Dankology

Shakespeare North with the Mighty Wah last night - spectacular venue, lovely staff, amazing audience and we (primed by a run of support slots) played a blinder. Eldest daughter brought her German exchange partner with her - Christ knows what she made of it all. I had a bit of revelation re my always reticent bvs - whack the monitor volume up an just go for it seems to be the way forward. I used the lovely Jap P bass I bought through here a couple of months back and rather than doing my usual swapping between pick and fingers depending on the song, just used a plectrum throughout. I expect my tone was admirably consistent but I've inflicted a couple of areas of bass burn on my right hand in the process. I only want to do gigs in posh theatres from now on.

When I clicked onto the Justgiving link earlier today I was literally gobsmacked by what had happened. I mean, I always knew that the bassists were the eternal good guys of bands but this is genuinely moving stuff. The sight of Iris gleefully dancing to her dad's music a couple of weeks ago, ear defenders in place and at times hand-in-hand with another person using a wheelchair, the two spiralling around each other, is an image that will live with me forever. You've done a beautiful thing for a beautiful family.

I had a very similar experience in my first year of secondary school: asked to sing a verse of Good King Wenceslas in front of a class of 30 boys. "Unremarkable" was the quietly crushing verdict. I'm still horrifically self-conscious of my singing, to the point it nearly caused a major argument at soundcheck tonight. If angers me that the process was based entirely on identifying easy wins for the choir/other school stuff, rather than nurturing potential. But I'm fairly certain that I'm the only person fron that cohort gigging at a professional level so what did they know?

Just to echo @AndyTravis's comments above... Saturday was great: afternoon gigs might be the way forward. Fiasco Jam were phenomenal - great songs, great arrangements and everyone locked in. As I've already said to him, Andy might be my favourite bassist: despite his immense technical and sonic range, he always serves the song and never puts a foot wrong. We were a bit rusty in comparison but acquitted ourselves acceptably. Very grateful to FJ for taking us along!

Another hassle-free transaction!

Playing an afternoon gig alongside@AndyTravis's band in Rochdale tomorrow. This is his lot: And this is mine: https://deadtenantmusic.bandcamp.com/album/there-must-be-more-e-p And all for free...

Absolutely! I've no desire to go digging in there myself - just hoping someone was going to suggest it was a nice cheap fix...

I picked up a c20 year old AC30 last week but when I crank it up it cuts out and emits a continuous hum. Has anyone any inklings before I lug it to a tech? Could it be a simple as a duff/loose valve?

And in case you need audio evidence: https://www.transfernow.net/dl/20240925czVDpSum/cfjOts0F Link should be good for the next seven days.

Just back from the Manchester gig. It was ace. Of course I'd have preferred to see them with Lydon but that would've been an arena gig and I'm not up for that. One of the great bands - and Matlock's bass playing is magnificent. If it's a choice between a semi-cabaret version and nothing, I'll take the cabaret, old chum.

I'm so sorry, it seems like anything outside of the bigger stages was thrown together on a wing and a prayer. And you could have used my amp - sat as it was in an unused kitchen for 6 hours... I truly hope it wasn't the same bar that you were in... that would be too painful.

This all sounds eerily familiar. Did your event have a name that plays on the name of a long-established major festival?

Probably should be in the "how was your gig last night thread" but as we didn't end up playing it feels slightly wrong. We applied for an established multi-venue town centre mini-festival a while back and were accepted. The organiser sent us a very badly worded info email and a "tech spec" form (actually pre-populated with a previous year's band's details, phone numbers and all) - all of which should have been warnings, really. We seemed to have been booked into a venue that was mainly acoustic acts and duos so we were sure to email to clarify that the promised shell pack would be present and were assured it would be. Over the two days prior to the Bank Holiday gig, we received messages from a couple of other bands listed alongside us, asking for info as they hadn't been able to get a repsonse from the promoter. More red flags... I'd forwarded the info we had, inluding the stuff about the drums and backline. I got a message from one of the bands around midday yesterday to say that there were no drums - and later that "they'd found us a kick durm and stool". I felt terrible as if I'd not sent on our info I bet the band would have brought their own kit. Anyway, we arrived early afternoon, full kit in hand and carried everything all the way up a narrow staircase for safekeeping until our 2040 slot. We made our way round the various stages and stands until about an hour and a half prior to our allotted time when we headed back to our venue only to be told "I'm not sure if you are playing - there's a problem with security". It seems the promoter had turned up inebriated, spotted two people without event wristbands in the pub and caused an altercation. He had then cancelled the remaining slots of the day. When we asked where this left us 6 hours into our day he said "I either find you another slot or your set is cancelled". At this point he was clearly in no fit state to organise anything. I told him that we would needed a decision within 20 minutes given that our planned set was now less than an hour off and we would need to let people know who were coming out to see us specifically. He did not like this. He squared up to me, called me "a c**t" and when I said that I thought we should perhaps video our conversation, tried to snatch my phone from me. At this point the venue told us that they would be happy for us to play our set regardless of the event organiser - which led to him removing the PA system and disappearing. An utter waste of a day - and indeed the bank holiday weekend. I would have gone away with the kids if we hadn't been booked in and our guitarist came home from Krankenhouse a day early to make sure we'd be in and set up on time. I'll be emailing the event organisers and their community partners to request an explanation but I suspect that it will all be quietly brushed away in view of the income the event brings in for charity. I will be thinking long and hard before volunteering to do any similar events in the future.

