BrunoBass

[quote name='The Hat' timestamp='1456521652' post='2990092'] Superb, are there any other female bass players like her, coz I rather like her ! [/quote] Are there any female bass players on this forum, other than Sylvia of course? It seems to be very much a male domain!

We played at The Wheatsheaf in Banbury last night, a nice local gig for us (me in particular as it was within walking distance of home!). We were opening for a young hardcore/dubstep from Portsmouth called Seething Akira, and a heavy prog/post-rock band doing their first ever gig before us. Unfortunately we didn't get a chance to soundcheck, unlike the other two bands, so it was simply a question of setting up in front of an already warmed up audience and going straight into our set, which was far from ideal. Also we were using unfamiliar house gear, and poor monitoring made it really hard to hear much. But we played well, good and tight, and apparently it sounded good out front (we were told) but I think we're all feeling a bit deflated this morning about not being able to sound check and get the on-stage sound right. We seemed to go down well, which is good as we were a bit apprehensive about how we would, our set of modern rock covers being a million miles away from the two bands either side of us. I was pleased with the job I did. I was using my Stingray, into the house Fender amp, which sounded ok. Anyway next weekend it's another hometown gig, this time using our own gear and PA for a full 2 hour set. Should be good.

We've been playing GnR's 'Mr Brownstone' in our set for six months and it was only the other night that I realised I've been playing the main riff wrong all this time. I'm the only one to notice so far, I'll keep quiet until anyone else notices!

I live in Banbury, North Oxfordshire, and the live scene here is thriving. There are three or four pubs which have bands every weekend all year round plus another two or three that have weekly bands during the summer and autumn months. There are also weekly or monthly acoustic nights and open mics in at least four pubs in town, plus a handful of festivals during the summer in three of the town centre pubs plus some of the outlying villages. I cannot count the amount of bands and solo artists that live and play here, many of which are friends and acquaintances of mine; there are too many. And all of this in a town with a population of approximately 45,000 people. I'm lucky that my area is fairly affluent, with high employment rates, so people seem to have the disposable income to come out and enjoy. That said, the majority of gig goers appear to be 30+ although the crowds are younger for some of the indie bands. It seems to be anomalous in as much as many other areas seem to be struggling for live music. It might not always be this way (although for the last ten years it has) so I'll enjoy and savour it while it lasts; we are lucky to have such a great live scene in Banbury.

...because I feel totally at home with being a bass player, much more so than being a guitarist (which is where I started). The bass is something that I feel a great affinity with; it's also an instrument that I feel that I'm always making progress with, always improving, which feeds my enthusiasm for playing. I love being part of the groove and I enjoy the responsibility of being the 'glue' of my band. I don't feel the need to be at the front, either sonically or visually. It doesn't hurt either that the bass is just incredibly cool!

[quote name='tony_m' timestamp='1455988342' post='2984352'] Primal Scream doing "Country Girl" at the 6 Music Festival. Starts off OK at 58mins in, then all goes horribly wrong at about 58:30 when the bass and keys come in. Cue lots of confused / amused looks back and forth across the stage, but they plough on regardless and eventually sort things out (drop capo one fret by the looks of it) during the clap-along bit. Afterwards Bobby G describes it as the "the Sonic Youth tuning...... avant-rock"... [url="http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p03hj15l/the-6-music-festival-2016-primal-scream#group=p03j19ln"]http://www.bbc.co.uk...#group=p03j19ln[/url] [/quote] Bloody guitarists eh? 😉

Nearly a year on since the last reply to this thread, what's everyone's opinion of the live scene now? Better or worse? Still contracting? I'm interested as where I live the live scene has been incredible for the last few years and shows no sign of slowing down.

I wandered into a music shop in the Trafford Centre at the weekend (whilst visiting Manchester) with my 4 year old as they had ukuleles in the window (he's obsessed with ukes). At the back they had a black Aerodyne. I'd never seen one in the flesh before and despite not trying it GAS ensued... Does anyone have one? Any good? It looked fantastic!

[quote name='Loudhailer UK' timestamp='1455912287' post='2983657'] Aha, just been directed to this post as someone has clicked onto my website from it. Yes, I have a Cutlass I serial no B022503. I got it new. Our manager got it from Manny's, probably 1984 ish. Together with the fretless Stingray it's still my main bass today. It's newer than the one at the top of the page as it has 4 bolt plate and doesn't have thru body strings. When I got it I thought that the stings were all too close to the top edge of the fretboard - which they are on the photos above and below too. I think all Cutlasses are probably the same. It doesn't affect the playing tho... what do you other Cutlass owners think about that? I changed all the saddles round once so the strings went thru the lower holes, but it made no difference at all. I remember FGTH having one too, a hired one I believe. I also have a fretless Stingray, an early one. Serial no B020639. I bought it in Camden Town in around 1982 for about £200. The guy in the shop said it was Boz Burrells. It sounds amazing, t I love it and still gig with it. It's got a three bolt plate and through body stings. Black with ebony fingerboard. I have a hop shot on the bottom string. I'll look for some photos....there are some knocking round on our website [url="http://loudhailer.net/"]http://loudhailer.net/[/url] And this back in the day [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PN_Pff1yza8"]https://www.youtube....h?v=PN_Pff1yza8[/url] Lou Duffy-Howard [/quote] Great to hear from you on here, Lou. I was a big fan of The Red Guitars and remember being particularly inspired by the basslines on Steeltown and Be With Me (I still often warm up with that one!) when I was starting out.

