mcnach

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1471473618' post='3113371'] Thanks, I'm resting up for a grueling 4 hour bar gig Friday night at Kim's Lake Side. Ridiculously small place, but everyone plays there and the owners understand the bar band business. The crowd is cool and we always seem to do well there. It's a lake bar and the clientele has big money. Not unusual to see folks dropping 20s in the tip jar. [b]I know you guys question tipping, but it's a big part of our service culture in the States.[/b] Blue [/quote] We mostly just question why waiters etc don't get a salary just like any other worker, and let tips be 'rewards' for going a little further than is needed in making the experience a pleasant one. It just seems unfair to treat waiters differently from other workers. I have done stints waiting tables as a student, it's hard work as it is, remaining polite and respectful even with the most unpleasant customers, without adding the worry about whether I'd make enough money to pay rent or not.

[quote name='solo4652' timestamp='1471446378' post='3113118'] I've just jotted down the band's rehearsal history. It's a start-up band, and the full has only met 3 times: Rehearsal 1 - Went ahead without lead singer who was sick. Room costs split between those present. Rehearsal 2 - As rehearsal 1 Rehearsal 3 - As rehearsals 1 and 2 Rehearsal 4 - Cancelled. Guitarist's wife sick. No room costs Rehearsal 5 - Cancelled. Both singers (man and wife) sick. No room costs Rehearsal 6 - Cancelled. Guitarist's wife sick. No room costs At this point, I suggested a short summer break while people recovered from various illnesses, and the guitarist's wife gave birth. Rehearsal 7 - All present! Room costs split evenly Rehearsal 8 - All present, but guitarist and both singers arrived with no money. Room costs split between drummer and myself. Rehearsal 9 - All present. Room costs split between those who didn't pay the previous time. Rehearsal 10 - Due tonight. Cancelled late because guitarist's wife is sick. Guitarist has offered to pay room costs. [/quote] That's quite a run! Unless I really really really liked that band, I'd be looking elsewhere... sounds like it could be fun people to hang with but I'm not sure it's looking very promising regarding getting gigs, and I am not sure I'd trust them not to have to cancel gigs too often.

[quote name='Coilte' timestamp='1471439427' post='3113047'] My initial response is , yes, he should pay. Why should the rest of the band be out of pocket, because he can't make it ? Granted, emergencies can happen at any time, but again, that's not the fault of the band. Having said the above, I suppose it would depend on a few things : 1. Does this guy make a habit of pulling out of practice at the last minute. 2. The type of "emergency". 3. The general attitude of the band members. [/quote] good response. I've been in bands where the 'culprit' would pay for it. In my present and longest-serving band, we just absorb it on the next one and we all pay. That's because it's a rare occurrence and nobody just blows off practice without a reason in a way we need to cancel. More often what we'd get is that a member cannot make it... but provided it's not the drummer (or myself sometimes too), we still go ahead. We have 3 guitarists, one of which is the main singer but another also sings, a trumpet and a sax player... we still get lots done if one is missing. Our 'practices' comprise both rehearsing new songs and jamming/coming up with new ideas and developing them... so not everybody needs to be present.

[quote name='Mattpt85' timestamp='1471268632' post='3111672'] Thanks Pal, I am still incredibly happy with it. Here's a not very good pic next to it's partner in crime. (Off-off topic - I got some of them cobalt flats, trying with the band for the first time tomorrow!) [/quote] Cobalt flats! How did you like them? I'm still enjoying what they do in my ATK300. I'm not much of a flat string person, but I like that MM-type bridge pickup fingerstyle 'burp' I get with them, fat and smooth.

Nice one! I'm enjoying mine

[quote name='funkgod' timestamp='1471356875' post='3112434'] Sorry yes the stingray, i think when they designed that bit, the bloke at the back who use to work for K-Tel, jml or Ronco said " iv got an idea". Some like it some dont, i just think it trouble waiting to happen, Just my thoughts on it, [/quote] I agree

[media]http://youtu.be/k5ThulqDmKc[/media]

[quote name='funkgod' timestamp='1471334918' post='3112141'] Same here also, only it was not just the battery dying, the copper contacts at the bottom of the "toys r us" plastic battery case had corroded and the power wires to the main board, so i got a new one, and on that one the clasp cracked and snapped off so having had enough i ripped that out and got an old chrome cover and a battery snap, was fine from then on, i still have them somewhere. [/quote] Are you talking about a Stingray too? I'm not a big fan of their battery compartment. Yes, it's fast and easy access... but I see how it can misbehave. Mine did ages ago (it's a 2002, so it's old but not THAT old) but all I had to do was clean the contacts a bit (abrassive) and bend them upwards so that they pressed more against the battery... and so far so good... but I do think sometimes about replacing it with a snap and a simple lid.

