chris_b

I've done these gigs with full backline and drum kit. Nothing wrong if you've got the room. We played in the hall, back room and one house had a full sized ballroom. Then there's patios, marquees and lawns. Playing for friends and functions for customers, you adjust to the different circumstances. Then it's just another gig.

I know a fantastic bass player who was sacked by the management because he was "too ugly" and a guitarist because he was "too fat". A drummer I know has just been kicked off a tour because the band leaders son wants to play drums. Some people are the authors of their own misfortune and many are not. Just make sure your networking is good enough so that being fired doesn't matter.

Everyone gets sacked at some point. You might stand a chance if you own the van, the PA or band name. You can be best mates or the greatest bassist they've ever seen but if your face doesn't fit and someone wants you gone, there's nothing that can save you.

IMO Blondie sounded great on Later. Of course the years have forced some changes to their performances, but it's great that they are still out there playing.

What about Brighton Rock.

[quote name='RhysP' timestamp='1493725179' post='3290118'] So you interpret his remarks differently from me (and possibly some others on here too). I regard his constant belittling of bedroom players, start up bands & anything else that doesn't fit with his myopic mindset as little more than trolling. [/quote] Blue is OK and doesn't troll. Rather than wasting everyone's time with moaning about him, just ignore what irritates you so much.

[quote name='King Tut' timestamp='1493632873' post='3289511'] I do the lights and we've got enough. My eyesight isn't what it was and I don't like to wear specs on stage. [/quote] You need to set up a couple of spots on you.

Anything you do now is just guessing, probably time wasted and will likely not work anything like you expect with a band, in a different room and with totally different dynamics in your playing. As BassBus says, sort out your sound when you get there.

Get your band to carry your own stage lights.

Too right Jenny. Musicians working and earning is always a good thing. Always.

[quote name='Muppet' timestamp='1493578394' post='3289223'] Often we assume back pain is down to lifting and supporting heavy stuff but everything is connected together. [/quote] Very true. You can get crippling back pain because the arches in your feet have dropped.

Here's one. . . . http://basschat.co.uk/topic/303586-dingwall-combustion-5-string-mk1-l850-inc-shipping/page__p__3284624__hl__dingwall__fromsearch__1#entry3284624

+1 Do it all. . . . light bass, good strap, Pilates, reduce the size and weight of your rig and get a trolley.

Nice version. Nice playing. Disco doesn't suck. . . . it never did. It was/is very good at doing what it was intended to do; making people happy and keeping them dancing all night.

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1493429738' post='3288296'] In someways I think the new players are smarter and more advanced technically than my generation. [/quote] I see a conveyor belt of players coming out of the music colleges who are at a technical level, a level of ability that couldn't have been dreamed of when I started, but the one thing that many of them can't manage is to sit on a groove. Do they teach simplicity at these colleges? If you want a dozen great notes in the blink of an eye, they are the players for you but if you want solid, soul wrenching and effective playing don't ask any of those guys.

The other issue arising from shed burglaries is that once in your shed the a-holes have access to enough tools to get into your house. A good spade and fork could make short work of your UPC or wooden back doors, including the locks.

Good news.

I don't care what genre we're playing, I'd rather play with a good player winging it than a not-so-good player getting it right!

[quote name='Rocker' timestamp='1493234764' post='3286844'] [color=#34495E][font=Lato, sans-serif]. . . . I was crippled and sick with a sore back. Lower back area. My bass is heavy, as are all basses, . . . . [/font][/color][color=#34495E][font=Lato, sans-serif] What solutions are out there to solve this problem? [/font][/color] [/quote] Define "heavy" and actually no. . . . not all bases are heavy. Mine aren't and you don't need a heavy bass to get a good sound. You've highlighted the problem. Get a lighter bass.

Genz made a 110 combo. The one with the amp clipped on to the top.

Back in the day we all used big cabs because we had no other other choice. I played loud and 412's and 215's was all you could buy that would fill the room. I now use "little" cabs because some clever guys decided to build cabs that sound great and loud in small and light formats. These small cabs are as loud as bigger cabs (mine sound better), and will go even louder if you use several of them. In very loud bands I used to run a 610 which was replaced by a 3 112 stack of fantastic Berg cabs, which changed into 2 "super" 112's. My current 2 112's are louder than the 3 112's which were louder than any 410 I've owned and even louder than my 610. Did I say they also sound better? So small cabs can be used in any playing situation. You might need a couple of them and the budget will have to be bigger but they [i]will[/i] work. If your experience is limited to "older" cabs then all of this won't appear logical. To the guys who believe that you need big cabs to cut through or 15's for "the low end", believe me . . . things have changed. . . . a lot. You can buy big cabs if you want, but now you don't have to.

+1 for levelling the pickup. I just bought a reasonably expensive Jazz and couldn't work out why the top end was being overpowered by the bass frequencies, until I noticed that the pickups weren't level. The G and D side was lower in the body. I don't know how the previous owner got an even sound out of the instrument. Anyway, I levelled pickups and even that little bit of adjustment made a significant improvement to the overall balance and sound. While you''re at it, I'd also set up the action and put on a new set of strings.

Bands I liked that didn't last. . . . That describes so many of the bands I've been in!!!!

What did the other guys say at the end of the day? If they're talking about more recordings I'd say they think it's all OK. I'd stick with it and see how the gig goes.

Back in the day, my Marshall and Hiwatt stacks sounded great as did my Peavey, Ampeg and Dual Showman 215's and every 810 I've used has been sonic nirvana. Using great sounding cabs has always been the aim and these days the design of some small cabs means I can use a 112 if I really have to and I'll know that most gigs will be fine. I would have never imagined I could say this. What a great time to be a bass player. On the other hand I think 2 112 cabs sound so much better (even at lower volumes) that I always use both. 2 21lb trips is wonderful and if I really needed to knock down more walls I'd just get a third 112.