dmccombe7

From what i've read from the designer the D800 was designed to emulate a combination of the Mpulse and Carbine tone. That was from the other forum that he answers most questions on the thread. I was recently thinking of going for the Mpulse rather than the D800+ mainly because of the cost but i like the idea of the lightweight. I know there are guys out there that had the standard amps and changed and was just wondering what they thought about both amps. I like that valve preamp tone but not a fan of the weight on the full valve heads Dave

Has anyone gone from standard Mesa gear to the D800 / D800+ Subway range. Does the Subway range have the same or similar tone to the Powerhouse cabs or MPulse or Carbine or Big Block range. ? Does it have that depth of tone, warmth and "girth" of tone being the best description that tubes bring to the table. ? Just thought i'd ask see what people think. Dave

I've been following the other thread on the other forum too. From what i can gather and i don't have Mesa gear .....YET :- The standard clip LED on the input is the same as most other amps but the output has a limit LED that takes the amp into output tube simulation. According to the designer i think he said you ideally want that running at 25% on to get a tube ouput tone. Problem is the amp has to be very loud to get there. Think some guys have answered that issue by doing something with the 2 ohm switch in some way.

Try listening to Jack Bruce solo albums many of which had Gary Moore on guitar. BBM album Around the Next Dream is pretty good. Bruce Baker Moore with some nice rock bass cutting thru on some tracks. Also Hughes & Thrall album of same name Here's a track from the album Or Glenn Hughes solo here's a great song called Liar. Not Hughes playing bass on this. Its the bassist from Europe John Leven (pronounced Levene)

That's the only one i know off where the bass is so clear and prominent. You could try Blizzard of Oz albums Diary of a Madman with Bob Daisley on bass. Couple of songs i really like from that era with Bob are S.A.T.O. and Crazy Train If i can think of anymore i'll let you know. Standard tuning on Crazy Train if i remember right. Not sure about S.A.T.O. Music on Ultimate Guitar if it helps too Bass Tip :- Crazy Train verse count 5 beats on the A before doing the little run down. Have fun. Dave

One of my mates has an OR120 in his recording studio. Its never gigged by him as he reckons its too old and could be unreliable but what a bloomin tone it has. I tried one day i was in his studio with my Jazz bass and it was deep, smooth with clear mids but the presence it had. So hard to describe but just the sweetest, mellow bass tone i've ever had. I even considered buying an Orange head to match the Orange rig i have but never got round to it. Wishing you all the best with that and keep us up to date on how it sounds to you. Dave

I have a Rush music book that i came across several yrs ago and much of Moving Pictures is in it. Would need to go look it out for corect name tho. Last time i looked at it was to learn Tom Sawyer for a band jam session and YYZ just for a bit of fun. Most of this you should get on line. I got the H&H album tracks on Ultimate Guitar site. Gave me the bass tabs and i think it tells you how the bass was tuned.

WOW i had no idea. Cheers for that. Still a brilliant album IMHO Dave

Now that's really quite interesting. The bass parts stood out from everything else Sabbath had ever done that i know off yet some of the bass runs are similar to what Geezer would play. Think in earlier Sabbath the bass was hidden back in the mix rather than forward like H&H album so now its really got me wondering. Does anyone else have any insight into this ? I'm not generally a Sabbath fan and only occasionally listened to them until i heard the H&H album which is the only one i've ever thought was a classic album for me. Not everyone will agree on that but its just my own personal opinion of course Dave

Bass is detuned to Eb on that album just in case you were trying to learn it straight from the album. Think this was Geezer at his very best. Pretty sure it was a custom Jaydee bass he used on it. Dave

Something similar said to me when i left a band because of their in fighting and came back 6mths later and they all stated after first few songs at rehearsal "Can now see what you brought to the band. Its what was missing with other bassists we tried" I was chuffed but it didn't last to long after that when they started again so i left permanently. Full year wasted really. Great band when we gigged tho. Dave

