arthurhenry Posted June 9, 2019 Share Posted June 9, 2019 Can you get away with it? I have gigs shortly after my return and would like to practise. Have not yet been brave enough to broach the subject - it's alwyas been a "No!" before! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted June 9, 2019 Share Posted June 9, 2019 It's a holiday. Go and do holiday stuff. Make sure you practice enough before you go. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silvia Bluejay Posted June 9, 2019 Share Posted June 9, 2019 Alternatively, a relatively cheap travel bass may be the answer. Having seen @MacDaddy's folding bass and guitar, I bought @Happy Jack one of these and he seems to like it too. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoffbyrne Posted June 9, 2019 Share Posted June 9, 2019 If I took a bass on holiday with us, she'd split me with it. G. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jus Lukin Posted June 9, 2019 Share Posted June 9, 2019 (edited) - Edited March 3, 2022 by Jus Lukin 11 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Dare Posted June 9, 2019 Share Posted June 9, 2019 I just give mine a clip round the ear if it misbehaves. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T-Bay Posted June 9, 2019 Share Posted June 9, 2019 I always take one, I have a cheap hohner travel bass for if I fly, booked on a Baltic cruise this summer and will take the jazz with me. Partly for practice but mostly because it’s something I enjoy. Some people read a book, I play bass. I have a Dunlop pedal amp that works ok. I do get some funny looks though and was asked which of the bands I was in on the last cruise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard R Posted June 9, 2019 Share Posted June 9, 2019 Not abroad, but I've taken a silent travel bass on the last two UK holidays. I'm still a relative newbie, so not playing for a whole week sets my muscle memory back aeons. And I intend to continue that argument even if one day I can play entire Yes albums from memory! 👍 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ped Posted June 9, 2019 Share Posted June 9, 2019 I haven’t taken my Wingbass abroad yet but will do so soon. I took it on our annual holiday to Wales last year and it was brilliant to have to noodle on whilst sitting in my hammock watching Sybil playing with the cows. The size makes it perfect for travel; I think the original concept was to make a hand luggage sized bass for flying (hence the name) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
upside downer Posted June 9, 2019 Share Posted June 9, 2019 I have taken a bass with me on a canal holiday as had to practice new tunes for a gig immediately on our return. I think the slower pace of life on a narrowboat suits just sitting there idling the afternoon away with a tune and a beer. And my wife is pretty laid back so that helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silvia Bluejay Posted June 9, 2019 Share Posted June 9, 2019 26 minutes ago, ped said: I haven’t taken my Wingbass abroad yet but will do so soon. I took it on our annual holiday to Wales last year and it was brilliant to have to noodle on whilst sitting in my hammock watching Sybil playing with the cows. The size makes it perfect for travel; I think the original concept was to make a hand luggage sized bass for flying (hence the name) Happy Jack and I had a chat about whether he preferred a Wingbass or a Snapdragon as a present. Nice as Wingbasses are, they don't seem to be designed to do the job of a normal bass - they are, so to speak, a standalone dusty end. They are obviously way more precious, higher quality and more expensive than the Snapdragon, but they don't cover the same ground. We decided that, for someone who wants to keep their fretting hand exercised on the basslines they play with their band (often mostly on the first 7/10 frets), the Wingbass is less useful than a longer scale bass - unless the person in question is a solo bass player, of course. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ped Posted June 9, 2019 Share Posted June 9, 2019 21 minutes ago, Silvia Bluejay said: Happy Jack and I had a chat about whether he preferred a Wingbass or a Snapdragon as a present. Nice as Wingbasses are, they don't seem to be designed to do the job of a normal bass - they are, so to speak, a standalone dusty end. They are obviously way more precious, higher quality and more expensive than the Snapdragon, but they don't cover the same ground. We decided that, for someone who wants to keep their fretting hand exercised on the basslines they play with their band (often mostly on the first 7/10 frets), the Wingbass is less useful than a longer scale bass - unless the person in question is a solo bass player, of course. Playing an octave up actually sounds great and you can hear yourself really well over your backing. I thought it would sound weedy but in fact it’s quite the opposite. I’m not a solo player one bit and my Wing is a full on groove machine. The sound is very hifi and rich. I wouldn’t hesitate to use it with a band but yes I look at it as an instrument in its own right. When I’m practicing it’s not playing standard bass lines, I’m noodling and grooving and the ability to get a great low action makes the Wingbass the best option for me. The spacing means transferring to a full scale five string feels the same. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silvia Bluejay Posted June 9, 2019 Share Posted June 9, 2019 1 minute ago, ped said: When I’m practicing it’s not playing standard bass lines, I’m noodling and grooving That's the point. I really loved your Wingbass when I saw it at the SE bash. If I end up buying one (they do lefties, yay!) it'll be for noodling and playing differently from the usual, not for holiday practice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
