SteveK

I think bubinga5 is being a little unfair, as Star Trekkin' is a novelty record, and as such, is not meant to break any musical ground However, this record (as opposed to the song, which I don't have a problem with) with all its straight-faced melodrama qualifies it as the worst record of all time - bar none! [media]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYFRFyvhGRY[/media] Hopefully the youtube link works - if not, count your blessings

It is very easy, when in a support slot, to blame poor sound on sabotage, whether by a "couldn't give a toss" FOH engineer, or reduced PA spec. But, generally speaking, "bad sound" is the result of inexperience from the support band. A good band will arrange a song for live: Cutting back instruments (eg. keys or guitars) to allow vocals to be heard, use of dynamics etc, and actually being able to play to a reasonable standard. I was going to write a much longer post, including my experience as "Guests" with Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow on their German shows this year ... maybe later!

Generally speaking, a good song of the 60s is still a good song today! Of course lyrics/subject matter can date a song. But, the biggest thing to date a record is production, and to some extent arrangement.

[quote name='PaulGibsonBass' timestamp='1477992346' post='3165716'] I ask because a friend of mine hates Japan (the band, not the country!) but listens to them a lot because he likes Mick Karn's bass playing. That doesn't really make sense to me. [/quote] Makes total sense to me! I have a fairly comprehensive CD/album collection, some of which are by artists that don't really do it for me, but analysis of the works of Charlie Parker, Mingus etc has been extremely enlightening and useful. [quote name='lojo' timestamp='1478015572' post='3166030'] There's no such thing as a great song without a great bassline Even if the bass does nothing , it's still has to be right for the song to do nothing , and therefore it's a great line [/quote]?? :/

Of course, it will put SOME musicians out of SOME work! People were asking the same question when mellotrons, string machines and samplers first came on the scene. They asked the same question when drum machines came along. As we hear on the radio day-in day-out, a "performance" from drummers, bassists, keyboard players, guitarists etc is not a requirement, a close aproximation is all that's needed from the majority of today's popular artists and producers. Hiring musicians can be an expensive business, and of course, we all know the "what's the difference between a drummer and a drum machine?" joke... many a true word spoken in jest

In 44 years of playing bass I've never had any use for a volume control, other than to turn the thing off. Come to think of it, I've never had much use for tone controls either.

[quote name='thebrig' timestamp='1474979411' post='3141987'] I'm quite happy with my playing, and I must be doing something right because I'm lucky enough to play with three very good musicians who make me feel great. [/quote]

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1474968243' post='3141830'] I probably shouldn't have chosen that clip. He's recovering from a stroke and can be seen to be struggling at times but his technique is good enough to have made him an elite and world class bass player for the last 50 + years. [/quote] Fair enough - didn't know that he'd had a stroke. Of course, as we get get older we can be afflicted with all sorts of things that require an adapting of technique. [quote name='thebrig' timestamp='1474972051' post='3141887'] Personally I think the clip is a great demonstration in showing that whilst there will always be the "correct technique", "the correct way", "you must do it this way", etc... we are in fact all different physically, despite what people say, Chuck Rainey is using a technique that is comfortable for him, and allows him to continue playing despite recovering from a stroke, and I have to say, I really enjoyed the video, and despite his so called poor technique, I thought his playing was great. For me, I have to use a very flat technique because I have virtually no control of my thumbs due to arthritis, and I had the trapezium removed in my right thumb which has resulted in not being able to touch my little finger with me thumb, and this is not a recent thing that has hampered my technique, I have always had very little flexibility it my thumbs, and no amount of stretching exercises seemed to help. So yes, if you are lucky enough to be born with the perfect anatomy, then you can adopt all the "correct" methods, but a lot of us have to adapt to methods that suit the way we were made, even if they are not technically correct. [/quote] I think it demonstrates that there are some musicians with poor technique that go on to greatness... because, they have that "something special". We shouldn't assume, though, that WE have that "something special".

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1474799520' post='3140545'] High arched fingers are important if you're playing a guitar and playing many strings at once. On a bass a low arch is the most you need. I'll use low arch and fingers resting on all strings. That's also good for LH damping. Here's a Chuck Rainey video. [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7TAFWwqeHko"]https://www.youtube....h?v=7TAFWwqeHko[/url] [/quote] That Chuck Rainey video demonstrates possibly the worst technique of any world class player that I've ever seen. I'd be interested to see how he would cope if called upon to play a reasonably fast 1/16 note phrase or fill.

