mcnach

I don't get that, I suspect it's your browser being hijacked by some kind of malware, as the previous response suggests

[quote name='LukeFRC' timestamp='1355501816' post='1899358'] mate theres another thread that was about pricing of secondhand stuff, stingrays and warwicks in particular and it's still limping along full of people saying things like "I like stingrays" I like stingray's too" "i think they are very good" "I like their necks" etc etc some threads will go on an infinitium until someone gets compared to a Nazi [/quote] I missed that one!!! I'll loook for it to add that I like Stingrays too!!! although, I feel a bit "dirty", like I cheated on them. I have played my G&L L2000 (with a John East MMSR 3-band preamp) almost exclusively for the past two weeks... and it's got sucha wonderful growly dirty bridge pickup funky tone that I'm thinking it's going to become my main (only?) bass for a couple of bands. I can't believe I'm choosing the L2000 over a Stingray in some situations!

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1355480683' post='1898857'] Vintage and Rare [/quote] aah! thanks!

[quote name='Zenitram' timestamp='1355478909' post='1898820'] It was because you didn't mention what bass it was, and a random leap from 150 to 600 quid seemed odd. Oh no hang on, I wasn't paying attention, as you did mention the bass, but not the make. Or is a "68 jazz bass" very clearly going to be a fabulously expensive Fender. I'm not very up on bass heritage. Sorry. I'm an idiot, either way. And I don't know what V and R is. [/quote] you are clearly not at your brightest today, eh? V and R are letters!!! (note: no, I don't know what V and R is either )

[quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1355423051' post='1898329'] I think some 'promoters want a bill and their entourage to stay the duration and it is ALL about numbers or perceived numbers. It doesn't matter who puts the money behind the bar as long as there are people that do do so... They would have as many bands on the bill as would fit... as it cuts down the amount of people they have to attract by other means. These sort of 'gigs' are a crock... IMO. [/quote] what he says.

[quote name='TimR' timestamp='1355403069' post='1897873'] I agee to a certain extent. CDs don't cost a lot. The OP was describing the situation where the audience dissapears before you've even played a note. If you want an audience you need to create a buzz. It's not simple but there are ways. What about pretty girls giving out or selling CDs and talking up the band. I mean if you've got pretty girls giving out CDs then you must be doing something right? I just think it's no good moaning that your potential audience is dissapearing before you've even played a note if you're not interacting with them from the moment they walk in the door. TBH I've seen bands who turn up, soundcheck and then hide in the back room and disappear as soon as they've finished, and I've seen bands who are at the door talking to potential fans as they come in and hanging around afterwards. Which bands get the most fans? If you're the type of band who don't want and don't care about having an audience then the first route is the way to go. BUT I'm yet to meet anyone who purposely goes out to play to an empty room. Just to be clear we are talking about a special situation "multi-band events" and you need to employ special tactics. [/quote] I think the OP was talking about the *members of other bands* in the bill leaving, and he was annoyed by that. At least that's what my responses were based on.

[quote name='TimR' timestamp='1355390726' post='1897606'] If people leave before you play they don't get exposed to your music and you lose potential new fans. My take on this would be to give out flyers before you play that can be exchanged for goodies (CDs, etc) after you have played. If they leave after your first song, then they don't like you and wouldn't want a CD and you've not lost anything. You then get a strong message if people start leaving during your set or don't pick up a CD after you play. [/quote] I was talking especifically about other bands, not about the people they brought, just the band members themselves. A band is typically what, 3-5 people? so, to me, it does not matter whether they stay or not. I mean, stay if you like what we do, and we will appreciate it, but don't stay because you feel you *need* to support a *fellow musician*. 3-5 people should not impact significantly teh size of the audience. If it does... then there is a problem, but you should not aim to make up the audience numbers simply from other band's members. Of course I agree that the multiband gig has the potential to expose other band's fans to your music. And that is good. It only works when you plan it well, get bands that they are compatible in styles... If one band is some kind of thrash metal and another is synth pop (I have seen that once in Glasgow)... you are unlikely to get much from other band's fans.

