BottomE

Ooh some forgotten ones here. Protest Songs by Prefab Sprout meant so much to an angsty young BottomE. Tiffany's especially or Horse Chimes on that album. I really like the bass player too - very tasteful. Saw them live and they were knockout.

Awful in a word. Unusually it was booked through an agent - one of the few times we've use one in years. Had no idea of the audience which turned out to be a Masonic "social" night. We play a mainly soul/funk set which i suspect isnt their usual diet - the room was really bright, the peeps were really white and them and us just wasn't a good match. At one point a few people danced but i think they really wanted to hear Dire Straits, Chris Rea etc. On the upside the hotel manager used to work cruises, understood the biz and provided great food, salmon, club sandwiches, coffee, tea and water and was a nice fella. You win some and in this case you lose some.

Thanks chaps some avenues to explore. I remember it sounding "fizzy" and modern and very versatile. Been looking on YouTube and some of the demos have put me off a little bit so need to get hold of one and have a proper go.

Bought and sold a Lakland Skyline which had this setup: " Bartolini MK-1 split-coil soapbars and an MK-1 onboard, 3-band buffered, active preamp." Sold the bass as it was a 5 string and decided that 4 string is better for me but absolutely loved the sound and wondered if you clever folk knew of other basses that feature this as a standard setup? I know Lakland do a 4 string but just curious about other options. Google shows a bunch of Ibanez's but would be nice to hear your experiences.

[quote name='rogerstodge' timestamp='1453149196' post='2956920'] there's no way I would be in a band if I had to do 4 hour gigs.. Respect to you sir. [/quote] and respect to your back

Saturday night - was apprehensive due to it being mid January, cold night and first gig since NYE. Fortunately it was very busy and a really good crowd. We played pretty well too, some new tunes are bedding in and had a good sound which added to the enjoyment. Best of all i didn't lock my keys in the boot like on NYE so that felt like a win as well.

[quote name='Rusco' timestamp='1453141099' post='2956800'] Thanks for the replies. It happened in the studio. Our drummer was banging away relentlessly which kept moving his kit across the room. We (other band members) were discussing things between songs, [/quote] This would deserve a cucumber up the Khyber Pass more than the ding in the bass.

Hi James. Good place to have a look would be at the general state of the neck - does the Truss rod work, for example. If yes, you still have to source a pickup and do a re-wire.The A string, when using the fret dots as a guide, doesn't seem to be straight and zooming in on the picture it looks like someone has replaced the original bridge (which may explain the A String issue). My gut feeling says its probably not worth it. The thing is you never really know until you do the work and plug it in, though i'd be surprised if the outcome were worth the effort in this case. That said, this is only from looking at an image.

[quote name='lojo' timestamp='1453126361' post='2956563'] My main basses are 2nd hand Fenders, brought with dings in with gigging in mind I have a bass that wont go to pubs/party gigs, but I use only on safe stages [/quote] Saved me typing, thanks Lojo ^^^^^^^^^^^

For anyone wanting to have a pop at this little ditty i found the original thread with the PDF transcription. [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/164171-tab-for-do-i-do/"]http://basschat.co.uk/topic/164171-tab-for-do-i-do/[/url]

A great piece of music with lyrics using an appealing melody that say something to me is about as good as it gets. Its not a deal breaker though. Can't even begin to imagine what Donald Fagen is singing about most of the time but the overall package sounds great.

[quote name='toneknob' timestamp='1453041313' post='2955832'] Bass Player magazine featured the transcription of this a few years ago as the lead article, which doesn't happen very often. The text of the article is here: [url="http://www.bassplayer.com/artists/1171/nathan-watts-on-stevie-wonder39s-39do-i-do39/26140"]http://www.bassplaye...do-i-do39/26140[/url] - I've got the magazine somewhere but you can probably find the transcription online somewhere. [/quote] Blimey - i got this far and now understand why so many of the tunes have lots of Eb. "Before diving into “Do I Do,” it’s highly recommended that you tune your bass down a half-step, as Nate Watts always has (since being inspired to do so after first hearing Jimi Hendrix)."

This isn't something to get worked up about. You pays your money and take your choice. Lots of people go these gigs which means that there is demand which means bands will do it. Its easy to get caught up in the technical side of being a muso - PA's, Amps, GAS, Music theory, Guitars, Strings, P Bass vs J Bass and so on but its useful to remember that you are in the entertainment industry. Personally, going to see a tribute act doesn't appeal but i play (mainly) in a covers band and the difference between the two genres is slight.

Willie Weeks or Nathan Watts - what a choice!

Lovely stuff. Not my words but the words of Shakin' Stevens

There comes a point when other things in your life take over and somehow you stop listening to "current" music. I sadly fall into that category so that's my blind spot. I was brought up on a diet of blues from my pro piano playing dad but fortunately he had a really eclectic library of music which i came to enjoy with literally thousands of cassettes (used to get bootlegged ones from the Middle East). Me and my drummer brother would get stoned and pick random cassettes from the collection and have a listen. Dad and his collection introduced me to Johnny Guitar Watson, Donald Fagen, Stax, Chess, Horace Silver, Charlie Parker, Fatback Band - just loads of great stuff. All that said, classical is another blind spot as is all the types of metal (runs for cover) and reggae isn't on any playlist. That said, if there were a fee involved, my blind spot would soon disappear.

My band does 4 Chic tunes and others that feature Bernard Edwards lines. His style has great timing which adds to the funkiness and of course his note choice was superb. Still discovering little nuances in his playing after listening to the tracks for years. Not complicated but unique feel which in a way makes it complicated. Also our drummer plays too fast and despite being threatened gets too excited on the gig and the track loses some of the feel. So don't play too fast, try to pick up the nuances in the timing/playing and threaten the drummer. Good luck with the audition

Never really had a bass that has been instantly right. Have had purchases though that have been instantly wrong and found it easier just to move them on and get something else.

My action is pretty low but i don't measure it due to having bad eyesight. Like you i play a variety of stuff so have a setup that is a compromise for the different styles. Setup approach is mainly by intuition - get the neck how i like it - get some DR strings - sort action and intonation and then adjust pickup height. Just too lazy to take 3 basses to a gig so happy to compromise. Such an ass pain swapping basses especially if your at the end of a gig and its going well.

Very nice sir, you'll have to let us know how it plays.

[quote name='Number6' timestamp='1452346328' post='2949099'] Would it be fair to say that everyone who has replied to this thread lives in the West? #JustSaying [/quote] The Wild West

[quote name='Woodinblack' timestamp='1450912295' post='2937069'] Joe Burt? [/quote] Yes, thats the fella.

Self indulgent moment but this thread has jogged my memory about that guitar and never really thought about it.There is one on YouTube which fits perfectly with this thread. This is what the guys says "You know how some things are so bad they’re good? This is one of those. It’s an early 60s Vox Stroller I got on eBay a few years ago. I had to put a new nut on and new tuners as they were very rusty. It’s not very good, ......." [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w50R35sZpoM[/media]

[quote name='dincz' timestamp='1452243509' post='2947888'] I'm guessing the 5-pin DIN connector is not a midi output. [/quote] I had a 5 pin type connector on an old Vox guitar i owned as a kid back in the 70s. Well, the sticker said Vox...

What a story. Bad luck. Some folks are just plain ignorant/disturbed/stupid and its not worth your time. If we play a dodgy venue (not often these days) we all have a chat - agree - then go to the booking person/landlord and ask if they can help (do something about it). If they say "no" we cancel all the gigs at the venue and move on.