BrunoBass

[quote name='bobbytodd' timestamp='1500716152' post='3339732'] finally got round to fitting a new scratch plate.thought id try something different and went with blue pearl [/quote] I'm interested to know if this fitted straight off or if any fettling was required?

I've had mine for a couple of months now which I've posted about elsewhere. I still can't believe it was only £109 and I'm still totally in love with it. I've gigged with nothing else since. I've changed the strings to my usual Super Slinky's - the original strings were really nice and I might've left them on but for the weird oscillating overtones coming from the E string (slipped core I think). The Slinky's sound tremendous on this bass; growly, dirty tone that sounds amazing when I push the gain up a bit. I don't actually need to upgrade anything on it, although that was my original intention. Of course there are better tuners, pickups, bridges out there that I could add, and I probably will at some stage, but for now everything is more than adequate and I've very pleased with it. I might buy another!

[quote name='Jakester' timestamp='1500538174' post='3338489'] Not quite the same thing, but I'm sure I've seen a fretless with a single fret right up at the dusty end to give that 'clank' when slapping. [/quote] Yes, I seem to recall Warwick offered that as an option on fretless models in the '80s?

I read a thing recently where Joe Hubbard said he had a Squier Jazz that had the frets flattened so the instrument played like a fretless but still had enough metal in the board for slapping. I'm intrigued - has anybody tried this?

My band fits into the 'Modern Rock' category now I guess, however in twenty years our set will probably be considered classic rock!

Mrs GibsonBass supports what I do but isn't particularly interested. It's just not her thing. She comes to the occasional gig if possible and I'm cool with that; there's little point in her coming to see something that she doesn't enjoy. I can count on one hand the amount of times she has come to either a band or a solo gig. It suits me because I kind of feel responsible for her when I'd rather concentrate on what I'm doing than making sure she's ok.

Thanks for all the responses guys. I've been playing bass on and off for twenty five years so I'm well versed in eq'ing etc. I guess the point I'm making is regarding the endless search for the tone I hear in my head that I want to achieve and actually achieving it. As I said I suspect that it's ultimately unattainable 😊

I won a pair of tickets to see The Searchers in my hometown of Banbury (the venue's two miles from home!) for my mum and dad. Mum's not in the best of health right now so I may well end up taking my dad. He saw them all back in the day; the Searchers were probably the only one of his favourites that he missed seeing. Not the original lineup obviously, but Rickenbacker toting rhythm guitar god John McNally is still with them!

I'm thinking about putting a function / wedding band together too. My current band mates aren't interested so I'm on the lookout for potential members. Good luck to you.

I'm thinking about getting a Status too, probably an S2, and with a bonus coming my way my desire could soon become a reality. But where to try? Do Status have a showroom or somewhere you can try befire you buy? It's a lot of money to spend to find I don't get on with it. I believe there is just the one standard neck profile; which other basses would you Status players compare it to? I'd order direct as I have a specific idea of what I want.

Two gigs for me with Til Dawn yesterday. The first was at the annual Motorcycle Meet at The Three Conies pub just outside of Banbury. We were one of four bands, with an hour long afternoon set. The sound was great, for an outdoor do, and we had a big and largely appreciative crowd for what was a really enjoyable event. We're playing really well at the moment, I think we're all enjoying being a three piece and the space it allows us musically. We've done a few gigs now since our other guitarist left, and we're becoming increasingly comfortable with each passing show. A great afternoon, caught up with a few mates, and lots of nice bikes to admire, if you're into that kind of thing. A rare opportunity for my little boy to see us live too, which is always a bonus. I used my J&D '75 Jazz into my Genz Benz Shuttle Max rig which sounded full and punchy. Then it was a quick pit stop at home for a shower and a catch up with F1 qualifying on the Sky planner before heading off to our evening gig, a wedding in a big gazebo in the middle of a field. Same rig, we played for just over an hour (the happy couple were young rock fans who wanted us to do an hour of 'their' music after the other wedding band, which had played more standard wedding fare). We used their PA which meant we had a nice quick changeover. We played well, they liked it and we had a full dancefloor by the end of our set. A quick breakdown and back home by 9.30pm for a few cold ones, happy days. I saw a bass playing friend of mine there, who coincidentally was a wedding guest. He complemented me on my J&D bass, saying how good it sounded. 'Mind you', he said, 'you'd expect a boutique instrument with a price tag to match to sound good.' I didn't have the heart to tell him it cost £100 off the internet... Next stop for us is the Horley Festival on 19th August.

[quote name='nikon F' timestamp='1500225865' post='3336324'] thanks for all the replies ,,,,,,affinity is out then ,,,,,,,,,, [/quote] Try one, if you can, and see what you think. Yes, they are beginners basses, with components to suit, but they aren't by any stretch of the imagination bad basses.

