TheButler

Okay... i replied: Hi Jon, Cheers for the reply, that has cleared everything up for me, at least now i can respect the decision in it's entirety. Unfortunately there are some points that i'm not too sure i agree on (which doesn't mean you're 'wrong' as such!) As i'm sure you'll be aware practicing songs at home gives no room for interaction with other musicians, as apposed to practicing live as a unit. That might sound like an excuse, and to some extent it probably is, but it isn't a case of simply playing along to a track in order to get things tight. Also, I wasn't made to believe, from the rest of the band, that i really wasn't performing well. Instead it seemed all i ever got (at practice at least) was much appreciated and respected words of encouragement; that things did indeed seem to be progressing at an acceptable pace, towards a favourable outcome. As far as the myspace tracks were concerned, that was my definitely my fault for giving you a negative, false impression of my enthusiasm - apologies there. You've probably noticed i'm not that outgoing (outwith my social circle) and to express my enthusiasm to a group of people that i'm merely acquaintances with was always going to be difficult. Ultimately, i had the two tracks that you wanted me to learn sent to me, which made me think i didn't have any need to go on the myspace and listen to the other two regularly. You're right about the time business. Academically i was on holiday, but things were never easy for me in other respects, i never felt at ease so as to be able to communicate that to any of you. If you think you guys need to do something about your communication, then i certainly do - thats the main thing i've learnt i reckon. Anyhow, i'm sure the music will continue to sound good and i hope you were just joking when you said you couldn't play bass! Either way you guys obviously thought the likelihood that you'll be able to pick up the bass parts quicker than i could've got up to speed with the tracks, which is obviously what matters for the overall good of the band. Cheers for the encouragement. I've already got some other things lined up (with a post-rock band in Glasgow and some other stuff here in Edinburgh) alongside a couple of other projects that have been on-going (and neglected for several months) that i should maybe put some time into: www.myspace.com/drovethroughghosts and www.myspace.com/citybeyondthedark Anyway Jon, as i said i have no regrets and i greatly appreciate the time you guys have given me. I'm taking a lot away with me that will hopefully mean, in the long run, more success, enjoyment and all that. All the best, Jamie

Here's the reply - I'm happy enough (because he is a really decent guy, and has obviously gone to great lengths to communicate his point, even if it was an e-mail) No more will be said about it. Okay, so i don't agree with just about all of it... but i could be here all day if i began to pick it apart. They're not going to get anywhere, any faster by making the vocalist (Jon) play bass... he said to me in another e-mail he can't play it to save his life. Oh well. Hi Jamie, Cheers for getting back to me - i totally appreciate where you're coming from and will try my best to give you some closure on this. If I'm being honest, the main reason for us continuing on without you was that we weren't happy with progress you'd made with the songs. We've just lost a bassist who was the least committed member of the band and who put the least amount of work in and were obviously very conscious of not letting this happen again. We had given you 2 songs to work with - one of which (Soundtrack) was undoubtedly the easiest bassing/vocal one to pick up - and after 4 practices (including all the time in between) we didn't feel you were picking it up quick enough, especially given that you're currently blessed with an enviable amount of free time. This may sound harsh, and as i alluded to in my previous email, this may be as much a fault of ours as of yours (too high expectations etc.), but the signs weren't promising for the long term, and the last thing we wanted to do given that we've been toiling as a band for over 3 years now was to waste any more time (either ours or yours). An example where we felt your attitude towards the band was probably not in line with ours was when it transpired that you'd not listened at any great length to the songs on our myspace. We felt that if any of us were joining an established band, trying to pick up all available songs would be top of our list of things to do. Another factor was that we've recently had a couple of practises as a 4-piece, to give us some kind of benchmark against which to judge your progress and to be honest, the 4-piece practises have gone better than we (especially I) anticipated. I've played guitar for a number of years and so have been able to take on bassing duties (my prior knowledge of the songs has obviously aided this), whilst vocal duties will be shared between euan and some pre-recorded samples in all likelihood. You have to appreciate that all of this is nothing personal, and I'm hopefully satisfying your request for honesty. I'd encourage to keep on bassing and def find yourself a new band, or maybe set up your own one - you've definitely got the ability plus you have the massive bonus of having time on your side! You'll have realised that as a band, we're not the most communicative - it's taken us over 3 years to get this honest with eachother, and we're still nowhere near as open as we should be, so i apologise for not confronting you with our concerns. Let me know if there's anything else you want to know. All the best, Jon

Here's the reply - I'm happy enough (because he is a really decent guy, and has obviously gone to great lengths to communicate his point, even if it was an e-mail) No more will be said about it. Okay, so i don't agree with just about all of it, but meh. They're

Thing was - my playing could easily adapt to their style, I [i]am[/i] their style (aesthetically) we all got on, had a laugh - even if i was relatively quiet, they would reassure me that it was all developing nicely etc.. ah well, never mind. I can't believe someone suggested i would lose my temper, i'm waaayyy too laid back (sometimes for my own good) Anyway, here is what i replied with: Hi Jon, Well, this is very disappointing and quite disheartening. Admitedly made that little bit sorer by the impersonal format of an e-mail, but i realise it is a difficult thing for you all to do, so i can understand to some extent. I must express some confusion though - as it seemed everything was going really quite well - i've either misinterpreted everyone or you've all given me false impressions of how it was developing. Nevertheless, i respect the decision and trust it was made for equitable reasons. I greatly appreciate the time and opportunity you've given me and you'll hopefully not be too surprised to hear that I've taken away, and learnt, a fair bit in the short time i was with you. All i'd like to ask now is for you to elaborate on the reasons for doing this (honesty would be greatly appreciated even if it is awkward!) In any case, the music sounds great; you're a talented bunch and i'm sure that it'll continue to sound good regardless of having bass in the mix or not - which i guess will be the course of action now, if you're not keen on getting anyone new in? All the best to you all, and good luck for the future. Cheers, Jamie

[quote name='neepheid' post='553620' date='Jul 28 2009, 09:51 AM']You're in a place with twice the population as me and it seems that bass players are always in demand here. I wouldn't worry about it.[/quote] Aberdeen has a much better music scene

I think i'll phone him up and ask to arrange a meeting with them all, just so they can tell me straight to my face why it didn't work out. That seems quite reasonable?

