Conan

[quote name='Adrenochrome' timestamp='1490178243' post='3262825'] Whether you do covers or originals, IMO it only works when you can put songs across convincingly with confidence. If the typical pub setlist is your thing, then play it loud and proud! Don’t let people tell you that you CANNOT have successful paid pub/club gigs if you break away from the usual though. In recent years I’ve gigged songs by Opeth, Lady Gaga, Alice In Chains, Nine Inch Nails, Depeche Mode, Black Stone Cherry, Flock Of Seagulls etc as well as a couple of original numbers, all with success and repeat bookings. But you can’t do material like that half-heartedly, play it like you mean it, take care of the details, get anyone who possibly can singing harmonies, don’t miss out the tricky bits of songs or take short cuts. [/quote] I like your style! Ever play in the North East of England?

I hate these thread titles!! I automatically assume that the person referred to has died! Great stuff though!

[quote name='walbassist' timestamp='1490175801' post='3262783'] So it's not playing covers per se that you don't like, it's the kind of covers being proffered by this particular band? If that's the case then I'd keep looking for a band that matches your choice of genres better. [/quote] Indeed. And this is why I have just formed a covers band playing material that I like, enjoy playing, and has an audience. I know that it has an audience because when my previous originals band played a few covers (in this genre) they always went down well and got people up/interested. Sadly, the original material rarely did so. What wonderful genre is this, I hear you ask? Well, it is a difficult one to pin down exactly, but predominantly pop/punk/new wave stuff from the late seventies up to around the mid nineties. Interesting, quality songs from a wide range of acts including The Stranglers. Joe Jackson, Martha and the Muffins, Bow Wow Wow, The Mission, Tom Petty, Talking Heads, Julian Cope, The Jam, The Cure.... Not that I would object to playing in a popular covers band playing more predictable material, but that's just not what I fancy at the moment. Also, thinking about it, a lot of pub audiences comprise people in their forties and fifties. The music they listened to when growing up is mainly from this period. Obviously, you can't please all of the people all of the time, but it's a start. In the originals bands, all the work was done in rehearsals and it takes ages to get songs right. With covers, everyone does their homework in their own time and rehearsals are simply for polishing arrangements, harmonies, keys and stuff like that. It is a much more "efficient" way of working IMV. I may well find that after a while i yearn to play original material again - but if it involves playing gigs (which we generally have to pay for) to "crowds" numbering less than a dozen; then frankly I'm not holding my breath.

Depends on your motivations. For me, I would rather play to decent crowds of people enjoying themselves. If you can't get that from originals bands (and i never could) then covers may be an answer. Maybe not a permanent answer, but it may at least be a welcome change. Give it a try. What have you got to lose?

[quote name='Dave_the_bass' timestamp='1490090357' post='3262014']Main reason for quitting was the singer. He had delusions of grandeur on a band level and delusions of adequacy for his vocals/stage presence. [/quote] I hear you. I recently quit my originals band (after seven years) for exactly the same reason. Oh and he was a tw@t as well.

Herbie Flowers? Also, listening to Ron Blair's work on early Tom Petty albums, I would say that he used flats on his (1964) Jazz bass. What is a taboo?

I thought prog already had a bad name?

Cheers

I have a similar problem with my MIM Fender Geddy Lee Jazz, so these suggestions are useful. Where would one get these shims of which you speak?

I'm not sure I really have a "tone". I change the sound to suit whatever band and/or song I am working with at the time. Generally though, Fender (or similar) Jazz bass with both pickups, and tone, on full. Amp settings fairly flat or with a boost to the mids. Very little distortion/crunch/grind (call it what you will!). I can't actually think of anyone else with a similar core tone. I'll give it some thought though... Maybe Jonas Reingold...

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1489752797' post='3259456'] With this method do you think you will have booked your initial 12 paying gigs within the 6 months time limit? Blue [/quote] To be fair Blue, that is[b][i] your[/i][/b] arbitrary measure of success. I'm not sure many others on here would be so specific. What if it takes seven months? What if there are only 11 gigs? Or if one of them is not paid? Would that make the band start-up unsuccessful?

[quote name='peteb' timestamp='1489740878' post='3259305'] Sometimes it's better to go for a superior frontman over a better singer. [/quote] Agree totally.

[quote name='Chris2112' timestamp='1489689327' post='3259037'] ...that dreadful bass tone in 'Handy' by Wishbone Ash [/quote] [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNJqVW2L5is[/media] I quite like it, but it is playing more of a lead/solo role than most of his more normal bass sounds...

You can (shock, horror!) even try roundwound strings on a P bass.... Try nickel plated ones if the stainless steels are too bright.

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1489746318' post='3259365'] 1. Pick a genre that I like that also has a dedicated ready-made following. [/quote] Ah, but that's the awkward bit isn't it? Try something too "new" and it will be difficult to find your own niche. Make it too similar to existing bands and you will always be accused of ripping off someone else and will end up competing with them for gigs. Also, to be fair, it is near impossible to tell how much of an audience a particular genre will have in your local area until you actually try gigging that material. By that time you could have invested months in the process of finding musicians, rehearsing and tracking down suitable gigs - not to even mention attracting/informing that potential audience and getting them there on the night. It's one of the main reasons why I have decided to go down the covers route for now. Playing a few covers in my previous originals band gave me a good idea of the type of songs that went down well at gigs. Also, the covers circuit tends to have existing venues with their own "captive" audience - people who go to the Ferret and Firkin every Friday because they know there will be a band on, and in most cases they will be decent. It is a massively frustrating business!

Having just recently formed a covers band, I would say that there is some excellent advice in this thread - but at the end of the day every band is different because it is made up of individuals, and individuals are different. Everyone has different skills, experiences, desires, expectations... You'd think it would be simple, but no

[quote name='pete.young' timestamp='1489611370' post='3258416']....ram-a-llama ding dong? [/quote] Alpacas are quivering with fear just reading that!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSbBvKaM6sk

When in doubt - Basschat! [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/302114-sold-emg-bqs-3band-plus-active-pups/page__p__3257481__hl__emg__fromsearch__1#entry3257481"]http://basschat.co.u..._1#entry3257481[/url]

[quote name='Osiris' timestamp='1489578635' post='3258053'] I think I've just answered my own question! [/quote] I agree!

[quote name='fleabag' timestamp='1489575772' post='3258017']Gen 2 compact was it seems, the super fifteen, conan [/quote] No, the Super fifteen was a 2x15! More like an updated version of the Vintage, which was designed and voiced to be used with full-width valve amps. I used to have one (a Vintage that is) - outstanding cab!

[quote name='Thunderbird' timestamp='1489574775' post='3258005'] I think Aldi batterys are called Activ power [/quote] Perfect in an activ bass then!