This possibly going to make me sound like a complete hack but I suspect I'd only be instantly 100% accurate in test conditions on the bottom two strings. A "two strings up, two frets up" shape in my head unlocks the top two strings. I run scales and arpeggios incessantly though when idly noodling in front of the TV so when I'm playing I'm pretty on it in terms of hitting particular notes in terms of their relationship to the root - but it might take me a moment the actually tell you their name... I don't anticipate ever having to sight read anything so this is a useful compromise for me. Danny Thompson tells the tale of John Martyn having no idea of the names of the chords he played, recognising them only by shape. I suspect he was exaggerating a little but there's probably a good lesson in there about working on the things that enhance your musicality rather than getting lost in dogma. (Which is not an anti-theory sentiment btw: I find music theory fascinating and useful - just saying that it's sensible to choose your battles depending on your requirements)

Another speedy and hassle-free transaction. Many thanks!

Maybe we should design a universal band first aid box. Paid for out of band funds, of course - but to be maintained and policed by bassists only... I carry: -handful of batteries (9v and AA) -picks -bass strings -a couple of every likely lead -2 DI boxes -a cheapo supermarket pocket tool kit (mini screwdrivers, small screwdriver with interchangable heads, pliers, snips) -little folding multi-tool thing -cheap Behringer cable tester -mini torch -a plastic box with a variety of audio and stand adaptors (eg minijack to full jack, RCA>jack) -USB leads -memory sticks/SD cards -a couple of mains>USB plugs -gaffa -biros and a Sharpie -blank paper -paracetamol and ibuprofen, plasters -disposible ear plugs It isn't all sex, drugs and glamour, I hasten to add.

I believe this is the bassist's lot in life. It sort of makes sense though: we have chosen a role in the band which is actually utterly fundamental but perhaps not as loaded with glamour as certain other roles - perhaps the personality traits that lead to that also lead to us being the person who carries a toolkit, knows how to set up the PA, hustles gigs, prints setlsits, manages the social media, carries a float for merch, knows how to de-escalate the singer etc etc etc I'm not sure how firmly my tongue is in my cheek here.

I wouldn't expect anything less... See you there 😀

Nice one! Ace venue and it's just round the corner from ours - would have surely have been there cheering you on if I hadn't had a gig elsewhere

Acapela Studio in (or very) near Cardiff on Friday night with Wah - great and quirky venue with homemade pizzas laid on. The journey there was horrible - about 4 minutes away from the venue I missed an exit and entered a 45 minute traffic jam... Got to use the orange P bass I bought from @Teyeplayer in anger for the first time and was very happy with it indeed. A couple of days before the show I decided to swap to roundwounds and I think it was a good decision. Until the next change of heart, obviously. Our first gig for about four months, postponed from our spring tour and I was a little rusty - a couple of clangers should be firmly laid at my door but no-one seemed to mind. Left a bloody lighting stand there but if turns out a friend of a friend lives nearby so there's hope of recovery! Photo nabbed off Twitter.

It's a question I've been asking myself repeatedly, in much less poilte words, over recent days. When I went Googling to see if there was some good reason for it, the best I could find was a lot of TB postings by people apparently irate that anyone had any issue with the system. If that's your market, I guess you give them what they want. Surely the little wheel thing would be an excellent compromise though?

I think the current bass player in the Bootleg Beatles learned to play left-handed specifically for the job. And presumably now does so while simultaneously belting out harmonies and shaking his wig. I've occasionally tried playing left handed but usually quickly realize that I don't really need any extra challenges to my playing. Hope it goes well for you - and maybe unlocks some unexpected other-side-of-the-brain creativity.

Thanks for the reply. By coincidence I got this sorted just yesterday. I had intended taking it to a local repairer but a vicious bout of covid took me down so I tried again myself. I don't know if it was changes in humidity or the pressure I'd been intermittently been putting on the neck in the interim but the screw turned relatively easily. A quarter turn anticlockwise seems to have almost completely righted things. Still cursing Fender and their infuriating, but presumably period-correct, body-end, cross-head rod access...

Obviously not bass and also a far more comprehensive injury but Django Reinhardt is just dazzling:

I recently picked up a Japanese P bass (PB 70US) and find that there is a bit too much rattle from all the strings from around the 5th to twelfth fret. I assumed this meant I needed a bit more relief. It's a body-end adjustment so I loosened the neck for access but couldn't get the rod to turn at all - in either direction. It's a cross head rather than the hex/Allen key ones I've been used to so I'm not sure if I'm being too cautious but it really does feel like it's stuck fast. Any pointers or simple checks I can do before I take it to a luthier?