casapete

Love GK amps - got a couple of them. 700 RB-11 and a 'vintage' 800RB. The 700 is my main gigging amp which I've had for over two years with no problems whatsoever. Its loud & sounds very 'musical' through a variety of cabinets. Its got great tone controls along with the boost facility which gives a nice bit of growl too. It is also a very manageable 16.5 lbs in a 2 rack space,so whilst not in the Markbass league still makes it an easy carry-in. The 800 is just sublime, my fave amp head other than an SVT which I've always regretted selling. It sounds very similar to the 700, just that bit more old school-y perhaps. Again,works well with most cabs-last night it was running a 2x15 EV cab and really pumped the sound out great. Not quite as loud/versatile as the 700,but enough for a non-twiddler like me. The guy who services my gear isn't a massive fan of GK stuff-says they are nothing special in the build dept, and I have to agree with previous post re the dislike of plastic jack sockets which I believe is across the range (?). However, I've had no reliabilty probs with either amp over the last few years, and think that the design of their stuff just works whatever! Cheers.

Been a fingerstyle player from the start, despite graduating on to bass from gui*ar. Last year after an injury I had to use a pick for some songs, and could n't believe how hard it is, and what a difference it makes to the sound. My fave players have always been fingerstyle, but there was a guy in Hull who I used to go and see in my teens who had the best sound - using a P-bass, Top 50 valve amp and a 4x12 cab,and it sounded immense! Horses for courses sez I.

Had similar excellent service from Ben at WD. Recommended.

[quote name='alexclaber' post='673300' date='Dec 3 2009, 03:48 PM']Some PA cabs are outstanding for bass but some are appalling. The bigger and more expensive they are, the better they tend to be. I'd run a mile from using most cheap PA cabs for bass but if you can find a nice big and not el cheapo one for a good price secondhand then go for it! Alex[/quote] +1 Sometimes use my band's spare 1x15+horn PA cab on smaller gigs. Its an ASS cab with B&C drivers and sounds just fine. I have a PA cab for sale in 'Other musically related stuff for sale' on here - think it may fall into the 'el cheapo' category at £25 though!!! Still, may be okay for someone starting out etc.

Years ago, the country rock band I was in got a gig at a rugby club some 60 miles away. We arrived in good time, set the gear up only to discover that the guitarist/pedal steel player had left both his instruments at home. Anyway, whilst we sat around for a while wondering how best to tell the booker, we noticed a distinct lack of punters. By around 9pm the booker shuffled over and apologised for not promoting the gig properly,then asked if we minded not playing and gave us our fee! Phew!

Just got a MM Stingray off James. Top bloke to deal with, and knows a thing or two about quality instruments! Bass was exactly as described - would recommend to all. Cheers.

[quote name='Moos3h' post='664248' date='Nov 24 2009, 07:55 PM']Oh, I just realised....I had a Marshall Bluesbreaker combo that not only caught fire, but then set fire to the curtains in the pub we were playing in. Weird thing was, whilst it was on fire, there was still sound coming out of it![/quote] Had a similar experience with a Vox AC30 when playing at a club in Knaresborough. Saw the audience pointing at me,turned round and the amp was on fire,as was the curtain at the back of the stage. Think the audience thought it was pyrotechnics! Regarding early Trace stuff catching fire, this happened to a bass player in Hull who I think had the first Trace rig in the area. The keyboard player saw it was on fire and promptly threw his drink on it - which unfortunately was a large brandy resulting in more flames!

[quote name='ase_one23' post='662905' date='Nov 23 2009, 05:05 PM']first off, this is a question about guitar amps really (boo hiss ) but i trust this forum's opinions more than any guitar ones! i've just picked myself up a peavey delta blues for much cheapness, it's a wee cracker but a touch underpowered for gigs. i've got this crazy idea to pick up another one with the 15" speaker (mine's is the 2x10") and run them together. would this really make things 'louder' though? or just 'bigger'? i realise that we're going into discussions about what volume is etc but basically - would this boost how loud my guitar sounds on stage?[/quote] I have a mint Peavey Delta Blues 1x15 combo that I may be interested in selling. Complete with footswitch,manual and Peavey cover. PM me for pics? Cheers. Pete.

Try and listen to 'Please come home for Christmas'. Originally done by Charles Brown, but better known due to covers by Southside Johnny (on Home Alone 1 or 2 OST,cant remember which!), and also The Eagles and Bon Jovi. Easy bluesy 12:8 style tune,lots of scope for bluesy guitar break too!

Has to be a 70's Ampeg SVT/8x10 set up for me

My acoustic duo do loads of rock stuff, its just in the way you put it over and how adaptable you are as musicians to make the songs work. (I am fortunate to have an ace guitarist with me who can play virtually anything on his Taylor electro-acoustic though!) Our set list includes :- Another brick in the wall Living on a prayer Baby when you're gone Sweet Home Alabama Honky tonk Woman Have a nice day Losing my religion Purple haze Sweet child of mine Just try and capture the feel of the song and you'll be amazed at what works in an acoustic format - and the audience will think its great for having a go too! If you need to change anything (with us its often the key!) then make sure you keep the recognizable parts of the song if at all possible. Good luck!

For all those lovers of the Squier Vintage Jazz bass, Reverb stores are advertising them at £219, a saving of £110 on rrp of £329 Maple body/neck etc. www.reverb-store.co.uk

Have a look at www.rees-electric-guitars.com There's a small bass on there that is full scale and mega light-tried one at a show and it sounded fine to these ears. Weighs around 6 lbs/Seymour Duncan pickup/very compact design yet 34" scale.

[quote name='dave_bass5' post='659290' date='Nov 19 2009, 02:54 PM']Its was a very embarrassing 4 mins for me. Plus we were using a dep drummer but the B&G loved it and i guess thats what counts. Amazing isnt it ;-)[/quote] 'God only knows' is probably one of my top 5 favourite tunes too. Went to see Brian Wilson recently and it took his 11 piece band to do justice to it,so reckon you were doing well having a go! Great non-root bassline and wonderful chord progression. There's a great bit in a Brian Wilson On tour DVD where Neil Young is guesting and goes to Brian's trailer for a run through of the song. He really struggles with it too!

[quote name='crez5150' post='659279' date='Nov 19 2009, 02:46 PM']Depends on the song really..... oh and how good the band are of course..... Some songs are just so over produced that you couldn't do it..... We always offer the fist dance as part of our package, up to the bride and groom if they want to take up the offer.[/quote] Bet you don't get many takers for the fist dance...................

Most off the wall one we've had was probably 'Iris' by the Goo Goo Dolls. Worked out fine on the day though! Worst one we did was many years ago when the orchestra had been availing themselves of the free champagne, and by the time we came to play the first dance the happy couple were late on to the dance floor because they had n't recognized our version of their tune!! oops..... I agree with previous post that it can be often best if the first dance is left to the DJ to play the original, especially if it's something very hard to reproduce live. 'God only knows' as mentioned above was probably a tough one to nail! Most requested with us are :- Have I told you lately that I love you Lets stay together My girl Amazed etc etc!