I'd strongly recommend the J&D '75 Jazz Bass - £109 and better than the Affinity Jazz I used to have.

Is anybody 100% happy with their tone? I've spent many years and lots of money on different amplifiers, different cabinets, different basses, different strings, countless hours on my technique, and the closest I've ever got is a tone that's just ok, one that I'm fairly happy with, but not one that totally satisfies me. I wonder sometimes if I'm just chasing something elusive but ultimately unattainable - subjective perfection?

[quote name='mikel' timestamp='1499939687' post='3334630'] I would rather see a semi pro band in a pub giving it large, and looking like they mean it, than a big name act being very polished and professional, but clinical and lacking passion. Its rock and roll, its supposed to move me, excite me, surprise me. [/quote] Totally this.

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1499939564' post='3334627'] I get where your coming from Dave, but I'm not going to get into a discussion about mistakes. Blue [/quote] Fair enough. In that case I won't mention you mistaking my name 😉

I tried one recently in my local PMT and found it to be particularly gutless tone-wise. Maybe better pickups would improve matters?

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1499900895' post='3334465'] You make a good point Paul. However, I think young serious rock musicians usually start out playing clubs and bars. I'm not sure it's a good idea to set your standard by what punters accept. I wish I was a young musician, however I'm hurtling through my late 40s as I write My point here is don't set your standards by the low standards of a pub crowd. Blue [/quote] We certainly don't Blue. We practise hard and aim to play the best set we can, to the best of our abilities. The inevitable minor mistake however isn't something I lose any sleep over. I wish I was still a young musician, however I'm hurtling through my late 40s as I write I saw a very highly rated bass player in one of the biggest rock bands in the world totally screw up the intro to one of their biggest hits when I saw tbem live a few years ago. He shrugged, smiled, and just started again. The audience loved it.

It depends on the gig and the crowd. I would expect a high standard from a pro level 'name' act at a large festival, and so would the majority of the audience. That is their expectation. At the kind of gigs I play (pubs and bars to drunk Saturday night-ers) the occasional cock-up is not just tolerated, but hardly noticed. The average weekend pub crowd wants to hear and sing along to something they know. They're not demanding a virtuoso performance. I'm not saying that's right or wrong, it's just the way it is.

40-100 always.

[quote name='Grangur' timestamp='1499696521' post='3332980'] I'm sure it is subjective, but you did say " ..returned to playing bass...". Maybe that makes a difference? I've not ridden a bike in years, but I know I can still do it. If I started now, would I be as quick to get on there for the first time? Plus, I'm 50+. It's probably different at 40+. (Much as it grieves me to say so.) [/quote] Yes, but I hadn't picked up a bass guitar for twelve years. It probably helped having past experience, but i felt like I was starting again. I'm an infinitely better bass player than I was first time round though. Slow progress!

[quote name='Grangur' timestamp='1499665165' post='3332754'] I started soon after I turned 50. I would agree with all of the above. It takes a lot of time and progress is slower than for youngsters. If you stop for a week your progress goes back too because the muscle-memory isn't ingrained. Also, we have work that gets in the way of practice too. But if you can get into a band do that as soon as you can. I too am left handed. I play right handed though. If you can play right handed: it gives you a far bigger choice of instruments. But I agree with Leftybassmsn, you need to try a bass and see if you can play right handed. Your brain will soon tell you if this won't happen. Studybass.com Scottsbasslessons.com Both are good sites. Good luck and enjoy the journey; that's good to remember. There's no "end result". It's a journey. [/quote] It's very subjective though, I returned to playing the bass at 46, two years ago, when the chance to join a band came up. I learnt a two hour, 38 song set of unfamiliar material to a gig-able standard in less than a month, without any problem. Perhaps if I were younger I could've learnt it in a shorter time?

I first played bass in my early twenties, briefly returned in my early thirties and picked it up again at the age of 46, two years ago when the chance to join my current band materialised. You're never too old.

Last night we played Bodfest, a local festival now into it's seventeenth year, I think. We played in the afternoon last year but this year we played second from top of the bill on the main stage, just as the sun was setting which was beautiful. Forty minute set, I was using my J&D '75 Jazz which I'm loving playing at the moment. I DI'd my Genz Benz Shuttle Max 6.0 but took my cab anyway for monitoring. On stage sound was really good, as it was last year, so I could done without the cab in hindsight, but anyway... Probably the biggest crowd we've played to, circa 1000 people, and I loved every minute of it. We were tight, played really well and got great feedback. Definitely one of my favourite gigs ever, one of those nights that remind me why I do this, and great to catch up with friends in other bands that were playing. Very happy.

[quote name='rubis' timestamp='1499548514' post='3332177'] Dancing in the moonlight [/quote] Thin Lizzy or Toploader? 😉