Root-Note

Thanks for all the suggestions, guys. It's pretty great to get a nice variety of input. I'm using the Major's Boot Camp till I get the books. Cheers ya'll. Xx

Hi, I wanted to learn sight-reading, and at the moment I'm using Youtube videos, but I'd like to get some books as well. I know my theory, but I just need something to play to, preferably the kind that cover both easy and hard exercises/ pieces in one book; If there are any that specialise in jazz that would also be handy. Thanks for reading this, Mike

Hi, I am thinking of getting an Orange Bass Terror 500 amp head, they're discontinuing them, so GAK are knocking them down a bit, but the salesman then told me about the new Orange OB1 300. I was looking at them both for their merits and I think the OB1 looks more useful. (I have a previous post on here about the possibilities of plugging straight into a DI with an EQ pedal to save carrying an amp around, so yes, I am that same determined idiot, but my idea has changed from EQ pedal to amp head—because cabs continue to be bulky, heavy, and costly.) The amp head would be for home recordings and future gigs. Here's my idea: for home recording, I can plug my amp head into the interface [Focusrite 2i2] for a much better sound. The OB1 would be fine as it has both a Line Out and Balanced Output plug, but if I use a Bass Terror that would blow the whole thing, sound card and all. For gigs, I can hook them up to a DI straight into the PA. I would rely on the monitors to hear myself. Now the questions: On the OB1 manual it says you [i]must[/i] have the amp head connected to a speaker if you want to use the Line Out/ Balanced Output. Why is this? I'm guessing it has something to do with the power supply. What would happen if you connected the Speaker Output from either amp heads into a mixing desk? Explosion? Thanks for reading, Mike

Excellent. Cheers man. Xx

Thanks for the recommendations guys. I have another friend who records his guitar straight into a MIDI Keyboard (This is the one: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Midiman-M-Audio-M-Audio-Oxygen-8-MIDI-Controller-Keyboard-/121306763574?pt=US_Computer_Recording_Interfaces&hash=item1c3e725136 ) I presume that this has a very similar effect in recording. Also are there any things like the bass being too quiet or background noise whilst recording with either the M-Audio Fast Track and the Lexicon Alpha?

Hello, I would like to be able to record some basic demos on my Mac, but there seem to be many variations on how to do so and I want to avoid the bad ones. I know I could use a mixer, but any decent one is expensive; there's also the option of an interface like this: http://www.gak.co.uk/en/lightsnake-usb-xlr-cable-soundcard/3922 but I have a feeling that I'll be lampooned and folk will throw tomatoes at me for even considering it. Unfortunately I'm poor and I want to see if it is possible to have a semi-decent recording without an amp or an overdraft. Predicament or just stupid, you decide. There's also the wonder of connecting a DI box (for I have one) straight into the Mac, but I don't know if there is a kind of cable to connect either an XLR or 1/4" jack to a USB or Firewire 800 - also does it make a difference connecting to a Firewire instead of a USB? Also I didn't see much point of getting a pre-amp as I'll take care of that on Logic Pro. The whole reason for this is because I want to record stuff to send to my bandmates so they can jam/ record their own parts over it and then send it back, making a rough version of a new song, via e-mail. Thank you for reading this post, Mike (Root-Note)

Hello, I had a thought recently: Would it be effective to connect a bass to an EQ pedal (or pre-amp pedal) which plugs straight into a DI box through to the PA? This idea came about because I thought it would be useful to travel to a gig without the need of an amp - I have a moped, so I can take a bass only. I haven't really seen any posts about this online, which could be because it's a silly idea . . . But what level of sound quality what it deliver? Between terrible and passable. I have done gigs with just a bass and a DI box, and those gigs have sounded pretty alright; so by that logic, adding a pre-amp or EQ pedal should make it good. Maybe - I'm no tone-guru. Please post your thoughts. And thank you for reading this.

Hi. I Got Foals' new Holy Fire album about a month ago. It's very good, but i've become stumped by the bassline for the verse of the song Milk & Black Spiders. I think there may be polyrhythms going on in there, perhaps groups of 11 over 8 crotchets, i'm not entirely sure though. If anyone reading this fancies a go at cracking it, I could use some help. Thank You for reading. Xx

http://www.facebook.com/events/245941215539807/ It opens at 7pm and starts at 7:30, tickets cost £6 to get in. Thank you for reading this. Xx

It starts at 7:30pm and ends at 10:45pm. It cost £5 to get in. Thank you for reading this post. Xx [url="https://www.facebook.com/events/555739327770439/"]https://www.facebook...55739327770439/[/url] [color=#333333]The Good Ship, 289 Kilburn High Road, London NW6 7JR[/color]

Hi, I currently own a Laney RB4 160w amp which I am considering selling for something else, I bought the amp on impulse because I needed one quickly and cost effectively because a gig spung up out of nowhere, I used this amp a few times for a couple of gigs and rehearsals ages ago but since then I have gained some knowledge and appreciation of tone because before that I didn't know or care. The main problem with the amp is the size because it is a complete rectum to carry around and store particularly as our rehearsal/ recording space is tiny, not only that but I find the sound really bad (partly because i'm not very good a EQing) and the gain which gives it the majority of it's volume is terrible, the thing that got my attention was that it was 160w and was powerful so it didn't require miking (which I now realised is an incredibly stupid reason) but to be honest it's not that powerful as I had to crank it all the way up gain and all to get any proper volume. The kind of amp i'm looking for now is one that has a good variable tone and isn't particularly big (it'll be miked up for any gigs we get), probably around 75w but still has power and also in the £200- £300 range. I have been told to avoid Ashdown because they break down easily, and after playing Fenders I don't like them either. If any of you reading this can recommend something that's even just a brand name for me that would be greatly appreciated and thank you for reading this. Mike

Forgive my ignorance but what goes on at these meetups?