JTUK

Not too bad... but harder than it was. We do about 2 a month in the winter and the summer gets better. I have a few guys that put things together so it wouldn't be hard for me to blag a gig here and there if I wanted to. This sort of thing requires foresight as well...it is less easy to pick up a gig for next week but once you become 'available' again..this will work through and you'll get work. But you can't turn on and off in this mode. You stop being available and the calls dry up. As for pub gigs with the regular band..we have a good name but not such a well known one as yet as only been going for just over a year. I find it hard to get through on the phone to some landlords but I am not pushy, talk them round and can back up mostly what I tell them we will do. As a new band, I say we may not have a local following but they can have any references from any venue we have played. We aren't 20 anymore and know that a full venue is a good gig for the owner..he doesn't care how great you are, he needs to sell off you. That said, when the chips are down, I say give us a chance..we are cheap for a starting gig at £200 and I'll back us against his top drawer playing-wise. That sounds arrogant but I am backing ourselves as well.... most business people don't see this as cocky, they see it as confident. We have managed to get into the better pubs that way. By the same token, we have to be cheaper to get the 1st in..as I admit we aren't a local draw as yet. I tell them if they have passing trade, we will keep them... I know what and who we are up against so I am trying to be straight with them. I don't want to play to an empty pub anymore that they do so a straight talking approach seems to work. What we have found is that if we time the enquiry right..most landlords book for the year..so you can get 4 gigs in one call. They may INSIST on you not playing any local competition pubs though so if you go down this route you need to get into that town's best venue. I have been happy with this approach by and large. We only use one agent and they specialise in Originals, so that set will probably have to be subsidised by the cover's gigs but we aren't interested in playing for nothing so will again have to see how that approach works. Pubs around here pay from £150-300. We start at £200 but for a very decent sounding place make take a little hit on that but mostly I tell then thanks, but no thanks. We aren't chancers IMV, and try to put that across. The last time we did that in the early days of gigs, we made sure the landlord was straight enough to pay us a bonus. They are taking a chance on you as well... When all is said and done... you are only as good as the beers you sell in a pub..and pubs round here see a nightly turn over of £2000 plus as very good. One or two boast £6000 ( VVVG ) so you can see that there is money about and every pub and his dog now is doing a beer festival. The best events turn over £15000 plus after exes so we go for a min of £500 on these. So, yes...in difficult times, there are gigs out there around here and more pubs taking a chance ..not like the heyday though, but if you can do a decent turn there is work. I have heard the better pubs round here have a potential roster of 900 bands for 250 odd slots per year. Breaking into that can be hard but it should help raise your game.. As a newish band, this year is already looking much better and we will push the prices up a tad...or ask for a bonus for a good night. Our area is East Kent from the coast to the Medway so we don't factor in miles driven as we only drive for 30mins or so... as yet.

[quote name='silddx' post='1116878' date='Feb 5 2011, 07:29 PM'] J Retro might be a good idea actually! Got a U-R Deluxe in my other bass. I just stripped it, cleaned it up, gave it a gentle fret level, dress and polish. Servisoled the electrics, lemon oiled the board, and shimmed the neck a little bit as the saddles on the Badass had bottomed on the E and G. Loosened the truss rod a little, and strung it with the Black Beauties. Smooth as silk to play now, action is 2.5mm at the 12th, a bit higher than I'd like but I'll get used to it. Lovely, lovely bass![/quote] I wouldn't touch it until I had played it in for a few months... A John East is a good idea at some point, IMV but I'd explore the sonic possibilities fully first. I like basses that grow on you so providing you have everything in place and only feel tweaks are in order cosmetically, this all sounds very good to me...

I's say the chassis and cabs are not matched or tuned. You may have to tune the cabs for those speakers to get them to work at their best

[quote name='karlfer' post='1063219' date='Dec 19 2010, 08:07 AM']Can I play please? Mine from Friday night, Flying Shuttle, Bury. (I am actually selling the Precision, but couldn't resist a last outing with her ) Boy was that a journey home! Karl.[/quote] This strikes me as odd.... to stack a 15 on top of a 4x10...???