Sublime!

If you have to pay anyway, why not rehearse without your guitarist? A lot can still be achieved with the absence of a group member.

As others have said, I don't think that there is any real snobbery. I occasionally see something on FB meant as jest. Anyone suggesting that pick players are somehow lesser players are quite obviously Trump adoring Brexit voters

Not confrontational at all. You should definitely get paid before you play. Send an email to the groom stating that you will need payment in full, at the latest, at the venue prior to show time. Request acknowledgement and confirmation - if he fully intends to pay then it shouldn't be a problem for him. NO DOUGH! NO SHOW!

[quote name='Twincam' timestamp='1461539354' post='3035583'] Tbh I hate talkbass. Unlike here most of [b]there[/b] members are not the most friendly of people. And if you make a mistake you will be jumped on. [/quote] Are you a complete imbersile? You need to get yerself ejucated! Everyone no's it should be [i][u]they're[/u]!..[/i]. YOU FICKO!

We're all just trying to guess the owner's reasons for passing around the pot. If the owner's motivation was: "I hope there's a gonna be a few Euros in the pot, to ease the burden on me to meet the band's fee" I would say that's perfectly reasonable. If, on the other hand, it's: "I can easily afford to pay the band, I've made loadsa money from the bar thanks to the suckers on stage, and now I'm gonna pass the pot around and make even more money thanks to the suckers in the audience." Then I just might be a bit miffed. Unless you ask him outright we'll never know. None of us are mind readers, In this case I would say "benefit of the doubt" would be in order.

A bit tricky, this one! Rather like our beloved PM's tax affairs: Nothing illegal but morally highly questionable. If tackled, the owner would most likely justify the pot as going towards your fee, without it... reduced fee or no gig. I am presuming that the total in the pot wouldn't have covered your fee. EDIT: Actually, thinking about it some more - I don't think it was morally so bad of the owner. Maybe the "average" pot collection was factored in to your fee.

Always prefer the sound of a heavier gauge, but have to balance that with feel and the way a string responds. Hence 40-100 Elites. As with many of these things, the general listener is likely to notice bugger-all difference.

If the bass was not as you were expecting, and did not meet with published spec, Why did you not return the bass?

From the moment we learn joined up thinking we seek approval. We all seek it... some more than others. Perfectly normal.

From persnal experience, there are dozens of reasons why IEMs are a good idea! There are also dozens of reasons why IEMs are a disaster. The type of music would make a huge difference as to their usefulness. If you're in a pop/cabaret/covers type band, or a band whose arrangements are set in stone, then, IEMs are possibly a great boon. For the last 30 years I've mostly played in a band that prides itself on its "good live" reputation. A large part of that would be down to the fact that we "play to the room"! IEMs makes that impossible.

[quote name='colgraff' timestamp='1450705900' post='2935013'] No one makes it without a vast amount of very hard work. [/quote] Over the years, I have known, and have worked with many songwriters. Some have 30+ years of writing experience, but have had no real commercial success. Others with little to no experience have had huge success - eg. One young lady I worked with 35 years ago went from a receptionist at a record company to writing the soundtrack for a hugely successful movie (and indeed starring in movie), she had very little musical experience, let alone writing experience! The amount of "Hard work" doesn't seem to have figured in the level of success. IME Some just seem to have a handle on it right from the off.

[quote name='EssentialTension' timestamp='1450637494' post='2934515'] Songwriting is most definitely a skill that can be learned and improved upon. [/quote] unfortunately though, a lifetime is not long enough for most of us to learn and improve that skill. Most successful songwriters have an innate ability that the majority do not have.

If you dig jazz, it's likely you'll dig Jaco! If you don't dig jazz, then, maybe you won't! For all those out there that really want to improve and become well rounded bass players, then, analysis and study of some of Jaco's work is pretty much essential. He really was "all that"!

[quote name='Roland Rock' timestamp='1449314895' post='2922468'] ... and as an aside, a 'gak' is a derogatory term where I grew up. Example: "Yer nat sposed to eat it wi le skin on, ye stupid gak" [/quote]Meant something entirely different in some bands I worked with in my younger days.

Don't let potential wear n tear dictate how you should or should not play. Your instrument is there to serve you! If you've found a way to play that excites you :/ and gives you a unique voice, then, the occasional refret would be a price worth paying.