chris_b

Well, do what you prefer but I think it's all just bass playing. I have managed to play in both covers and originals bands (a few did both) for most of my playing career. IMO there are no downsides to either style. They are all just playing songs.

Try and get some bass in the PA for outdoor gigs.

It only took Fender from 1966 to hear what their customers were saying. Even with good QC Fender will still put out some instruments that don't meet the standard. With an output of something over 200,000 instruments a year it's always going to be a possibility.

From similar threads on Talkbass Fender turned a QC corner around 2008.

Different words but Melody Maker was full of adverts like that. One of the best ads I saw just said; [i]Bass wanted for Chicago Blues Band.[/i] That was Peter Green's ad when forming Fleetwood Mac.

[quote name='Bolo' timestamp='1464196139' post='3057469'] Frudua made a decent setup video where he shows what's going on. About 3 minutes in. [/quote] That's what we're talking about.

I haven't sent much through the post but I've not had any problems with DHL (so far. . . . touch wood, fingers crossed!!)

Also to be fair, he can go lower than I can on my B string. He uses a split system of the MB200 and ONE10 for the low end and another powered cab (can't remember the name of that one) for the mids and high end. It all sounds excellent to me when in full flight, but he still feels he has this "issue" in the low notes.

[quote name='honza992' timestamp='1464170399' post='3057080'] the MB200 is cheap and cheerful. Has anyone played both? Care to comment on tone? [/quote] I know a keyboard player who's using a ONE10 for the low end of his sound, being driven by an MB200, and he doesn't like it. Too sterile according to him.

I'd suggest the TH350.

Marc, if you want to check out the local history, there is a ferry trip on the Thames from Kingston to Hampton Court Palace, Ham House, Orleans House, Syon Park and the Steam Museum at Kew. A bit of culture at the Richmond Theatre or The Rose Theatre in Kingston, Sport at several top Rugby clubs in Twickenham and Richmond (if the season has started) Horse Racing at Sunbury and Esher and there's the Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew.

Aah. . . . the Mulberry Tree, that takes me back! Also the gigs at The Crown and Turks Head, just up the road in St Margaret's. Sadly I don't think any of them are still active music venues.

Yep. Don't let the strings twist when you're putting them on.

[quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1464032984' post='3055993'] But, re the male singer, sometimes a good frontman can carry a band better than a good singer, [/quote] +1 You could always turn the mic down! Maybe he'll improve if you're rehearsing enough? Choose songs he can sing and that suit his abilities. If you leave now and the singer returns you've shot yourself in the foot. I'd carry on with this band but you need a plan B. Look around for another band, just in case. The 2 bands can overlap.

The Twickenham/Richmond area is very well served by trains, buses and all-night busses. If you want to travel a little further there's Bass Gear in Twyford, near Reading. In town, and easy Underground access from Waterloo, there's the 100 Club, O2, The Union Chapel and many more.

Over the river in Kingston there is Boaters for jazz and various funkier bands on Sunday nights. Again, in Kingston, The Oak for pub rock/blues etc every weekend and on the first Wednesday of the month a Jam night. All welcome, bring your bass. In Twickenham there's the Eel Pie Club at the Cabbage Patch, a jam night (not sure which day) at the George. Bands at the Admiral Nelson, usually Friday's. A few stops away on the overground there's The Cavern at Raynes Park. Check online for details.

OK. . . . OK. . . . UEFA Euro 2016 . . . . Just as bad!

We've just had a gig cancelled because of the World Cup. I wonder how many more. . . . .

I turned up late to a pub gig and found that the guitar, drums and keys had set up and left me precisely zero space!! During the whole process of load in and set up it hadn't occurred to them that a bit of room might be needed for a bass player with his gear. I tried to make a joke about it but in my head there was a megaphone shouting "you brainless d*ckheads."

Another Will Lee/Anton Fig rhythm section. Love this one. [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCkx5O7zUU0"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCkx5O7zUU0[/url]

50% of the stage for the singer, 25% for the guitarist, 20% for the drummer and 5% for the bass player. If you have keyboards and/or a brass section they have to fit into the bass players 5%.

Maybe it would work if you wove the felt through the strings and put the tape on very loosely. So there is no pressure on the tape. Just to stop the felt sliding out.

[quote name='thegummy' timestamp='1463766380' post='3053971'] I want to try taping a piece of felt over the strings as a mute a la Carol Kaye. [/quote] The CK method is just a light damping of the strings which leaves much of the sustain. Seems like this method would dampen the outside strings more than the inside strings. I've never done this but I would imagine it leaves enough sustain for this to work on a gig. Most foam under the strings is full on damping, which kills so much of the sustain and that IME only works in the studio or when DI ing through a PA system. I've tried foam on a gig and IMO it killed most of the dynamics in my sound. Took too much life out of my playing.

It's a Musicman SR5 with what sounds like an octave pedal.

Good call.