Cat Burrito

I've noticed www.soundslive.co.uk and GAK are doing great deals on Flatwounds, often cheaper than the string specialists. That said I am happy with Fender strings & haven't ventured into the realms of the really expensive brands.

[quote name='wateroftyne' post='849449' date='May 27 2010, 02:49 PM']I like a playable bass that sounds great. If it fails either of these, what't the point in having it...? That said, I'm almost totally immune the the effects of different neck profiles. My J and P are polar opposites, but I adapt to whichever no problem.[/quote] Couldn't have put it better myself. You stick with a bass you like & you adapt around it. I used to like light gauge strings but since getting on the upright I've learnt to go heavier and work harder with what I have.

Hey Chris - I drove through California last month & stayed at the Joshua Tree. What an amazing part of the world. Welcome to Basschat

I too missed that thread but have moaned about the vocalist on my personal Facebook. Bass is cool though

I don't think there is a hard & fast answer. I play Americana / roots stuff so my role is obviously different from a funk player and different from a rockabilly player. I see it as slotting in between the drums and the lead instruments. I'm a backroom boy, an engine driver. I stand out when I mess up! That said I have a couple of walking lines where I get to shine a little more. For all the knocking of country players, people should hear the Nashville bassists let rip in soundcheck. They can do it all but stay pretty straight and locked in when they play in a band situation.

Live in Bedford a few months back without our banjo / mandolin player Adam who was off filming for the BBC (he's a lovee in real life). It's a simple 3 chord country rocker but it's not really a genre that lends itself well to advanced harmonics on unusual frets and suchlike...

I started on drums, not that it especially shows. I can play guitar now though and to a standard where I played lead in a couple of bands recently. I'm back to my (main) roots with bass again now. I'd add that in 22yrs of playing, 17yrs were bass & that includes the early important ones. One thing which wasn't mentioned was that *sometimes* guitarists make terrible bass players. Not always but they can do. I think there are examples of the worst guitarist playing bass but it's pretty rare. I picked up my guitarists tele after a few rehearsals and played a few riffs. He was blown away, "How did you do that?". I've never played in front of him since - I figure it would only go downhill!

A good laugh but I wonder how much of it is made up. Didn't see my band!

Welcome to Basschat. I have a little portable Kustom amp and they are surprisingly good. Not aware of any other Serbs but we are fairly well represented Globally and not everyone has stated their background

A few random thoughts from me; I always try and get on with the soundman. They know the venue and they know the PA. If you know your gear let them take care of what they do. The lead instruments are always more important than supporting instruments in the eyes of your average gig going punter. I've done a bunch of gigs on mandolin and I never expect anything more than a line check. Guitars take longer when the band use pedals. Guitarists who are effects free tend to spend much less time soundchecking. Think about it. Regarding the OP, the singer might just like your Jazz Pete... I have had loads of band mates past and present state preferences over certain gear, and vice versa. I must confess having said all of that, I play bass in a band where the role is very much "back room boy" - all of this may be different if you are soloing and very much upfront in the mix. That said, I do have a couple of walking lines but the band sit back and they always cut through fine.

Mark sold me his Wizard Trad pickup and in the finest tradition of good Basschat transactions threw in an old bridge to help me with my vintage mojo Fender P I'm planning. Top bloke.

It has to be a CIJ 62RI as everyone else has already said. Seriously good basses and some real bargains out there.

Welcome to Basschat

Lozz - You're not in The Daves with Andy & Lee are you? Oh & welcome to Basschat

[quote name='JTUK' post='846292' date='May 24 2010, 10:07 AM']Not a good idea to reform, even for a reunion, mostly, IME. If the guys have been busy in that time, then you'll likely have met up before on a gig at some point, but if they haven't played hardly at all...I'd steer well clear and it would be a recipe for ..I was going to say disaster, but maybe dissapointment is a better word. I recently did a 20th anniversary so the older players that they used through that time came out to play. I wasn't there at the beginning of the formation but the old muso turn out was quite good.. Unfortuately, the playing wasn't and the name of the band is still working, so this was not at ALL helpful if seeing them for the 1st time. Nice idea and sentimental and all that...but a musical flop... If it is fun and a joke, then ok...but beware...[/quote] Although a little downbeat, I tend to agree with JTUK here. You have to bear in mind different people want different things. If everyone sees it for what it is and is coming from the same angle then it's fine / good fun, anything else and you may open up a can of worms. One thing nobody has said is everbody looks so much older (grey / bald / fat etc) but has fantastic kit!

My old punk band The Ex-Boyfriends split in January 1998 & we managed 2 rehearsals in March 2010, so a year behind you Spike. The guitarist remarked that he was the only one with the same original guitar... I remarked that I was the only one with the same original wife!

I suspect most of us have had this but it's also an opportunity for people to pass judgement on whether I'm deluding myself thinking about placing a bid. There are sellers who advertise elsewhere so it's not the most annoying EBay trait - other people posting on here probably has more advantages than disadvantages.

I've done both and it depends on the band. It's very satisfying contributing to the band but I've worked with 2 songwriters now who have tried writing parts and in one case even telling which bass I should be playing. If what they say genuinely works I am happy to shelve the ego and go with the flow, if they are an over opinionated idiot then I look elsewhere. Bands come & go so there is always a chance to be more creative next time and if the bands ideas are good, you can learn something. If not, get out now. That said you are currently working on existing tunes, it could get better when the new stuff starts coming into play

My Dad was a pro session drummer in the 60s and most of what he played on he described as dreadful. By contrast I have mostly played on stuff I really liked but lacked the status and cash rewards of sessions. I think I'm a one trick pony but in my defence I do the one trick pretty well. If I didn't have other aspects of life I honestly don't know if I'd turn my hand to trying to learn styles like Jazz and Funk - I think I'm happy where I am but would like to be better within the context of what I play. I did a bass session for Total Guitar back in the mid 90s and was picked because they wanted a certain feel. I was really honoured to be asked. I still have the CD of the session. It was only this year that again I got asked to do a second session (with a soul singer, not the same magazine). Again, just happy to be asked. I think the occasional ego stroke is enough for me and I readily admit there are much more adaptable players out there.

Hello Stan, welcome to Basschat

I wouldn't do it regularly or loudly but it can be done and can sound fine / good. Obviously the better the speakers the more chance you have of not blowing them.

[quote name='Shaggy' post='843807' date='May 21 2010, 08:29 AM']You've got quite enough Precisions, matey! Parts seem to be much easier to source from the US for some reason, more of a market for "breaking" old basses. There's a guy in the UK does supplies them that Chris Beedster put me onto, I'll dig out his email for you - not cheap though.[/quote] Thanks, that'd be great. I'm not in a position to buy yet but I fancy doing something in the future. I have a neck so I'm at least out of the starting blocks!

Will bought a pickup from me, a smooth prompt transaction that was in keeping with the finest of Basschat deals! I would not hesitate to deal with him again. Cheers, Tim