odysseus

A 2nd hand Squier Jazz could be a winner - might need to get it set up properly though.

Crikey! That's mighty impressive!

[quote name='CamdenRob' timestamp='1452251363' post='2948006'] bet that sounded good... [/quote] Like a ballbearing going ape-sh*t in a metal dustbin

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1452215216' post='2947803'] I started playing electric bass guitar in 1966. I've yet to break a single string. I thought string breaking was for guitarist. [/quote] More or less the same here. The only string I ever broke was a superwound G 25 years ago when I was horsing around trying to pull off ridiculous bends in practice. I know a few pick players who break strings now and again. A few years ago I knew a guy who use a 50 pence piece as a pick (seriously!) and he broke strings regularly, not surprisingly! He had all the finesse of a charging rhino.

Got 6, but playing in a rock and roll band I usually take the 2 Fender jazz basses. It'd look a bit odd playing Oh Boy on a 5 string headless Status!

Fishman Fission Powerchord FX. Loving the octave plus overdrive!

[quote name='cheddatom' timestamp='1451993305' post='2945243'] My most recent project is a mostly instrumental rock band. It's crazy music with a crazier image. I honestly never thought we'd win over any audiences as it's all so weird, but it's been very successful so far! So, you never know what's going to go down well I wonder what causes some of these threads to turn into an "originals vs covers" battle? I play in 4 originals bands but I really don't care what anyone else does. As far as I'm concerned, once the song is written, we're all the same, out there playing to audience, trying to win them over [/quote] Amen to that!

[quote name='RhysP' timestamp='1452064821' post='2945948'] The few long term pro musicians I know are all so jaded by the whole thing that they no longer play any music for enjoyment or as a hobby. If they've got any time off the last thing they want to do is play. [/quote] A friend of mine has been in a function band for years and can no longer stomach rehearsing for that band or even doing anything new. I tried to recruit him for a project last year, he turned up for a couple of jams than admitted after that he hates playing guitar these days. It's a massive shame because he spent years learning his craft, has a great skill set, and probably knows more theory than anyone I know - I've learned heaps from him. He's leaving the current band - maybe after having a lay-off he'll come back and rediscover the fun side? I certainly hope so, losing great musicians is not good.

[quote name='TimR' timestamp='1451903404' post='2944347'] You're still creating something. Regardless whether it's a copy. Doesn't matter how closely you think you're copying the original you'll always be putting your own feel on it. A better word might be 'making'. [/quote] Quite possibly. It can be considered as a spectrum IMO.

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1451868935' post='2944243'] What I have a problem with is the snobbery expressed by some. Like, "I have a real job and don't need the money" Funny, I never see any of these guys that dont need the money turning it down When they are handed their cut. [/quote] It's not snobbery, it's reality. Where I live, we don't expect to get paid for playing original material, so if you want to gig solely original material, you're going to need money from somewhere else to live on.... like a job. So.... there ain't a cut. Mind you, I live at the ass-end of Britain. Maybe things are different in the States. [quote name='blue' timestamp='1451868935' post='2944243'] And by the way, anytime any if us picks up a bass and starts playing it's creative as far as I'm concerned. This notion that creativity is limited to those performing original material is rubbish as far as I'm concerned. [/quote] Many people consider the notion that making money off the back of other people's work can be called 'creativity' is stretching the definition of the term 'creativity' to well past its elastic limit. Such are the differences.... *shrug*

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1451689943' post='2942603'] For me playing covers is also creative and fun especially if your geting decent pay. [/quote] Well it can be fun for sure. I don't know about creative, unless your doing some sort of reinterpretation. Creative to me means bringing something new to the table. Also, your quote above seems to link creativity and fun to money - I'm not sure if that was your intention or not. [quote name='blue' timestamp='1451689943' post='2942603'] I think this whole creative thing in some cases is overplayed as well as an excuse for some that have problems getting consistent bookings.[/quote] Creativity and writing of music is an important part of being a musician for many, but not all. It's what you want it to be. No excuses required. Some of us don't need to get involved in some sort of 'competition' where the number of gigs in the diary decides the winner. I guess it's a part of the hobby element of music that many of us enjoy. I also surf, cycle and lift weights, but I don't expect to compete and get paid for that either. Similar principle. [quote name='blue' timestamp='1451689943' post='2942603'] And I'm never sure about this "I don't need the money, I have a job". Seems like a slap in the face for those of us doing this for a living. [/quote] It doesn't matter what other people think as long as you're getting what you want out of it. Music for me is a hobby. For you it is a job. The dynamics are different. If you want to take it as a slap in the face, that's entirely up to you, but that isn't the way it was intended. Different strokes for different folks and all that. As long as we're playing and enjoying it, it's all good IMO