Its just the difficulty in finding something else good in Edinburgh. Of course i will be pleasant, they were good guys, who i hope, will have dismissed me for equitable reasons. I'm going to rise above it... and i'm saying this whilst mildlly drunk..

[quote name='Spartacus' post='552850' date='Jul 27 2009, 04:42 PM']So who will be replacing you? Someone [b]else[/b] new? Makes no sense.[/quote] Exactly mate, no clue My playing was of a far higher standard than they'd have ever needed to use, and they were well aware of that! I loved the basslines nonetheless. I had their previous bass player's lines down in a matter of two weeks... and backing vocals on top Edit: Witty/facetious/etc. remarks that i can work into my replying e-mail will be much appreciated

I'll copy/paste the e-mail here, don't care if they see it haha: Hi Jamie, Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but after much deliberation, we've decided to continue on without you in the band. We appreciate your efforts over the last few weeks, but we're can't really see it working out, and this is perhaps as much to do with the fact we have been together for a few years now and would struggle with anyone new, as it is to do with you. I'm sure you'll have no problems finding a new vehicle for your bassing - there are plenty of folks looking for guys like you - so all the best. Thanks again, Jon TBSC.

Hey folks, Well, i've been playing for this new band for a couple of months - putting everything into it and, importantly, sounding really good. I picked up backing vocals, bought new gear in line for gigging... everything. Then, today i get this e-mail that more or less says they want to continue on without me. Why? I don't know, but it might have something to do with the fact they've been playing together as a band for ages. Its confusing, because they were all top blokes, played great music i genuinely liked and they all apparently liked me and my attitude. So, i'm gutted. Its a right blow for any player i suppose, but i've only just picked my bass back up again after having rugby injuries to both hands so for me its just cut me down. Now i don't have any need for the rig i've been planning on buying, hell i could've gotten by without this lovely P-bass i just bought. My main concern right now is finding another band of the same/better caliber asap, but that seems nigh on impossible right now. What to do?

My suggestions: AKG K-240's - £100-ish Beyer Dynamic DT990 PRO - £130 Sennhieser HD-25 - £130-ish If you have the coin - Sennhieser HD600 Check all of those out, hope that helps.

Fair enough rare and all the rest of it, but that doens't take away from the fact it was a failure for a reason... damn that thing is ugly.

What a twat.

[quote name='wizbat' post='550436' date='Jul 24 2009, 05:33 PM']If I,m not mistaken doesn,t a certain mr Vai have one of those??.[/quote] No doubt. It's an empty box, more or less, which as said above goes round TB elite, because they am 1337...or words to the effect. There is far too much e-penis enlargement associated to gear, ah well c'est la vie!

I'm seeing him at the Usher Hall in Edinburgh, in September, looking forward to it!

Yeah, i'm aware of the ISIS connection I like all of their stuff really, i just happened to be listening to At the Soundless Dawn when typing this. I've never seen them live However, i've seen Maybeshewill, 65daysofstatic, Mono and Mogwai (twice) so i'm quite a fan of my live post-rock. I personally love Mogwai's bass as well. On both occasions i saw them i've spoken to Dominic, and he was more than happy to talk about his gear and stuff. He uses Trace Elliot, can't remember which stuff exactly though. When i saw him he only used a midnight blue Rick 4003 and a Jazz. Wiki says he uses a Musicman Sabre, but i can't remember seeing that..

[url="http://www.guitarguitar.co.uk/bass_guitars_detail.asp?stock=04051910564818"]http://www.guitarguitar.co.uk/bass_guitars...=04051910564818[/url] I'd look second hand personally though

I've just finished listening to the Red Sparowes album, At the Soundless Dawn, and i started really liking the bass. With a lot of post-rock kinda stuff it is usually fairly generic, but i was really liking this; both the playing and the sound. For those of you interested, the track i particularly like is: "Buildings Began to Stretch Wide Across the Sky, And the Air Filled With A Reddish Glow" Just wondered if anyone else was diggin' it... or am i alone

Are SMV planning to hit the UK?

One of the licks sound almost like Joe Satriani midnight... to my crap ears. Great work all the same

£2000 and V8 in an ebay listing, heres me thinking it was a Corvette LS7 engine. I too must express my annoyance at people that bid THAT early.

[quote name='thisnameistaken' post='547232' date='Jul 22 2009, 03:06 AM']Your honesty is very refreshing. My main amp is a Hartke LH500 - it was cheap and it sounds ace to me. My main cab is a Schroeder 1212L. Not because I bought into any hype but because it's conveniently light and I am inconveniently weedy and pathetic. It sounds as good as any cab I recall using in the past. Is that good enough? My main bass is a Warwick Thumb which I wanted because Norwood Fisher used to play them. It just so happens to be a really nice bass but honestly, when I'm playing my Squier Jazz for extended periods I don't really notice the fact that I'm playing a bass I paid £110 for, but when I'm playing the Thumb I do appreciate how slick it feels. In short: I'm definitely no connoisseur, but that's cool, it saves me money. Oh, must add an over-rated bass thingy: The SansAmp Bass Driver DI. Everybody but me seems to have one and I just don't get it.[/quote] I bought the MXR M80 for the sole purpose of it not being the BDDI. Only time will tell if i'm a right tool.