silverfoxnik

[quote name='BigBeefChief' post='317424' date='Oct 29 2008, 11:36 AM']Why? What makes a good manager? I'm confident I can't do it, but I'd like to know what to look out for in others.[/quote] Because you believe in what you're doing and have enough insight/common sense to ask pertinent questions just like the ones in your original post.. Having said all of that, if one member of a band take on a quasi-management role without everybody agreeing to it, then it can upset the dynamic of the band, which is not a good thing. Going back to your OP, if things are going well at the moment then I don't think your band needs a manager right now, if at all. The best time to take a manager on is when the planning/coordinating of all of the band's various activities cannot be carried out efficiently and successfully without it being done on a full-time basis. These days, there's so much that bands can do without giving away any of their rights & income to managers, publishers & record companies etc, that I don't see any value in rushing into anything. The beauty of your situation at the moment is that the band has total control of it's future. If anything, the most important person or company to get on board would be a great agent who can get you gigs in places that will really make a difference to the band's future..... Good luck with it all!

I was in many bands over the years that had management with varying degrees of success in terms of: 1) the things the manager actually did that benefitted the band, and 2) how successful the relationship between the band and the management was. Then after packing up as a musician in 1995, I had my own management company for 7 years, so I think I can safely say that I've seen it from both sides. There's very good advice posted here already about managers who aren't vey good and how bands can, if they are focused and together as a unit, achieve much more through their own efforts. But having said that, Bilbo's point is worth thinking about because it highlights something that often gets lost in these discussions, which that artists and managers have inherently different viewpoints which need to be clearly articulated and explained at the beginning of the working relationship. If that communication isn't properly established at the beginning, then the relationship is doomed to failure because everybody involved is working to different objectives. There are some very well documented stories of managers who have put the success of their bands/artists before their own well-being - such as the guy who managed Generation X years ago (Falcon Stuart I think) who remortgaged his own house to finance the band's activities.. And there's many other such stories too. So my view is that it all comes down to belief - if you're the band, then you've got to have total belief in what you are doing. If you're the manager, you've got to have total belief in what the band/artist is doing. Without that, it doesn't matter how good the band is, what contracts you've got or who you know.. It won't happen.. I have to agree that it's highly likely that tBBC could do a great job as a manager...

Great collection of very distinct and cool looking basses, OHM! You must be enjoying playing at the moment...

[quote name='BigRedX' post='317110' date='Oct 28 2008, 09:55 PM']Actually I think you want Bassassin...[/quote] We need an equivalent of the batphone for Bassassin..

[quote name='marcus bell' post='316861' date='Oct 28 2008, 04:59 PM']yeah mr king said... 'i kind of rationalised it with the fact that what i am is a popular bass player, and if your popular people vote for you' lol fair accompli 1989 , bit sh*te really the video, but i like it [/quote] Gotta say that has pushed Mr King way up in my estimation... It's not often you hear that kind of objectivity and common sense.

[quote name='bilbo230763' post='316795' date='Oct 28 2008, 03:54 PM']Whilst I am aware that these polls are a crock, it is interesting to note that NONE of my favouries even registered. Why? Because the importance of a player is proportionate to the popularlity of the band he or she plays in, the public profile of those bands and the number of records they sell. So, even though there are some astonishing players out there that noone here has mentioned, they won't get any 'votes' because their music appeals to a minority, doesn't get played on tv or radio and doesn't get acknowledged by high volume sales. So, lets call this a 'Most Popular' poll rather than a 'Best' because, objectively, most of the players everyone here is raving about are pretty limited and, considering the full basket of skills, are likely to be found wanting.[/quote] Good point... Though the notion of a 'full basket of skills' does seem odd in the context of being a bass player.. Isn't it as important or relevant to be a specialist with a finely honed talent in one particular area of music or bass playing styles, as opposed to being a bass playing 'jack of all trades'?

[quote name='OldGit' post='316247' date='Oct 27 2008, 10:28 PM']It's not a good idea from a marketing perspective. If you start out with a name that is already in use you only win if you can get the myspace and website URL - all the URL's and all the variants. If they already have either, forget it and use an original name. It's easy to check if someone else is active on the web - search on google, yahoo, ask.com and myspace. If you find a band with that name already then just walk away and leave it, it's not worth the hassle if you get good or if they get a bad reputation. Just be original, it's so much easier in the long run.[/quote] +1 Got to echo OG's sentiments here about being original.. In a crowded marketplace, anything you can do to set yourselves apart from the competition is a must!

[quote name='Rich' post='316372' date='Oct 28 2008, 07:26 AM']I'm not going to argue with that top 3 [/quote] +1 That's a great top 3 as they are three bassists with very unique but hugely influential styles... My tie-break votes would be: 05) Geddy Lee 07) JJB

[quote name='Beedster' post='315422' date='Oct 26 2008, 10:36 PM']SFN is the man [/quote] Cheers guys... That'll be another cheque in the post then Chris?