It depends on what 'purpose' your gigs have. If you want to make a living from it, or the fee is a significant part of your overall income then you will need to wheel out the old favourites. Even then, there's no reason why you shouldn't slip an obscure one or two in the set to keep yourself interested. I'm a firm believer in playing for the fun of playing, so much the better if there's some original material being written. I really like the creative side of music and I prefer it to playing covers, but then I have a job, so gig money isn't such a big deal for me. There's no reason why people can't have 'money band' and a 'fun band' on the side where you play whatever you like for the fun of it. Makes sense to me....

RIP big fella. Thanks for the music.

Depends whether you like your vocals in the tuneless wail of Bret Michaels or alternatively.... Cookie Monsterrrrrr!!!!

Loads, because the knowledge and techniques contained within can be worth more than the value of playing it live (to me, anyway)

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1450517040' post='2933470'] I don't make the kind of money I would at a 9-5 gig,however I'm a much happier person, playing in a band for a living. Blue [/quote] Hopefully, this is what I'm aiming for in the future. Bass as a main job was never going to happen for me - I needed shifts and overtime to pay for my flat. I expect to pay off my mortgage in 3 or 4 years, then I'd like to play a couple of gigs at the weekend and maybe mix that with a part-time job to make enough to get by. Got to be a better way of life than pulling endless shifts in an engineering plant for the next 23 years.

He's a fantastic player, but not a favourite for some reason. I've yet to work out why that is....

I'm a member too. I haven't dedicated as much time as I could, but I will be doing from Feb onwards when I finish with the very busy band I'm currently in. He's got a great way of communicating, it's like having a mate over to give you some good pointers. Within the first couple of lessons I looked at, he cleared up some stuff that has been bugging me for years, like how chromatic approach notes work in walking basslines. I've had lessons locally in the past and nobody could tell me about that, and yet it's so simple when explained. SBL for me is a great resource.

He lived life to the full for sure, but it's always a shame when someone creative checks out early. RIP dude.

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1448932278' post='2919424'] That's why I'm not married and why I don't have a girl friend. Nobody tells me what I have the time for or how I spend my time. Blue [/quote] I hear that! I'm quitting the band I'm currently in due to an increase in working hours. The guys in the band don't have jobs as such, whereas I do. They want to gig every Friday and Saturday, which is fine for them as they have the rest of the week to themselves. I've been playing with these guys for 10 months this time around on top of a 50 hour working week, which can get very tiring however much I enjoy the gigs. Plus, it doesn't really leave time for a social life as such. So I finish at the end of January, and after a break for a few months (while doing 12 hour working days) I'll be looking for another band with the intention of gigging 2 or 3 times a month. I find a lot of people who used to play have given up to raise kids, or even through pressure from their wives. Though I do find that some of the kid-raisers tend to reappear on the scene once the kids are in their teens, and some of the under-the-thumb guys reappear once their marriage has imploded. All part of the great tapestry of giggage.

[quote name='dave_bass5' timestamp='1449171897' post='2921334'] When I was young I would use any rig the rehearsal studios had and never complained or felt lacking. listening back to the old recordings I find nothing to complain about. So why have I spent a fortune over the past 10 years and only just achieved a tone I'm mostly happy with? [/quote] That's GAS for ya.

[quote name='Meddle' timestamp='1449181576' post='2921436'] If the Geddy Lee bass were mine, and I was dead set on having it without a pickguard, I would print out a high quality copy of the man off of the 2112 album and sink it under a layer of clear epoxy![/quote] Strong in this one the Force is!

My current one is the best by far. Genz-Benz Streamliner 900 through a Barefaced Big Twin II. Or through a Barefaced Super Midget for small gigs. Sounds great either with Fender Jazz basses for rock and roll or MM Stingrays for funk rock.

Someone's got a sense of humour....