TimR

I think my SR400 is in need of some serious attention. It's 20+ years old. So I got to thinking £400 over 20 years is less than 40p a week! Maybe a new bass rather than swapping out the jack and preamp and probably the frets are worn as well. I haven't tried either of the SR600E or the Premium. The Premium is double the price but maybe the SR600E with swapped out Gotoh machineheads (The ibanez ones get a bad press amd I've broken 2!) would suit my needs. Anyone experience of either or both?

I was going to be in a signed band at one point. Unfortunately it transpired that the A&R mam was just interesting in grooming the 17 year old singer. Who told him in no uncertain terms that he wasn't into men. Well, that and I got thrown out of the band because I wouldn't grow my hair long because my day job required me to look smart. 🤣 My dad was semi-pro and out playing every weekend and he told me to get proper job and play music as a paid hobby. He was right.

It's a nice idea. But ultimately you still need to ask people before you book in case they or their significant other hasn't put something in their diary. We have 2 WhatsApp groups. One for general chatter and one for gigs. Organise gigs and tunes etc in the general chatter and transfer to the gig chat when confirmed. One person regularly asks for dates people are busy and gets all the gigs. This doesn't Delete conversations in the gig group regularly.

Sometimes we also need a reality check. A 4 piece covers band playing a local pub...

If he is the drummer, how does he know you need all those lights? I played with a similar drummer. Always wanted more lights and louder PA. We were playing small functions and pubs. The main problem was he was pointing all the lights at the audience and people who came to see us complained they were being blinded by the lights and couldn't see us. I told him we were a band not a disco and the lights should be on us, with a smattering of dance floor lights. What are you using? Are they being used effectively? We have 4 large 8"/10" LED PAR cans that are on stands and light the stage, and 4 mini 4" LED PAR cans mounted on the speaker stands as fill-in lights. Then we have a laser/coloured floor filling light and a smoke machine that is aimed onto the dance floor.

Ah. Sorry. It was the guitarist rushing. Learning versions of songs is only useful to get an idea of how the song goes in a rough fashion. Once you know its a blues progression, everyone will just play around. They'll throw in solos, extra verses, double, triple, quadruple choruses etc. The point of learning to read charts is; if there is someone with a chart, you can just step in and follow it. If someone is expecting you to follow a chart on first viewing without knowing the tune - it will be a very simple chart/song. Even better, take your own charts for songs you know and hope there's a singer who knows the tunes.

As others have said, it's a jam. Everyone's interpretation of a tune will be different because you haven't rehearsed together. That's the whole idea. Not much you can do with a drummer who doesn't play solid time other than hope they have a different one available next time. If it's too loud make sure you're wearing ear plugs. Learn to read charts.

This Brad Lang? https://www.taxi.com/members/tMUWdre-QSa6sorKSEufiA-brad-lang

If you're just playing pubs you only need vocals and kick drum, possibly guitar. You need to be able to have a separate monitor just for vocals. The band doesn't need any extra kick or guitar messing up stage volumes. The PA is just bringing a bit of presence over the top as kick drum and guitar will get absorbed by front row of anyone dancing. However, you're not trying to fill a pub with sound, if people want to listen to the band or dance they can come forwards. You don't want to turn the pub into a concert venue. If you're regularly playing big functions then go the full works with a big mixer, but really you can hire that kind of thing in for the odd big gig. Yes, sure, lots of bass players seem to revel in owning a PA and carting it around and setting it up and operating it during the gig. But you will be the one doing all this. Nowadays I prefer to turn up with my bass gear, plug in and play, and concentrate on my own performance.

I have an old soft toothbrush.

Thanks, but I am suitably jaded by my experience. I was sure I'd bought the winning tickets.

I didn't win a nice Ibanez on Friday night and I just haven't won a Blue Stingray 4. Back to the Euromillions then....

I have a PA I'm selling. 2x15" Peavey Pro speakers and PV1500 amp. Together with Soundcraft Spirit Folio 16. Reverb and EQ in a mixer flight case. It's pretty heavy in the case. Would be better to split the items.

Thanks. I'm not sure I've used the date part either other than when I've been struggling with my tone and checked the date and realised they really could do with changing.

I bet he never played anything the same way twice. Those Bob Marley songs don't have two single bars the same. 🤣 Ome great lines, impossible to emulate. Didn't he have 100+ kids or something? Edit: 31. That's why they called him family man. 🤣

Take them off. Put them in the packet the new ones came in. Write the date on the packet. Put in gig bag as 'ready cut' spares. Never broken a string but guess there's a first time. Look at packet already in gig bag, wonder at the date. Put them in the massive box of old strings*... 🤣 *no. I throw them in the recycling. Do we have a benevolent bass strings thread where we give old strings that may have a little bit of life in them to old retired jazzers?

This was kind of the purpose of the thread. I don't think a lot of bands understand the importance of the bass player (yes, I know, I would say that). Every band has that function, from orchestras, choirs, electronic music. It's not something you can just bolt on and expect to work. And I'm increasing led to belive that the bass "chooses you", or more subtly bass players are attracted to bass as it suits their mindset.

It's not the studio's fault if the gear is knackered. Testing everything after every band has been in never happens and then chasing bands for busted gear is never going to happen. Many years ago I found a Trace Elliot 4x10 where every driver was torn. How does that happen without the bass player hearing it? They swapped the cab out for me.

Our local studio has an Orange Terror and an orange 1x12" cab. It looks tiny and when I walked in and saw it I regretted not bringing my amp and cab. But it's a serious bit of kit for something so small!

What did you do?

Only at the weekends.

He wore his 'Nazi Memorobillia' for a photo shoot in Germany to promote a gig. Which is illegal there.

What have I started... I saw Metallica and Anthrax at Donington in 1987. The mosh was crazy. It was raining, clouds of steam were rising from the crowd and the smell of damp leather and p... filled the air. I think I may have a Panterra and a Dokken vinyl LP somewhere.

They're playing Donnington in June.

That's the monster part. Imagine being the directors of a company where you're also the product. If you don't want to produce the product what happens to you, and your employees. Well, if you're multimillionaire and the company is worth millions, you pay everyone off and move on if you're sensible. But the pressure to keep the company running must be huge.