In these cases, it is like throwing mud against the wall... some of it will stick, you just have to get out there and find that one that works. The good thing is that you aren't desperate as you have many basses so you can be patient, but am not sure why it must be passive..?? Also, if Fender are so iffy for you..consider a passive/active super jazz. There was a pretty Overwater on here the other, IIRC, Burst, RW block and bound...though probably a 5 st

[quote name='Gunsfreddy2003' post='1117560' date='Feb 6 2011, 12:39 PM']Ok so I now have people all saying good things about East preamps, Tone Hammer, Sansamp BDDI, Sadwosky preamp and the Aguilar 924. Can anyone come up with a sensible suggestion as to which one to go for? Can't try them all!![/quote] I use East pres in Jazz basses and they keep it simple. Once it is installed you retain the option of passive should you need it, but you don't have any effects link faff. From a pre POV, they make my Tone Hammer redundant but you can still screw the tone if you use the extreme settings. Used pretty frugally, the East pre is a great boost/enhancer/tone shaper, and the mid sweep leaves you room to tweak things that..maybe.. a Sadowsky pre pedal wouldn't. Both use bass boost only, have 12bd +- on the treble, IIRC, but the East has a presence pull, which is not really useable for me, and the varable mid sweep. I'd say this shades it. I prefer usng the East rather than the TH, and don't think I would need the Sadowsky. All should be very useful peices of kit used well tho, IMV

Pack a bass to travel...???? pay [b]clarky[/b] to do it..he must have it cracked by now

[quote name='crez5150' post='787055' date='Mar 26 2010, 03:36 PM']Iconic bass guitar luthier teams up with Tanglewood for 'aspirational' mid-priced instruments Chris May, whose Overwater custom bass guitar brand celebrates 30 years in 2010, has teamed up with Tanglewood guitars to create Overwater by Tanglewood, a range of bass guitars designed and overseen by May. The initial launch at Musikmesse sees Tanglewood's new stand in the electric guitar hall showing four new models in the Aspiration series with prices ranging form £329 to £899. A fifth model will be added soon to bridge the gap between the £549 mark and the top of the range £899. Overwater basses (of which a fiver string model is pictured) are among the most revered in the world and are played by professionals in all walks of music, and May has been keen on getting into a more accessible price range for some time. "When Tony (Flatt) came to me with the idea, I knew the time was finally right," said May. "Tanglewood has an excellent reputation for its quality in the mass market of acoustic guitars and, importantly for me, is a British company. The development process has taken some 18 months, with May bringing in a team of experts in the luthiery business, including the pickup technician, Alan Entwistle, bass electronics 'guru' John East. "The beauty of the project is that Tanglewood told me to design the guitars, using the components and designs I wanted and then we would look at how much they would cost," May continued. "This meant we could consider everything very carefully." This is now the second project Tanglewood has undertaken with a top luthier, following on from the success with Michael Sanden and the Master Design series of acoustic guitars. Tanglewood has also launched a new range of electric guitars at the show (the Signature series), a new range of gigbags (Original Airline) and is showing its new Historic series acoustics.[/quote] With regard to this OP..I would be very wary of this tactic. It is the watering down of a marque, IMV...and a path many have gone down. I don't like to see it... but maybe it was a hard decision between trying to compete with more 'illustrious' luthiers and coming up short and cashing in and taking a back seat. It is s business decision that will live or die but I can't see it being good for owners of classic Overwaters.. Just my POV... maybe, in the same position, I would take the money and run. That is how it reads to me...

I can't believe GB would get this so wrong... and if they have had two failures to the same guy that is very unfortunate indeed. They aren't an amateur set-up, of course, and have a proven record built up over time which would be carefully cultivated But any bad pubilicity is undesirable... hmmmm... watch this space

If only I could spell-check..

Only our second gig of the year..due to unforeseen circs so we hadn't played for 5 weeks. We played well.... and had a very strong turn-out of local musos who all stayed the duration. That is a good sign and we had a nice chat with quite a few afterwards. I also think that this was some sort of turning point for the venue as there was quite a few people in the pub that would otherwise not be there. so the landlord's hardwork is starting to pay off. It is nice when a venue comes together. I was all for binning it but now I think it can reaslise its potential. So, yes..all things considered, pretty pleased so this will fire us up for the summer season

Oh, I don't know. I take a long time to buy as I am a very picky buyer so I don't often make a rash mistake and out gear quickly. Of my current stable, I can't see me selling apart from the Sei 5 which I have been umming about for ages... I made the decison that it can go...but over a year later..still have not put it up for sale. I use my other two constantly and there is currently one in these that I have been looking for for a long time. I don't think I have ever bought and sold a bass within a year but this place is the place of GAS.

[quote name='Doddy' post='1115468' date='Feb 4 2011, 03:39 PM'].............. Like I've said many times before,many of the best [i]musicians[/i] that I know are drummers.[/quote] Indeed..... best musucian ( by far, IMV ), I have ever played with is a drummer. At sound checks he would stop everyone in their tracks.