[quote name='cd_david' post='315513' date='Oct 27 2008, 07:36 AM']What roots 3rds and 5ths, or 12 bar? [/quote] If that's what's best for the song, then yes.. Maybe you don't quite get it after all??

[quote name='bass_ferret' post='315067' date='Oct 26 2008, 02:10 PM']Never mind. The old adage "try before you buy" applies to compressors as well.[/quote] +1 The old Trace Elliot compressors do come up for sale on here from time to time, so keep looking or put a post up in 'Items Wanted'. I had one for a while and was quite pleased with it but I found it did take some low end out of my sound.. So in the end I sold it and bought a DBX MC 6 and that does a great job for me. But like BF says, best to try first if you can because what works for one person will be completely wrong for another...

[quote name='jhk' post='314482' date='Oct 25 2008, 12:13 PM']Just a late reminder about the above.Also don`t forget to put your clocks backward tonight. Website tells me bassday starts about 2.00 P.M[/quote] I went to the Bass Day today but only for the last couple of hours and I have to say,what I saw of it was excellent.. In particular, the hour that I was privileged enough to spend time in the company of Herbie Flowers, was just fabulous. That man is absolutely amazing! To hear his stories about Serge Gainsbourg, David Bowie & Lou Reed, Henry Mancini, Motown and Stax session players etc, etc for just £3 was unbelievable. If you ever get the chance to catch him doing this - with his 1955 tuba, his 1960 Jazz Bass and a wonderful old double bass - do it because it's really inspirational..

[quote name='Beedster' post='315376' date='Oct 26 2008, 09:36 PM']Now Nicholas, the fact that he's written some of the best songs of the last 100 years (questionable) and been a member of [i]one of [/i]the (not [i]the[/i]) most influential bands of all time, does not make him a great bass player. I suspect you're cleverly trying to get me to rate Entwhistle by getting me to campare him with Macca Looking forward to discussing over beers on Dec 11th! Chris[/quote] This whole internet forum discussion thingy is built on the premise that [i]everything's[/i] questionable.. None of us would be here otherwise, as we're all opinionated bar stewards! IMO, Macca's a great bass player because what he plays brings out the best in the song..

[quote name='Deep Thought' post='314917' date='Oct 26 2008, 09:34 AM']I did!-I was first in the queue when he arrived-in fact I [i]was[/i] the queue! I went to see the Stranglers at the Uni the night before (storming night!), and knowing he was going to be there the next day I booked a hotel and got to the show about half an hour before he arrived. I don't think many others knew who he was either-I got the impression I was the only one who was there specifically to meet him. I got to have a bit of a chat with him, got my poster signed and shook his hand-bear in mind this is the bloke who inspired me to take up the bass nearly 30 years ago, been a fan all those years and never got a chance to meet him. He brought Baz Warne, the Stranglers' guitarist with him, so having met JJ I went off to find Baz and have a word with him and shake his hand too, so that was a bonus for me. When I arrived I spoke to the chap on the Rotosound stand to ask when JJ was expected, he turned out to be Jason How, their chief exec, and was a really nice chap and a Stranglers fan too, so I hung around chatting to him until JJ arrived. Having met Baz, I went back to the Rotosound stand to buy some strings ( they were doing two sets for £25, and I felt I ought to buy something!) and in parting I told him how chuffed I was to have finally met JJ, and he was good enough to offer to take a pic of me and the great man on his camera, which he's going to send to me when I email him in a few days. Not surprisingly I went away like a dog with two tails! JJ was apparently only there for a short while, as the band were in Birmingham that night for another gig. Prior to his arrival I had a look around the show (got a poster signed by Jim Marshall as well, another result!). There was a fair bit of bass-related stuff there-I can't say I saw anything that I felt I was going to die if I didn't buy, thankfully. The Ampeg, EBS/GB and Trace stands looked pretty good. I wish I could have stuck around longer and met some of you chaps, but I had to get back to reclaim my daughter from my parents who'd had her overnight-besides by that time I'd run out of dosh![/quote] Sounds like you had a great day! Always a bit daunting meeting someone who's a bit of a hero or inspiration.... The whole day looks like it was really good!

