theplumber

Not really... He has a sleep disorder and other health issues. It would devistate him to have to pack it in. Hopefully he can manage to carry on.

Agreed...we all make mistakes! I can see us just carrying on with the current set. As mentioned we move about the place and have enough gigs to get on with. I have joined another band as well and they really only gig about 20 to 25 times a year. Two bands are enough for me!

I have actually joined another band with about 20 gigs so far this year... So no complaints about having to learn more stuff! Bring it on! It's all worked out between the two bands so no clashes of dates. I can see us just plodding away with the current set but I will be having a good think about what I want to do next year.

Is it not a good aid to keeping the memory sharp? I heard it is. Plus and I forgot to add it's good for our mental health playing and listening to music.

Yes our keyboard guy is the same! I suggested Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick a while back and he said wow that's a hard bass line !! Lol I said just learn the keys and I will do the rest! Then he went on about the different sounds he would have to programme in and the production on the record.....I fell asleep at that point! But yes he can't see the wood for the trees at times!

He does't struggle as such. He has what you would call senior moments! We do Life On Mars and last time we played it he blanked a bit during it..he stopped playing for a couple of seconds then picked it up again. Certain songs you can get away with it others not so... He say's he has to go over most if not all of the current set before every gig. I pick out some songs that I maybe have not played for a bit or not played well enough ( for my liking lol) He is really trying hard it has to be said. The band seem to have been playing most of the songs for about 7 years! So they really don't want to change!

Been in a covers band for about a year and a half. I have got to know the guys pretty well by now. We are all in our 60's and the oldest,the keyboard guy has just turned 68. The band has been going for about 7 years and during this time they have settled in to a set of songs which cover our weekend gigs and allow the set to be changed slightly each gig. It's pretty clear now that we need a few more songs to keep it fresh as they say! During a conversation after a gig the other night it was made clear by the keys guy that he really wasn't in to any new songs coming in as he feels we have everything covered and that the band was super tight...which it is. The rest of us tried to push him a bit in to being open to at least running over some ideas.He then said he would but it may take some time as he is struggling with our current set and mistakes have started creeping in now and again. In all fairness we all make the odd slip up from time to time. But after having conversations with him on the way home it seems his general health isn't that good at the moment and he would prefer using his practise time to keep on top of the current set rather than lose any ground by bringing in songs that will take up his time and headspace. We have had a chat and at the moment we are giving him the option of doing what he can to get through the gigs. There isn't any question of replacing him unless he feels he is no longer up to the job. Fingers crossed we get through the year as ther is over 45 gigs between now and December. Anyway...anyone else in similar situation with band mates or indeed themselves. I am 63 in a couple of weeks and hopefully have a few years still left in me! In fact I have joined another band and have a bundle of other songs to get on with! Now...where did I put my bass!!..

Why do you need a manager? Can you not handle the bookings amongst the band?

Why?

That band doing the Irish stuff seemed familiar!!!

I wasn't expecting much and it didn't disappoint....😂

Oh dear......oh dear!!

When I tried out the bass and pointed out the issue..in my opinion of the neck he came back and yes it's Mexican! I said rubbish I have recently owned two Mexican made p bass and they were brilliant in every way! He said no I mean a few of the Mexican bass guitars recently had issues with the necks! From what I understand from one of the other comments it seems that the NM bass has jumbo frets and its the edges that I felt rather than fret sprout. If that is the case I really would have to try out another one just to see if that is the case. I am used to a nice neck profile and smaller frets on my Squier Classic Vibe guitars and was disappointed with the feel of the end of the frets.

The point of playing the bass was to give me an idea if one crops up second hand what the bass would be like.To be honest that particular guitar wasn't up to scratch but there are plenty more out there.........

I agree.. I had a Classic and Vintera 50,s bass guitars and they were top notch.

Was in Glasgow today and I took a run in to Merchant City Music. I have been looking online at the Nate Mendel Signature p bass as it seems to fit what I am currently looking for in terms of look and neck size! I currently use 3 of the Squier Classic Vibe range and the fit and finish is superb! Also the neck is a perfect fit for me and to top it all..they sound great! I had tried out a Nate Mendel before lockdown but went with the Player series instead. I seem to remember that the player series was around the £600 mark and I believe the NM was about £850. They have a NM in stock at £1399! To be honest I wasn't going to pay that money anyway but just wanted to lay my hands on one to see if it measured up and I would have been looking around for a second hand version!. It certainly looked the part..roadworn but not dragged behind a car type of thing. But when I picked it up I was shocked! The guitar sounded terrible and the fret ends stuck out all up and down the neck! They were jumbo type frets but that said they felt horrible! If I was blindfolded I would have said I was holding an old Westfield!! The young salesman came up and asked what I thought and I pointed out the neck...ah he said! It's Mexican!! Bloody hell!! Seems a lot of the recent Mexican bass guitars are like that. I had a look at a Vintera series and in fact had a feel of a few of the necks on other makes and nothing came close to how bad the neck was on the NM. He said we might have to get the tech guy to have a look at it! Anyone own a Nate Mendel bass and what like are the necks....It was like trying to play a ladder!!

Pointless...

I never bothered with the neck or nut width before getting the Vintera/Classic P bass. Seems they are 44.45mm. How do you find yours? I got hold of the Godin and it's 38.1mm jazz size I think! That seemed to suit me better. Had a look online and seen there was a lot of difference between the P bass nut width. My Player series worked for me but at the moment the Squiers are perfect! Well at least I know what to look for when I get hold of another bass....lol

Played in George Sq,Glasgow for the Winterfest. The usual market and funfair Chrimbo stuff. Very busy and great atmosphere. Was not looking forward to it at all due to worries about parking and the gear we had to use on shared stage. No worries though,all good with a decent onstage sound and seems it was great out front! Many thanks to The Clutha Trust for asking us! I played through a Line 6 combo using my Squier Classic Vibe P bass which is deffo living up to the hype! Loving it!

If it works for you why not. I prefer to hear bands playing everything live for good or bad. But it does open up a lot of tunes that you might not be able to cover. Getting a keyboard player can help but getting a good one is hard! Never played in a band that used backing tracks but di a jam night with a drum machine and it was a bit of a joke!

Keep music live lol!