chris_b

Give Guitar Guitar in Camden a call. Their website is showing some Rumble gear in stock but they don't say which shop. They offered to ship some basses between their shops so I could try them, so maybe they would do the same with their Fender Rumble gear.

No on should be "following" anyone. Everyone in a band is responsible for playing in time and keeping to the correct tempo. I don't understand why there are so many posts about bad and incompetent musicianship referring to "our" drummer. These posts should be saying "our old" drummer. If someone can't or won't keep to the tempo they should go. Sooner rather than later.

So I guess you rehearsed the set at a tempo which was accepted as OK by everyone? If the drummer has been unilaterally pushing the tempos up a notch or two he has an "issue" which should be fixed. He's in the wrong and if someone (you) reminds him that every thing's too fast he can't complain. Is your drummer saying that problems can't be discussed on a gig? The drummer on my gig last night had a go at the band after about 3 numbers for being too loud. We were and there was no argument, we all turned down. If this guy can't handle a simple change on the fly like playing a number slower he should be ashamed. I don't agree with the "rehearse songs slower, because the drummer always plays them faster on the gig", idea. Rehearse the songs the way you want to gig them. Then play them exactly the same on the gig. That's what you rehearsed. . . that's what you intended, so don't play something different on the gig, just because one of the band doesn't/can't follow the script.

Is anyone gigging a BB800 in the South East in the next few weeks? I'd like to hear one.

For instance, if a bolt cost 1 cent you only have to make 100 3 bolt instruments and you've saved a dollar. Fender were making tens of thousands of instruments. That's a fat profit if you can pull it off. Unfortunately they didn't take enough care to make the design a success. If your QC is good enough you can make 2 or even 1 bolt work. By the law of averages, there must be some good 3 bolt Fender basses out there but you might have a long search to find them.

Excessive finger noise is due to you not lifting your fingers off the strings sufficiently when you're moving them. That's not an active bass or string problem. Better technique and better use of the EQ would have sorted that "issue" out. Anyway. Glad you've now got a good sound out of your gear.

There is also a Guitar Guitar in Camden, walking distance from the Gallery, and a Guitar Guitar in Epsom, if you're out that way.

We cover this in an occasion band I work with. Aaron Neville with his version of Use Me. . .

Sad news.

Express Yourself? Now that really is cool!

Of course you can dislike Jerry Barnes. I don't mind him, but for me he gets way too slappy when the excitement rises. It is very tedious though to have to keep wading through dozens of, "It's not Chic without Bernard" comments. It is Chic if Nile Rodgers wants it to be even though Bernard isn't there. I like that Nile is still gigging and doesn't live in a timewarp, even though so many Chic fans seem to.

What do you think are your chances of finding a buyer who appreciates a neck as you do? IMO I think it's pretty certain that you'll adversely affect the value of the bass if you start scraping off the finish. You've posted this so I guess the resale value is important to you. . . . in that case, don't do it.

Apparently, if Wikipedia is to be believed, Bob Harris has been running his Country Music show since 1998. On the whole I think Bob Harris plays pretty good music on his shows. He also champions live music so he's a good'un in my book.

A few years ago I was in a band run jointly by the singer and drummer. The drummer was/is a pretty rated player. Unfortunately his talent comes with some "attitude issues". During my time with the band he regularly depped out the gig. The whole feeling of the band instantly improved when he was off playing elsewhere, only to slump to the previous level when he returned!

Leaving guitars or anything small or valuable anywhere on a muti band gig is asking for trouble. If it doesn't get nicked it'll likely get stomped by the roadies.

Sad news.

I'm sure he would have bought it back when he realised what he'd got! My bass is always in the case and tucked in the corner when I'm not playing it. I'm usually the only one in the band who sees a problem with leaving the doors of a half loaded and unattended van open during load out!

I've been very pleasantly surprised by a lot of the gear I've bought: Berg and Barefaced cabs, Thunderfunk and Aguilar amps. The most unexpected, was the flats I put on my P5. The first set I'd used since the early 70's. The bass just came alive. Then there was my Lakland 55-94. Bought on the strength of the Bass Player magazine 5 string bass shoot out. I'd only seen one photo and never held one. Bought off Ebay in 2003. Brilliant bass, still slightly sad I sold it last year!

This is terrible news. He was sitting in with the house band supporting us on a gig last year, and was still sounding good.

A lot of gigs I play these days (and for the last dozen or so years) are under the cosh with neighbours complaining about excessive noise. My solution would be that if the neighbours complain about the noise, the band causing the nuisance would have their gear impounded. Sold for charity, crushed or just set on fire, I don't care but IMO inconsiderate bands should be the ones suffering rather than another gig losing its licence and everyone else suffering as a result.