Dom in Dorset

I was phoned by a "promoter" who was putting on a US country singer at a local venue. The venue is 500 a seater , some fairly big names play there , our band is a tongue in cheek country trio with a strong element of humour, the artist in question is a serious female singer songwriter but on balance we decide to go for it. All three of us have day jobs at the same place ten minutes away so not exactly a big deal logistically. The promoter then goes quiet on us , the listings appear and no mention of support act. I send him a couple of texts and get no reply, I start to think this is pure fantasy or he's had second thoughts....time passes... he calls me out of the blue to explain that the original artist had to pull out but someone else equally huge is playing that night and we are still the support....time passes...with a week to go I text him to ask about set length, sound check etc.....nothing.....two days to go.... A phone call asking if we'd been sent any tickets to sell (we get a cut , I know it's a crap deal but it wasn't a tricky gig to do and it was good exposure) ...no we hadn't. He blames xy and z for this and says the gig is still on....on the day of the gig we set off after work but on the way he calls me..."They don't want a support act but you can go on after, she will big you up" I meet the others in the car park , basically after the main act finishes we get to set up and be just about ready to play to an empty room half an our after the punters leave. We say thanks but no thanks and go home. He's offered us another gig in November that is shaping up in the same way....

I used to play various odd folk instruments in a band with other similar obscure things (bagpipes , hurdy gurdies etc) we were booked to play at a fair in Hartlepool. The week before the gig our gurdy player had to drop out for personal reasons, being a super obscure instrument there was no way of finding a dep in time so my brother was to join us on bouzouki. He got the CD on Thursday and the rest of of drove up from the south coast on Friday and stayed at his place in Bradford that night. We got wasted on his home brew and the next morning feeling somewhat jaded we set of for Hartlepool in the rain. When we arrived we were told we were playing on a flat bed truck in a nearby car park but only if the rain stopped. We waited in a pub confident that we wouldn't have to play our set that day ...with two minutes to spare the sound man came in a said "it's stopped raining, you're on!" We set up and launched into our set , we were hung over our instruments were horribly out of tune and getting worse due to cold and damp , my brother had barely heard the set let alone learned it. The audience consisted of the proverbial two men and a dog standing in a wet car park. During the first number they left. We played on for 45 minutes with only the puddles for company.

That'll teach me to be so damned sure of myself! Anyway you'll be out of pocket but it sounds like you'll end up with an even better instrument.

Of course but the kit is only £12(?) and you have nothing to loose.😯 Sorry my mistake, it comes up as a google search result as £12 but it's actually £166. Warranty or replacement.

Aargh shiiit! The thread must be stripped somehow. I've heard of this being repaired but I've never been asked to do it, I don't think you'll be using this bass any time soon. https://www.stewmac.com/How-To/Online_Resources/Learn_About_Truss_Rod_Installation_and_Repair/Truss_Rod_Rescue_Kit_Instructions.html

You'll probably need a bit more adjustment than just gripping but at least it's not broken .Weird how it went like that , you must have a gremlin infestation.

You said you didn't know much about truss rods, just checking that you have the basics right before looking for more serious problems. You turned the truss rod nut to the right? A guitarist friend of mine keeps bringing me his guitar to sort out after he adjusts it himself as he consistently turns it the wrong way. I've lost track of the times I've told him.

You'd know about it if you broke the nut off. A possible scenario - you adjusted it the wrong way or too far and it's taken a day or two to settle? Some necks don't react immediately to truss rod adjustment and move a bit in the next few days. Can you remember what direction you turned it and what were you trying to achieve?

Truss rods don't just break. It's made of metal and it's sealed inside the neck. The only time you can damage one is while you are actually adjusting it but only of you overdo it and snap the nut off. It may need adjusting but it's not broken.

I saw the Dodge Brothers at Glastonbury a few years ago , he can certainly play. I seem to remember him doubling on harmonica too. It turned out he went to school with a friend of mine and I was in a position to sneak said friend backstage to say hello.

We reformed a band from 1990. Initially for a one off gig for charity after our drummer died (there was always a touch of Spinal Tap about us) but it was so much fun we've carried on. As Newfound said it was like putting on comfortable slippers. I don't think we realised at the time as we were primarily interested in getting high and meeting girls that we had a great and complimentary set of musicians. We gig two or three times a year , pull out all the stops, raise money for various charities and have a bloody good time.

I tried it once a thought the sound was a bit harsh and clanky. Might be ok when they are played in a bit. Also the only bass strings I ever absolutely hated were Fenders!

Rotosound super heavy gauge chain wound strings bottom right.

"I'm a big fan of The Stranglers bass player.....JJ Brunel" Famous for his growly precision bass , stove pipe hat and cigar?

Sadly nothing as interesting, all genuine, I just seem to attract medical types.

I'm taking the fosters*.😄 I do not seriously believe that I have any medical experience due to my previous relationships and have no idea what craniosacral therapy actually is. (*basschat changed the word I originally used)

Isn't that how it works? None of my patients has ever complained.

Not at the same time , this experience has taken about thirty years to acquire. (I've also been on dates with two craniosacral therapists but that only counts in the event of a tie break)

I've had relationships with three nurses and a doctor and played in a band with a surgeon so I'm more than qualified to offer advice. I suspect it comes down to how you feel. Someone else has already said "heart attack" is a catch all term, the effects are many and varied. I used to regularly play with a guy who was really knocked for six by a heart attack, he had to be careful about what he ate and drank but was playing again fairly quickly. It aged him a bit and he was never quite the same , but if you feel well enough to play then why not?

It would be interesting to see the itemised bill. We charge £30 per hour + parts +VAT , (1/2 hours are charged at £15)

When we started out I did have the lyrics in a folder on the floor but soon found that I couldn't see them due to poor eyesight and stage lighting. I've had to do it the hard way and somehow I remember them now (mostly).

Stupidly powerful but very clear and punchy , I have to plug into the active input on my amp despite the bass being passive. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Entwistle-JBXN-pickup-for-bass-guitar-Neodymium-designed-by-Alan-Entwistle/332726191232?hash=item4d7806c480:m:ml6RunQ5q4ldDFg1P_ohc0Q

I do bass and vocals in a country trio (if Motorhead played county) , I'd previously done up to half the lead vocals but becoming the sole vocalist was quite a step up, lots of words to learn , at first I found the increased use of my voice taxing + front man duties make it quite a responsibility. You are (in a trio) the major portion of the band. Having complete trust in the other two helps, I'm not really able to consciously interact with the rest of the band , I just have to stand at the front and assume that everything is going well behind me. The singing bass player is the next step in human evolution.