mikel

We have a band rule. If one member is really against playing a new song we simply drop it. Its easier to find songs we all like without playing stuff one or more of us don't like. Band harmony is a good thing and there are thousands of songs out there, find those you all enjoy.

We play Funk and Soul Funk. We try to select songs that we can change to suit this style. It is surprising what you can do to songs you like to make them fit a bands style. We prefer to steer clear of the obvious so we change songs to suit our genre. It means we can be creative without writing our own songs. Also it means punters recognise a song, but we play it in a funky style they can dance to.

Glen Cornick playing "Living in the Past" Jethro Tull. Peerless.

[quote name='Graham' timestamp='1507809215' post='3388087'] Just listened to that, not a fun listen from a bass perspective. I'm not entirely sure why it has a bassline at all, it sounds superfluous to me - a string arrangement to carry the "bass" part would work much better IMO [/quote] Was Phil Spector not brought in at the last minute to "Save" the recordings from those sessions? I believe he put all the strings and suchlike on after the band sessions were over. Lennon, for one, was less than happy with the finished album because of all the add ons. They had, to all intents, split by then anyway so I doubt they were particularly bothered.

Not everyone can do everything. Some people simply don't have a sense of rhythm. I have a good friend who simply can not dance, he can not hear or feel a beat. Its just the way it is. He can move about to music but its nowhere near the rhythm of any song he may be moving to, he looks like he is dancing to headphones while the rest of the floor is dancing to the music in the room..

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1507547016' post='3386164'] I simply use a pair of non-bassy headphones. My experience of "family" TV viewing both as a kid and as an adult, is that it is an excuse for others to talk all the way through anything that you want to watch, which is why my prefer method of watching is by myself on a small screen with headphones on and no distractions. [/quote] Hey not knocking it, each to there own, Mr Sociable.

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1507545491' post='3386142'] A decent sized lap top screen from a couple of feet away has the same impact as a big screen on the other side of the room with the added advantage that you're not forever twisting your neck to side from one side of the screen to another. [b]Most sound systems IME are terrible[/b]. The "surround" sound is over directional, bass is massively pumped up and all they seem to do is make the explosions sound impressive while drowning out the dialog. Actually this might be an advantage so you can't tell just how terrible the script is. IME watching on a small screen means that you concentrate on the actual story and not on the spectacle which has got to be a good thing. [/quote] Not if you simply plug it into a good Hi-Fi system, like I do.

If you are a musician, odd on this forum I know, Daryl's House is the one.

Its all fairly obvious really, but I suppose the guy does have a PH.D so he must know exactly what he is talking about.

[quote name='Evil Undead' timestamp='1507495168' post='3385914'] I love how this bass feels and plays. Nothing else beats the comfort. And it's got a great feeling, stable neck, and is super light [/quote] It wont be as light if you go active and do all the other changes you want. Give the active Chowney a try.

[quote name='Hamstar8' timestamp='1507371136' post='3384983'] Sir ... I too am of slap head... rarely do I gig without the aid of head protection [/quote] You wear a hard hat on stage? You must have the same rigging crew as Marilyn Manson.

[quote name='bubinga5' timestamp='1507346197' post='3384903'] How can you 2 pages from this.? [/quote] Stranger things have happened. Anyway, If you doubt the relevance of the thread, pop down to the local tonight If there is a band on. If they are a middle aged bunch, and they probably will be, you can bet your house there will be at least one hat and probably also a waistcoat amongst the stage attire. Unless of course its my band..

[quote name='FinnDave' timestamp='1507296359' post='3384597'] Did someone say something about waistcoats and hats together?? [attachment=255082:DSC_0562.jpg] [/quote] Yep. That's the cliche right there.

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1507297823' post='3384612'] I got rid of my TV in 2010 and TBH I haven't missed it in the slightest. Anything I want to watch gets watched on my laptop when I feel like it and not when the broadcaster thinks I should be watching it. I also didn't have a TV for most of the 80s, due to the fact that I simply couldn't afford one, and if I had any spare cash it would have been used to buy more synths not a TV. [/quote] Tried that. Hate watching TV on screen smaller than the ones back in the 50s. Nothing like a 50" widescreen with a good sound system.

[quote name='BassTractor' timestamp='1507245347' post='3384291'] You [b]are[/b] in trouble, but not because of [b]that[/b], cos [b]that[/b] is Robbie Fripp and it's me who's fat and 61. [/quote] Funny that. I was just going to post that from the photo you are almost a ringer for Mr Fripp. Seems Mr Fripp is a ringer for himself.

