pietruszka

[quote name='muttley' timestamp='1354784894' post='1890244'] I would agree with this. With lines, you'll be forever using them as a crutch. Without lines, you will rely on your ears and develop muscle memory. Much better in the long term. If it doesn't work out, you can always get a lined bass later, but at least give it a go first off . [/quote] I'd go with that to. I have fun when playing on the fly stuff with the band, you can't tap the next fret to tell them what the chord will be, you don't have any frets or facing markers! Hehehehehe! Dan

I was in exactly your position when thinking of dipping my toe in the fretless waters. I was going to buy a fretless cort, but then a friend reminded me that if I like fretless, I'd end up selling that and buying a more expensive one so why not just buy that one? I did just that, I splashed out and got a second hand sandberg fretless basic and I'm pleased I did! It was only £580 and worth every penny. If you live in the north east area you're welcome to pop round and have a try to see if you like fretless or not. Get one, you won't look back! Dan

Find out who you need to speak to first before going in and asking/ringing. "Can I speak to Dave/Susan/Kev please" sounds better than "Who is it that books the bands here?". That way you shouldn't be fobbed off with "they're busy/on the phone/we're fully booked" before you have even spoken to them. Dan

I make stacks of them all the time, but as Chrisb says, it's how you get out of them that matters. Our fiddle player in the original outfit makes them and can cover them well, but he rarely catches me out. It always makes me laugh and I always mutter "I heard that"! From a band I was in a fair while ago, me and the sax player had a great system of how good a gig was; if you can count the mistakes on one hand, that's a good gig. If you need two hands to count the mistakes then you need to practice a little more! Pretty much all my gigs are one hand gigs. Once and only once I've had a no hand gig. Dan

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1353866224' post='1879136'] I have invested plenty but would still expect to be told not to use my full rig for gigs where it's not required, if someone is using the wrong gear for the gig when they have other options ie their smaller amp I see no problem in telling them? [/quote] Yes! Just as a good player knows that not playing is as important as playing, the same is applied to equipment. Until recently I had 210 and 410 cabs, I don't bring all of that to play what ever gig I have booked, I bring what ever gear is needed for that gig. I actually ended up selling the 410 as it was way surplus to requirements. The 210 alone was more than loud enough for the main room at the Cluny in Newcastle. Just because you've bought equipment, doesn't mean it ALL has to be used at every gig. As for spending time investing in my own sound? I never do that, I spend time getting the bands sound right. What I think of my sound is irrelevant as I'm not playing for myself, I'm playing for the band. This is something bass heavey guitarists seemingly fail to do. Dan

[quote name='jackers' timestamp='1353798866' post='1878649'] They did tell me they had been through 5 bass players in 6 months, saying they were all crap and tried to control them too much, though I'm now getting a slightly different picture. [/quote] f***ing idiots. So that's 6 bassists in 6/7 months? They're never going to learn if that's how many bass players they've been through. I'm sure sound men talk to each other about particular bands, no doubt that sound man will say negative things about that band to. Christ, I don't get how people can be like that! It's insane! Dan

Jackers, I'm pleased you got out. It seems it would be for the best. With knowledge from another thread, it seems you've handled this really well, and most importantly, professionally. And for that reason you shouldn't have much trouble getting into another band. You're an intelligent player and will find something else in no time. I don't know what is going on in what appears to be most guitarists heads, but they have it set in concrete that they NEED these monstrously huge amps. It must be the rock n roll image that they feel they need to adhere to. And strangly, it only seems to be guitarists that suffer this over the top obsession with NEEDING over powered rigs dialed to 11. In that respect I'm rather lucky that my guitarist uses a fender 1x12 combo, and he plays it really quietly. Even on the small pub gigs it's mic'd and he uses it purely for monitoring. I'd let you all use him in your bands but I've got bagsies! Jacks! Let us know when you find another band! Dan

Your guitarists are morons. If it was me I'd have a very severe talk with them, and then leave. If they get this with every sound man at every gig then they'll be getting a new bass player for every gig to. Dan