[quote name='leroybasslines' post='1115479' date='Feb 4 2011, 03:49 PM']Wahey! Another thread I can post pics of my new Lakland Skyline 5560 Custom in! Excellent news. Been playing it non-stop for a couple of days now, and I love it. A beautiful bass to play. [attachment=71130:photo1.JPG] [attachment=71132:photo2.JPG] [attachment=71133:photo3.JPG] Once I've had time to play with it, I'm going to put my J Retro 01 in it. Anyone else used a Retro in a Lakland? How'd it go for you if you have? Liam.[/quote] This is getting there..I love a Sunburst with RW blocks and bound. Big fan of Retros as well in Jazzes....I can't see that not working very well if you like the core bass sound.

depends on the talent....but most would say singer.

[quote name='alexclaber' post='1115336' date='Feb 4 2011, 02:29 PM']No problem! I'm not posting because I want to sell cabs, they sell themselves,.....[/quote] Actually, I'd say that is the exact reason you post here....you run a forum FCS...!! I personally dislike this type of pimping on forums but they aren't my house rules so....???? Of course, technology will improve and ratings incease...I just like to see main players use these in the market. I am sure it will come ...

Anybody want to print up a website with these figures for 500w 12" speakers. Its late and I can't find one.. Are they rated RMS at 500..or can just handle 500w amps which is not the same thing to me.

[quote name='Bilbo' post='1115039' date='Feb 4 2011, 10:48 AM']That 'unknown' percussionist was Trilok Gurtu from the US band Oregon. He is a genius. I recommend their cd Ecotopia. PS My bass teacher was a PR man and he knew I was a JB fan so got me a ticket for the Royal Festival Hall in the front row right in front of Berlin. I spent the whole gig watching Trilok. A stunning musician.[/quote] funny how these percussionists can get to you... Most compelling solo I ever saw was about 20 mins by Steve Thornton at a Ritenour gig. Also on that date was Ernie Watts, Abe L, Don Grusin and it was Thornton who stole the show. Alex Acuna on drums when I really wanted to see Gadd..but still.

[quote name='blind pilot' post='1115014' date='Feb 4 2011, 10:26 AM']WOW, It must be the season for it! Been chatting with our guitarist for a month or so now, As a band we are going nowhere, had to turn down gig offers, as the singer had a bad throat(again), they never remember to bring the rent money on time. We have GIVEN the drummer an MP3 player, filled with stuff we want to cover, asked him 2 weeks ago to make Lateralus his priority, and at the last rehearsal, had he done it....nope. We used to rehearse at a studio, and the drummer told us its hard learning new stuff as he has nowhere to practise. so we all chip in, rent a unit (more cost than rehearsal space) Has it improved NO, does he learn the stuff faster NO. Singer can never remember any of the lyrics - I am about 4 songs infront of the drummer and singer, Its just a waste of my money and time - we meet again this tuesday - I will be taking my towel! All the fun has gone for me, time for a new start. What really annoys me, Is that I had not played bass for 15+years when we formed a year and half ago, and I have worked my nut sack off learning our stuff, plus I have secured every gig we have played, I managed our twitter/FB page, I type up and laminate set lists, organised the artwork/banners etc - no one else does a thing - they just turn up and dont really play as well as they should! I am holding down 2 jobs, (average working day for me is 8 till 22:30) I have a wife, three kids, and yet I still find the time to make the required effort! I am out! GGGRRRRRR! sorry for the rant![/quote] Not much you can say about that..but if you are prepared to do all that, I would think another band would welcome your input. All the things you have listed should be the combined band effort...with the others chipping in to lessening the load.

[quote name='Musicman20' post='1114977' date='Feb 4 2011, 09:49 AM']Exactly! Trace watts are what I'm used to. I know these little Streamliners will be great but their wattage ratings are bizarre. Not that I'd need 900w anyway, and I can't understand anyone pumping 500 @ 8 ohms into a single 1x12.[/quote] If it was a good 500 watts then the 12" would jump...or it was a bloodsucking cab which I would think would be lacking in tone. There is no new physics here, no new laws invented, IMO.

Well, I don't know why they would find the time..but assuming some of them did, I can see a few plus points in being on a forum and a big minefield to dodge. There might always be some smart arse who is trying to trip them up..and IMV, some U.S sites are notorious for this, that I can see why you really shouldn't bother..rather than why you should. FWIW, I like his playing..I'll listen to his views and then decide if I agree...a bit like you have to do on here. There are opinions and opinions...and then there are agendas. You have to laugh at it sometimes..!! then go and do something more useful...