chris_b

I have an important role. I'm there to make everyone else look good.

10 years ago I put TI flats on my Mike Lull PJ5 and it came alive. Those strings are still on and sounding better than ever. Encouraged by this success I put flats on my Sadowsky Jazz bass. . . . and killed the tone. It turned into a dull and toneless waste of space. I put NYXL's back on and restored the magic. I also have a Cort Jazz bass which was improved by the addition of GHS flats.

The result of never saying no to a gig. One or two bands that were working as much would be fine, but somehow I have become involved with more than my fair share of "occasional" bands.

I do the scaled down version. . . . Paddle Boat rock.

Hi Dave, I started the year in 4 bands but 3 have fallen by the wayside!! Due to some ill health in those bands, most of this years gigs were deps. I have several regular dep gigs which keep the diary ticking over, but a few were one-offs. I also had a few side projects from guys I play with so I'm kind of familiar with the people and the style. You could say gigging is my work, but learning the sets is my hobby. If I have time, I run through the sets until I know them, but if I'm in a hurry I just write charts. I like the variety.

In the last 20 years I've been fired because the band leader wanted his mate in, because the drummer wanted his mate in and because I wanted to put a dep in and the band leader had a childish strop!! You can be the best player/person in the world, there is no guarantee you're in the band from one week to the next. But in my experience, in the majority of bands, things are not that cut throat. All the 18 bands and projects I played with in 2024 are happy bands and the players who leave do so of their own free will, rather than being fired. In my world many players are in multiple bands, most bands are cool with that and most players seem to be in long term relationships with their bands. All positive things.

Any cab I use for extra loud, "heavy" gigs will have multiple drivers. As I favour Barefaced 12" drivers my choice would probably be a BB3. Blow the guitarists clean off the stage.

The trick is to make everyone think you are indispensable.

Very easily, and I've replaced others without missing a beat.

My guess is that Barefaced will want to troubleshoot the issue and then take appropriate action. Why are you thinking about 3rd party replacement drivers? They almost certainly won't match the other driver in the cab. I would do what Barefaced asks and follow their recommendations, even if it means them sending you a replacement driver.

I know my gripes pale into insignificance when measured against some of the events you guys have been through and had to endure. Better times in 25. xx

Unless you're Bob Dylan, playing in a band, to audiences, is always a compromise. Sometimes it's a 50% fit sometimes 90%. Do you want to play or sit around for the next 10 years waiting for perfection to drop in your lap (unlikely) or get out there and make a 50% band a 90% band.

My parents and grandparents looked down their noses at the likes of Cream and The Jeff Beck Group (wasn't even music!!) because they didn't sound like Henry Hall, Billy Cotton and Geraldo. And around it goes.