blue

[quote name='andybassdoyle' timestamp='1413202636' post='2575747'] Very interested to hear the BC thoughts on this, I'm sure many of you are in or have been in this boat. Simply put, is it worth selling up the collection in order to fund one high quality instrument? I find myself with the dilema of trying lot's of different basses all with their own qualities but never finding that one bass that hits the 8 or 9 out of 10 mark consistently on all fronts. Some of the sorts of choices that need to be made are:[/quote] I would have to answer "No". I would not sell my collection. If I look at my personal gig performances more than my basses, I never hit the 8 or 9 out of 10 where my performance is consistent on all fronts. All I look for out of a bass is good action. Blue

[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1423514335' post='2685844'] I may have got hold of the wrong end of the stick, but I got the impression that you're a long-distance driver? In that case, your job may keep you away from any regular jams near home, but it takes you close to loads of regular jams in other places. The internet is your friend. At many/most jams, you don't even necessarily have to bring a bass. It's pretty much the tradition that the house band will lend an instrument to anyone who needs it. Incidentally, I started playing nine years ago, which is recent enough that I can remember the timescales.[list] [*]3 months in, starting to jam with CDs designed for the novice bass player to play along with [*]6 months in, starting to jam with individual guitarists, most at the same stage of development as me [*]8 months in, attending a local jam session and just starting to get up [*]11 months in, joined my first band [*]16 months in, played my first gig in front of a genuine audience [/list] [/quote] My generation, we did not have CDs, computers or any type of digital technology. We had to learn songs by moving that needle on the record player back and fourth over and over again. Any guys here that started playing back in the 60s will remember those days. We did have jam sessions, not to be confused with the "open mic". Blue

[quote name='SpaceChick' timestamp='1423513224' post='2685827'] JTUK - I think you are coming across as quite harsh in your last post. I'm sure we were all ropey when we started out. However, everyone has to start somewhere in a band environment and I think if Froggy can find others that want to play with him and he wants to play with then it will be a great development experience. We all need to find our level whether we've been playing 3 months or 30 years and everyone was a beginner once and not everyone is going to be the next Pino or Jaco!! [/quote] I think it depends on what kind of band a newbie plans on playing with. Wouldn't you all agree that to play in a band where your only required to play simple rock 4/4 root notes around A,E & C would happen sooner than playing in a band where your going to be required to play in multiple keys, time signatures, complicated melodies and riffs? Just my opinion, there will always be new and great bass players that come to the surface, however there will never be the next Joco, Pino, Larry Graham, ect ect.. Blue

Great topic! However, to me it seems like some of you are addressing EQ and processing your signal and some are indeed addressing tone. Tone, well good tone like anything else comes from hours of wood shedding. If you invest in it you will have the tone you want, [i]"you can't buy tone." [/i]You can buy EQ & Processing. Tone comes from our fingers, dexterity, muscles control and a good understanding of what you want to do with them. Do you have a good understanding of how you want to execute your parts, are you aggressive or more laid back and smooth? A guitarist asked me a few weeks ago after he noticed I grab a lot of notes with my left small finger (pinky) on the neck. He asked me how I do it. My response, [i]"You really have to build up strength in your pinky finger and that takes time, dedication and of course practice".[/i] Blue

[quote name='chaypup' timestamp='1424125067' post='2693041'] Does anyone know of one anywhere? It's not particularly hard but it's long with a lot of changes and I simply can't be bothered listening to all 9 mins 34 of it writing it all down! Thanks! [/quote] Not trying to be a jerk, however; If you can't be bothered, why bother with it at all? A lot of us have to labor over learning longer material. It's part of our job. Blue

Another non P that's fun to play.The Gibson Thunderbird. Back in the day ( 60s & 70s ) this was the bad a$$ bass to play. I don't think they're as popular these days. I showed mine to a friend, a younger bass player and his response; [i]"Why did you buy this?"[/i] Blue I know, too many pics, somewhat relevant.I did not intend to hi jack the OPs thread