[quote name='jhk' post='314485' date='Oct 25 2008, 01:17 PM']Just to say what a nice fellow nik is.Very knowledgable,and a dream to deal with.I get the feeling that I`m probably not the first to say the above.Hopefuly I`ll get to hear him in his band soon.[/quote] Cheers Jon, Very kind words - cheque's in the post!! Likewise; great to meet you and not only to buy/sell gear, but also to have a great chat about all things bass... See you soon, Nik

[quote name='Beedster' post='314448' date='Oct 25 2008, 11:56 AM']Taste's a funny thing isn't it Nik! You're probably right about Zender not being an innovator, although you could argue he successfully synthesised the styles of the several great '70s funksters you mention, and you could argue that a new synthesis is in fact innovation. Then again, you could also justifiably say that I'm talking complete b*llocks Now, Mr Entwhistle. With few exceptions I always found his lines complex but predictable, a bit like listening to Mozart, you know what's coming next (OK, in both cases the exceptions are pretty exceptional). I also find Who songs [i]generally[/i] relatively easy to play, despite the apparent complexity of the lines. However, I find Jamerson, Flea and Zender's lines mostly pretty susrprising and way different to what I would instinctively have put down (although I have to say that having spent some time listening to lots of Motown recently I'm starting to see a pattern in Jamerson, it's a it of a chaotic patern for sure, but it's certainly there). I'm not for one second saying Entwhistle wasn't one of the greats, he was, but then so are all the others mentioned in all the posts above. Except McCartney of course Chris[/quote] Yes, taste is a funny thing.. I mean; you don't like Jazz basses, so that blots your copybook for a start!! That's definitely a good point... the way Stuart Zender has achieved that synthesis is really good and he has also inspired a lot of players to pick up the bass, so that on it's own gives him a lot of credibility.. My problem is I just can't stand JK or his music so I find listening to Zender difficult because of that barrier.. Your point about Mozart (and this is going way off topic) is one I've heard before, but I'm a huge Leonard Bernstein fan and he rates Mozart as the absolute master of masters, so that's good enough for me! All I can say is you're lucky if you find The Who's stuff easy to play I still think that Entwhistle in the 60's was way ahead of his time. As far as McCartney goes, I'd much rather have his talent than Zender or Fleas's for example.. He's written some of the best songs of the last 100 years and been a member of the most influential band of all time and you can't do much better than that really!

Hi Folks, Just bought a lovely Eden Nemesis head of Derek.. Am happy to say the amp is amazing and everything is as described.. incrediblely fast delivery too!! Would happily deal with Derek again, so even happier to recommend him to the rest of the Basschat fraternity... Thanks D! Nik

Hi Folks, I've just had the pleasure of meeting Jon who has bought my SWR cab and a Peavey T-Max head.. Absolutely brilliantly easy transaction and Jon is a real gent! Fine player too... Thanks Jon; much appreciated and hope to see you around at a gig at some point, Cheers Nik

here you go: [url="http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=NyRqQwdN-Lw"]http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=NyRqQwdN-Lw[/url]

[quote name='Beedster' post='313390' date='Oct 23 2008, 10:35 PM']Jamerson, Zender, Flea. Boring and predictable now perhaps, but all of them were innovators and cool as f**k. Feel guilty about Entwhistle but, with the exception of one ot two bits of magic, he's just too complex for the majority of the songs. Whereas Flea's, Zender's and Jamerson's lines made the songs, Entwhistle's detracted from them, Great technician but not a great musician... C[/quote] Wow! That's pretty contentious Chris!!! Didn't Entwhistle win that Melody Maker vote in 2000 as the most important / influential bassist of the 20th Century? Obviously, being a British, rock/indie focused magazine, Entwhistle was bound to gain prominence in that kind of Poll over someone like Jamerson for example.. But nonetheless, Entwhistle as a musician has to be viewed in the context of the era in which he played.. And in the early 1960's, what he was doing with the bass guitar was extraordinary! Besides that, I doubt there's any other bass player in the world who could have held their own in a band which had Keith Moon on drums and Townsend on guitar Can't disagree with you about Jamerson who almost single-handedly created a bass playing vocabulary on his own.. But as I've said before many times on this Forum (and been shot down for it), to rate Zender as a innovator in bass playing history is way off the mark, fine a player as he is. Bernard Edwards, Larry Graham & Bootsy have each had considerably more impact on the development of Funk/Soul/R&B bass playing than Zender, who is someone who's style owes a great deal to those three players I think.. Personally, I've never been a fan of the RHCPs or Flea, but I agree that he is an innovator and has had a huge influence. Anyway, the bass players who have influenced my playing style more than any others are: Bernard Edwards (Chic) Leigh Gorman (BowWowWow) James Jamerson (too many to mention..) I'd also have to throw in a special mention for Dennis Dunaway (Alice Cooper), John Gustafson (Roxy Music), Trevor Bolder (David Bowie & The Spiders from Mars) and Paul McCartney all of whom I admire for different reasons...

[quote name='Beedster' post='313292' date='Oct 23 2008, 08:38 PM']Let's do it mate! I'll call you nearer the time Chris[/quote] Definitely! Look forward to it....

Beautiful bass and it sounds amazing in that YouTube clip..