[quote name='mrbacco' timestamp='1471341914' post='3112235'] Thanks to all of you. I am playing now in each part and corner of the house [[b]gf is not happy cause it's interfering a lot with her fiddle[/b] LOL] and then I will certainly change the amp [before we need to move to another bigger place] and that would take me to a better level of sound, after that [and after long practice time] I maybe tell the difference with new strings and pickups ... and maybe I'll enlarge the family after that... Thanks again! [/quote] Just tell her casually that you're considering switching to accordion, or trombone... I suspect she will suddenly become more encouraging and helpful about your bass playing

[quote name='AttitudeCastle' timestamp='1471302001' post='3112046'] Not this year, unfortunately, tied up down in Glasgow. I don't drink, but usually make it along. Banchory is (more or less) my home town, played the Beer fest every year till now, due too a myriad of reasons, and to avoid sounding like I'm mud slinging won't go into. I'm 3 miles from Banchory as I type this, as I drove up today How'd you enjoy our slice of the world? [/quote] Aha! Well, I loved it. We drove back the same night so I didn't get to see much apart from the festival itself, but we also played last year (on the Friday, which was a bit quieter), and that time I had booked a room with my girlfriend in a small B&B just outside Banchory. We spent Saturday exploring the area and finally made it back to Edinburgh slowly along the coast, stopping at Dunnottar Castle among other places... it's beautiful up there, but I've only been in Summer and have been lucky with the weather Our trumpet player is from Aberdeen and she doesn't seem to like the area so much, but I guess we often dismiss where we grew up and find other places more 'exotic' and interesting... Hopefully we'll play again next year. They seemed to like us even more than last year We played two hours (8.30 till 10.30) and we'd have happily played longer, the crowd were fantastic. And noisy! There's a few videos around but they don't quite capture it. Last year we had a 3h slot but it was late on Friday and it wasn't quite as lively.

[quote name='mingsta' timestamp='1471293299' post='3111957'] Great album. When I first heard it, I was rather underwhelmed, but its a grower for sure. [/quote] same here!

[quote name='JonesTheCat' timestamp='1471291716' post='3111943'] I was contemplating throwing a bid in on that Dirnt - the cracks were the only thing putting me off, what do we think? [/quote] I would not be worried. They're not uncommon on tight neck pockets and they're just the finish cracking. You see quite a few Fender/Squier instruments like that. It's just cosmetic, mildly.

[quote name='AttitudeCastle' timestamp='1471291327' post='3111941'] Wasn't the Banchory beer festival was it? [/quote] It was!!! Don't tell me you were there!!

Yes... invest in a new amp. A meh bass through a good amp can still sound pretty decent, but the best bass in the world will sound uninspiring through a bad amp. I had the 5 string version and although I wasn't crazy about the preamp in particular, it sounded quite alright. It certainly did not lack bass/body... I suspect you'll change your mind when you play through a decent amplifier.

[quote name='casapete' timestamp='1471262494' post='3111604'] The Brewdog non (or maybe very low?) alcohol beer is called 'Nanny State', and it's ok. Am guessing most active basses are unable to run without their battery, as I found out years ago with a Precision Lyte that died just as we were finishing the first dance at a big wedding. Made me change batteries every string change, usually around 8 weeks. For the price you can get Duracells on ebay, it really isn't worth risking not doing it. I usually buy them in boxes of 10 for around £8 delivered, and unlike a lot of places the company I use guarantees them to be originals. ( Apparently Duracells are widely counterfeited? ) [/quote] Good call on the name of the beer, I forgot what it was. It was the tastiest non-alcohol beer I've ever had. Usually they are pretty bland. It's not a bad idea to replace batteries with the strings... I may just do that. Batteries are not THAT expensive. I tend to avoid any 'deals' on batteries unless I am entirely sure they are legit. I've been burnt before, the real thing lasts a lot longer... not worth the risk. I often get them in Costco... but if not any shop works

[quote name='Mattpt85' timestamp='1471256967' post='3111554'] Another reason I've gone back to passive, one less thing to check [/quote] Offtopic: I keep looking at your avatar... that must be one of the most beautiful basses I've ever seen

[quote name='Mattpt85' timestamp='1471256967' post='3111554'] Another reason I've gone back to passive, one less thing to check [/quote] it's certainly fool-proof I'd just try to be less foolish . It is SO EASY to avoid trouble... but yeah, it happened. I was happy to have that bypass switch installed!

Big bag'o'wind I've had a love/hate relationship with the Streamliner. At times I want to throw it away and kick it until it's dead, then kick it again, but other times it sounds fantastic. So, it's not a great amplifier in that it's not hugely versatile, for certain bass/cab/room combinations makes it really hard to get a good sound of, but then there are other components involved too. Like Muff said, I think it complements better cabs with tighter lows. By comparison, I find I can always get the LM3 to sound at the very least acceptable with any combination. It may not be the absolutely best sounding amp, but it works well in any situation (so far!) and it can sound very very good in the right circumstances. The Streamliner is relegated to home use / backup. One day I'll find something else I like substantially better and I'll exchange it, I suppose.