oldslapper

[quote name='warwickhunt' post='799823' date='Apr 8 2010, 02:14 PM']or you could pick up a set of drumsticks... folks would have real low expectations then! [/quote] You gave me an idea, I've just played my bass with a drum stick....quite cool actually...anyone else do this?...sorry not on SC topic, but just had to try....

I think the Les Paul Triumph bass is the most rock'n'roll looking bass ever (...no, I don't know what that means either..), I'd love one, slung low as possible! The other SC's are a bit too sophisticated looking fer me, I'd be afraid people would think I knew what I was doing with one of those around my neck! Keep the look simple, lessen expectations.....

Congrats!

[quote name='Linus27' post='798460' date='Apr 7 2010, 10:29 AM']HEHE no, in fact Bono is quite laid back and total opposite to his real life counter part. My wife also thinks the work issue is the key to all this. She thinks that as I am not in a band, work is playing a bigger influence on my personality. When I was in a band she said I was totally different. Happier, full of life and energy and less stressed. In fact, she said work had no inpact at all on me when in a band where as at the moment it is quite considerably despite it being better now than it was before. This is why I think I need to give it another shot in a band and see how it works out.[/quote] Listen to the wife! Not a statement offered lightly by the way. I'm usually accused of ignoring what the mrs says..... Anyway, for what it's worth I gave up playing at the age of 33. got fed up with the "band" thing, disillusioned with the industry as a whole. Got a "proper job", did well, got promotions and a better income as a result, only touched a guitar if I had a mate round for a jam, or to play a silly song to my kids. However, the higher the promotion also brought more stress/pressure and I was very unhappy. Anyway 3 years ago, a mate of mine asked me if I would do some playing for him at an acoustic night, so I borrowed his bass and went along as a favour, and loved it. He asked me if I would take some of his bass students on (he's a guitarist and thought that bass should be taught by...a bass player??!). I've found some local bands (covers and originals) and rediscovered the pleasure of playing again, without the pressure to "make it". No one will have ever heard of me, I won't ever be held up as a bass legend, but who cares? Wife sees I'm happy again and says she would rather have a happy but poor bunny, than a grumpy stressed exec. So we looked at our "life style", made some changes and I gave up working "for the man" and now I make my living from playing/teaching.....not the sort of living many of you here make as pro players, I would never put myself in your class, but bugger I'm happy, even though my kids don't have laptops each, or TV's in their bedrooms, or go on exotic hols each year and we drive crap old cars. But my kids get my time, my wife has a happy oldslapper at home during the day to do the bl***y ironing and cleaning! I'm 48 and feel like I'm starting again. Anyway sorry for long story, but you will always have your bass/amp, there will always be an opportunity to play with others, if you look....but you will only have your kids at the age they are today for today. Make your choices that will give your family [b]you[/b], the real you. Listen to the wife mate, just the once.... Best wishes whatever you choose to do.

Thanks Greg for a great neck and a good laugh, cheers. John

Managed to creep into a couple of bands recently whilst the bass players where taking a leek! Gents quartet...... 4 piece (2 guitars, vox & me on Upright) see my link. Jazz outfit playing swing/gypsy/jazz/country swing. Hollywood Killers....complete opposite of above. Pop/punky/psychedelic, all originals. P bass slung low! Again see link below. Gig tomorrow night Exchange in Sturminster Newton. 8 piece function band called (embarrassingly) "cause for Concern"...although I did notice the name is used elsewhere by an all female band. Play the Young Farmers circuit in Dorset & Somerset. Playing usual wedding "fare" with my 5 string placed a little higher for added sophistication. This lot have no idea how to post up a web site, but get enough work to keep the bookings and money coming in. Occasionally play in a funk/disco band called Groovetube based in Dorset that have been going for 10 years, but they play so few gigs these days as everyone's too busy playing proper gigs now. (next one's in June!) Anyway there's another band with the same name in Cambridge. Play my 5 string in this too, slightly higher again, for added effect. Hoping that none of the above bands notice that the bass player is now 6' 4" and doesn't seem to know any of the tunes and plays everything in E.....think I've got away with it so far.

