. A very enjoyable way to improve my playing and learning the songs I need to know. I'm another who takes his bass on holiday, I'm a light sleeper and am always awake an hour or more before my wife starts to stir, so I play acoustically along to stuff on my computer before breakfast when we're away.

Complete opposite of above, booked to play a charity freebie at a local pub. Not my booking, and the guy who accepted the gig said he must have been soft in the head that day - gig was in pub garden, wooden stage with tatty cover, puddles of water on the stage from the constant rain . Drummer couldn't make it, nor could one of the guitarists (obviously they had had more sense than the rest of us) so we had to go on as a three piece, singer/rhythm guitar, lead guitar, and bass. Scheduled to play for an hour, but just before we went on, Landlord said the band after us had pulled out (more people with more sense than we had!) so could we cover their slot as well. He was met with with w resounding NO! (starting to become sensible, at last) so he offered us...a free burger. We laughed. Played our allotted hour to the burger guy (who had plenty of time on his hands as surprisingly, no one wanted to sit in the rain eating a burger), landlord, promoter, and about 3 other people. As the hour finally came to an end we were off that stage and away within minutes. Home via my local to cheer myself up, quick dinner with my wife, then back out to another gig with the same band. At least they were all there, the lure of being indoors and getting paid 50 quid for the privilege of playing three sets before getting home at half one obviously won them over. Quit one of my bands last night, but not the one I played with yesterday, one of the others is less fun than that!

Often called "Drumming at the Edge of Madness"

I live near Oxford and play in a band that rehearses in central Leicester, 90 miles/one hour 45 min each way. We don't rehearse too often, once every 6 weeks or so on average, and my journey to rehearse is not the longest in the band. As you say, it is worth it because it is a very good band and I love the music we play.

probably another chip off the same block, the area round here is full of 'em. This village alone has ex-SAS guys, bomb disposal experts, champion water skiers and round the world yachtsmen. Often all in just the one bloke, who goes strangely silent when anyone who actually knows what they are talking about appears.

Ah, could be Bullsh!t Bob, scourge of every pub in the area! He didn't mention sailing, did he?

Wonder if it's a twunt I know, being an Oxford lad myself.

Drummers who can't drum quietly are simply bad drummers. Most of the drummers I play with can play at any level from soft to loud without a second thought. I'd say the same logic applies to bass players who use too much low end and then say they can't hear - they need to learn to get it right as well.

In that particular band, it's not really worth a try. Everything has become too socially entangled - the easiest way is for me to walk away. I know drummers can play quietly without losing any their impact as I play with others who do, in a different type of band. Last week we were on holiday in the West Country; there was a jazz trio at the pub we were staying in, and the drummer only used sticks for one number. The rest of the time, he was using brushes, beaters or his hands, drawing people into the quietest and most subtle of rhythms with his fingertips on a cymbal. The audience were a table's width from the kit, and were entranced by the whole performance. Had he been playing like a typical rock drummer, I suspect the bar would have been empty in a few minutes.

I had a 2012 (I think) Gibson T bird last year, and a similar age Epiphone classic pro iv. Admittedly, the Epi had been upgraded with a Babicz bridge, but it was a better bass both to play and in terms of the sound.

Part of the problem is drummers who simply cannot control their volume. I am lucky enough to play with a few drummers who can play quietly, but also one who can't. I am seriously considering leaving that band (after more than five years) simply because the drums are always too loud, so everything else gets turned up to compensate.

I'm short sighted, and prefer to pay without my glasses on as I don't really want to see the audience in any detail - they can be very distracting!

Playing in bands with people who are even better than they are, of course!

I bought a 6 string Ibanez a few weeks ago, and after a few days changed from the factory-fitted Elixir roundwounds for a set of LaBella flats, and then set it up according to the factory spec, as I always find that a good place to start. Feels fine to me, and just a few days ago I had an opportunity to let someone who sets up guitars and base for a living play the bass - and he said the bass was well set up. For now, I'll be leaving things as they are, it certainly plays well.

The Grateful Dudes are hosting a Halloween party for any UK (or further afield) DeadHeads who would like to come along. There will be two bands (us, and the Jerry Garcia Band tribute 'Catfish John') and a Dead-themed psychedelic disco from Stranger Remains. There is also a planned live stream of a GD event in America. This will be taking place in Central Leicester at the Quad studios on Friday Street, which has ample parking right outside and plenty of space for people to sleep indoors. Tickets are available from https://www.tickettailor.com/events/gratefuldudes/193296 Further info at http://gratefuldudes.co.uk/shows/ or just ask me!