Franticsmurf

I have this one, and played it in duo gigs - not a note of prog in sight 😃 . Here, my partner in crime is helping me cope with the weight. It was very much a show thing as for what we did, there was no real need to swap instruments mid-song. I still have it. As far as I know, twin necked guitars were designed with the main instrument (the one most often played) on the bottom. In the duo, I usually played guitar but occasionally strayed into bass territory and it was fairly comfortable to play, albeit at the 80's fashion 'mid-chest' position. In later years I had the guitar side fitted with a Roland GK3 pick up feeding either a VG8 guitar processor or a GR33 guitar synth. I haven't seen this photo for a few years and I can see I'm playing through a Marshall JMP1 valve pre-amp (in the rack behind me) into a guitar amp. My Strat is ready for when my back gives in and I have to shed the Spirit 😃.

I used to run a Marshall JMP1 valve pre-amp into the effects return of my Laney Richter 7 to bypass the Laney's pre-amp. The band I was in played rock and blues and it gave me a nice gritty sound. The JMP 1 has 99 memory slots and a midi interface enabling me to change settings - I used this mainly to vary the level of the effects in the loop. Later, I added a Zoom rack multi FX unit and had this under midi control too. Very versatile but it was all getting too heavy to cart around (as I'd got myself a hernia) I retired it in favour of a TCE BAM200 and a couple of pedals. Recently I've been using an Eden Glowplug in the board which warms the sound up and is last in line before the amp. I don't like the sound of the Eden overdriven, but just before it begins to break up is a nice tone that I leave on all the time. It's a bit of a nuisance having to use a second power supply for the 15v it requires. Before writing this reply, I went and dug out the JMP 1 and I'll be playing around with that this morning.

1. Hulla (or 'The Hulla Band'). When I joined the band was called the Hullabaloo, named after the annual festival it organises and was created to play in - the Horton Hullabaloo. I suggested shortening it for other gigs. We currently play around 10 dates a year, all for charity and usually well attended. The set list is as varied as the line-up, which currently numbers 13 and includes bass, drums, guitars, ukes, keys, banjo, percussion and lots of fun and games. 2. Midnight Smoke. A blues and blues/rock covers band just getting back on its feet following losing two members to Covid. I joined last year with my mate on drums to take their place. I like the name, it seems to fit with the vibe of the band.

Hi Colin. I'd second the classic BBC Formula 1 theme ('The Chain' by Fleetwood Mac). The first bassline I played (before I even had a bass of my own - it was borrowed) was 'Flash' by Queen 😃. More seriously, go on Youtube and learn about the simple 12 bar blues progression. With that under your belt a number of songs will be available to play along to. There's a great techniques section on this forum, too.

Hi OOG, welcome to the site.

Welcome Videoangelus

Hi Steve.

Hi Kate.

Welcome Peter.

Hi Benavente.

Hi Aleksandra.

Welcome to the site.

Congratulations! (On the 'paternity' bit, not the 'first gig back'. 😃)

For me, I usually have spare leads (instrument, patch and mains), relevant batteries and strap buttons. A set of strings and a small passive DI box is in the bag with the bass. For the band, I usually have fuses and the inevitable gaffa tape. I'll sometimes take the TCE BAM200 head as a backup but the DI box enables me to go into the desk in the event of an amp or cab failure (the rig is usually 2 cabs anyway so there should always be one working). I would consider a spare bass for big/key gigs but if I'm honest, when I've taken two basses to a gig it's usually to spice up the stage a bit (the three piece band I was in didn't take up much room and could get lost even on medium sized stages). I've had an instrument lead go on me just before we went on, and the battery of my instrument radio transmitter died at the end of the first set once. I've never broken a string or had a bass fail for some reason that couldn't be fixed on the spot. As an occasional FOH sound engineer, I have fixed other people's instruments (loose jack socket, dead or buzzing instrument leads, loose strap buttons) which tends to influence my spares bag.

Hi Mike.

Hi Martin. There is no remedy for GAS, just distraction techniques and delaying tactics. 😃

We've all done it - haven't we? Soundcheck at a big outdoor gig with a new FOH guy. My Laney RB7 was sounding good. I finished setting my on stage levels and the sound guy plugged in his XLR DI cable. Went back to the amp a few minutes later for his soundcheck and while he was getting a nice signal and sound out front, the Laney was silent. Went to have a polite conversation with him to see what he'd done to my amp. Didn't want to make a big deal as he was doing the band's sound and we all know a disgruntled FOH engineer can make a difference. I left him with a mildly annoyed 'well it was working before you plugged your XLR in'. I went back to the amp. Noticed the volume control was at zero. Used it for its intended purpose and there was my on stage sound again. For some reason I'd turned it down after my stage check, something I don't normally do. Went back to the sound guy like a small school child and apologised. I think the gig was ok (we got asked back) but my memory is clouded by that one incident.

I acquired an Ultra Octaver late last year. It's not made the final board yet (it's bigger than the mini pedal it is going to replace) but I like the sound I'm getting from it.

Hi Rob.

Hi Leroy. welcome to the site.

May I suggest an alternative title 'When Slap Bass Goes Wrong' for the C5 market with guaranteed repeats on YesterDave. Slap goes wrong all the time for me, which makes me a truly talented bad good slap player. I think. 🤔

As a bass player, it seems logical that you want the SE to hear a representation of what you'll be playing. So a run across the fretboard makes sense. I would also demonstrate any specific effects that may alter the tone and/or volume (I'm talking synth or filter effects primarily) so the SE isn't trying to fix a problem that doesn't exist. I'm fortunate enough to never have come across such a beast, but I can picture the fun to be had by, say, playing with the bass volume turned down and insisting it's a problem with the FOH. 😃

I usually just play pentatonic scales or whatever song the band plays as a general sound check. We went through a period a few years ago where it seemed that at every club gig we played, the last song the DJ played before we went on was 'Simply the Best' so got into the habit of playing that bassline. I like the idea of playing Money - on of my favourite Floyd songs and one we occasionally play.

Every day I ask myself that question. 😃

EHX Electric Mistress. Took me ages to get a sound I liked that wasn't too over the top and didn't boost the bass excessively through the flange cycle (I have it on a slow rate). Then I got a one-off gig for an Eagles tribute and had to get a decent OTT flange sound for 'that bit' in Life in the Fast Lane. I ended up finding that sound in my MS60b. I don't use flange often (I'm more of a phaser phan.... er fan) but the Electric Mistress sits on the board just in case.