Lozz196

Better to roll it in glitter.

I`m not sure on this one, as I`ve never had a nitro finished bass, but I did have a Precision where the poly had been removed to bare wood, and then oiled and it did seem to have a more resonant sound than my others. but as I bought it like that I can`t really say if this was down to the removal of the poly, or the bass was like that all along. I do know that from having read about the RWs people seem to rave about the resonance of them so maybe this is a factor, though I`m not sure how - something to do with the slightly thinner bodies maybe?

If I recall correctly one of these was the winner at the cab shootout, Chris? Can`t remember if it was your one though.

I`d even throw in a few hideous` as well

I`ve had a few 2x12 set-ups, a Markbass 112 combo with 112 ext speaker, and a couple of Barefaced cabs, Super 12T and Big Twin II. In all cases as well as being ok for rehearsals they were fine for gigs. I never used them on massive stages but for regular pub sized venues fine, so I can`t think that you won`t find a 212 set-up not sufficient for rehearsing. I`ve also heard bassists using two Hartke Hydrive 112s at gigs and again, no problems.

I`m in agreement with a lot of what you`ve put, @plangentmusic. I think as above, what you like is what you like. I don`t care what science and physics say is best, I care what my ears tell me is best. And in a lot of cases the stuff that is super advanced and worked out according to the science leaves me cold, whereas a vastly heavy 810 that is regarded in a similar vein to the antichrist sounds like the best thing on earth.

Well I only have 2 pedals, 1 of which is a tuner, the other being the irreplaceable item is my Tech21 Para Driver. It`s as much a part of my sound as my Precision. I can get the sound from my Ashdown amps but as many of my gigs are with provided rigs some of those can`t get the sound I want, hence the trusty PD being irreplaceable.

I thought Manics were ok, wish JDB would play more guitar though, and the stand-in on bass did fine, though I do get the impression that Nicky Wires bass is probably not too hard to cover. Noel Gallaghers High Flying Birds were good, enjoyed their set, thought a tad amusing that Gem seemed to have a different guitar for every song.

It depends on your ears and their preference, but I`ve never found any 1x12 that has a sound that I like as much as an old 410. Sure there are cabs that go loud enough - possibly (maybe even probably) louder - but they just don`t have the same "amount" of sound, that depth that seems to only come from multiple speaker cones working together. But like I say, that`s my preference, not a fact, and if in search of a 1x12 then Barefaced would be my first stop. We did a cab shootout a few years back and the cab that really impressed me was the Super Midget, an amazing amount of sound came out of that little fella. But to the original post, and the OBC212 - I`ve heard a couple of bassists use these with the OTB and the sound has been great.

By car or van (or taxi if staying at hotels in other countries). Never been one for this public transport lark, not through any snobbery, just laziness - carrying a load of gear on/off buses/trains/tube with a knackered back doesn`t suit me.

Not for me, but as I use a fair bit of gain on my Sansamp Para Driver I reckon I`m getting some compression via that. I did try a compressor with my current set-up and even on the lowest of the low settings it killed the sound and dynamics, which is why I suspect said Para Driver is already lending a hand here.

Played there a couple of times, and are back there later on this year with The Cockney Rejects. Like @mcnach only had good experiences there.

Find an amp you love, try and buy one. There are a few on here, and am sure there are on gumtree/ebay etc. You get a lot of amp for your money with Trace gear as it`s a tad unfashionably heavy.

Some of them are good guys, we work with a few who are great, really understand how to work with bands. Happy to single out STP as a great outfit to deal with.

I know what you mean Paul, I generally find that a 30min set from a band where I don`t know the material is generally enough for me.

I`m currently in an originals band and the answer is yes, I would go to see "us" if I weren`t in the band. We`re playing music that I love, on a scene I love (but that I wasn`t aware of until we started the band I should add). Up until this band I used to go and see local covers bands regularly, as I just love music, but I do so much with my current band I hardly ever have the time to go out and see a band locally, on those weekends when I`m not gigging the feet are up storing energy for the next batch.

I`m amazed at this, I think it`s treating a member of the band pretty poorly (possibly a major understatement there). If anything get a dep in, but in all cases never book a gig when a band member says up front they are unavailable.

If you like the Hydrive 112 get another - doubling up on the same cab really is a grin-inducing move.

Whilst I`m not exactly keen on bands playing for nothing, sometimes, when starting out on the originals circuit it`s one of those things that has to be done. You either get 5 paid gigs a year, or you take a punt on a few more unpaid as well, knowing you`re expanding your audience/merch sales/fan-base. Additionally, and in regards to the op, they agreed to play for nothing. Now irrespective of whatever any other band is getting, if you make an agreement you should stick with it imo. Again, not wonderful but you can gain a reputation as trustworthy, which can work in your favour - it`s how we`ve done things. An example of this is we were playing Gateshead on a Friday night, Blackpool on the Sat night afterwards. A big gig in Glasgow was offered to us at very short notice. So we did all three, doing an early afternoon Glasgow set, we wouldn`t bin the small Blackpool gig for the better Glasgow one. It was knackering, but in honouring our commitments it further cemented our reputation as a band that can be trusted.And the band is now self-funding, we don`t take any money from it but it pays for all recording/merch/hotels/flights/ferries/van & driver hire etc. But if we`d binned all the early unpaid gigs I wonder if we`d be in that position now.

Or a Ludwig Black Beauty. Or one of those china cymbals, they`re horrible and far too loud.