leschirons

Ex drummer here, but still do the odd dep. If I'm set up first (usually the case) I'll start building up the drummer's kit with him. Of course there are always little adjustments to be made by him but I know roughly where he likes things and how to set a kit up. It's always appreciated and we play well together. He can play quietly too if the venue requires it. The cherry on the cake is that he's a really lovely guy too.

At the moment, we seem to starting with "I got a feeling" But with another band, Money for nothing. The intro guitar needs some oomph behind it but people know that intro and when the drums and bass kick in it gets all the heads bobbing.

[quote name='woodenshirt' timestamp='1469057360' post='3095505'] The best..... Peavey TNT 150 or Peavey Combo 300. During the the 90's I had one of each and linked them together, bleedin' awesome!! Mart [/quote] Seem to remember my Combo 300 had a bi-amp facility in it. Never let me down but I'm paying the price now, years later with my back

Maybe Bohemian rhapsody is on the setlist

[quote name='EBS_freak' timestamp='1477049686' post='3159487'] And talking of TURNING up... Why do singers always turn up AFTER all the gear has been lugged in? [/quote] For the same reason they leave BEFORE it's lugged out.

My choice is purely based on "Is it a dump? / next to a river? / full of drunks or kids? If yes, OLP 5 string Stingray copy If no, Status 5 or 6 string (whichever is nearer the door)

I think it all depends on the individual player regarding scale length. Despite being "only one inch" I had eventually got rid of every 35" scale bass I'd ever owned (I can remember 6) and gone back to 34" as they were so much easier to play no matter how many strings. Although, there's a lot of truth in what Happy Jack says about how the neck sits on the body.

I've come to the conclusion that they don't make watts like they used to back in the good old days. When I started in bands in 1968, they were proper watts they were.

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1476643613' post='3155937'] I'm starting to think a little differently about the 4 hour bar gig, festival and fair market. Last night we opened for a national act. All I needed was my bass, and pedal board. Lighting and sound provided. We played for an hour and we're paid twice our 4 hour bar fee. Ok, whether you like it or not this is a business, at least it is for me. I think I'm devaluing myself in the bar band market and should start making plans to move up a bit. It's a hard business and I'm still up for the challenge. Comments, thoughts? Blue [/quote] I can't actually think of any gigs I've been to where a covers band was opening for a big name act. I suppose you'd maybe have more chance of achieving your goal if you were playing original music but then we all know how easy that is to get work if you're not signed You're in a band that works regularly and there's no guarantee that another band who has some good gigs lined up are always going to have them whereas with your current band, you never seem to be out of work. I'm not saying you shouldn't go for it Blue but the first thing you need to do is decide whether you think your current band is undervalued or whether you think your personal ability as a musician warrants more money. If it's the former, and it all works well personality wise in your bar band, wouldn't it be better to see if you all can find better paid work with the people you're comfortable with? If it's the latter, then keep your eye out for an opportunity and grab it if it comes around.

[quote name='hiram.k.hackenbacker' timestamp='1476272128' post='3152858'] How odd. I have three of them and haven't noticed any issues. Is this a problem that develops over time or are they sticky from the outset? [/quote] It's just the bit that's all rubber where you adjust the height. Great when I first got it then it just sort of appeared. It had never been cleaned with anything suspect, not even wiped with a damp cloth so no idea what's happening chemically. I guess it was coated with something that breaks down.

Okay, the talcum powder idea does seem to help the problem. Whether it will last, I'm not sure. However, I would not suggest anyone trying this method as it appears to get you into trouble.

[quote name='xgsjx' timestamp='1476258016' post='3152677'] I've got a Hercules grab stand (I'm thinking the title may give that part & the next away), it's sat for a bit in a folded up state in the spare room. Now all the black plastic bits are sticky, like they've been sprayed with spray glue. It leaves sticky residue on my hand when I touch it too. Any ideas? [/quote] Nope. Same problem with mine. Even tried wiping it with olive oil to remove the stickyness. Also tried wife's nail varnish remover / WD40 / petrol / and Cillit bang. Last resort will be talcum powder. I'll let you know if it works so we don't both mess the house up.

[quote name='Dan Dare' timestamp='1476178682' post='3151947'] The same applies if you buy from someone. You pay them for an item they own. It's a fair exchange. Praise and stroking isn't part of the deal. [/quote] Quite, but if you got ripped off / had a really bad experience with a sale / purchase, wouldn't it have been nice to be aware of any potential risks before entering into it? It'd be no good if you posted about your displeasure afterwards and then 10 members reply saying yeah, I had the same problem with him / her. Feedback makes up a part of what we call the Basschat community doesn't it?

[quote name='ras52' timestamp='1476178994' post='3151951'] It's not an ego thing - the benefit is for all users of the marketplace. It shows us that X is a trusted seller and/or buyer, and promotes confidence. [/quote] Exactly.

