Cat Burrito

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

Unfortunately Greg it means it's broken & you should allow me to take it off your hands for you Looks great - I've been GASing for a stripped 70s body for a while but I can't find any sellers wishing to trade in magic beans!

Just caught the update from yesterday... ...Sadly I think this is typical of a lot of bands. They obviously (& I'm being diplomatic here) had one vision that they all shared and you have a different perspective. This happens. I do feel the way they have tried to go about it sounds very weak and cowardly (put a few feelers out but keep you in just in case they don't get a bite). Better off out of it. When bands are this picky they tend to call it quits a few months down the line - I think they are trying to achieve an ideal where everybody wants the same thing rather than accepting compromise is King in a happy band. Good luck to you & in some ways good luck to them too. I think you are better off out of it & rightly should see this as an opportunity to platform into something better. I wish you well.

Welcome to Basschat

I was lucky & found a stunning Seymour Duncan antiquity on Ebay for £28. This is in my 51RI - I liked the stock pup but I couldn't pass up this bargain. If you want to save a few quid I have the Fender 51RI pup that i'd post to you for £15. If not no worries but I always felt it would be a great upgrade for a Squier.

Silly

[quote name='OutToPlayJazz' post='840266' date='May 17 2010, 10:00 PM']Mr.Classic & Cool seems to have quite a few 80's models knocking around at the moment. Would you guys say that his prices are generally reflective of the market, or is he a little on the over-inflated side?[/quote] I think to a casual observer he can appear over-inflated (only slightly) but I've spoken to him a couple of times and been to his house / met him etc. He's offers a A1 gold star service with instruments set up how you want, stuff taken apart and he only trades in stuff in top condition. That P-bass Clarky mentions is a shade high but he does other stuff more sensibly. My 1978 P-bass was with original till receipt, still had the old strings and was a musuem piece, all for £1500. It was the condition and the guarentee that I felt came with the price as much as the bass. There were similar basses around but with replacement parts and questionable histories for only a couple of hundred less. He's also a bass player (so rubbish name for the company!) and prefers dealing in basses as opposed to guitars. I bought an Ampeg SVT USA head that I personally thought he'd underpriced but I didn't want to embarass him so just paid what he asked

Every outdoor gig I have done has been covered stages - has the promoter confirmed that this is NOT the case? If the weather is that bad they won't run it & amps normally sit back where it is most protected

Our ones were done in France as it worked out cheaper. The singer found the company just through a Google search - I can't recall the name of them though. If you want it, PM me & I'll ask the singer

Personally I wouldn't charge mates but it's a valid point. I'd maybe do the session but stress at the end that it is a last time and "we" all need to move on. It's a difficult situation. Bands do fall out sometimes & it's always funny a few years down the line as it always sounds so petty looking back. At least that's my experience. Sounds like they picked the first person who came along rather than the right person.

I'm a real traditionalist so probably very little fine tuning from me - a fancy colour is probably about as far as I'd go or maybe if I was feeling all out wild I'd change the scratchplate. I think I need to sit down after all that!

Thanks guys

I played this & it was fantastic [url="http://www.classicandcoolguitars.co.uk/basses/83poly.htm"]http://www.classicandcoolguitars.co.uk/basses/83poly.htm[/url] Less of a vintage vibe than my 70s bass but I was sorely tempted I'm sure they will be future classics

I'm thinking of trying some flatwounds on my Rickenbacker and wondered if anyone else did? I have flats on my Precisions but wondered what the Rickenbackers sounded like with those strings.

[quote name='Musicman20' post='840062' date='May 17 2010, 07:32 PM']BUT, the caveat is, Bass will always be No 1.[/quote] Indeed

Just as an aside, my Dad was offered the gig playing drums on the maiden voyage of the QE2. He turned it down and went back to college. What a missed opportunity, I'd love to do it

I played a bit of guitar the other day for the first time in months; really enjoyed it. I also play my mandolin & banjo periodically. I have little time for snobbery around other instruments - it's all good to me!

I don't know that I'd use the word dull as the bands obviously have some success. A lot of what I like is simple playing; root, fith with a few simple runs. Although there are a lot of funk & jazz fans on this site I like straight rock n roll and country so if anyone's looking for advanced harmonics on unusual frets, I think you might be in the wrong place!