casapete Posted June 9, 2019 Share Posted June 9, 2019 6 hours ago, chris_b said: It's a holiday. Go and do holiday stuff. Make sure you practice enough before you go. This. A week or two away will make everything seem better when you return. It’s a time for new experiences and a break from routine so just enjoy it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teebs Posted June 10, 2019 Share Posted June 10, 2019 I always take a bass if we're on holiday in the UK, but probably never if we go abroad - too much hassle at the airports! Short scale Gretsch is ideal for taking in the car for a few days Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
floFC Posted June 10, 2019 Share Posted June 10, 2019 17 hours ago, T-Bay said: I always take one, I have a cheap hohner travel bass for if I fly... I bought a cheap Hondo Alien for similar purposes. I would have liked a Hohner though. Anyway, not really travelled with it yet and I intend to keep it in the van, but my son will take it with him on holidays at the end of June (involving international flight). I can report then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HazBeen Posted June 10, 2019 Share Posted June 10, 2019 I often take my little 30” Hohner travel bass. The mrs supports my “need” and as long as I practice when kids are in bed she does not cause me any grief, nor do I cause here grief with her need to read the most depressing quasi-literature she takes along for her enjoyment 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tauzero Posted June 10, 2019 Share Posted June 10, 2019 I've got a tribute band rehearsal the day after I get back from holidays, so I've taken my new (to me) Cort GB4 with me along with a Tascam GB10. We're not at gig-ready state yet, hence wanting to keep everything fresh. Mrs Zero is fine with it, and she'll be doing a bit of revision herself, as she's recovering from a nasty bout of sepsis and missed a couple of gigs and any rehearsal for the last month or so. I've also taken a guitar with me in case we do any open mic nights. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davo-London Posted June 10, 2019 Share Posted June 10, 2019 I wouldn't take the bass personally. But I would take the songs playlist on my phone so I can really absorb them. Peace Davo 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger2611 Posted June 10, 2019 Share Posted June 10, 2019 I took a big fat Gretsch 6210 on holiday to Cornwall with me a few years back as the day we came back I was booked to play a festival in front of 6000 people, so I wanted to just run through the songs whilst away, Mrs2611 took some lovely photos of me sitting in the sunshine on the veranda of our chalet strumming away, it gave Mrs2611 time to do her writing so we were both happy. Take the bass with you, there's bound to be a little down time available where you can put in a bit of practice whilst she drinks Pina Colada's? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teebs Posted June 10, 2019 Share Posted June 10, 2019 11 minutes ago, Roger2611 said: Take the bass with you, there's bound to be a little down time available where you can put in a bit of practice whilst you drink Pina Colada's Fixed! 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted June 10, 2019 Share Posted June 10, 2019 It's a holiday. Enjoy the time away. On the few occasions when I have gone on holiday and taken my bass it has always been when I have gone in the company of other musicians. Invariably over the course of 7 days away we end up playing for a few hours in total at the very most. The rest of the time we are too busy doing fun holiday-type things. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FinnDave Posted June 10, 2019 Share Posted June 10, 2019 I often take a bass with me on UK holidays. I usually wake up early and my wife doesn't, good way to spend a couple of hour before breakfast. I just pay it unplugged and use my laptop for the songs I need to practice. Quite enough for my wife to stay asleep a few feet away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itsmedunc Posted June 10, 2019 Share Posted June 10, 2019 I'd rather take a bass than the Mrs. 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reggaebass Posted June 10, 2019 Share Posted June 10, 2019 Just now, itsmedunc said: I'd rather take a bass than the Mrs. Always 🙂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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