Truckstop

Any thoughts? Cheers Alex

Ooh, actually, anyone got any thoughts on the Ampeg B100-R or the Orange CR50? Cheers Thrushstop

Yeah, I'm loving the look of the Aguilar DB range, but I simply can't afford to spend the best part of 500 quid on a cab! I might just keep checking eBay and this very site for a Fender Bassman combo. Sound great, they're American (brand, at least!) and look traditional! Thanks for your help everybody. Just gotta keep looking for a second hand gem to pop up! Truckstop

Yeah I already use flats and a bit of foam for muting. Ampeg would be nice if I could find something cheap enough! Truckstop

Hello all, I'm in the market for a traditional sounding amp. I know that many of you will suggest getting a vintage bass (and i'd agree. The bass adds more to the sound than the amp does imo), but I need an amp that actually looks and sounds the part too. It may be possible that very soon I will be the basist for a motown/soul function band, and my rackmounted GK doesn't look particularly.... period. Does it? Should I go for a new amp with classice styling? Or should I try and track down something nice and vintage? I'd guess the price range would be anything up to £700? Might have to spend more for the right one though. So, any thoughts would be nice, thank you! Cheers Alex

Hello all, As the title suggests, I'm after the music/tab for the 3 Doors Down song 'When You're Young'. Guitar or bass will be fine. I don't have internet at my house so I can't whack it on Youtube and listen through my speakers and work it out the normal way! Cheers Alex

Ah, the 12 Bar is my favourite venue ever. I played there a few times with my old band, we could only fit the drummer on the stage, the rest ofthe band just ran rampant on the floor! Truckstop

I quite enjoyed that! Only thing I'd say (apart from echoing your guitar sound issue) is maybe the vocals could be turned down a tad. Truckstop

Makes me play faster Truckstop

You just wanted to show off your lovely bass again innit? I do proper fancy it. Anyway, I use a kitchen towel tube duct taped to the side of my amp for a stand. Solid. Truckstop

My last band rehearsed three times a week. Friday night, the guitarists and I would get together with some beers and try out new riffs, structures, or just go over tricky parts a few times. Saturday mornings, full band rehearsal. We'd work solely on new stuff. Wednesday evenings, full band rehearsal and we'd just set set set set set set set for 3 hours to get the songs tight. Truckstop

I've never heard a cover band do The Police. Which is a shame. I'd love to hear Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic or Doo Doo Doo De Da Da Da live. Truckstop

....sell all the Warwicks... Truckstop

That is amazing! I love the fading paint job on the back of the neck. If I had some spare cash, I'd definitely be after this! Truckstop

Just practise I'm afraid. Confidence with the song will help make sure you accent properly and also develop the strength in your fingers. Also, try using a little wrist movement to help get some power into your playing. Tap a table with your wrist flat on the table, and then tap the table with the same finger, but using your wrist to provide the power. There should be a difference in timbre. Apply this technique to playing these songs. Also, try turning up the bass and treble and reducing the mids a little on your EQ, that should help get rid of some of the twang, but it'll only help to a certain extent. Hope this helps Truckstop

Sorry for the hijack, but I've noticed this a few times on the board recently: It's SEGUE. A SEGWAY is a sort of scooter type thing that uses lots of clever cogs and things to make it work. A SEGUE is a bridge between two songs/passages of music. Truckstop

Yes. Start a pop covers band and play at University venues. The other day, I went to see a Blink-182 cover band at Herts uni SU bar, they were wick and the place was packed! Truckstop

I'd love to start a kind of Blues/Soul band with a drummer, percussionist, bass, 2 Lap steel guitars, acoustic guitar, electric organ and a harmonica player. It'd be the wick. Ooh, and a female and male vocalist to lead, with a barbershop quartet adding backing vocals. Truckstop

Yeah, my old band were a death metally/proggy outfit, but to be honest, I don't think I could stomach listening to an entire Cannibal Corpse or Beneath the Massacre album in one go. I loved playing it though, and because I was 'uneducated' in the ways of death metal, I brought a nice melodic and musical flavour to the music I reckon. As for guitarists though, I've always been so lucky. In my last band (again), one of the guitarists was determined that he should not have the same sound as the other, but instead, looked for ways with which he could complement the bass and the other guitar. One of the guys had a lovely bassy sound from his Peavey 5150, and the other filled in the higher aspects with his delicious Blackstar. Both guitarists were also very restrained soloists and tended not to bother with effects. The drummer was always the noisy one. Constantly thudding away without turning off his triggers. Gah! Truckstop

Whenever I've played a gig, the landlord buys a few rounds for the band or there's at least a couple bottles of beer each. I'd never play a pub gig without free drinks. In fact, I'd kick up a fuss if they didnt offer free drinks for the band. The way I've always seen it, is that the band is doing the venue a favour. Not the other way round. Even when I ran a bar, I'd always ensure the band got a rider. If they're a good band with a good following, I'd want them to come back! Truckstop

The economics is quite simple. I was a bar manager for 3 years and I currently live in my mates pub which does live music: 1) If there's a band playing people arrive earlier and leave later = more drinks per head 2) If there's a band playing, people tend to come in bigger groups which equals more 'rounds'. At the end of the night, 3 or 4 people from the same group get a round in because they lose track or want to show off or because they want to be a nice guy, and most of the time leave without even finishing their drinks. A smaller group tends not to get extra drinks in at the end of the night. 3) If there's a *good* band in, they'll bring "roadies" with them. They don't get free drinks like the band do, and they'll be there from 7pm til 2am. 4) If there's a band playing, you can get away with people hanging around the pub after hours talking to the band, landlord etc and again because there's more groups of people rather than individuals, they'll stay later and get more drinks in. 5) If there's a band playing, you'd be wise to advertise or promote drinks that take less time to prepare. Eg, alcopops and bottled beers and ciders. Less time serving = more people drinking at once, and more profit because of less wastage from beers and wines and you'll have people getting more rounds in as it takes less time to drink a bottle of bud than it does a pint of stella. Less time for the bar staff to be worrying about glass wash too = more time serving = faster drink turnover. In my experiences, that's pretty much it really! Truckstop