If I'm after buying something on BC, the first thing I do (if I don't know the member) is check their feedback. It gives me an insight into what they're like to deal with as a buyer and seller and If people don't bother to leave it, that all breaks down. I've always left feedback as a buyer (I've rarely sold anything on here) as It helps others make an informed decision. It's not fool proof, but it helps. I used to get annoyed when this wasn't reciprocated. Especially even after reminding people that I'd done theirs and would appreciate the same in return. Too busy is no excuse. We're all busy but we can all find 2 minutes to do some feedback, even if it takes a month to get round to it. I'm one of those that tends to cut my nose off to spite my face. Always have been. Consequently, I wouldn't buy a second time from someone who couldn't be arsed to leave feedback the first time. No matter how good the deal.

First bass I really had GAS for was a Hohner Jack. Eventually got one, kept it for a couple of years.

Age is now taking it's toll as eventually, our bodies wear out and mine certainly has. I've changed all my bass gear in the last two years due to weight of instrument / rig etc and have quite a few structural problems to contend with I gig regularly and have for the last 47 years as I love playing and, the people in the current band. Deps are fun too but I can't deny, it's hard work these days. I even fell over after Friday's gig, tripping over a kerb stone. Swollen knee, cut shin, gravel in the hands and a bruised rib didn't help for Saturday's gig and due to my age, I'll feel like crap for the rest of the week at least. I'd like to gig until 70 if possible but if I don't, as long as there's an acoustic guitar laying around, that'll do. It doesn't have to be bass for me. I could quite easily spend my time working out the chords to old Burt Baccarach songs

Just got in. It fired up and I had no problems at the gig. I've been really damn lucky but will still get it checked over next week. Will take the amp sleeve off tomorrow and see if I can refit the handle (properly) ha ha. Thanks for all your replies.

[quote name='Phil Starr' timestamp='1475931628' post='3149862'] Bad luck. It looks like you shouldn't have a problem. You should be able to just use the cab as a cab and it looks from the manual as if all the sockets are just normal parallel sockets. Just make sure you take a couple of spare speaker leads.. The Hartke may only take jack leads. Let's hope ot is still all working when you get there. Of course with something dropped like that even the cab might have suffered, can you go straight through the pa at a pinch? [/quote] The Hartke 2500 has 2 x 1/4 jacks out min load 4 ohms so worst way I could just run the 400watt 1 x 12 Genz ext cab at 175 watts as my backline monitor and then DI into the P.A as we have two 600 watt subs. I'll take some speaker leads with me. I'll fire the combo up as soon as I'm there and if there are obvious problems, maybe use the option above for peace of mind but good to know that I can input into the output so to speak. It's not going to be a loud gig as it's a birthday party in a restaurant. Just that the guitarist always prefers me to split my cabs either side of the kit so he gets exactly what I get my side. Not sure how fragile these neo cabs are but no doubt I'll find out tonight. I'll run the combo into my amp guy on Monday as there are no more gigs for a couple of weeks after tonight. Thanks to everyone that replied. Much appreciated.

Had to drop off my rig (Genz Shuttle 6 combo + ext cab) at the singer's house so they can get there early to set stuff up for tonight. Handle snapped on the combo and it's hit the deck from 1 metre. No idea if this is going to work tonight. I have a spare preamp tube but who knows. The guitarist is now bringing a Hartke head in case I need it. Question is, on the combo cab, there is a short fixed speakon cable which goes to the head and also ( on the cab) a speakon and jack out to feed an ext cab. Can I use the speakon or jack "out" as an input into the cab. I'm not sure how this is all wired up. I won't have time to remove the Genz amp carrier tonight and can't balance his head on top of it as the cable will be too short to reach the higher head if all that makes sense. Any info appreciated. Thanks.

Drop it from the set and do Mustang Sally

[quote name='gareth' timestamp='1475500823' post='3146403'] Among other things he played in an Essex covers band east of Java that played the same pub circuit that my old covers band Hedgehog played. Tragic [/quote] Yes, they used to do the Cauliflower and the Castlemayne. Excellent band. He'll be sorely missed. You were in Hedgehog? My Mrs has just posted a video of theirs on Facebook. Live at the Mayne. Another good band. Probably saw you play at some point in the past.

[quote name='ambient' timestamp='1475497022' post='3146348'] I did a gig recently on a borrowed 4 string bass, after 15 years of playing 6 string basses. It's not so much muscle memory, as knowing the notes on the fretboard, and more importantly, playing notes rather than bass lines and patterns. I encourage my students to learn to play notes, rather than patterns. [/quote] +1 I agree. Fret board knowledge is the key. I usually play 5s and 6s on 90% of gigs but if I use a 4 string it's never a problem other than preferring the sound of a low D or Eb on a few particular numbers.

[quote name='bluejay' timestamp='1475495863' post='3146330'] That's the brain's job, not the muscle memory's, which usually simply remembers the 'second string from the bottom, fourth fret' and similar. The brain might be a tiny little bit slower than the hand, and oops, you play a G# rather than a C# (or vice versa)... [/quote] It's just that anyone I know who plays a 5 most of the time doesn't have a problem switching back & forth between the two. I know most of us may have had a problem for the first few sessions with an extra string but I really can't see that it would require lots of dedicated practice time to overcome. Bit like riding a bike isn't it?