Bruford - One of a Kind with Jeff Berlin (instrumental but bass is excellent) Alain Caron albums (again instrumental but still fantastic basslines) If you are more into Rock albums with lyrics try Black Sabbath Heaven and Hell. Some great clear bass lines on there. Early Whitesnake albums with Neil Murray on bass. Songs like Fool For Your Loving is a classic. Cozy Powell albums Over The Top (Instrumental) or Tilt with Jack Bruce and Neil Murray on bass and different singers. UK albums with John Wetton on bass. First album was Instrumental but follow up had vocals. Hope that helps a little Dave

Maybe you look more like Security than a band member Blue.

On the rare occasion i had meetings all day and could only answer emails or txt messages during lunch breaks i found that i had too many from the morning to get thru them all. Same with txt messages and when i am at work i had a strict work ethic that work issues took priority over personal issues unless an urgent family issue. A lot of times we had working lunch breaks which ruled out using your phone. Not every place of employment allows people the time to check all their messages and as someone said some places like schools don't allow them because of the camera. However i would always answer calls at night when i got home or if important just before i left the office or as i got in my car. (obviously the engine would be off and key out the ignition ) I have sympathy for people that can't access their phones during the day and i allow for that but 4 days is a bit much. Dave

Can appreciate people not being able to answer messages while at work but after work shouldn't be a problem for a quick check of your calendar and txt yes or no to the singer. I would expect a reply within 2 days max if urgent.

Our band make song suggestions and it is then dependant on whether or not the singer is happy with doing it. At the end of the day the singer has final say on it from that perspective. Our singer is the guy behind the band. He started the band off and he is the one getting the gigs so its easier for me to go along with his decisions. As long as a song isn't utter crap i'll give it a go and if it works all god. If it doesn't i'll suggest we drop it for something else.

100% agree someone has to take the lead in a band and have a final say. The songs can be selected democratically and gigs agreed with a level of shared acceptance but someone needs to be pushing a band and getting the gigs or the band would end up rehearsing forever with no gigs in sight.

Remind him its a BAND.

The direct approach

Have the meeting and all cards on the table. Everyone needs to speak their mind and what they expect from the band. Clear the air and see how it goes. Could be that some clarification is all that's required for everyone. If that still doesn't work perhaps its time to have a rethink about who should be in the band. It usualy only works if everyone is reading from the same hymn sheet. Sounds like some people in the band have different expectations of what the band is or should be. At the end of the day it should be fun and enjoyable otherwise what's the point unless you are in it for the money and in that case sort it out and get on with it i'm afraid. Dave

When you put it like that i guess you are probably right for most people. Sometimes a holiday is just whats needed when things are a bit hectic and stressful. Dave

I took a break from bands from my mid to late 30's until i turned 50 and it all started to make sense and i'm enjoying it far more now than i ever did. It was mainly down to my job that i just couldn't get the time for a band. Can't really advise on what bass to keep as that's a personal decision you need to make. For me some of my basses have a personal or sentimental value whereas others are just basses i kinda had a notion for. The one big catch 22 is my Jazz which wasn't expensive as i bought it in a sale. It has no sentimental value ie wasn't a Xmas or birthday present and its not really gone up in value since buying about 8-10yrs ago. Altho its cheaper than my other basses its my goto bass for everything unless i'm asked specifically for a 5 or 6 stringer. So i'd say keep the bass you enjoy playing the most. Amps and stuff can easily be replaced at a later stage and probably a lot cheaper at 2nd hand prices if need be. Take that break. It might only be for a few months, maybe a year or two or maybe like so many of us with various commitments in life it could be 10-15yrs but no matter what how long it takes it could be just what you need at the moment. With regards holidays, i'm not a big fan of expensive holidays abroad unless the cash is spare. I'd rather spend on something that is longer lasting. I just don't get the £3k holiday just for the sake of 2 weeks in the sun. ??? Dave