discreet

[quote name='interpol52' timestamp='1436863417' post='2821396'] When I first started playing I think the most important things I did were to learn the name of every note on the fretboard and also to tune the bass by ear. Everything else just followed on from that. [/quote] Ha! I know the names of the open strings and the notes at the fifth, seventh and twelfth frets and work everything else out from that (if I need to). I don't tune the bass by ear, either. I find theory gets in the way of feel and groove and everything I do is based entirely on learning pattern shapes. I'm not saying this is necessarily a good way to do it, but it's the way I've done it for nearly forty years and it works for me. I find music theory and practise of scales and so on is a massive downer, so I simply don't do them. To me if something becomes a chore, it's stone dead. YMMV, obviously.

Hey Christine, I'm close to Bromley in SE London. I started out playing classical guitar at school, too! Who knows, you may even follow in my footsteps to, er... obscurity.

Tsk! If I had a pound for every time a celeb went bust...

[quote name='gadgie' timestamp='1436799866' post='2820868'] Good comments guys. The thing is that it's all a bit complicated as bands usually are. I've been friends with this guy for years, 20 at least. The songwriter is the singers brother, the singer is my friends girlfriend. My friends had enough as well I think. [/quote] Holy crap, it's practically incestuous! Get out now, while you still can!!

The key to being able to achieve anything at all is the ability to get up in the morning and put your shoes on. I tend to avoid people who can't manage this as they are inevitably feckless, lazy bastards who think they're 'special'. Your mileage may vary.

If you've made the effort to find tuition via books and vids and you've done it off you're own bat, then I'd say you're self-taught. You interpret the information as you will and you decide if and when you do it, and when and for how long you practise, or not.

[quote name='Rich' timestamp='1436790957' post='2820743'] Watching it is equal parts uncomfortable and dreadfully saddening. Another talent imploding. [/quote][quote name='Number6' timestamp='1436792527' post='2820765'] Unfair to generalise about the whole band who I'm sure will play whatever the leader calls them to. [/quote] Yes and yes. Such a waste of a venue, a band, a crowd, a vibe, an evening...

[quote name='TimR' timestamp='1436787911' post='2820689'] No. They don't want it to be like the original, hence the recording. [/quote] And hence the problem, then. Interrogate them relentlessly and try and get them to come up with examples of what they want.

[quote name='TimR' timestamp='1436787565' post='2820683'] In this instance it's just a cover of an exsisting song. [/quote] Ahhh... then presumably they want it to be as much like the original as possible..? Cannot the original be used for the purpose?

The usual thing is to give examples of existing work to get an idea of the feel and direction. When I composed music for film and TV I was given a brief, a time-coded video and a selection of audio tracks that the client would have preferred, but were way too expensive to use! So, 'very much like that, but not actually that' was the order of the day... Ask the client to provide some audio examples that are in the same ball park as what they want.

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1436622722' post='2819616'] "circus bass" [/quote] Excellent name for it. And it's telling that 'circus bass' is usually played by a Clownhole. My 3p.

Nice Ibanez box!

I've had this problem in the past and the only way I was able to deal with it was to walk away. It's just not necessary for anyone to play too loudly, it's extremely unprofessional and anyone who says they need to play at high volume to 'get their sound' is talking crap. Not very useful I know, so I hope you get some decent suggestions! Trouble is it's about changing the attitudes of both a drummer and a guitarist and it would be easier to herd cats. Good luck.

Hey Kevin, welcome in.

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1436723080' post='2820234'] ...it's actually a valid and good business model. [/quote] Totally agree!

[quote name='Chiliwailer' timestamp='1436721567' post='2820208'] Well now you say it, I don't currently have a fretless so perhaps I DO need it after all? [/quote] Life is short. You may as well accumulate as many Lulls as possible before you join the choir invisible... Your descendants will thank you...

[quote name='BILL POSTERS' timestamp='1436699797' post='2819983'] The story I heard from a guy who reckoned he'd been in one of the bands he'd used. Was that Chuck turned up alone in a cab with just a guitar and demanded cash up front before he went on. [/quote] Cash up front (all of it) or he didn't play. No cheques. Same with Jerry Lee.

[quote name='Chiliwailer' timestamp='1436720815' post='2820197'] Yikes, please buy this one before my credit card does... [url="http://www.station-musicshop.de/epages/64398533.sf/en_GB/?ObjectPath=/Shops/64398533/Products/9071"]http://www.station-m...3/Products/9071[/url] [/quote] Oof! That's very pretty. It would look well in your Lull family... and you probably DO need a fretless anyway, right?

[quote name='zawinul' timestamp='1436720675' post='2820195'] I know of Thomann, looking for others cheers! [/quote] You're welcome. Not being psychic, I suggested it anyway.

[url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/index.html?gclid=Cj0KEQjwoIitBRDTgeiZq93F2LQBEiQAMfXL0RP-_mF3h8gEGooJwkDdBD1kk9zVlLgKZBiYqzWepb0aAha08P8HAQ"]Thomann[/url]... very good selection to say the least and excellent service. Good prices, too. And a 30-day money-back guarantee AND a free 3-year warranty. I've used them many times and so have a lot of other members here.

It's great, I saw it years ago. He was already something of a 'nostalgia' act even then and to save money would just pick up a scratch band wherever he went and just got on with it. The quality of these bands was of course variable! Great programme though, hugely entertaining. We won't see his like again, unfortunately.

Was looking at these the other day, this would have been my choice too had I not already pulled the trigger on... something else. Looks really good and as it plays well and sounds great it's job done really. And they're not overly expensive either. What's not to like?

[quote name='Iain' timestamp='1436648639' post='2819804'] Just fitted a BT-3 to my US Geddy Jazz. Took a few mins to fit, holes all lined up perfectly and it's an exact match for the existing tuners. Actually better quality winding mechanism with nice nylon bushes on the peg that the stock ones don't have giving it a smoother action. [/quote] Obviously if you don't have to hack your bass about then it's a bonus. I don't have anything against Xtenders at all, I just don't find them that useful when I can get the same result without fitting one! Plus, I'm reluctant to fit one to my 76P because officially it will then be 'modded'. Yes, I know I can get it back to stock easily, but it would be just my luck to lose the original 76 tuner and I'm not prepared to take that risk!