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BIG DILEMA - bass or recording

Bass or Recording

  • Bass $1000

    Votes: 14 36.8%

  • Recording ~$600

    Votes: 24 63.2%
  • Total voters
    38
tom once dead

tom once dead

Mar 8, 2008
2,870
246
Brisbane QLD Australia
#1
I have a problem. I recently put a bass on layby, and I still have $1000 to pay off. But about a week ago my sister calls me and wants me to learn some songs she has written and if I could come down to Brisbane to record the bass tracks.

So I dont know If I should pay off the layby and have an awsome new bass which I REALLY REALLY want, OR if I should go down to Brisbane and record which would be really cool. Going to brisbane would cost ~$600 which I will have in around two weeks and the bass is $1000 which will take about a month.

WHICH ONE!?!:confused::bawl::help:
 
#3
Recording is indeed cool, but if your Sister wants your time and energy in learning her songs for *her* purposes? I would expect her to pay for transportation costs, especially if you'd wouldn't be charging her for your time in the recording process (unless you "owe" her for some reason, that is). My brother is a guitar player and if her asked me to play on any of *his* work? I'd certainly let him I'd be more than happy to do the session for nothing but that I can't cover the 900+ mile transportation costs myself. It's part of of the cost of the "Music Business", especially when she'd be getting your services for free.

I'd speak to her and make a definite plan on what she'd like to do, but wouldn't change your purchase until that's done.
 
#5
tom once dead said:
mmm, yeah. But I am kind of in her band.
Click to expand...

Well, that changes things and wasn't exactly mentioned in your original post. :smug: Given that the recording would also help "your" career as well as hers (it sounded as if she was a solo artist in your first post) I'd certainly try and work things out: would she be agreeable/is it possible to cut her tracks in Brisbane, mail a CD/e-mail you the tracks and have you be able to record in a studio locally? I've heard many a band do so these days, and as long as it's done professionally (i.e. a click track recorded on her side for you to follow, you recording in a decent studio) it would sound fine as well as save a great deal of money over traveling.

One biggie in my book would be how many songs "some" are... if it's under 4 I'd be hesitant in spending the money. If it's an album's worth on the other hand, that many would make it much more worth the trip to record with her and any other musicians on hand (it's always better to record live with the drummer, even if it's only for scratch tracks - trust me :D )

...and finally, what is this bass that you "REALLY REALLY" want (the Thunderbird, the Spector USA Rex, or the Line-6 Variax?) and would it be possible at all to discuss your situation with the store/seller and simply push back your paying off the bass and taking it into custody? I would hope most musicians or luthier would understand about a recording opportunity and work out the financials.
 
#6
well having the guitars and vocals recordedand sent down was the 3rd but least desirable option. 1)becuase all the local studios arent that good and cost around $150 an hour. and 2) There are some songs I am having trouble finding the write feel for. I'll have to ask about how many songs there are.

I will also ask the store about getting the bass now and sorting out some fianance. They owe me a $300 case so I could maybe use that in my advantage
 
#10
Hi.

I agree with previous posters, family before GAS.

And since You're the bass player in her band, well....

This may sound a bit silly, coming from an old geezer like me, but if the rest of the band is in Your age group, wouldn't a good quality porta-track recording be enough? Is there really a need for a pro-studio time? Is this for a demo or an album release?

I'm sure that You can arrange something with the store, these days even the more stubborn ones have to be a bit more flexible ;).

Just my 0.02€
Sam
 
#11
Family before Gear, BUT I think you should have a very good idea of the bass parts you're going to record before you invest in airfare.
If you don't even know how many songs are involved then you're definitely not ready to walk into a studio.
Time is money in a studio, you don't want to be learning parts on the clock...
 
#12
The days of actually needing to be physically present in the studio are over.

Can't she just send you the tracks over the 'net so you can add your part and send it back?

$600 is a heck of a commute.
 
#15
okay I will try and answer all of the previous coments.

The rest of the band are all around 23. Studio time in brisbane is free due to the guitarist has a studio.

I could have vocals drums and guitar tracks sent down, but as I said earlier, the local studios are expensive and not worth the money, it would probably cost around $300 just to record the bass tracks.

What I meant by 4 weeks and 2 weeks is, I already have enough saved so that it would only take that amount of time. I also need to record the tracks during the school holidays. So if I waited for my bass, then went down later,I would be back at school and couldnt do it.
 
#16
I'm still contemplating that answer, since I just figured out "layby" in your part of the world means "lay-away" over here. That being the case, why not do both? That's $600 you can put toward your bass. Or, am I misunderstanding the question?

[EDIT] I just re-read your question and get it now, sorry. I'd get the bass, but that's because I know what my skills are (are NOT, that is) so I would pass on the recording if I wasn't getting a fiscal return on the $600 trip. [/EDIT]
 
#17
tom once dead said:
okay I will try and answer all of the previous coments.

The rest of the band are all around 23. Studio time in brisbane is free due to the guitarist has a studio.

I could have vocals drums and guitar tracks sent down, but as I said earlier, the local studios are expensive and not worth the money, it would probably cost around $300 just to record the bass tracks.

What I meant by 4 weeks and 2 weeks is, I already have enough saved so that it would only take that amount of time. I also need to record the tracks during the school holidays. So if I waited for my bass, then went down later,I would be back at school and couldnt do it.
Click to expand...

don't want to get too technical but you'd be reocrding on a computer right - Logic or Pro Tools or something?

you could always just DI straight into your home computer and play along with the tracks. there are plenty of freeware programs that allow you to create reasonably high quality WAV or mp3 files. this way you wouldn't need a fancy soundcard or firewire (or whatever it's called, i forget!).

...you can then send the file to yr sis who can line it up with the rest of the tracks.

so long as you can live with yourself not using fancy mics and preamps. :) ...those things are nice but honestly, a good bass track will sound just as good in the mix DI'd. and if local studios are dodge anyway, as you say, what's the loss?? - they might not have a Neumann U87 and a decent tube preamp, or might not know how to get the best out of them if they did...

anyways just a thought. good luck either way!
 
#20
Knumbskull, The recording will be done in a studio. Getting an mp3 sent down is nearly a no go becuase Im not 100% on what she wants with some songs. I really need to work with her before we I go into a studio.

My computer is also strange, It will let me put a mic into the mic input, but not anything else. it also has a really week signal, and doesnt pick up the bass properly when I put the mic in front of my cab.
 

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