mikel

Psycho Killer, Talking Heads. Simple bass that makes the song. Walking on the Moon, Police. Ditto above.

[quote name='oldbass' timestamp='1502427359' post='3351324'] Absolutely. We comprise a virtually silent drummer who might as well not be there (he places his indexes on top of the sticks?..eh)....a lead guitarist who is only a smidge better..and then the keys who is a cathedral organist (incredible musician, without him, well I dread to think), a rythmn twelve string/vox who's not bad, and lead vox who's okayish and me. To say its me and the brill keys guy holding it together would be an inderstatement yet somehow this hotchpotch of talent appears to work....weird! [/quote] It sounds interesting. Are you doing covers or originals? I love it when a bunch of mismatched musicians come together and produce something just a little bit different. I have been in bands with experienced and well educated musicians and you say "Lets run through (Insert old standard), everyone know it?" And everyone plays there part as the original recording. Its nice, but its all so predictable and music by numbers. My last band consisted of me, on drums, and I am from the Stewart Copeland/Ian Paice method of drumming. The keys player, who played entirely by ear, no musical training or ability to read music, and from a strictly Blues background. The guitarist who played a semi acoustic through a 20 watt fender amp and was a Jazz Fusion nut. A vocalist who had never picked up a mic in his life and had no idea of any music before about the year 2000. And the bassist, who's idea the band was and loved to play FUNK. We were to be a funk band. It was great. No one was told how to play there parts, or to modify there natural musical instincts, and the blend of styles was almost magic. We did none of the Funk standards as the original recordings and funked up songs from the genres that the different musicians put forward. One of the most creatively satisfying bands I have been a part of.

Its a pain in the neck but we have all been there, and felt the same sense of waste. From what you say, If you have a good vocalist you have one of the most difficult elements of a band already in place. Would she not be prepared to help you look for other musicians, or a band that is looking for a vocalist and a bass player? Drummers and guitarists seem ten a penny on sites like Join My Band. One thing I cant understand is why people think life stops because they have a baby? Surely one night a week, for a couple of hours, is not asking the earth? We managed to keep normal life going having our two kids. We give a lot up for children, we dont have to give up everything.

Put "Short scale bass guitar" Into the search part of this forum for help. Also, use the same search on the general web and a mine of information will come up. You could try Short Scale Bass UK, its there speciality.

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1502273963' post='3350347'] See my post about using a smaller/quieter kick drum, the rest of the band can then use smaller back line too, generally I've found the larger the stage the quieter it is. [/quote] That wasnt what I was responding too. Dad3353 said his BD was loud enough for any venue, then he miced it. Look at his post. Also, you cant equate stage volume to out front. Even without PA, the rooms we play in If its too loud on stage its too loud out front, and thats with a 20" BD, nothing miced, and small amps. I also play drums and simply change the beater on the BD pedal and modify how hard I hit the drum to control the volume. I like the BD to sound like part of the kit not a sub sonic mush.

[quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1502229868' post='3350183'] As I've pointed out before, micing up the bass drum is, for us, not a case of amplifying, but merely balancing it out in the mix for the room. My drum can easily fill any venue (and has done, back in the distant past before micing...), but most venues, even pubs, can have a better spread if there's a touch of BD in there. No more; just a touch. It seems that others do things very differently, but micing up is not simply to make what is an already potentially loud instrument louder. Just sayin'. [/quote] Ehh? Surely if the BD is loud enough for any room, then its loud enough. You seem to be suggesting that micing it up will make it quieter????? Surely if its loud enough to be heard in the room, any eq you add to it will not overpower the acoustic sound out front, so will be a waste of time. Just saying.

[quote name='jezzaboy' timestamp='1502221147' post='3350104'] There was a story recently in one of the guitar mags about a guy in the UK that gigs a 59 Les Paul. He said that most people think it`s a reissue rather than a £200k ish guitar. [/quote] Exactly. Does it really matter what other people think you are playing as long as you love the sound?

I have a classic Rodgers drum kit and a late 60s Gibson SG. I bought them both new, and to play, because I loved and still love the sounds they both make. Gig them both at every opportunity. I dont have a bass you could call a "Classic" but If I had I would own and play it because I loved the feel and sound, not to look at it.

