chris_b

Try his appearance on Jools The bass player has a "unique" style. Probably not the way I'd play that song, but it fits. He starts with a slide between root and 5, then gets into root-3-5-6-8 patterns. A more standard walking line would work.

Lovely.

I liked Simon Kirke's drumming style. I was always hoping that I'd get to play with someone like him. I played with some fantastic drummers but never a Simon Kirke.

It was the time. You could phone up their agent and get almost any band for your "club" gig. Pub back rooms, scout huts, community centres, town halls etc were very busy back then. John Mayall, Fleetwood Mac, Cream, Jeff Beck Group, Jimi Hendrix, Geno Washington, Jimmy James etc all regularly toured these gigs around the country. I also saw many US artists in these venues. Guys like Bo Diddley, Ben E King, Lee Dorsey and John Lee Hooker. The colleges, Uni's and Poly's also had great gigs. SW London was a good place to be back then.

Best? Possibly The Crusaders in 1976 at the Victoria Palace when they were touring the Those Southern Knights album. They had Larry Carlton on guitar and the amazing Pops Popwell on bass. Or maybe the first Cream gig at the Marquee in 1966. Or James Brown with Bootsy at the East Ham Odeon in 1970.

My Mike Lull PJ5 has stock Syemour Duncans. Sounds great. Email Duncan, Nordstrand etc and ask them for a balanced set of PJ pickups.

I used to hate the bus rides home.

The whole band is using stands. It's a gimmick.

Musical theory is only a way of understanding and writing down what you're thinking and hearing. It's a good thing if you know how to use it.

Are these amps new, returned or B stock?

It wasn't a "blanket" question. It was asked in the context of the cost and effectiveness of various plugs, from foam to moulded, via the rest. The OP didn't want that discussion, but this is a subject that is very pertinent to many musicians, many of whom play way too loud and don't take enough precautions. I see many guys on the "circuit" who now use hearing aids. Hearing aids are much more expensive than moulded plugs and never sound as good as natural hearing. It's an important subject to everyone.

I did an occasional gig in a Free tribute band. That was the first time I really listened to their songs. It was a great gig, with a great drummer and playing those "empty" bass lines was a lot of fun.

I usually buy amps that sound just right with all the controls between 12 and 1 o'clock. Then I only have to worry about the volume. I can't think of anything more simple to manage.

Finishes it off nicely. This one gets my vote.

Really? You highlight the solution and then tell us it's too expensive. So my question is very relevant. What do you want to do, save your hearing or save your money? I'm not going to apologise for being blunt. Don't be offended, just get fitted up for ACS earplugs. They would be cheap at double the price.

Leave your cards at home.

I have no idea who Mark Hoppus is, but I have several friends having cancer treatment and a couple who have recently died, so my best wishes go out to him. This really is a shitty disease. Every one of us should have regular MOTs and check ups.

What covers are they playing? I've been in covers bands for decades and have never needed pedals or effects! Presumably you didn't use pedals in your audition. Has the band asked you to use pedals? What makes you so sure you need them now?

Poor timing, overplaying and an overriding belief in their own greatness. IMO these also apply to everyone else in the band.

How much is your hearing worth?

I don't really know what you mean by "crack". Could the strings be hitting the pickup? I'd guarantee it's not the cabs. I doubt 2 separate cabs would fail with exactly the same symptoms and at the same time. You need to trouble shoot everything else you used, leads, amp, bass.

If you really have to use wire wool on your strings off, please take them off the bass first. Sounds to me like that would damage the strings as well as shine them up!

Nice body, I don't like the headstock, though.

I like showboaters. I'm impressed by any bassist who is good at their craft. I like inventive players who have good skills and technique. I stood 6 feet away from Victor Wooten when he was doing a bass clinic and my eyes were out on stalks for most of the evening. Sadly, I can't see most of what they play fitting in to any musical situation that's relevant to me. Maybe I should have more imagination!

Just like all the Motown artists.