chris_b

If you don't like joining in Blue's threads, don't.

From about 1988 to 1995 I used a Dynacord BS412 combo, with an EV 15. Only 250 watts with the extension cab but the best bass sound I'd hear on a gig for years after. Heavy as a medium sized planet and even as a fit 30 something I had to make a dolly board so I could move it around! Sadly, they don't seem to have survived in great numbers. I've never seen one on a gig, but I did see one in Charley Chandler's shop window.

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1469143979' post='3096164'] Lifeless? Cover bands must be different in the UK.[/quote] Not the good ones.

More PC f***wittery. Apparently in our own educational system they are currently discouraging the use of "brain storming" because it might offend those with epilepsy!!!

[quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1469040767' post='3095342'] Thought Vail Johnson was doing it..? obviously not. [/quote] I'm not sure why the rhythm section changed. Stan's a fantastic bassist but I was very happy listening to Vail Johnson playing with Keb Mo. [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWSqLD6gdrI"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWSqLD6gdrI[/url]

My definition of a cover band? One that is working and earning. The general rule for our cover band is that any song we play has to have been a top 30 hit. We aim to play songs which the audience knows, likes a lot, can dance to, will sing with us and isn't played by every other cover band.

Saw this line up in London a couple of weeks ago. I've been a Keb Mo fan since the first album. Stan Sargeant came over on the last tour but didn't really stand out to me then. He was not really on my radar until now. What a great player. Check him out. [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yx_6IwdQvY[/media]

[quote name='henrywillard' timestamp='1468996821' post='3094881'] I would be very interested to hear anyone else's thoughts & experiences, and hear if anyone has experienced anything similar. [/quote] That's management companies for you. I know of a bass player who was kicked out of a band because the manager though he looked "ugly" and a guitarist who was deemed too "fat" by management and fired. I know I've lost a gigs because I don't play double bass. I'm an old codger, locked into a comfy rut, but as a young pro I'm surprised you don't double.

[quote name='paul_5' timestamp='1468969349' post='3094846'] yeah, I'm kind of obsessed with getting the cleanest DI signal I can from any bit of kit. [/quote] The REDDI DI seems to get a lot of praise.

I'll mention this now, then. . . . when I was a kid PEN15, an S1 Bentley, used to be seen driving around the Ealing area, west London, a lot. Always caused a snigger.

Last time I looked the person who bought CHR1S paid £250,000!

Google and there are photos of CS using various basses on gigs, including Fenders.

IMO this is the wrong question. Get a great sound out of the best new amp you can find and don't worry about what you used to sound like. Trying to make one amp sound like another is bound to fail.

How small is small? The cab I bought was a Bergantino AE112. I'd check out the Berg CN112 in the classifieds. It's a fantastic cab and a great starting point for a small modular rig. I used an Aguilar TH500 and IMO it's a perfect match for the Bergs.

I used to take a big 115 when I played with an acoustic duo because that's all I had. It wasn't right. I bought a neo 112 and IMO it sounded much better and was obviously more sensible to take into small folk club gigs. That got me thinking about modular rigs. These days, even for the loudest bands, I use more smaller cabs, used to be 3 112's then a 212 and 112 now 2 Super Compacts..I don't miss the big cabs at all, for volume, tone or carrying.

We had a guitarist who listened to the video instead of the version sent around by the singer. He'd put it through a weird bit of software to change the key. There was a magnificent train wreck when the song started in 2 keys, with each side claiming they were in the right key! The Rattle and Hum version doesn't change. You're flexible, but I'd make a point of asking why they didn't know that and which version they really wanted to do. I get charts through from our cover band leader and there's always wrong chords and arrangements. Guitarists!!

A better offer came in.

This U2 version changes. [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRHV-HWhqWQ"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRHV-HWhqWQ[/url] Make sure you're all listening to the same version of the song before you get together.

If it's cash, we usually get the full payment up front. There's usually too much going on after the wedding and reception to leave it till later.

[quote name='Coilte' timestamp='1468833830' post='3093573'] I think I'll go with another 212...less complicated and more likely to sound better. [/quote] Really? I'm sure a second 212 will sound great but I don't see why adding a 112 you your current cab is going to be more complicated or sound less that just as good. I used to run a 4 ohm 212 and 8 ohm 112 because that gave me 3 options of rig. My amp did run to 2 ohms but that's irrelevant if your cabs are both 8 ohms. As long as you run the 112 within it's capabilities you're not going to damage anything and you'll benefit from more volume coming from more speakers and a better tone as a result. Your 212 cab will be running at half power but with 2 212's, because both cabs are 8 ohm, they will each be running at half power when compared to a 4 ohm 212. There are no downsides to you running a 312 or 412 rig, except the 412 is less modular and so less flexible.

My Berg 12" cabs were the best for set and forget. I used to fiddle for 30 secs when there was a new amp and then I didn't touch the rig again. Even EQing to the room was unnecessary after that. A little 1 or 2 plus or minus click on the volume and tone on the bass and I was fit to go. I'm missing the simplicity.

[quote name='luckydog' timestamp='1468758618' post='3093119'] If marooned on a desert island with a bunch of musicians (and no suicide pill!), and by some miracle a container of musical instruments washed up, [/quote] With my luck it would be a crate of banjos!!

+1 for don't complicate things. One thing at a time. Floating Thumb is not essential to playing a 5 string bass. You will never see any of the "greats" using FT anywhere. Just focus on extending your current technique to cover the new instrument. It will work if you give it time.

[quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1468748238' post='3092995'] I've said before the vast majority of bass players need a P bass because it does what most people need it to do. If I hear a bass with a weak sound..it very very often isn't a P.. [/quote] +1

[quote name='steve-bbb' timestamp='1468743233' post='3092948'] i suspect the neck profile may have something to do with this weird black art of why Ps and Js sound uniquely different [/quote] Fraid not. P basses were offered (maybe still are?) with an A neck, basically a jazz neck, and they still sounded like a P bass. The unique P bass sound is generated by the design and placement of the pickups and the limited amount of tone control.