chris_b

I wouldn't pay money for other people's mods. You have no idea what their workmanship is like. Buy a bass that does what you want out of the box, or buy basic bass and add your own mods.

If I were you I'd keep the TC and then you could sell the MG800 to me.

A well run jam night wouldn't suffer from those problems. Open mike nights might be different. I've never been to one of those.

Everyone on Youtube is putting out content for Youtube! Of course these guys can play simple parts when the situation requires it. I went to a Victor Wooten bass clinic and he said he'd love to play straight soul or blues bass lines but no one asks him. Then Keb Mo asked. . . this what VW played.

We had a guy turn up who wanted to be Jimi Hendrix. He said he played in the original keys and the original arrangements, so I had a listen to the records and was ready for him on the next jam. He didn't play in any original keys and didn't play any discernible chord structure, but he did play the most awful, distorted nonsense on 11 for his 2 songs. The band leader now knows I prefer not to play with him any more.

I was once thanked by a band leader for not slapping. I smiled at the compliment, but didn't tell him I didn't slap because I couldn't! I wish I could showboat on bass. That would mean I had more technique that I could use to be a better player when not showboating.

Why exclude cities? Don't assume London is just one entity. It's a collection of small towns. Some of those towns have a healthy music scene and some don't.

Have you seen what he wears?

Of course he would. . . . did.

. . . . and the accessories include a sock!!

Your scratch plate looks great.

Players turn up to jam nights because they know they're going to have fun and they will be able to bring the songs they want to play. A well run jam night will attract better players. If singers don't turn up the house band singer does the lot. Same as me last month, when, unusually, we had no bass players. I do a regular jam night and several deps for jams and the house band always gets paid. None of us would do it if we didn't.

Bill Wyman, Willie Dixon, Duck Dunn and John McVie. The influences that came after were just building on those foundations.

Hi Michael, great bass sound. Nice effective lines. You and the drums work well together.

I have never played one of these, they are way too heavy. I don't know if his bass is customised in any way, but Nathan East always gets a sound I like. Nice looking bass, I prefer it in black.

You could buy a trolley for your Ashdown 410. You could also email Barefaced. They will tell you if a BB2 will be sufficient. They won't spin you a line. If the cab doesn't perform you can send it back for a full refund within the first 30 days. If you haven't already, make sure you have bought some highly effective hearing protection. Please don't skimp on the ear plugs.

I've just remembered I did 8 months playing the US airbases in Germany in the 70's. 5 x 45min sets Mon - Thu, then 6 sets on Friday and Saturday, with Sunday off. Change clubs at the end of the month. I guess that counts as a residency.

Hi, that was in 1988. I can't remember, sorry.

I don't know what drummers want in a bass player, but what I like to see is a good feel, good timing and a great sound. I guess drummers would vote for at least 2 of those, maybe all 3.

Sounds like you just need to replace the pickup. I put a Bartolini pickup in my P bass and the sound took off. Then there's Nordstrand or Geezer EMG's.

Do you include Jam nights? I've been in the house band for one of those for the last 20 years. The first Monday of the month. Nothing wrong with a residency. We had a troupe of drummers one night and a Didgeridoo player came for a couple of months. They were fine. The only down side is when someone turns up who doesn't know how to play the instrument or can't play with other musicians. Other than that it's all good fun.

My 68 Precision wasn't really vintage when I modded it in 1988. Now it really is vintage and has minimal resale value because of the idiot owner it had at the time. That's why my advice now is always buy the bass that sounds like you want it to sound and don't mod a bass, because it might not end up sounding like you want!

Explain the mindset of a guitarist? No, I haven't got the time!! Most of the guitarists I play with use Fender valve combos and a Strat. A couple also have a Gibson. I can't remember anyone using anything else. If they get rid of an amp, it's replaced by another Fender valve combo. I played with a guitarist a couple of years ago who didn't use any pedals. That was a first! All the others have anything between 2 and 10 pedals.

Are you suggesting you refret the neck yourself? Unless you are a luthier, I'd say that would not be a good move. Are you going to get someone else to refret it for you? That'll be very expensive and pretty much a wast of money when you consider that a replacement neck would be cheaper and you won't have trashed the resale value of your vintage bass. You say you won't ever sell this bass, but what would you do if you refret it and it doesn't sound or play how you want?

I have never played in a "proper" tribute band, but I certainly would if asked. Having said that one of my current bands sometimes goes out under the working title of a "Tribute to Chess records". That's a bit of marketing, as not all of the numbers were recorded on Chess records! We usually go down well, so I don't think anyone in the audience really cares whether that claim is 100% accurate or not. I know several guys who are in tribute bands and it's just another opportunity to gig for most of them. The only rules that would apply for me; the musicians have to be good and enjoyable to play with. All the answers are IMO. . . . Do you have to be a fan of the original artist, or maybe you become one? No. You just have to enjoy playing with the band. How important is it to be visually/musically identical? How much latitude are you allowed? There are 2 kinds of tribute bands; one plays the music and one also puts on a theatrical performance. My preference would be for the former. Do you ‘get into character’ or is it just a gig? For me, it would just be a gig. I know guys who get into character, but it's just a gig to them too. Does it feel musically limiting, or is it fulfilling your needs? (Maybe you have a side band?) I wouldn't find playing a night of only one artist/band limiting. If you're doing it right, all music should be "fulfilling". Do you have any qualms about tributes ‘stifling original music’? I don't understand the question. The two are not linked. Have you ever met or been seen by a member of the ‘originals’? What did they say? I have not. If I did I would hope the original guy would be happy that I did a good job on his songs. What (would) the overriding thing being in a tribute act (have) taught you? They are just another band and just another song. Having done it once, would you do it again? If so, would the musical angle be very different? I wouldn't turn a gig down just because it was a tribute band. After initially being snobbish I have seen some great tributes, my favourites being ELO Experience (featuring @casapete), Limehouse Lizzy and Purple Zeppelin. I wouldn't go out of my way to see a tribute band, but I've seen the Beatles band at the Cavern, Fleetwood Mac and Blues Brothers tributes at Wimbledon Theater and The Straits, basically Dire Straits without Knopfler, at the Albert Hall. All good bands, doing a good job.