ThomBassmonkey

I fancy getting into some session work, I think I have the playing ability to do it and I have the freedom at the moment to be able to accept jobs when they're available. I'm also in quite a good situation at the moment where a lot of musos around Derby have heard of my band, so I can probably use that to my advantage in terms of building a reputation. My current gear is an Ibanez BTB406QM and a Warwick Thumb 5 (I hope, when it's fixed), but I'm thinking of getting a Jazz for a more "standard" instrument (and I'm GASing for one anyway) and I'm running a GK 700RB into a 210RBH so I have confidence in my gear to do the job (and I assume I'll be DI'd most of the time anyway, so amp isn't an issue anyway). So the big two things are: How is the best way to get into it? I've thought maybe getting in contact with a studio and seeing if they need a bass player on call for any work, but I've not tried yet so I don't know if they already have their own or what the deal is. I don't really have any contacts on my own, so anything I do will be a case of relying on either my band's reputation or the gift of the gab. I've done bits of live session work before, but only for friends of friends for gigs, learn the set in a couple of practices then get out and play a couple of sets per night type stuff. Sight reading is my only drawback in terms of skill, how vital is this? I'm quick to learn (or write as the situation needs) lines by ear, but I just never translated sight reading on piano to bass, and I haven't played piano properly for years (almost 20 in fact). Is it worth holding off trying to get work until I've had some lessons in sight reading (I'm useless at inspiring myself to do it, so I'd need lessons for the structure) or should I go for it and not do the lessons when I have the cash?

[quote name='OutToPlayJazz' post='849530' date='May 27 2010, 04:16 PM']I find a noticable difference between my four stringers and fives in terms of speed and dexterity.[/quote] It's funny you say that because I've never really noticed a big difference between 4 and 5 stringers (of the same model, to be fair). On my 6 string I definitely feel that the C slows me down on the lower strings, but does the shape of the neck really make that much difference when the extra width is mostly on the low side? To be honest though, I have quite big hands and I've never had real problems with any bass, I feel myself a little slower on my BTB406 6er than 5 or 4 strings, but it's only a tiny amount when I'm getting carried away with ska style lines.

If I'm not 100% with the sounds, there's always something I can do. If I can't play something, I can't play it. Ergonomics over tone every time. Though in saying that, I wouldn't get a bass unless I was happy with both. There's so many options out there there should be something to suit.

Same as any other musician, someone who knows when to play and when not to and can lock in with the groove.

James Warner Prophecies at a Help for Heroes gig recently. What's better than a fender mandolin with hotrail pickups? Plugging it into a Mesa Boogie..

When I was 5 I had piano lessons for a couple of years, then at 11 I had keyboard lessons for a couple of years. Never really enjoyed them, it was the usual parents decided I should be able to play an instrument. Started getting into music in my teens and the first instrument I picked up by choice was a bass. Over the next couple of years I got a guitar and a drum kit, but bass has always been my first instrument. Never been "a guitarist" in a band (though I have played guitar on occasion at gigs). It's something I want to do and know I'm capable of doing, but whenever I play guitar with intent, I just think "I'd be enjoying this so much more if I was on bass".

I've never been told what to play, I usually follow guitars but whether I just play roots or whether I do something more interesting has always been up to me. My most recent band has been going for 6ish years before I joined and both previous bassists were very average from what I've heard (our guitarist has played the harder lines on the recordings) so there's lots of lines that he likes to keep the same, though I still have a little room for movement on them with runs and bridging notes etc.

I wouldn't do it personally. I'd be gutted if I was the new bassist and instead of relying on me, my band mates got in the old bassist. In saying that, if you're prepared to treat it as a session job and ensure that's exactly how it plays out, then it's not your problem what their bassist thinks because you're simply employed to do a job.

Most Sundays are ok for me, I work Saturdays. I don't mind bringing my GK rig (700RB and only need 1 210RBH) and hopefully should have my Warwick back by then. Also don't mind bringing my BTB406QM too.

Wow, some good replies there, much more ideas what to look at. Same old problem as with all non-fender/Ashdown bass gear though, nowhere has any in stock. I'll be keeping my eyes open though.

I can't make Saturdays. I'm free most Sundays though (unless we have a gig miles away).

[quote name='Dubs' post='834111' date='May 11 2010, 12:18 PM']I've see plastic straplocks end in tears before...[/quote] [url="http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:xFOhg74oemyglM:http://cachepe.zzounds.com/media/quality,85/brand,zzounds/ergoloks-fd72d8bbd1ca7678b58ff05e42dee854.jpg"]http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:xFOhg74...05e42dee854.jpg[/url] I sometimes use these, the strap still supports the weight, no changing strap pins needed and they're still secure. Also easy to get on/off and you don't need to do anything to the strap.

[quote name='simon1964' post='833067' date='May 10 2010, 01:57 PM']In essence, local Basschat members turn up, share a few beers, have a go on each others gear, and come away with lots of GAS![/quote] Never been to a bass bash, but I've been to dos from other forums and this pretty much covers it. When you're talking in text and it's so impersonal, it's nice to meet people and have a good natter and get to know the faces behind the usernames a bit.

From what I've seen, I believe they're the basses that were in the price range the current SBMMs are, but while OLP was making the budget range. Recently OLP stopped making official EBMM copies so that they could release the SBMM range, they stopped making the SUBs at around the same time to keep EBMM and SBMM in their own price ranges.

[quote name='mcgraham' post='829621' date='May 6 2010, 02:16 PM']Minus the one. I totally disagree with your opinion. There are some singers that get by with no lessons, practice, technique, theory, but they are the exceptions with a natural talent/predisposition that less naturally talented (or failing) singers use as an excuse not to learn anything. We've seen the same arguments on the forum about amazing bassists/guitarists etc.[/quote] Well, to narrow my point down a bit. Anyone can sing to some degree (however good or bad it may be). There's no "starting point" for singing, unlike instruments where someone who's never played would look at a fretboard and it would make no sense at all until it's explained. It doesn't really matter now though as it's not relevant enough to the thread to warrant a full discussion. ^^

[quote name='silddx' post='829507' date='May 6 2010, 12:24 PM']<Eh?> you don't need to learn any theory<\Eh?>[/quote] Sorry, techniques would be a better word. If you can talk, you can sing to some extent (however good/bad). So just because someone's a good singer, it doesn't mean that they have to know anything about music or musical equipment.

Singing isn't the same as learning an instrument, you don't need to learn any theory and you don't have any equipment apart from your voice. I know guitarists who can't re-string a guitar after playing for several years and couldn't play you any scale if their life depended on it. To me, that's far more disappointing than someone who doesn't use equipment not being able to use a PA. As for the comment about bass being too low, she doesn't sound like the kind of person who'll be able to make it as a band leader anyway, so someone who is capable should correct her if she ever gets to that point. I doubt she'll find a pro band that'll play without some kind of bass instrument anyway.

If I'm honest, I don't understand the problem. The song's in C#/Db and G'n'R tune down to Eb, so if you're going to play it in D, just detune, learn it, then tune up to standard and play it exactly the same.