discreet

[quote name='paul h' timestamp='1458560177' post='3008515'] I'm not a natural smiler...it makes me look like a buffoon! [/quote] Pics, or your buffoonery didn't happen!

That IS a bargain - if you're in the market for an 8X10. I suppose 61kg isn't that heavy, really...

[quote name='Highfox' timestamp='1458552190' post='3008411'] ...it's concentration and something going on deep down in the soul. [/quote] Nah, it's concentration and indigestion.

[quote name='Marc S' timestamp='1458551547' post='3008403'] Maybe practice at home, in front of a mirror, and try an assortment of expressions? [/quote] That way lies madness. I don't think you should be smiling if you're not feeling it. I left a really well-paid job in a function band because all the false smiling and 'everybody clap' -type stuff really got to me in the end. I'm happy to leave all that to the frontsperson (or people). That's their job. I find deliberate smiling and dancing about just detracts from my playing - which is more important..?

[quote name='4-string-thing' timestamp='1458529147' post='3008333'] I find it boring and I hate every second of it... Seriously, I hate playing most gigs... [/quote] Er... do something else..? Life's too short to be gigging if you don't like it. [quote name='CamdenRob' timestamp='1458551003' post='3008397'] Yes neither of them will have any idea what your talking about.. [/quote] Actually it's a good point. Does it mean that bass players under 45 are too busy to join a bass forum and that bass players over 45 are kind of semi-retired and have way too much time on their hands??

[quote name='PaulWarning' timestamp='1458549940' post='3008385'] ...if people don't reply forget them, they'll always be unreliable... if you get to rehearsals and they haven't learnt the parts dump them, if people aren't enthusiastic at the beginning of a project you've probably got no chance with them. [/quote] Good that it should be so immediately rather than three months down the line. People who are unreliable from the off belong to the huge number of daydreaming wannabees for whom 'being in a band' is enough and requires no further effort.

[quote name='seashell' timestamp='1458499252' post='3008101'] I'm more like the mother from the Partridge Family. [/quote] Phwooar! Eh? Eh? I'm currently in a country band, so oscillating between wistful regret and full-on suicidal is a requirement. I'm doing quite well.

[quote name='colgraff' timestamp='1458510706' post='3008261'] To make things worse, the difference between a deluded time-waster and an undiscovered genius is sometimes very hard to spot. [/quote] Especially as the ratio of deluded time-wasters to deluded time-wasters who are undiscovered geniuses is very high.

[quote name='BottomE' timestamp='1458507023' post='3008213'] Best way to get work is by word of mouth but if that doesn't happen its a lottery. [/quote] It IS a lottery, and just like the lottery the more times you enter the more chances you have of winning. It's a case of being clear about what you want, how much compromise you're going to accept and then it's a case of slogging through multiple auditions with your 'deluded time-waster' radar turned up full...

[quote name='Phil Starr' timestamp='1458500498' post='3008118'] [color=#282828]No PA or lights until I set them up. Four or five new songs for a practice but then turning up each having only looked at one and different ones at that and so on. I was getting increasingly grumpy about the lack of commitment and organisation and I kind of let them know it. So no way back.[/color] [/quote] You did the right thing, imho. You can't possibly carry on like that. Any situation where people don't bother to learn the material or keep cancelling rehearsals and gigs because they want a night down the pub is a waste of time, and I'll walk. They won't change. [quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1458469323' post='3007762'] I wouldn't expect too much from randoms... tbh. [/quote] I've been a random on many occasions and frequently had a lot expected of me. What if you don't personally know a suitable guitarist or singer or whatever? Quit? Or just not have a singer or guitarist or whatever (my favoured solution, actually )

[quote name='Phil Starr' timestamp='1458465470' post='3007708'] ...is it just that musicians are disorganised? [/quote] Yes, that at least. And as gary mac said, delusional. In my experience the music scene attracts way more wannabees and nutters than just about any other, with the possible exception of the acting profession. A band that is organised and consists of good players who are practical, pragmatic and committed to what they are doing is extremely rare. [quote name='Highfox' timestamp='1458466057' post='3007713'] Compromise is the key if you want to get on. [/quote] Absolutely. Obviously you don't want to be playing music you don't like, or hanging out with people you don't get on with, but apart from that you can forget your idle daydream, there isn't a ready-made band out there that suits you down to the ground that is going to knock on your door and ask if you could please come and play with them if it's not too much trouble?

Good score, like the shape. There is definitely something of the later Wals about it. I've hankered after a fretless for years but have never been quite able to leave the security of frets behind... perhaps the time has come now I'm demented - cheese on toast. Nice-sounding pickups...

[quote name='bcbass' timestamp='1458023031' post='3003903'] Is it heavy, some geezers complained about? [/quote] Sorry, I missed this... no, not excessively... it comes in at 8.9lb (using the bathroom scales method), which means it's no featherweight, but by no means a boat anchor either. It balances well on my suede strap and there's very little neck dive. I'll report back when I've done a couple of one-hour sets with it.

Ian bought a bridge from me - fast payment, great comms and very tolerant of my faffing about. Recommended!

[quote name='PaulWarning' timestamp='1458400305' post='3007321'] I had a feeling someone would say that, but that would mess up the sound balance of the whole band, just because you can't hear yourself clearly doesn't mean you're too quiet in the mix [/quote] OK, best use a thicker pick, then.

[quote name='johnny1982' timestamp='1458396257' post='3007253'] Ups, excuse me! I am preety new on this Forum...Was searching for dead spot topic and couldn't find one... [/quote] No worries, the search facility on here can be a bit temperamental sometimes. It seems to like very specific search terms for some reason.

A more or less relevant thread is [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/275271-the-fender-dead-spot-and-strings/"]here[/url].

[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1453212271' post='2957440'] Are you having a feast? [/quote] Don't worry Jack, I got it. [quote name='Billy Apple' timestamp='1458384648' post='3007114'] I then went on to the LBGS and guess who I ran into.. [/quote] Santa! Ho, ho, ho! Well it's got too many strings, but that's a fantastic bass Sean, I can just imagine how it sounds. Nice work.

[quote name='Billy Apple' timestamp='1458382161' post='3007085'] Just can't agree with this Mark... [/quote] I remember very well that you had problems and a run-in with the Spitfire guy, which was very unfortunate as you ended up out of pocket and not getting what you wanted - and that's not good however you look at it. All I'm saying is, he did a great job on the guard I ordered, it looked fantastic and I had no problems with him. But if anyone wants a good tort guard they should at least check out his work, if only to see what's out there. https://spitfiretortoiseshellpickguards.wordpress.com/

[quote name='PaulWarning' timestamp='1458380125' post='3007054'] I find that when I can't hear myself clearly I start hitting the strings harder, the thin picks (60mm) just bend too much [/quote] Turn your amp up.

[quote name='BobVbass' timestamp='1458370732' post='3006963'] ...thinner picks give you a lot more flexibility in rhythm and tone... The main thing for me is getting that sharp fast changing rhythm... [/quote] Over decades I've found this too and have always used .50 nylon picks. I find it much easier to control dynamics too.