[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtgaWMEkUNk"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtgaWMEkUNk[/url] Abe, a legend in this genre........ J

[quote name='RhysP' post='793555' date='Apr 1 2010, 06:01 PM']The other side of the coin in this debate is that you can, and often do, end up with people playing styles of music they should leave well alone. I'm sure we've all seen pub bands that mainly play one style of music to an acceptable degree but then insist on throwing in the obligatory funk or reggae number with very often disastrous results. Part of being a decent player to my way of thinking is knowing your limitations (and we ALL have them, as much as some of you don't like to think so ). I dick about with slapping or whatever when I'm playing for my own amusement, but I know there are people out there that are much better at it than me. I'm not really interested in being a jack of all trades - I'm a pretty good player in the genres of music that most interest me and that's enough for me. There are plenty of highly regarded pro players out there who pretty much stick to one genre - I'm fairly certain that Larry Graham or Bootsy would be pretty sh*te Thrash Metal players, but that's not going to bother them at all. I once read a great quote from Billy Sheehan who said that "The things you choose to reject are just as much an influence on your playing as the things you accept" and I think that this is correct.[/quote] I largely agree with Mr Sheehan on this one. I know my limitations (and I am VERY limited ), but I guess it doesn't mean you can't have a go at something if you play it with people who know what they're doing???, but leave it alone if you ain't ever gonna nail it live. I don't like Muse particularly, but had to learn a couple of their tunes for one band because the rest were really enthusiastic Muse fans.....,I've nailed the bass lines, but I'd be crap in a Muse triute band coz there not my kind of "band", but I had a bit more respect for them after. Acid Country..............made that up, but it sounds like it could be a challenge?? "Achey Breaky Heart.......Aciiiiiid, Aciiiiiiid".............no?.......I'll get my coat

[quote name='Gust0o' post='793421' date='Apr 1 2010, 03:50 PM']If you'd pulled out the stuff in brackets from your last sentence, OTPJ, you'd have nailed my career [/quote] I'm not that bothered about the style/type/genre of music these days. It's more about the musicians I'm playing with. If they are convinced about what they are playing (i.e. enthusiastic, or know & love the genre) then I'll really enjoy it too. I hate playing music that I love with people who are less than enthusiastic about it, .....................................but then again not many people like "acid country" J

[quote name='cetera' post='790415' date='Mar 30 2010, 11:15 AM']That sounds like a Legend5 from 2004-2006. See here: [url="http://www.spectorbass.com/NewFilesNew/modelhistory_new.html"]Spector model history[/url][/quote] Thanks Cetera, looks like it. Have you any suggested pre amp replacements? So far J East pre amp seems to be a favourite. I had thought of EMG BTS 3 band?

Most of the gigs I play these days are with function/wedding bands, so don't get to play "public" events too often, but been asked to play for this band: - Jim Penfold and The Hollywood Killers, [url="http://www.hollywoodkillers.com/news.html"]http://www.hollywoodkillers.com/news.html[/url] Playing this Saturday at The Exchange in Sturminster Newton, Dorset. Should be a grin! Here's a link [url="http://www.stur-exchange.co.uk/event.php?event=277"]http://www.stur-exchange.co.uk/event.php?event=277[/url] The headline act Stopgosixty are a very good, local band attracting lots of interest. Check them out too. [url="http://www.stopgosixty.com/StopGoSixty/Home.html"]http://www.stopgosixty.com/StopGoSixty/Home.html[/url]

This is my first and only forum, it is a bit "family" like......people swapping ideas, having a laugh, getting a bit feisty with each other sometimes, and there are the "mums & dads" like Skank/OutToPlayJazz/Bilbo/PeteAcademy/Jakesbass/MrsTinman,, etc who are experienced bods in the bass world and who post a good thread. I'm a "once a day" man , and like to see what's what on here. I also like the fact that everyone's accepted, despite what gear you play, or how experienced you are, or how crap I am.... Addicted? probably.......but apart from the odd GAS attack, I could think of worse things to be addicted to.