[quote name='TimR' timestamp='1355358293' post='1897482'] Well yes, if you don't entain the audience they won't stay and won't bring their friends next time. But without the audience there is no one to entertain. So primarily you need an audience and you need to grow and widen that audience because tastes change and your music changes. Fans drift away and new fans come. [/quote] but your audience needs to be larger than that other band or bands who may play on the same bill... substantially larger... so what does it matter whther they stay or not?

[quote name='TimR' timestamp='1355256929' post='1896100'] Unless it's a covers band playing well known good music, 2 hours of live music is about all most people can take. Even at festivals there is something else to do or see. If you're doing an outdoor gig and the weather is nice people will sit on the outskirts and talk etc. I think 3 bands each playing 30mins is enough. I've been to gigs to see a friend's band and stayed to watch the next band (who were dire). I would have left and not waited for the last band if I hadn't known the second band were only on for 30mins. However they overstayed their welcome and at 45mins I was ready to leave. [/quote] some bands play too long if they play longer than one-two songs we regularly play 90min (all originals) and they usually ask us for more... I guess it depends on the band.

[quote name='EliasMooseblaster' timestamp='1355237229' post='1895756'] I agree entirely, it sucks all the life and soul out of a gig when the band before you files in five minutes before they're due on, with all their friends in tow, then vanish out the door the moment they've put their guitars away, taking said friends with them. They must realise it's self-defeating: sure, you may have dragged lots of friends along, but they're not going to [i]keep[/i] coming to see you. [/quote] THAT is the problem. Many of those gigs are based around bringing FRIENDS. Friends that generally only go because you are there, and they will say you rawk... but, would they go to see your band, if you were not in it? That's also not a real audience. A real audience is people who don't know you personally but are there because they like your band already, or they chose to go in and check some bands they did not know. That's also why "promoters" keep putting these crap events, with up to five bands playing 35min each... why so many bands? because they count on each band bringing a handful of "friends", and that way make up enough numbers. If they could get away with 8 bands playing 15min, they would try that too. Those are the gigs I flatly refuse to do. I have done a few of those, and they are pointless, unless you are new and you just want some experience. Fortunately, there are some good promoters, rare but good, who try to hold events that appeal to a real audience, with coherent music styles, bringing some better known bands headlining and adding some "local talent" in the mix... It pays to find out who they are, and make sure your band is visible to them. The other type of crap multiband gig... you don't need a promoter. You can do the work yourselves... it's not that expensive to hire a venue... if it's going to be a crap gig, let it be at least YOUR crap gig

[quote name='Count Bassy' timestamp='1355230691' post='1895606'] And definitely avoid "head-lining" at such events. All it means is that it will be you and a few die-hard supporters left when you go on [/quote] oh, and that too! it also means you will be in first, and out last... The first time I saw our guitarist "and we are headlining!!!" all happy... I wanted to cry and laugh at the same time. Then I said "ok, this time it's ok, next time let me be there when we negotiate the details"

[quote name='Barefootbassplayer' timestamp='1355230038' post='1895596'] Just a general question for you all to consider.....maybe I'm looking back with rose tinted glasses here! I remember playing on bills with 3, 4, 5 other bands ten years ago and turning up, meeting all of the other bands, hanging out and having a laugh and...most importantly...all of the bands would hang around for each others sets and clap and holler and help create a great vibe. Bearing in mind if its a school night or out of the way venue the other musicians could count for half the audience!! Over the past few years I've noticed this decline, bands soundchecking and then leaving the venue only to arrive for their stage time, in some very rude cases actually taking their equipment out of the venue post performance through the audience whilst other bands have been playing. I really enjoy checking out other bands and have seen some really great talent doing this, some who have actually gone on to make names for themselves as well. As well as this we've been able to gig swap, form new bands, share horror stories and make new mates. It just seems a real shame that this side of the 'musicians code', if you like, has fallen away. I actually get a bit annoyed at my fellow band mates when they do this! Am I just grumpy, am I getting old, does this even matter to bands any more? [/quote] what musicians code? I try to avoid these events, but sometimes I end up playing in some, with the originals band. I sometimes watch other bands. Sometimes I don't. Sometimes I have other things to do (like the time I missed another BC's band who played after mine ) and other times I may have seen enough at soundcheck and there's no way I want to inflict that painful experience on myself again. Musicians' code? What does it matter if other band stays or not? Cool if they do. Cool if they don't. I want peope to see my band because they really want to, not as captives. And if you worry about the audience numbers dropping because two bands are not there... then you just don't have an audience anyway. I have at times played and taken my amp away... why would I wait another hour or 90min? If I am not interested in staying to watch the other band... why would I stay? It seems odd to me. How is it being rude? I have also many times provided my amp for other bands. Even in some situations where our band was not the last one. I sometimes do that, others I don't. There is no fast rule. Musicians code? I find that a non-insignificant proportion of band members (in other bands, obviously, in mine they are all great ) are *plonkers*. I do not feel any kind of empathy or affinity towards them only because we happen to have a musical interest in common. There is no musicians code, there is only being decent human beings. That means being polite, friendly, etc. That we do. But some "musicians" seem to have a sense of entitlement that I really do not share. They seem to be the same ones that get upset because you don't stay to see them play. Well, that's their problem. I personally do not hold any grudges towards anybody who does not stay to see my band, I'm just appreciative of the ones who do stay.

