mep

[quote name='AndyTravis' post='982039' date='Oct 8 2010, 09:27 PM']Jazz Basses are utter crap... Precision Basses also have numerous design Flaws. Fender on the whole are gash. But if you choose anything more expensive, you're obviously some kind of bellend.[/quote] What does that say about Mark King & his Alembic bass then?

Musicman Stingray, job done.

Bring along a little practice amp and a cheap lead. Let the sound guy mike it up for them. You use your rig and blow them away. Keep doing that and they will get the message.

Let me know when there are 42 threads about Level 42. Where are all the Rush ones? How did you know I wasn't cool as a teenager as well?

[quote name='steve-soar' post='981936' date='Oct 8 2010, 07:32 PM']Hawkwind, circa 1975. [/quote] +1

I used to use a Boss 4 channel stereo mixer. A great cheap way of getitng over the problem. Now I just use my MM Stingray & Aria Pro 2 fretless, in the active & passive inputs on my TE AH200 head, and luckily I only have to turn up the input by one notch (1/2) for the Aria to match the volume of my Ray.

Search for and download [i]bucket o tab[/i] I've never used it but it's what most of the online tabs are created with, and it's free. Let us know what you make of it.

[quote name='charic' post='981507' date='Oct 8 2010, 12:51 PM']Or a compressor actually, or DI into the PA. Or all of the above![/quote] Try a compressor. You'll be suprised at the different tones you can get.

Good review. Glad to hear about a MM convert. Love the bass.

[quote name='lemmywinks' post='980420' date='Oct 7 2010, 12:07 PM']Just in case anybody who isn't going really wanted to, here's a quick summary of what the gig will be like: Clackety clackety, clickety clackety, clackety clack, clickerty clack. <lame singing> Clickety clackety clack, clackety click <lame singing> Clickety clickety clack, clackety clack, clackety clack, clickety clack <more lame singing> Lights go up[/quote] Let's not forget in the middle of the set the even lamer singing of Mike Lindup on keys doing his feature solo song!

[quote name='silddx' post='978222' date='Oct 5 2010, 12:33 PM']Did he contact you before opening the dispute? That's the first thing ebay/paypal will ask. Communication is EVERYTHING. Only a complete c*** will not respond to good, timely comms and gentlemanly conduct.[/quote] The 2 times I've had issues with sellers I tried my best to communicate as they suggest and left it the recommended time before submitting a claiam and then escalating it to a dispute. In both cases neither seller bothered to contact me at all. There are some right to55ers out there and those that jump straight into a dispute should be reigned in and held to account.

Your'e not playing a MM Stingray are you (only joking). There's enough been said about the G string on this forum! What bass are you playing? Presumably the problem is quite new and was not so bad or noticable before? Change your strings, change your tone settings, lower the pup under the E&A, get a Fat Finger. Never an easy solution.

Got the same problem when doing a search, hope it's sorted soon.

Our most commom opener has been Cigs & Alcohol by Oasis. It's easy & help get's you in to the mood for the gig.

[quote name='wateroftyne' post='973895' date='Oct 1 2010, 01:11 PM']You really believe that's the only alternative? I know some great covers bands who play pretty unusual stuff to rapturous audiences. In fact, what they're doing is widening the audiences' musical horizons.[/quote] I have done both and really enjoyed the original music I worked on in my younger days. I have them all on CD for nostalgia. When I got passed 30 I realised I was not going to make it big from being a professional musician doing the original thang. Like most other cover band bassists I have to hold down a job and have a family. I enjoy going out at the weekend playing live and seeing the reaction from enthusiastic audiances. We like to stamp our mark on songs ans do some unusual covers of covers that really please the audiance, sometimes you don't know them till the vocals come in. We are not fully prostituting ourselves but work hard to give the audiance something a little different that separates us from most of the run of the mill local cover bands. I also come home with a bit of a profit and have had a enjoyable night out to boot.

Make your own bass line up. That's what I would do. If you can't hear it and there are no decent tabs who is going to know? Just don't over play it.

1. Years ago I had my first decent P Bass copy nicked when I was down the pub. Never saw it again. 2. Loaded up the smallish PA in the boot of my maestro and shut the hatch door down on the corner of one of the cabs. Broke the window and had to use a blanket to try & cover the gap for the gig. Ended up buying a second hand hatch, respraying it and fititng it all by myself. 3. Left a small powered monitor (1 of a pair) on the pavement outside our flat. When we realised it was gone. 4. Left our duo gear setup in dodgy Southampton pub early. Went home, came back to find no guitars. Luckily the landlord hid them from the locals. Started playing and realised some clown had unplugged the monitors. 5. Left my Stingray in it's case in the driveway of our friends house where we once rehersed. Saw it as we drove out, stopped, got out and loaded into the car. Heart attack narrowly averted!

Some great comments here that cover a lot of ground. I've been doing bv's for some years now. For me it's best when I'm duplicating the lead part to beef it up. I'll have a go at other independant parts, and here it's confidence that's the key - just go for it. Some notes are easier to pitch for me. I'm lucky as our drummer does bv's as well and will do the part I can't do & viceversa. Your comment about learning the vocal line is me all over. If it isn't simple it takes forever to learn. After quite a few months I've only just remembered the backing to the chorus in Fire by Kasabian. I used to stick a bit of paper with them printed on to my mic stand. It's also a bit of a weird one to play bass with at the same time. The b line is simple, it's the timing. One other trick I learnt from an old band is to watch the lead singer as much as you can when doing bv's. We do Footloose and our singer gets the choruses mixed up quite often. I find it helps if I'm looking at him, even if it's the back or side of his head. If he get's it wrong he turns around and smirks in aknowledgement that I followed him ok.

[quote name='Kraken' post='970602' date='Sep 28 2010, 01:04 PM']All Sorted mep is a top man! BTW mep I think I may be playing down your way next june, keep an eye out for Thinking For Tuesday and I will buy you a beer (or two)[/quote] Glad you got the score ok. Always a pleasure tp help a fellow BC'er on their way. I'll look out for the gig, give us a reminder nearer the time, and the venue. If i'm not gigging I'll try and make it.

I love the comment [i]'that stage is so shaggadelic groovey baby yeah'[/i]

I have the score & tab for the whole album. Could scan it and send it if you want. Will have to wait for the weekend cos I'm gigging tonight. Last song in the set is Sweet Child. The score is great and you will almost sound like Duff!

I have a mini-stack with 2 cabs so not bothered.

The volume pot in my EBMM Ray has been playing up for some time now. First it would crackle when turning the knob if a signal was going through it. Last Saturday at a gig it stopped working on full. I gave it tap and a push and it came back to life and got me through the gig. That was it for me, especially as I didn't bring a 2nd bass. I went to the web site for Strings & Things, but no volume pot was advertised. I contacted them on Sunday evening through their web site and asked if they had a volume pot for sale. I got an email reply from Alex the next morning saying yes they do stock them, but do not sell them through the web site. He asked for my delivery address and phone number and said he will call me to take payment. I replied that evening, and the next day he phoned and took payment for £8 + £2.95 for recorded p&p. The next day it arrived and I quickly replaced it for my old one. I even put the date sticker on the back of the new pot, which is 05.09.91 for the record. I'm very pleased with their service and even more pleased to get my Ray sorted.

[quote name='Jean-Luc Pickguard' post='964265' date='Sep 22 2010, 11:24 AM']Playing originals in a pub to the staff, four punters and a dog but with your credibility intact is much better. [/quote] We you at our gig last Saturday?