Conan

It's nice to be desired! You have PM!

Mighty impressive! What's really cool is that your right hand hardly seems to be moving, yet there are many notes!! Maybe there is something in this "technique" thing after all! Lovely laid-back latin groovage too!

[quote name='EdwardHimself' post='818992' date='Apr 26 2010, 10:27 AM']No, i was born in newcastle but i actually live in Hull.[/quote] OK. So I totally wasted my time with that post about the jam night then? Such is life I guess!

[quote name='EdwardHimself' post='818975' date='Apr 26 2010, 10:18 AM']Unforturnately there seems to be a distinct shortage of people to have a jam with in this area...[/quote] You're in the North East yeah? There are several open-mic/jam nights in the area. One I know of pretty well takes place on the first tuesday of each month (so that will be next week) at the Ship pub under Byker Bridge in the east end of Newcastle (Now called "Ouseburn"!!). The exact mix of each night depends on who is in. The "house" band is predominantly blues/rock but over the years there have been musoes of almost every description you could think of! Well worth popping down if you get the chance!! You never know who you might meet down there...

Keep an eye on the amps and cabs for sale thread on here - there really are some stupendous bargains to be had every so often. I'm not sure I would ever buy brand new again TBH... Everyone on here will recommend what they use of course, which makes sense as they have first-hand experience of how it sounds, how heavy it is, potential problems, etc. Most of my experience is with Trace Elliot, and I would recommend that whole-heartedly - but I also have had very positive experiences with Ashdown and Ampeg.... Gallien-Kruger are very well respected in that "upper-mid" range as well. On the other hand, some of the other gear that will no doubt get touted at you is silly prices! I'm sure it's great, but is it really twice as great as the mid range gear? I know that MY ears probably couldn't tell the difference! One thing that seems to be pretty unanimous is that Behringer bass gear is NOR very good (understatement!). So almost everything will sound better than your current set-up I suspect! If you're ever down in Newcastle, come round and have a try of my Ampeg/Ashdown stuff!

On the transport side, it is possible to use a taxi - but obviously if you see the project as a money generating exercise this will eat into your profits! Most cab companies have one or two estate cars in their fleet so make sure you ask for one of them in advance. I've gone down this road before (pun intended) when I've had a gig and fancied a beer or two...

Yup, it's looking pretty tough Eddie! By the sound of things, you just don't have much to offer a working covers band! No offence meant of course, but you've got to be able to get to gigs/rehearsals and ideally have your own backline that is powerful enough to cope with some fairly large rooms without PA assisitance. I'm not saying that you've got no chance - but you are narrowing your options down massively unless you can get some "own gear and transport" sorted. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news mate! :wacko:

You can't go wrong with this one!! [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=85542"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=85542[/url]

Yuck. Can basses get cancer? Serious question for the vintage brigade - when the finish is as different to the original as this one, would a decent clean-up and even a re-finish cause the guitar to lose value? Is is worth more in this awful state?!

[quote name='silddx' post='816370' date='Apr 23 2010, 03:53 PM']...jazz makes me all jumpy and nervous, or in the case of being at the Ealing Jazz festival listening to trad jazz, just angry [/quote] Brilliant! I thought that was just me!!

That's a pretty awesome selection of biscuits there guys! Something for everyone. You lot certainly know your gear! Impressive!

[quote name='keving' post='816084' date='Apr 23 2010, 12:35 PM']I think everyone can benefit from playing outside their comfort zone every once in a while.[/quote] Absolutely! But I think the difference in this thread is when we are talking about professional musicians. If someone is a pro in a certain genre of music, does that preclude them from playing (or more particularly, getting [b]paid[/b][i][/i] for playing) a different genre? Some people would seem to think so. To me, its all music - and if you make your living playing music it's your choice what you choose to get involved in. Most pro bass players do not seem to be in the privileged position of being able to be choosy though!

[quote name='MB1' post='815121' date='Apr 22 2010, 04:08 PM']....Keep your eye on the Basses for sale Section. And Buy LOCALLY! wherever possible! [/quote] Great advice! In this price bracket you can get some genuine bargains as well as some horrific, almost unplayable wrecks! By shopping locally you can try each individual bass, as quality control at this end of the market is notoriously variable! Depending on where you are, there may even be a friendly basschatter who would come with you to check out second-hand basses in your area! If you try one and don't get on with it, walk away. Good luck!

[quote name='Faithless' post='815921' date='Apr 23 2010, 10:54 AM']People always find a chance to express their opinions towards something, even it is not asked/discussed in the main theme.. Cheers,Faith[/quote] Such is the nature of internet forums/fora.

Garrison only got the WH gig because I told her I was too busy with my free-form Jazz Odyssey project.... Seriously though, who would turn down the chance to be Whitney's touring bassist?! FFS. Or is it better to play in no-longer-smoky jazz clubs to 50 cool cats who are too far up their own arses to even appreciate what you are doing? :wacko: Hmmmm. Sorry. That turned into a bit of a rant didn't it? :blush:

I would have thought that if you use lighter strings, the tension will not change that much? So the pull on the neck should be about the same?

Er.... isn't that "the Iommi"?

[quote name='Happy Jack' post='814626' date='Apr 22 2010, 08:46 AM']If you're great then you'll sound great, if you're crap then you'll sound crap.[/quote] Absolutely no point me getting one then!

Too many bloody cynics on here! Sometimes people are actually being truthful - especially when they advertise on here, because the level of BS detection is so high! Which is a good thing of course...

Hiya Rich! Your comments about Status/Slap/L42 made me giggle! Enjoy.

I can't play "floating thumb" style, so with no pick-ups where do I put my thumb?!

There was an extremely light Prosebass custon job for sale on here a few months ago.... I don't know what happened to it? Good price too if I remember correctly. EDIT: here's the link. Sold, I'm afraid but it shows what is possible! [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=79935"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=79935[/url]

[quote name='ben_hoggard' post='808717' date='Apr 16 2010, 06:00 PM']I'm in two minds about the Markbass gear. I had my heart set on a cmd 102p, went to the shop to play about with it and it wasn't right for me at all. I did try the Little Mark 250 and was very impressed though...[/quote] Which just goes to reinforce the importance of trying gear out before you buy! Even reviews can be misleading as we all hear tone somewhat differently.... I feel your pain though about the distance of decent music shops. Oh for a BassDirect in the North!