Can you not just comment on the video explaining that it's not really playing? Just getting the sound right, a line check as it were? I'd personally make a joke of it, we after all can't be expected to be on 100% form 100% of the time, but I do understand that you have a reputation you're building. Ask him if he has any later footage of you playing. Dan

[quote name='dood' timestamp='1353663754' post='1877045'] I had a new bass student over last night. He was left handed but plays violin right handed. After a lesson analysing his technique and lots of questions about what he found easiest, we concluded that his playing was stronger playing a *right* handed bass! [/quote] Ha! That's the same for me to, left handed but play right handed, it's just what feels right. Strangely I can't play a left handed guitar in the slightest! Oddly our violin player in the High Tides is a lefty and plays right handed, and so does our singer! Dan

My bro in law showed me this and it just had me in stitches. For those not in the know, the guitarists in this video are outstanding players, not my thing admittedly but still excellent. The are all playing opposite handed guitars, right handers are playing left and vice versa. http://youtu.be/q9nis0mMgCE Dan

[quote name='mentalextra' timestamp='1353591218' post='1876352'] The subtle tones of a fretless would be lost in the AC/DC mix! It is a fact of life that if your bass player is a "star player" he never gets lost in the mix! Its a cruel world! [/quote] Well, I've never been lost in the mix, does that make me a star player?! Yes! I'd love to hear some AD/DC on a fretless! Dan

I could be mistaken, but isn't 'Oliver's Army' played on a fretless? It certainly sounds like it on the bridge. As for being 'lost in the mix', I've never had that problem. Is there any particular reason that not having frets would mean you'd be 'lost in the mix'? Dan

Tony Skinner used to work with my dad in London and has always been extremely thorough, I would imagine they'd all be CRB checked. Especially given how widespread the RGT is. Dan

I do! And it's great! Sting uses one, there's one in cream isn't there? In my last original band I used the fretless on a couple of tracks and ended up using it on all the tracks, even the slap one. Go for it! Dan

I'd go for the one person owns the PA arrangement. I own my bands PA outright, theres no argument, it belongs to me. If I leave I still have the PA. And yes I think the singer should have the PA to but we all know what they're like. And each vocalist should have their own mic for hygiene reasons. Dan

There's a hartke 410transporter going in the for sale section for £80 I believe, great cabs and not too heavy. Dan

Yep, as Barkin says, they do that, totally normal. Don't worry about it's volume, when you play none one will hear it. And as Barkin also says they are fantastic heads, loved mine to bits, had to spend over 4 times the cost of it to get something better! Dan

[quote name='JohnFitzgerald' timestamp='1353158996' post='1872209'] Dan, you're 100% right, all spontateity is completely lost and yes indeed, if a singer misses their cues, it is immediately apparent. [/quote] I would have said spontaneity, but if you insist on spontateity! Dan

For me personally theres no interaction, it's the same thing over and over. A band I used to be in wanted to try the backing track thing. And my argument, which won, was that having backing tracks defeats the purpose of having a live band which is what the singer wanted. You can't just call out another chorus if the mood takes, you can't play with false stops unless the backing track was made like that. And if a singer misses her/his cue it becomes very very obvious. I know it's horses for courses and all that noise, but if it was me in that pub I'd feel really cheated for watching someone play to some CDs, which is harsh but that's how it looks to me. Dan

Ah yes! Got things mixed up, Mew Moon was half the cost but the only person covered for PLI was myself, otherwise it worked out to be the same. Dan

[quote name='brensabre79' timestamp='1353059864' post='1870998'] I insure my gear with Musicguard, which comes with PL Insurance too. Not sure how good they are as I've never had to claim (touch wood) [/quote] This is exactly who I use. My quote with New Moon was twice as much but the PLI doesn't cover the band, Music Guard does, in fact, what ever musicians are on stage with you are covered. Of course if anything goes wrong the claim will have to go through the policy holder. Dan