We have a rule in our band, more of a law actually. No hats and no waistcoats. Nothing screams "Late middle aged rocker" more than those two items. And yes I am 65, and bald.

[quote name='el borracho' timestamp='1507220432' post='3384030'] Location: A church hall near Gateshead Age 20 in 1984 Bass: Ibanez Blazer - I played some bass but mainly sang Amp: Marshall 2195 100 watt Lead & Bass Head through a 4x12 which I'm sure was called a Silicon Blue but can't find anything on Google Set List: Mainly own songs starting with a 10 minute long Hawkwind-like instrumental (for some reason called Tarzan ) The only cover I can remember was Ashton Gardner & Dyke's Resurrection Shuffle The keyboard player only agreed to do the gig if he could do a solo trumpet spot in the middle of the set. He got up and played the Last Post! [/quote] Ladies and gents, we have a winner. Love it.

1968. I was 15 years old, had been playing guitar for 3 months and knew 7 chords. It was a CIU working men's club in Northumberland, the clientele was 95% miners. We played a 20 min set of Blues covers, and I was also the vocalist at the time. I had a Linear Phase 50 amp and a cab built by my father from half inch ply with a 15 inch speaker of un known make. Oddly enough I don't remember being nervous at all, the arrogance of extreme youth I suppose. I also do not remember any applause. Not surprising really when you consider the audience. What 150 grizzled miners thought of 4 spotty, earnest teenagers playing "The Blues" and interrupting their bingo evening was never made public. The rest, as they say, is not history.

Never had a problem. As long as I have prepared for the gig by knowing the songs inside out, everything is good. I am always nervous before any gig so that probably sharpens the senses, but I love to gig, If I didnt gig I would not be playing. Playing and practice, for me, are merely the means to an end and the end is the gig. It has never been "Just a job" for me, its the only reason I play.

Not bothered. The sound and performance of the bass are the only factors for me. Some people spend extra on a "Road worn" instrument. The have dings and scratches put on by someone in a factory???? Each to there own.

Bass, cable, amp, cab, simple. If the room has odd acoustics then I use the controls on the bass and the amp. It always sounds different out front anyway.

[quote name='radiophonic' timestamp='1506631148' post='3380104'] One thing to remember is that at least as recently as the 90s, your rig was a significant part of FOH. A lot of old gear was built to be run hard and loud night after night and to deliver a sound that could fill a room. Most bands only put the singer in the PA. That world is largely gone and modern kit is often more of a monitor. I'm not sure we're comparing like with like a lot of the time. [/quote] Well said that man. Played hundreds of club and ballroom gigs in the 70s and vocals were the only thing to go through the PAs we had at the time. Played at the Rainbow Room in Newcastle, it was huge, to an audience of about 350 people. Orange amps, WEM cabs, for the whole band, and a 200 watt PA for vocals. The drummer was having to really dig in, but at one point we were asked to turn down!!!! Must admit I fail to see the reasoning behind spending a fortune on a 1000 watt head and a couple of lightweight cabs, then use them essentially as a monitor. If the volume and tone out front are being dictated by the PA why not simply use a pre amp and a monitor? And all this at a pub gig, to less than 100 people. Not taking a pop, simply my take on bass amplification.

[quote name='ambient' timestamp='1506598114' post='3379810'] I expect the main difference would have been the weight, especially with amplification. Quality might have been better too, we seem to have reached a point in time whereby we throw stuff away rather than get it repaired. [/quote] You could be right. Have even the "Quality" amplification and instrument companies gone down the "Built down to a price rather than up to a standard" route? I am not talking the bespoke amp and instrument makers but the quality, as such, end of the mass market. Think Marshall, Orange, Fender, Gibson etc. Would you pay, say....an extra £100 for a piece of equipment if it was hand fettled by a craftsman and checked over by a good QC operative? I would.

I can confirm that Orange Matamp, Marshall, Hi-Watt and even WEM bass gear was awesome, having played in bands back in the 70s. The best bass sound I ever heard was an Orange amp through a WEM 2 x 15 ported cab. Trouser flapping good, with tone to die for. The quality could be variable but that would be down to the components available at the time. My bro bought a Precision in 1981 and it had a nice tone, but lots of dead spots on the neck. He was told to simply "Play around them like a proper bassist", by a proper bassist. He bought a Status 5 years later, problems solved.

This one. Every time. Then the sales section.