2 band works for me. Less to worry about and all the tone I need.

Last time I saw Muse, Chris Wolstenholme buggered up the intro to Hysteria. He just stopped, grinned, and started again. No drama.

Funny, I've been listening them a lot recently as I suggested my band do a cover of their version of Hush. I saw them live on the K tour, circa '96/'97 and I still rate it as one of the best gigs I've ever seen. They took the roof off. I remember Crispian Mills made some misguided and probably innocent comments that the music weeklies then got a hold of and blew up and that was them finished really, shame.

Mark O'Toole from Frankie Goes To Hollywood had a black Cutlass I in the mid '80s and Zac Foley from EMF had one with a DIY paint job at the peak of their success in the early '90s.

[quote name='Grassie' timestamp='1455627481' post='2980811'] If Kanye didn't exist, the world would be a lot less entertaining. In a "can't wait to see what utter horse $hite he comes out with next, cos he's obviously deluded on a biblical scale" kind of way. More power to ya Mr West, looking forward to the next instalment. 😁 [/quote] ^+1. Replied before I saw this 😊

[quote name='Truckstop' timestamp='1455544895' post='2980021'] I think he's just having a laugh. [/quote] Agreed. I'm not a fan, but isn't it nice to have a pop star who's so entertaining? Whether he's totally eccentric or just taking the p***, I'd rather that than a Chris Martin persona. (Not than I'm knocking Chris Martin, I love the first couple of Coldplay albums.)

We don't do any slow songs, more midtempo (Temperance Movement's 'Only Friend' and RHCP's 'Otherside') roughly in the middle of the set if we're doing a long one and not at all if we're playing a shorter one.

Last night's gig was in a venue that I heard could get rowdy so I was a little concerned about giving my new Stingray it's debut. Everything was fine, and the bass sounded wonderful, cutting nicely through my two humbucker wielding six string bandmates. Next week's show however is at a venue that I know does get rowdy so I might take the Squier out for that one!

We played at The King Billy in Northampton for the first time last night, 2 x 45 minute sets. It all went well, good sound and we all played well considering it was our first gig since November. The natives were friendly and appreciative, especially a gang of American lads who were into what we were doing. The staff said we were the best Thursday night band they'd had in a while so hopefully we'll get asked back. Got home at 2.30, up for work this morning at 6.30. Suffice to say I'm struggling today...

I'm really glad there is now a long scale version of this bass. I was considering a Hagstrom Viking but I'll wait until I've tried the CHB2 now. The Purpleburst looks killer but I'd love to see it in black!

I use a TC Electronic 250 watt combo with a 15" speaker, which I'm fairly pleased with. I wouldn't mind a bit more punch (and power) so I thought about moving the combo on and getting a head and a 2×10 cabinet. But then I thought why not get a 2x10 combo and run them side by side? Does anyone else share my way of thinking and run two combos together? What are the advantages or disadvantages over running a single head with two cabs?

We practised last night without one of our two guitarists as we have our first gig of the year on Thursday and he's got the lurgy... We missed him, or course, but having all that space to fill with bass was a rare and beautiful treat!

+1 for Billy Bragg. In a previous life when I was working in commercial interiors I visited his partner who was a client of mine and ran her business from their house in Dorset. Billy was there and was a top bloke, so was his son who made me a cup of tea. Frank Turner is a decent chap who always takes time to talk after a show (if he can, not always possible) and his band mates are cool too. His pianist Matt Nasir gave me and my mate guestlist tickets to a show after we got talking to him, and his drummer Nigel Powell sometimes drinks in my local and is a lovely guy. Recently I took my teenage daughter to see Black Veil Brides, we stuck around to meet them afterwards because she loves them and they were very nice, chatty and generous with their time.

A Grand Don't Come For Free - The Streets Everybody Down - Kate Tempest

[quote name='LewisK1975' timestamp='1453216456' post='2957489'] I'd also say, if you haven't had the time / inclination to get into Jaco before now, it's a great place to start and really does give a good insight into why he is held in such high esteem by so many... [/quote] I might give it a watch off the back of your suggestion. I know how highly regarded Jaco is by many in the bass community and I mean no disrespect whatsoever but I've always struggled to see what the fuss is about. I've listened to the recordings, watched the videos but I just don't get it. I'm not disputing Jaco's ability, talent and soul but if it's not your thing it's not your thing I guess; perhaps watching this film will change my mind?

[quote name='Risk101' timestamp='1454875355' post='2973851'] David MacGregor is a top bloke. Just bought a really nice Shuker off him, in a very smooth transaction. I would say he is an "old school" type, man of his word etc, so would say you can deal in confidence 😄 [/quote] I'm not aware of Cotswold Bass Guitars, where are they based?