Japhet

I play in a rock band but I love all types of music. I love the gigging but can never find anybody who wants to play funk, latin, fusion, ska etc. etc, so I play along to that stuff at home. I find the rock stuff generally undemanding compared to other genres.

Lightweight for me. Trying to get out after a gig lugging a big old heavy lump through a crowd of pissed up punters blocking the way ain't for me any more.

To answer the question I'd say an amp that's loud enough to keep up with an un-mic'd drum kit. Anything louder than that should be having PA supportfor bigger venues etc where the bass rig effectively becomes an on stage monitor.

I picked up a Roland Cube 60 for next to nothing. Good range of amp simulations and effects and a nice clean channel as well. Headphone socket and Aux in for mp3s or whatever and small as well. I reckon it will go pretty loud if you crank it up as well.

Envelope filter is controlled by the dynamics of your playing (i.e. how hard you attack the note) and a compressor is used to even out the dynamics. Envelope filter is one of the few pedals I'd always have in front of a compressor.

When my band used to be 5 piece (Vox, 2x guitars, drums, bass) I could never, try as I might, explain to the pot basher that he should set up right of centre so that the 2 of us on the left had room to breathe. Every friggin' gig we'd get there and he'd assembled his huge kit dead centre. Like talking to a cabbage.

Stingray.

Slightly off topic but...............a few years ago I worked in the exhibition industry building stands. We built a stand for a camera accessory company one time at the NEC. The thing was the size of a house. The day before the show opened the clients turned up to inspect the stand and after a good look around one of the Directors said they were very impressed and loved everything but was the any chance we could turn it round so that it was facing the Nikon stand. I have no idea how such stupid people manage to get such high paid jobs.

2 Zoom B3s would be a lot of fun.

My old Trace cabs had a lot of heft - at least that's the noise I used to make when I picked them up.

I remember the 70s when the sound at the vast majority of gigs was mostly between sh*te and unlistenable. It was generally through the now much coveted valve amps and the not so coveted heavyweight cabs. Times have certainly changed as has the degree of tint on the rose tinted specs.

One of the best necks on a cheaper 5 string is on the Lakland Skyline 55-01. No floppy B string and a very versatile set of Bart pickups too.

I Gotta Feeling - Black Eyed Peas Town Called Malic - The Jam

Jet City offer a lot of bang for your bucks. Based on Soldano amps I believe. Guitarist in my band had a 20 watt and a fifty watt head and both sounded stonking.

Fretless will make you play more accurately and will improve your ear so it's a good thing to learn. There are things you can only do on a fretless as well like sliding harmonics (waits to be corrected by more knowledgeable person).

Roland Cube is well worth a look. Come in various wattages and have loads of features like onboard tuner, mp3 input, headphone socket and loads of effects. Lots of fun.

This lot are so much fun and such a great vibe. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5MXlAAsRVY

When I used to play with Rotosound Swing 66s a new set would shred my finger tips.

Fat Freddy's Drop for me. Don't get more summery than this. [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qU8uFqNrNdk"]http://www.youtube....h?v=qU8uFqNrNdk[/url]

Schroeder punches well in a live mix. Just to add to what's already been said.

A few years back I sometimes played at a jazz funk jam at a pub in Cambridge. A guy came on stage and started laying down some seriously good guitar grooves and solos. Really enjoyed playing with him. Afterwards I said to my mate (who was drumming); 'that guitarist is a bit tasty. Is he in a band?' My mate looked at me a bit quizzically and said ' Yes, they're called Jamiroquai'. Turns out I'd been sharing the stage with Rob Harris (Doh!). Have met and spoken to him numerous times since and he is an absolute diamond of a bloke.

Couldn't possibly pick a favourite. Some not mentioned - Get Off, Purple Rain, Let's Go Crazy, Cream. I could go on and on and on.......but I won't.

Have found that (I presume) the electrics in some venues produce a lot of buzz so I've been looking to cancel this out. The Rocktron Hush has caught my eye. Anybody have one, use one or have any opinions/alternatives? Also, what is the difference in Rocktron's 'Reaction' line pedals?

He definitely came in through the 'out' door. Did it how he wanted to do it.