chris_b

[quote name='Trueno' timestamp='1471770360' post='3115637'] I got nervous on my very very first gigs. . . . . started thinking about my shopping list for the next day. [/quote] I couldn't eat for 2 days before my first gig. I regularly think about the shopping, that girl dancing at the front, getting the MOT etc etc when I'm playing.

[quote name='TimR' timestamp='1471729543' post='3115460'] The difference between a pro and and amateur is - the amateur practices until he gets it right. - the pro practices until he can't get it wrong. [/quote] Pro's still make mistakes. Amateurs worry about the mistakes and Pro's don't, because they'll probably know how to get out of them and make them sound like they were part of the show. There's no point in being nervous before you go on. You have done your homework or you haven't. Either way you just have to get up there and do your best job and enjoy it.

Keep up.

I have owned a US Lakland since 2003 and done near on a thousand gigs with it. It feels, plays and sounds perfect. I also own an Am Std Fender which in 2 years has done 3 gigs. It sounds and plays well. It's not a bad bass in any respect but up against the Lakland there's no competition.

Sad news. Loved his playing.

A Hofner sounding better than a Wal? Now that is rare.

I carry 2 sets of spare strings in my accessories bag in spite of never having broken a bass string.

If I ever tell my wife about gear the first thing she'll say is, "if it's that good why don't you get it?" We have dozens of her orchids, half made quilts and dolls houses around the house. There's just about enough room for some cabs and amps for me.

[quote name='dave_bass5' timestamp='1471524102' post='3113653'] One time though i took the wrong bass by mistake (picked up the wrong gig bag). [/quote] At home my main gear never leaves its cases, bags or covers. If I practise with anything I never use my gigging gear.

So far I have never needed a backup or used 2 basses on a gig. If I took another bass it would be standing by my amp. Surly that's where you need it to be? I'd never leave a bass in a car.

I don't "dig in". Maybe that puts me in the minority but I see that technique as less accurate and not a good use of energy. So, I do notice a difference in sound between strings but as I'm "stroking", not "pulling", the strings tension differences are not particularly important to me.

When referring to Barefaced, why would anyone imagine that less weight equals weak? Someone suggested in another thread that Alex wasn't ground breaking in his designs. Really?

GHS flats would be very good strings to put on any bass, but before you question any part of your sound or upgrade or replace anything you need to get a much better amp. You can't accurately judge anything through an amp like that.

Over the years, the playing, arrangement and production values on most "throw-away" pop songs has been pretty excellent.

My Mk2 and Mk3 5 string Wals had beautiful necks. Slim, fast and perfect. The weight of the Mk2 was the only downside. The Mk3 had no downsides at all, but anyone willing to spend upwards of £4500 on a bass had better have played a lot of them and decided that nothing else will do. You do not want to find, when you've spent that kind of money and waited 3 years, that you don't like the neck profile. Or anything else about it!! My Mk2 was replaced by the Mk3 and that was replaced by my US Lakland. I have no regrets about any of those upgrades.

All my big amps have been kept in an SKB 4U case. Ultimate protection and plenty of room for ventilation. I usually put them in the middle 2 slots. There was on in the classifieds a week ago.

+1 Lozz It's not your status that matters it's your attitude.

Given up on the B string. . . . . It seems to that there are a lot of players who like what they know and don't like having to think too hard about what they are doing. They've done the "heavy lifting", can play pretty well and feel comfortable in themselves. Some of these players will look around, see 5 string basses and think, "I'll have a go at that." I reckon 99% of those guys will give up and the reason doesn't really matter. You can discuss shortcomings in the instruments as much as you like but IMO most of them will give up because they didn't [i]need[/i] to play a 5 string bass in the first place. They fall at the first hurdle because they didn't buy into the requirements and changes they'd have to make in order for the transition to be successful. You can play anything on a 5 string bass, McCartney played Beatles songs on his Wal, but there are a lot of songs where you [i]have[/i] to play a 5. If you're not playing any of those songs or it doesn't matter to you if you are playing them an octave up then you didn't [i]need[/i] a 5 string bass in the first place. If you [u]want[/u] to play a 5 string bass, don't bother. If you [u]need[/u] to play a 5 string bass then work it out. Work through the changes and difficulties and if the first instrument doesn't feel or sound good find one that does.

[quote name='highwayman' timestamp='1470953499' post='3109656'] What should I also be doing. . . . if I want to progress on my bass journey? [/quote] You should do what every player whose records you have did, play along to your favourite records. Bands are good but you'll have a lot of distractions and you really have to get the basics down first. IMO keeping it simple is the best way for a bass player to think. Who are your favourite players and bands and favourite songs? Play along to them. Find a local jam night and check it out. When you're feeling brave enough, join in. If you like what you hear, start looking for like minded musicians.

You could just turn the cab upside down.

Haven't we been saying this in cover band threads since 2007?

I hope I get a mention.

[quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1470748555' post='3108122'] decent monitoring is the key to doing this. [/quote] . . . . and a good FOH engineer. I've done this a lot with the acoustic duo I played in, and it was OK, but add a drummer and guitars and the level of complexity increases. I'd need some oomph behind me. What about the other amps, guitars, keys and the drums? If the bass is the only one doing this it will be very easy to unbalance the sound on stage and difficult to get a good FOH balance from on the stage. Last weekend I played an open air festival. Apparently they had a great sound out front and the on stage monitoring was fantastic. . . . but I still had both SC's thundering away. Call me old fashioned but there's nothing like your trousers flapping from a couple of cabs in close proximity behind you, especially with the drummer and guitarist we had.

[quote name='bubinga5' timestamp='1470773633' post='3108402'] This is good tip fro a master builder. [u]Don't[/u] untwist the windings. [/quote] Err. . . . [i]do[/i] untwist the strings.

[quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1470687232' post='3107713'] The only thing I'd say is that you should never 'lose' a gig because of your sound and if depping you wont get asked back by anyone decent. [/quote] +1000