The thing is, a seller can ask whatever they want to, and it's none of our business. I may decide that my beloved Vintage brand Jazz bass is precious to me, and I would not entertain offers below £300. Clearly, I may wait a LOOOOOONG time to find a buyer. But that's my problem. If that's what it takes for me to let it go, then that's what it takes. Whether it sells or not is a different matter. So, a desperate seller will price low, a not-so-desperate one, may price higher. We can accept it, or keep looking. Same with receiving low offers. We can accept them, or not. In either case, nobody is entitled to treat the other one as "plonkers" or "numpties" [1] [1] as a foreigner, I find these two words extremely hilarious, I can't put my finger on why...

[quote name='mikegatward' timestamp='1355234039' post='1895695'] Additionally, adverts could be auto deleted after a certain time to prevent someone replying to a 12+ month advert with 'Is this still available' - that one really bugs me especially when the thread then goes to the top of the page. [/quote] Personally, I like how one can track down previous transactions. It can be very useful.

[quote name='lowdowner' timestamp='1355235346' post='1895716'] Many people claim to be able to hear this 'guessing'. I'm not so convinced - but many are. But either way, CD sampling is, by definition, lossy as it only 'samples' the waveform. [/quote] Many are convinced they were abducted by aliens... that does not make it true. If the approximation to a waveform cannot be distinguished from the original waveform (by human hearing)... is it really "lossy"? I'm not sure that word would apply.

[quote name='51m0n' timestamp='1355232117' post='1895644'] Having said that I find 320kbps mp3s fine, its all that 128kbps stuff that I find inlistenable - and I'm not by any means an audiophile: I just like good recordings and good playback - I want to feel the music move me, not hear the issues with the reproduction preventing me enjoy it... [/quote] I remember many years ago when I was arguing that mp3 were terrible terrible things, and a friend tried to convince me that they work alright... All I knew were 128kbps mp3. I did not know you could get higher bitrates. Then I copied all my CD collection as 320kbps mp3, and they are indeed alright for my purposes. Who listens to 128kbps mp3? urgh!!

[quote name='Graham' timestamp='1355066080' post='1893553'] hmmm.......I could always swap the 3-way pre-amp switch for a 2-way and make it a simple active / pre-amp bypass.....just been looking at the East MM circuits on bass direct, very tempting; particularly as the 3 knob version has a push - pull treble boost - like the 3rd position on the L2000 pre-amp switch. I wonder if on of the electrical engineers at work could rig a slight mod to keep the tone controls working in passive mode. This is all Pie in the sky in all honesty though as I'm broke at the moment. [/quote] If you used a stacked pot for the volume, I'm sure the bottom part could be wired with a cap to give you a passive tone control... ask John, he's quite receptive to simple custom mods, from my experience. At the very least he would be able to tell you whether it can easily be done or not, for a particular preamp. The treble boost, however, is pretty subtle, nothing like that on the L2000. I tend to forget it's there.