My only Fenders, Ps MIJ. I really should gig with these 2 basses more often. Both have new set ups. Blue

However I am intrigued with this 1972 Fender Telecaster Bass. Blue

Everybody plays a Fender P or a J, and I did for years. Great basses or everybody wouldn't be playing one. Me, I never wanted to be "Everybody" For me and some others, a bass is not only about tone it's about the [i]"look"[/i] too. Blue

Hard lesson to learn. If a woman says she loves music , going to concerts and seeing live bands, That doesn't mean she wants to date a musician or is interested in musicians. Blue

[quote name='Bassnut62' timestamp='1423381950' post='2684040'] If you're already learning Chic songs and I Wish by Stevie Wonder after only a year playing with too little time between time with kids, then you must be doing pretty well. I Wish is a tough song to play; but maybe you said it with learning songs the whole way through. Have you learnt the bridges and short break down section in I Wish and do you have the stamina and accuracy to play the song the whole way through as tight as it needs to be to really groove? [/quote] Picking up an instrument late and life and moving forward is not easy, however I've seen it done. Our BL and lead guitarist didn't pick a guitar until she was 20 years old. She front's the band plays blistering 70s style leads and rivals those that have been at it for years. This is just me and I don't mean to be offensive. I don't think Chic or Stevie Wonder's [i]"I Wish" [/i]is the ideal starting point. Doesn't matter how fast a guy can play or how many scales he knows. You can't hang with the blues, you might as well hang it up. My point, start with the blues and everything else will come to you a lot easier. I'm also a big advocate of formal lessons. Blue

[quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1423697914' post='2688175'] That's a bummer, and shouldn't happen. In all the festivals and similar that I've been involved with and/or attended, all the acts get the same level of professional treatment from the technical teams, on and off stage. Shame on events that do otherwise. Maybe Europe is different, although I don't know why it should be..? [/quote] Sound has always been not good, however transportation, dressing rooms, back line, food and drink have been [i]"rock star" [/i]quality. Blue

For younger players that missed the Funk era of the 70s and want a broad understanding of how vast the genre was,this is a must listen. Innovative dry signal vocals with some of the hottest grooves, counter point and hooks you'll ever hear. Fresh, Sly & The Family Stone, 1973 [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uygeHTFbHog"]https://www.youtube....h?v=uygeHTFbHog[/url] Blue

[quote name='TimR' timestamp='1423560931' post='2686217'] The big band will have their own engineer and possibly a second engineer running the monitors. They'll also have rehearsed on a big stage prior to their performance to iron out any problems. We'll just get a rudimentary soundcheck for signals. Going in front of the monitors isn't the best idea. Keeping the backline together near the drummer is a good idea and there is nothing wrong with grouping in on the drums as long as you move about a bit. Watch some queen videos for how the ultimate arena band did it. They seem to cover the stage but not stay away from each other for too long at a time. [/quote] We play SummerFest on a Headliner stage every year. My take, what good are the huge sound and light systems to us locals that play the day ime slots if the systems aren't managed. We sound better with our own sound. Blue

[quote name='cheddatom' timestamp='1423673908' post='2687818'] I like this one, it looks like you're "in the zone" (or maybe high?) [/quote] Not sure if I was in the zone. Definitely not high, I would never ruin the rush I get from performing with alcohol or any mind altering substance. Plus when I'm playing ,I'm working for someone and wouldn't perform high any more than I would show up at a regular 9-5 job high. I leave the drinking and getting high to the punters. I'm there to provide a service and get paid. But that's just me. Blue

[quote name='Allons-y!' timestamp='1423588445' post='2686723'] In case anyone cares, I quit the current band. I don't no why I got so hung up on it, but everyone was super helpful. Time will tell if I made the right choice. [/quote] You can't lose. Music and bands is not the primary focus of your life. For you I don;t think there was a right or wrong choice. Blue

