blue

I used to get pissed about stuff like this with the other singer and that she's using your PA. However my experience has taught me that minor stuff like that isn't worth worrying about. However, I am concerned about that $350.00. I understand you want to get your foot in the door. It's still way too much of a bargain. It sounds like a $600.00 gig to me. Blue

[quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1472414966' post='3120983'] I think 5 years in a band and not having a voice is pretty poor. [/quote] Depends, I'm not sure I want any say in any band issues. Our band leader is 30 years old her management style vision and ideas are s lot more contemporary and relevant than mine. It's not 1971, things are done differently then back in my day. Sure, I've played a long time and have a lot of experience. But, I'd never argue my experience is particularly relevant to today's bar band management or protocol. Blue

[quote name='mcnach' timestamp='1472387128' post='3120693'] Just joined temporarily a ska/reggae band while their bass player is out of action (a few months), had a first gig at a festival last weekend, and now we just returned from a 'minitour', driving with the van down to gigs in Nuneaton, Kidderminster and Rugby on Friday and Saturday. 1h first on the Friday gig, 2h gigs on Saturday... I'm tired but it was a blast. This band usually has just a saxophone but occasionally gets other btass players, and a regular collaborator joined us for these gigs... 'Big' Jim Paterson on trombone. What a guy!!! He was a amazing. I had such a huge grin just listening to the sax and trombone together and exchanging solos... plus the guy is one of the nicest guys I've ever met around the 'musician' environment. I'm still high on music. Or maybe it's lack of sleep The last gig was at a bar in Rugby, The London House Skabar. I played without PA support, with two TKS S112 and the MarkBass LM3, no wall reinforcement... and it sounded awesome, no lack of volume either. One of the best sounding gigs I've had, from a bass point of view. I love these cabs. [/quote] Sounds like a cool weekend. Fun, great story. Blue

Total crap weekend, no gigs. Blue

[quote name='dave_bass5' timestamp='1472409334' post='3120935'] What is this statement based on? You use the word "usually". How do you come to this conclusion, id really like to know. If a band wants a particular dress code this, to me shows they are more serious than bands who just turn up and play gigs all dressed differently and look like they make no effort. We used to always wear black suites. Ok, thats boring but we often got comments about how smart we looked compared to a lot fo other bands that play at the venue. We looked professionally and not like a bar band. The band now has a new guitarist who refuses to wear a suit as he doesn't feel its warranted. We now look like a disjointed bar band. This of course has nothing to do with the music, the playing or the ability of the band members, but you can have image and talent. The two are not mutually exclusive like some comments here make out. [/quote] Dave, it's not uncommon for young new bands to have multiple requirements while having nothing but a dream to offer. I have followed up on some of these ads. The common denominator, very sketchy when you ask about gigs or how they plan to get gigs. How does a new guitarist even have a voice? I've been in my band for 5 years and I don't shave a say in anything. I can be replaced easily and bands with paying gigs are hard to find in Milwaukee. Blue

[quote name='luckydog' timestamp='1472284482' post='3119999'] Great ! I am confused though, 'cos weren't you recently telling us, at some length, about how Buddy Rich's tantrums at band members were somehow motivational and a good thing? LD [/quote] Your right , I did. You have a very good memory and you make a decent point . However, I'm not completely sold on the comparison. Blue

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1472379109' post='3120630'] These sorts of ads were common in the Melody Maker in the 60's. And so I guess every decade since. It seems to be a general requirement that bands need like minded members so this type of ad is one way of achieving that. Bands always have specific requirements and for some that includes appearance and attitude. I'd like to know that I'm going to fail the physical before I drive 60 miles for the audition. I just did a gig yesterday where they dictated the shoes. Black ones. . . and trousers etc. . . . it was a wedding and the dress code requirement was entirely appropriate for that gig. [/quote] Most bands that are active and making money usually have a few YouTube clips from live shows. It's easy enough to look at a live clip and determine whether or not you would fit the image the band presents. Blue

[quote name='bubinga5' timestamp='1472368184' post='3120551'] Seen various adverts for basses wanted etc. Always makes me laugh. Oh must be between 20 to 30, must play a black pbass, must not wear trainers, must have a stylish haircut. Etc etc, Blah blah. The sort of band I would never be interested in. Where's the, must be able read chord charts, must have good musical communication skills,etc etc. Rant over. [/quote] And those bands usually leave the fact that they have no gigs out of the ad. In other words they want something for nothing. Blue

I've seen pros do it. Joe Bonamossa, Allman Brothers ext. At the local level in the bar band business there's hardly enough money or room for 1 drummer. And as hard as it is to find 1 good drummer. Blue

[quote name='tauzero' timestamp='1472225466' post='3119648'] I see "professional approach" as meaning that you adopt the same approach to playing music as you do to whatever it is that you do for a living, because you'd still like to be doing it tomorrow - ie. do it well and don't piss people off. Well, at least not the people that pay you. [/quote] Exactly, like no drinking on the job. Blue

[quote name='Cosmo Valdemar' timestamp='1472216657' post='3119544'] So the tone is all in your fingers, but the punch is in the amp? [/quote] Yeah, I kinda think that's the way I'd look at it. Blue

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1472169455' post='3119163'] Where does Oomph start and end, then? [/quote] Compression is a part of getting " punch " but you need decent compression and understand the concept of threshold. All that stuff is as they say, is; "above my pay grade". I have to fiddle around with stuff until I get something I like. Thing is, I, like some of you, because of the nature of the material we perform can't use the same sound for everything. Some songs are going to be s good match with overdrive, sustain and a little crunch and others aren't. Some songs are better suited with a clean Jameson sound. If your playing songs by Korn, heavy distortion might come into the picture. And yes,there are those of you that can walk into a gig with no PA and go straight bass to amp and do just fine. Blue