[quote name='Big_Stu' timestamp='1355005002' post='1892970'] Haven't got a treble control to turn down, or a bass to turn up My amp is straight through, just as it was intended, or at least how the manufacturers tastes would have me believe it was intended. [/quote] did the manufacturers know what speakers you were going to use too, and in what room?

ah, Lettuce. I didn't know about them until a few weeks ago, when a post from bubinga5 enlightened me. I own 3 albums now

[quote name='Graham' timestamp='1355040182' post='1893157'] I love my Tribute L2000 but do agree it could do with a pre-amp upgrade, I keep hoping John East will bring out an L-Retro.... I'd want to keep the master volume / pickup switch, the series / parallel switch and a active passive switch. Swapping out the tone controls and making the active and treble boost better would be good though - these are all features I'd want to keep, but just improved versions of them as the active mode is just a line boost as far as I can tell and the toe controls are quite subtle. [/quote] Mine keeps the series-parallel and the pickup switch, of course. Just not passive-active one... I could,, there is room for it, but I´m ok without it.

[quote name='Prime_BASS' timestamp='1354978770' post='1892560'] off topic but I just read through your sig.... Where do you keep all that stuff? [/quote] I´m lucky to be allowed to have one room for it. The condition is... it all must fit in there, nothing in the rest of the house

[quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1354881945' post='1891527'] A true gentleman. Bravo. [url="http://www.smileyvault.com/"][/url] [/quote] Nah, not really. Just hoping he will become rich and famous and that he will remember me and give me and my band a support slot touring around the world

[quote name='LukeFRC' timestamp='1354864260' post='1891302'] Big fat fella, drives a Taxi, Lives in Livingston? I've met, and dealt with the nummpty. If he had come to collect he would have tried to barter you down again. [/quote] No idea, I never got the "pleasure" of meeting him. Then you also get other types that I find a bit annoying. Again, around the same time, this guy comes interested in a guitar I was selling. A Vintage brand SG type. The guy is in his late 40s and says when he arrives this guitar is for his son's birthday, and how much he is into guitars, this and that, but money has been an issue blah blah blah. He seemed nice, chatted a bit, and as expected he tried to get the price down a bit. I accepted, and it was ok... he was nice, and I liked the idea of it going to a kid learning to play etc. Then he started trying to get extras... would you have this? and that? I ended up giving him a better gigbag than the one I meant to give the guitar away in, a strap, one of my cables and a cheap stand I did not use. All this based not so much on his pure negotiation skills, but on my liking him and helping him get the whole package (he had an amp already but nothing else, he said). Literally about a week later I see the same guitar advertised for a chunk more than I sold it for. No birthday noy I guess :/ But then, there are other "warmer" stories too. A while ago I had bought a bass and the guy sold it together with a practice amp. I did not need that practice amp, so I thought I'd sell it on afterwards. So eventually I put it for sale. A woman calls, interested in the amp for her son, asked me a few questions, and we arranged for her to come round and check it out. She arrived with two sons, the 12 year old who wanted the amp and his older brother. He already had a bass but no amp, and he is playing it all the time but frustrating as he really wants an amp etc... they ask me to demo it, as the son says he is only a beginner and I guess he feels shy. So I plug it in and show him what it sounds like... I show him it has a headphone out too (wink to the mother ) etc... and they say yes, they will take it. The kid looks really happy that he's going to have an amp at least. And then the 12 year old starts counting money... The mother says that he's wanted an amp for a while but she made him save for it, which he didn't like at first but now he's happy he can buy his own amp etc. I don't know, it brought me back to my childhood when I saved for various things, a bike, whatever, and how hard it was... so I said, "really? well, in that case maybe we can reassess the price" and I took away a large chunk off the price I was asking. The look on his face was well worth it.

[quote name='uncle psychosis' timestamp='1354826136' post='1891042'] Yes, that would be annoying---but more annoying because of the persistant rudeness rather than the lower offer though, right? [/quote] oh yeah, of course.

I can't believe it was March when I did that!!! It was only YESTERDAY that I fitted the back cover and took it to rehearsal with me. No, of course I had installed the preamp earlier... yes, last month Anyway... it sounds ENORMOUS!!!!!!! In my view, a nice improvement over the original circuitry. I made a small mistake when wiring it all up, but once I paid attention I realised what I had wired incorrectly, and it's all good. Those pickups are beastly. What a bass. That's all, simply a general "wheeeeeee!!! love this bass!!!" type of comment