[quote name='cheddatom' timestamp='1423560814' post='2686211'] it's more about moving round isn't it? I could go and play 7 nights in london in the same venue, but it wouldn't be a tour But yeh, Blue, next time you do a "tour" make sure to get plenty of tour photos [/quote] There will be photos and lots of them whether I'm on tour or not. Blue

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1423478131' post='2685125'] Ah well, if it's only 5 days you should be OK. In that case, just take ten pairs of new M&S Y-Fronts and a 40-pack of 50mg Tramadol and you'll be fine. [/quote] I've done 6-7 nights in a row. I didn't know I was on tour. Blue

[quote name='Ancient Mariner' timestamp='1423512559' post='2685815'] Playing with others requires a very different set of skills from playing to backing tracks in a bedroom: there's an unspoken language to learn, how to flow with people, when to start & stop, when to be louder or quieter & so on, unless one is playing set pieces a la recording. Jam nights or a simple band can be a good place to start acquiring these skills, but don't be surprised if it feels very different from playing alone. JTUKs point about standards is a good one. Although I jammed on guitar with a mate playing bass in the first year, as a guitarist (who used to practice 20+ hours/week at 16) I wasn't really up to playing out until after about 3 years. While a couple of chords where OK for punk, if you want to make music it takes more than attitude and volume. [/quote] My take is a little different. I started playing bass in 1964 and started gigging in 1966 at age 11. It was different back then every kid in the neighborhood was learning to play electric guitar, bass guitar or drums. All spawned by the Beatles appearance on American Television on February 9th, 1964. At the time I thought everybody was in a band. We practiced, learned to wood shed and we took lessons. 50 years later I'm still at it, practicing for hours on end and still gigging every weekend. I say it's never to soon, today there are kids out there on big tours that know little more than how to get around E, A , D and G root notes and haven't been playing more than a year. Blue

I used to be an SVT 8 10s guy. At 62 years old, no way am I lugging a refrigerator to my gigs. Plus we play a lot of small bars, where would it fit? The SVT 8 10s are great cabs, still the industry standard but are they practical for those of us primarily playing small bars and clubs. Pictured is some sort of Fender 8 10 backline cab supplied by Summerfest. It was not my cup of tea. Blue

[quote name='Allons-y!' timestamp='1423452507' post='2684944'] I like money but I'm not in love with it. [/quote] That's a cultural thing and one reason ( there are others ) why I like the British. Over here were taught from day 1 that money is all that matters. Over here, the only people I know that say they're not in love with money, have money coming out of their ears. Blue

[quote name='Allons-y!' timestamp='1423451956' post='2684943'] To be fair it doesn't take much to get on a woman's nerves. [/quote] Really? We have got to tell people about that! Blue

Being represented by an agency is great if they're good and have the time and an honest interest in getting the band more $$ and better gigs. I would think Disco/Funk would be a great match for the right agency. Here in Milwaukee they only work with high end cover bands. They don't work with originals bands or blues /rock bands like mine. Over here the money and hours for agency gigs is pretty nice. For example,an agency can get a gig at let's say a function at The Milwaukee Zoo playing 2:00- 4:00 for a grand as opposed to 9:00p-12:00a for $400.00. Blue

[quote name='Allons-y!' timestamp='1423446336' post='2684930'] They will both be gigging and I've actually been playing with these friends of mine on a stage for years. Not In a basement. The band leader is also deep in the music scene. They will be playing less purposefully.[/quote] There must be a way for you to make this distinction between both bands to make a decision which band to go with. Sounds like your closer to the P & W side with guys your own age. For me since I'm in this for the money it would have to be the band that makes the most $$$, because it also sounds like the guys in both bands are good people. I don't think you can lose either way. Good Luck Blue

[quote name='Allons-y!' timestamp='1423446336' post='2684930'] When I married her I decided to put her before everything. She has never told me she didn't like me gigging, but if she did I would drop it in a heart beat. [/quote] Cool, we all approach music differently and have different values. I was dating a woman for about a year, and the relationship started getting in the way of my musical direction and adventures, I dropped her in a heart beat. Nothing wrong with either decision, no right or wrong. Blue