[quote name='skankdelvar' timestamp='1471974011' post='3117398'] I told a guitarist that if he did 'that thing' again I'd kill him where he stood. [/quote] We're not friends and rarely see each other outside of gigs either. However, we would never bring that sort of attitude, dialog or whatever to a gig. The most important part of our mission statement is to "always approach gigs as a time to have 4 hours of fun" All bands operate differently. Respect Blue

[quote name='4stringslow' timestamp='1472151075' post='3118959'] You're right, I never wanted to play music for a living. I wanted to retire early and not have to work at all. It was a life goal for me and I achieved it. So now I can choose to play pub gigs as and when I feel like it and not need to do it to pay the bills. I like having that choice. [/quote] I've always wanted to play music for a living from the day I realized I had to make a living. And I like my choice, gigging as much as possible and I don't consider it work. I consider it a "blast". And I've never been a venue or gig snob. If you can afford our fee I could care less about the venue. Keep in mind I'm learning that gigging in the States is different than gigging in the UK. Blue

[quote name='Les' timestamp='1472172991' post='3119179'] Never had a bass fail but I've actually had an amp fail, just put what I could through the monitors and finished the job, got paid, went home. Wasn't a pleasurable experience by any means but I'm certainly not carrying a spare just in case, this has happened once in 35 years of gigging. Les [/quote] Happened to me last Friday night Les. I Sans Amped through the PA. Sucked Blue

I don't know if it's been mentioned, but an amp is a lot more likely to fail than a bass "Gigging Without A Spare Amp" Blue

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1472157800' post='3119042'] I don't want to do gigs with overly loud guitarists, not needing to take every gig, I dont. It is not because I have less passion about playing live it's just because I am lucky to have that option and still be offered enough gigs to keep me busy without doing many free ones, noisy ones, rubbish venues etc, a few slip through of course [/quote] Loud guitars are always going to be a part of rock and roll in most cases. Those guys like turning up.A gain, it goes with the territory. Me, I'm feel lucky to live without that option of the steady traditional job. Life too short, and I plan on living the rest of mine on my terms as much as I can. Blue

[quote name='Trueno' timestamp='1472111777' post='3118516'] Actually, I have known band members living on the breadline in the UK. One of the reasons I quit the band, because they would do any gig just to get some money, whereas I had a full time job and couldn't gig up to four times a week. They were also fiddling their benefits, which I was uneasy with. [/quote] It's tough finding a band where everyone is on the same page. Especially when it comes down to those of us that do it for a living and have no interest in a conventional 9-5 job. Blue

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1472157800' post='3119042'] The bar band has NOTHING to do with it, it is only you mentioning bar bands again, lol,if you were earning ten times as much but had no choice in which gigs to accept because your outgoings were ten times as much too then the weekly situation of living hand to mouth would be the same. I don't want to do gigs with overly loud guitarists, not needing to take every gig, I dont. It is not because I have less passion about playing live it's just because I am lucky to have that option and still be offered enough gigs to keep me busy without doing many free ones, noisy ones, rubbish venues etc, a few slip through of course [/quote] If they can afford us it's all good. I don't really know what a rubbish venue is. There are gigs that aren't that great , bad logistics and unappreciative crowds. But that goes with job. I remember a small club we were playing that I wasn't thrilled about initially. Now it's one if my favorites. It's the crowd that makes it, very engaged with the band and appreciative. Blue

I guess after reading all the thoughts and comments here, I am comfortable with the label" Rock Musician ". Blue

Ibenez just came out with and awesome line of reliced semi hollows, single cutaway. The ones I saw were priced at $650.00 so I guess you could talk that price down to $550. I don't own an Ibenez, but I have always liked them. Blue

[quote name='MoJo' timestamp='1472080728' post='3118431'] I recently got an Ibanez SR305 in a trade. For the price point, it's an excellent instrument. Well put together with a nice array of tones. My only gripe is the string spacing at the bridge, just 16.5mm. After years of play four string basses spaced at 18-20mm, the Ibby feels alien to me. In every other way, it's great. Even my band mates like it, but as soon as I put on my Jazz bass, it's like taking off a pair of new shoes and putting on a pair of comfy slippers. I'm almost certain that if I were to play it exclusively, eventually the muscle memory would kick in, but that would mean leaving my four stringers in their bags and weeks/months of discomfort and hard work. I'd be interested to know what other BC'ers would do. Would you spend time, exclusively playing the SR or would you put it up for grabs in the 'For Sale' section and stick with what you feel comfortable with. [/quote] If the buy was impulsive and you made a mistake, I'd take the loss and sell. Blue

You might want to buy another bass with active eq or pre-amp for high and low end. Blue

[quote name='Painy' timestamp='1472166812' post='3119141'] So which one is growl then? [/quote] I don't get or accept the whole concept of " growl". Thats for the young guys. Poor description and choice of word if you ask me. Blue

I don't know what an Hz is. For me punch is a delicate balance of your high and low end, clean with just the right amount if sustain. Back in the 70s when I was able to manage an SVT, you flipped the on switch and you had punch right out of the gate. Now with my GK 1001rb w/ 2 10s stacked on top of a 1 15 RBX cab and a fully loaded pedal board, I struggle to dial in the punch I would like. Blue