louisthebass

I've only used one a couple of times this year doing a wedding fayre where the band I was playing for were doing a few Jazz Standards, but for the other two bands I have to rely on memory for arrangements, mainly because the spaces we played in didn't have enough room for one. One of the singers uses an iPad attached to a mic stand and just writes key parts of the lyrics in as a prompt. A lot less intrusive for a lot of mainstream pub / club gigs (imo).

I used to be one of those people who were taught to use fretted notes as much as humanly possible, but as the years have progressed have found open strings in bass parts just as agreeable - if it was good enough for Jamerson, it's good enough for me (not that I'm anywhere near his league).

Here's mine: Overwater Jazz 5, Aguilar TH500, and Epifani UL110's

Stuart Clayton's Sight reading for the Bass Guitarist books: https://www.basslinepublishing.com/bass-essentials/the-bass-guitarist-s-guide-to-reading-music-beginner-level.html

Apologies if what I said came out the wrong way - all the pro guys do music as a full time job and doing the "small" gigs go towards paying the bills out of necessity just as much as the "big" ones they do (which I appreciate is necessary). I think that's why I highlighted the point earlier on in my post about the gig scene shrinking (for the non-pros), especially in the South East of England which is (supposed to be) a relatively affluent area of the UK. Pubs are closing all the time, and the breweries are cutting back (in some pubs) on the number of bands they take on in a year - obviously an adverse reaction with the state of the economy (especially with the "B" word creating so much uncertainty). I think that's where bands have to up their game in relation to the competition in many respects (playing and marketing) if they want to work a lot (or a bit more than they are).

I identified very much with this band growing up in Thatcher's Britain and could've chosen anything but this is the closest:

Never too old to start playing - I was at a Jamey Aebersold Jazz Summer School in 2003 where two of the bass players (one upright, one electric) were in their retirement years. If you feel as though you can do it, go for it!

10 with three different bands. Played a couple of back to back wedding fayre gigs at the start of the year and then the rest was with my other two bands, one of which has endured constant line up changes in 12 months. Hoping to at least double that next year, but it could be difficult as the gig scene is shrinking (especially in pubs), and there's a lot of bands fighting over the same gigs. The fact that there are some of the pros are out there as well, and that makes it even more difficult.

Appreciate the responses so far peeps - my TRB has soapbars (probably manufactured late 1990's as I bought it early 2000). What I'm really missing in the sound is a decent low end as even if I boost the bass control and roll the pickup selector knob onto the front pickup, it all still sounds a bit too midrangey for me. Keep 'em coming!

Like it says in the title, thinking about getting an East pre fitted in my Yamaha TRB5 as the factory supplied one seems a bit limited in tonal variation. Anyone out there done and if so, what are your thoughts on it? Any feedback appreciated...

Agreed. JP will always divide opinion on BC - this is a topic which has cropped up a few times in my time on here, and probably will again at some point. He was an innovative player for his time, and he continues to influence some bass players to this day. Would someone else have taken his mantle if he hadn't been around? Stanley Clarke was coming to the fore around the same time so if Jaco had never existed, I suspect we would be talking about Stanley Clarke instead. A lot of electric players have moved the needle on from Jaco & Stanley's era - Alain Caron, Tom Kennedy, John Patitucci, Jeff Andrews, Marcus Miller, and Anthony Jackson to name a few, but some of those mentioned were influenced in some part by JP & SC.

Agreed - I remember when they first hit the scene, it was on the back of Punk but I'd class them more as a New Wave band more than anything else.

This - I think he's a good tasteful player.

Always liked this (the original theme): Paul Shaeffer (keys), Sid McGinness (guitar), Anton Fig (drums) and the great Will Lee (bass) - not sure who the sax player is (possibly Dave Sanborn?)

Another one from the 70's:

Another one - written by Lalo Schifrin:

This: Bass player on this is L.A. session great Chuck Berghoffer.

Probably because he was an innovative bassist for his time, and that's carried on through to bass playing (mainly in the funk / jazz / fusion genres) up until the present day. The one thing that this thread proves is that (love him or hate him) JP wasn't mediocre. @fleabag - yep, you're absolutely right I don't have to read the thread.

Lost count of the number of times the Jaco thing has been brought up on here and it's getting really boring. You either like him or you don't, end of....

93% - the Tina Weymouth one threw me....

I'm playing this in a band - and playing the riff using a fingering of 3 (B) 1 (D) 4 (E).

[quote name='wateroftyne' timestamp='1510083855' post='3403903'] OBBM. [/quote] Big +1 - great cables, never had any problems with mine

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1509793216' post='3401664'] The price of good gig bags has gone through the roof. [/quote] Agree - I bought my Mono Vertigo from Bass Gear when it was in Twyford and I think it cost me about £140 - they're now up to nearly £200. I've also got an iGig and I dread to think about how much they are now (don't think you can get 'em in the UK anymore?).

[quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1509880794' post='3402240'] Got a gig coming up next weekend where I`m having to travel light. Just assembled the Vertigo & Tick together for the first time this morning, packed it all and I can get everything I need for a gig in the pair, aside from my amp of course. Well chuffed. [/quote] Good choice - I bought a Tick for mine sometime last year and it carries all the small essentials for gigs (cables, power lead, spanner, screwdriver etc). So I can do a lift in and out of a gig in two trips to & from the car. Well worth the investment!

[quote name='T-Bay' timestamp='1509221864' post='3397446'] If you enjoy doing it it's never too late for anything. [/quote] +1 - I started to learn to read a few years ago just before I turned 50. In real terms my chances of making it a career are long gone, but I've got all these bass books with written bass parts kicking around that I would like to able to play. It's a slow burn process, but definitely worth it as it increases your harmonic and rhythmic awareness, especially when you're playing in a band setting (imo).