Listen to Jack Bruce playing with Cream and his bass sound lacks nothing in the tone department. Ditto Andy Frazer with Free.

5.15am, Mark Knopfler. Such a moving song about the contrast between the "One arm bandit men" from the Smoke and the Tyneside coal miners in the 60s. Magic.

[quote name='skankdelvar' timestamp='1501693145' post='3346645'] Asking bass players to opine about covers vs originals is often a fruitless exercise, seeing as they are mostly playing other peoples' songs either way. [/quote] Unless your name is Sting, Paul McCartney, Mark King, Phil Lynott or Lemmy.

[quote name='SpondonBassed' timestamp='1501667857' post='3346349'] Word [/quote] Nah, It was called The Word.

/\ Agreed. Bring something original to the covers you do. Keep it interesting.

Never liked TE, too clanky and industrial for me. Never thought the sound was bass like enough for me, and I hated the 80s stuff.

I started out playing originals, in 1970, it was easier than trying to learn other peoples stuff. Also, all the bands where I lived were trying to make there own music so there was a competitive edge to it. The gig market for originals was small even then. Continued with another originals band until about 82, and the reality set in that we were not going to be recording artists or indeed great songwriters. Since then I have played covers in a variety of bands, from Blues, Rock, Pop, Fusion and at the moment, Funk. We make it interesting, for us at least, in the Funk band, by changing arrangements and making unlikely songs Funky. Just because you play covers does not mean you cant be creative or original.

[quote name='lojo' timestamp='1501543258' post='3345472'] If someone likes it then it's good , for them at least , even if that person was the creator of it or just one other person [/quote] My point exactly. There is no such thing as good or bad music, just music you like and music you don't like.

Funny you should mention it. I have been in lots of bands, as a drummer, a guitarist and as a bassist, so no agenda. Had lots of problems with vocalists, and other musicians, but never with a bassist. Is it just me?

He needs to cheer up if you ask me. What a misery, wonder how he gets on with customers. Chris Squire seemed managed ok with a Rickenbacker.

[quote name='Bilbo' timestamp='1501511771' post='3345158'] It's all Pop, really. Having been watching these things for decades now, I am firmly of the view that the concept of Art for Art's sake where the music industry is concerned is almost entirely rhetorical. Obviously, we all recognise the 'manufactured' pop of Stock, Aitken and Waterman et al but the reality is that the same 'gimme the money' ethos drives most of the music business. The details differ but the drive for sales is pretty much universal whether we are talking Miles Davis or David Bowie, Van Halen or Pink Floyd.[b] Having a hit is media driven (exposure and image) rather than content driven and how good something is musically is almost entirely academic.[/b] [/quote] Depends what you mean by good. Define good music.

Nothing changes much. For every song or act you like there will be dozens that make you cringe. It was probably easier for us back in the 60s and 70s. Radio, vinyl and cassette were the mediums of the day, with Whistle Test on TV. Now? There is so much music out there on so many different mediums, and so many more distractions for our attention, its not surprising that music is struggling and "Talent" shows are the main feeder for pop contracts.

[quote name='Yank' timestamp='1501490582' post='3344917'] You forgot the Sex Pistols. [/quote] True. McClarren made a lot of money out of very little.

You are right it would be cheap to make, and probably get good audience figures. My live music fix at the moment is Daryl's House. Some great stuff on there.

Ireland? Heaven?

[quote name='TimR' timestamp='1501357344' post='3344270'] That's beside the point. I agree it happens once in a while but there are things you can do to avoid it happening. If it's happening regularly then it's not the audience. [/quote] Check out the posts above, it happens to even the best of us and the most experienced and well rehearsed bands. No one is saying it happens on a regular basis. The point being it is not always a indication of sloppy or ill prepared musicians if the audience walks.

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1501276354' post='3343833'] 70s hard rock and blues is what we primarily play along with original material. But we also do some fun novelty stuff. For example, " Them Changes" Buddy Miles and "These Boots Are Made For Walking" Nancy Sinatra, To Sir With Love " Lu Lu. Our sweet spot is the over 60 crowd and they come out to see us and they're loyal. Every once and a while there's a mix up usually a corporate party request and the crowd are folks in their 20s. It's always a disaster. They have absolutely no interest. Blue [/quote] /\ This. You can not always know what audience will turn up, no matter how pro you are.