Just received the best packaged bass ever! Great guy to deal with, thanks Jim, John

[quote name='cricriii' post='790234' date='Mar 30 2010, 08:32 AM']i think you should remplace HZ PU for active one then pull off préamp for an OBP1 or 2 or 3 ... that couple of PU/preamp rocks ![/quote] Thanks for the suggestion. I'll check that out.

Having just got another 5 string Legend (custom I think) very cheaply, I want to replace the pre amp. Any suggestions? It's got the usual EMG HZ pups (passive presumably), but bridge bucker and neck single coil, bass/treble stack pot, mid pot and 2 vols. On a side note, I'm amazed at how cheap these go for 2nd hand, given their comparable price new to a G&L Tributes which seem to have higher value 2nd hand. I've owned both a Tribby and Legends and both seem to have same manufacturing "quality" (probably out of the same factory in Korea). Very different basses in many ways, the G&L having an amazing arsenal of tones, but the Spector/EMG tone being very distinctive and a very playable neck (IMHO). Anway, any help on the replacement pre amp much appreciated, including anyone with something to sell? I'm falling in love with the Spector NS shape, and the EMG/Spector combo....not always been a fan of EMG bass pups, but they seem to work with this model. Ta, John

Just taken delivery of what I thought was a standard Legend 5 string. Bit of a punt, bought "blind" but I like them and it was a bargain. Quilted NS shaped body, H/bucker at bridge, single coil at neck, gold hardware, 5 bolt on neck and 3 band eq. I'll post some pics tomorrow. But I thought the Legends were 2 buckers, black H/ware and 2 band boost only eq. It's immaculate and sounds gert lush, very good tonal variation with the 2 pups, but I'm confused! Couldn't find a Legend with 3 band and gold hardware unless it was a "set neck" custom. Anyway as I said, not complaining.....I'm slowly converting to the Spector sound and will probably hunt down a Rebop/Euro when I've got some pennies. But in the mean time can anyone point me in the direction of some info on these please?? Ta John

[quote name='skampino' post='789549' date='Mar 29 2010, 04:00 PM']Skankdelvar: I took your advice and downloaded Audacity so it will help. Thanks :0) In answer to questions from others: No, I don't play in tribute bands. (Never have or would as I would get bored playing one genre). Yes we have a keyboardist (who also plays sax if we need it). I care about what other musos think of me as a bass player because I want to be regarded as damn good. I want to get as close to the original bassline as is possible in a live situation. If that's not for you, that's your perogative but it's not the way I prefer to approach covering someone else's music. I may well start another topic questioning improvisation! Here's a starter: If someone has to learn a bassline which has multiple runs and decides to just play root notes, is that improvising? I call it skimping, laziness or probably lack of ability to do anything else. What's your view?[/quote] Please don't misunderstand me, I actually do go for the original lines in all 3 covers bands I play in...the bass lines are played and recorded for a reason, so I play them as they are recorded, if my ability to play/read is up to it. My point is, I don't do anything to gain the approval of other musicians in an audience, I play because I enjoy playing. Best wishes with learning your tunes and hats off for going "true". Only other thing I would say is that "improvising" or playing your own interpretation doesn't always equate to laziness......there are many "covers" of tunes by artists/bass players that are well thought out, beautifully played and in some cases, an improvement on the original. Sorry to have caused you any offence dude! None was meant,

[quote name='skampino' post='789233' date='Mar 29 2010, 10:58 AM']I can't think of anything worse than gigging in a well established music venue and have the p*ss taken out of you by other musos who know you aren't playing the actual bassline.[/quote] By all means learn the "actual" line...they're usually played or written that way for a reason...I always try to, but please don't let your playing be guided by what you think some other muso might, or might not be thinking about your bass playing....who gives a crap? If you and the band have a policy of staying true to the original parts, that's reason enough. As has been said before, old Bill would have played the song many times and would have "gone off course" many times too, don't suppose he cared.......

[quote name='Ancient Mariner' post='789285' date='Mar 29 2010, 12:07 PM']But I'm probably also not typical of the breed, since I'm looking for more than someone to just provide a platform for me to solo over. [/quote] I think you're gonna get a lot of PM's from bass players asking you to join bands after that satement!! .......................where are you???