la bam

I guess that's one of the things I'm getting at. I'm not bothered whether or not I like something, but pop music used to be week in week out a mixture of pop, disco, rock, metal, reggae, love songs, party songs, dance, indie, world music, novelty, and new styles breaking through, a whole plethora of music. I genuinely haven't looked at the charts, but I'd bet they were nowhere near as diverse as a 70s 80s 90s chart. People's creativity and output has been stifled, even suppressed. Mainly because it's not financially viable to practice, gig, perform, tour, get your voice heard and make an income off the back of it, when starting from scratch. Therefore I believe it's becoming more and more of the same old boys club, producers, artistes and performers, controlling what music is out there, and financial restraints make it hard to break that chain. Unfortunately as its been like this for so long it's become the norm and people have just accepted it.

I feel current 'pop' music is not inclusive of everyone anymore. Its not for a wide range of people like it used to be. There's no BBC weekly main pop music show to involve everyone. And there wasn't even a Xmas totp. Therefore the charts are just for the under 25s and it's those who choose what's in it with sales and streaming. The creativity is appalling. Drivel. Same old thing. Worse, it's the same old thing that's been been going on for years. It's stuck in a rut. For example I watch all the old totp on bbc4 on a Friday and 1994 and 1995 sound fresh and new and streets ahead of anything released nowadays in every way. And that's 30 years old. Melody has disappeared. Musicianship disappeared. Genuine bands are sparse. There's so much in the minor key or just samples with someone talking over the top. I can't remember the last happy sounding upbeat melodic party track. It just feels like it's been abandoned to me. Either deliberately or its been allowed to rot.

It probably is the same. And that's a shame. The fact most are even put off before giving it a go is the biggest shame of all. The rising costs of everything, and the dramatic decrease in what bands on the circuit get paid.

Not if you're young. Insurance is a nightmare. Then there's tax and this ulez thing for older cars too.

What I meant by starting off is starting off completely from scratch. Ie straight out of school with nothing. So, for one, car insurance or van insurance..... Costs thousands for a youngster nowadays, and I mean literally thousands. A van or car, (I was thinking the old style 'band van') are ridiculously expensive since covid. Have a look around at van prices. Mortgage, forget it. They need thousands in savings to even apply for a mortgage. Rent? Hundreds a month, most cost more than a mortgage. Council tax rising all the time. Food and drink spiraling. So, starting with nothing, you (in my opinion) you really can't give being in a band a go with all your effort, or even Potter around the country staying in digs whilst gigging. You can't even doss around in b and bs etc on any kind of 'band' income. What's a hotel now? £80 a night minimum? Therefore so many who may have been able to give it a go, don't. Which is a shame.

Just having a think... mainly due to the dire situation current pop music is in.. The cost of living at the moment is crazy. How youngsters are supposed to own a vehicle or home, or even rent is beyond me. Being a musician has always been seen as hard graft, being in an originals band trying to 'make it' was always fought with little money and being difficult to make ends meet. But, with a bit of luck it was possible. But now.... How are bands supposed to make it or even try when even renting a flat is astronomical, hotels and b and bs cost a fortune, you can't buy a decent van for under 5 grand, tax and insurance will be the same, and then there's fuel and food???! Most will be forced into a job before even being able to give it a go. The only ones I can see having half a chance are bedroom producers on their laptops. I can't see genuine real bands having a chance at all. Is new music and new bands strictly a rich kids game going forward?

Just watched totp review of 2023. Absolute garbage. (just my opinion, but gees that was a terrible show).

Just thought I'd see what new music people liked, bought, hated from this year as it comes to an end? OK, I don't go looking for music anymore, but I can't remember any earworms, adverts, radio play of anything that caught my attention. I didn't even see a top of the pops Xmas special this year to catch up.... and all the Xmas music seemed to be old records.

Gigged my hb mm84a straight into the desk last night with the party band. Straight into a beringer bd21 but not switched on (but so I could get a xlr output). Sounded great. Loud, punchy and versatile. Certainly wouldn't really notice between that and an expensive bass through an expensive preamp (we go direct to desk to pa).

Our party band play it in standard tuning just: E verse and opening E G A chorus The just octaves if you want to get a bit flasher.

After years of carrying 2 basses I still do. You know exactly what will happen if I don't.... However, I now use a gig bag (instead of case) for the spare with a really big front pocket, so it acts as a carry for spare cables, plugs etc as well. So all my spares are in one easy carry.

Emergency over His dad has found it under all the mess of wrapping paper! Have a good day everyone.

Thanks, that what I thought. Very rare and weird connection.

Hi all, Merry Christmas to all. Just a quick one - my friend has bought his son a guitar and amp for Xmas. On unwrapping this morning he's found the amp (black star) needs a 10V 3A adaptor (and the shop haven't supplied one). Has anyone idea a) if that's correct as it seems a weird power pull. b) will another adaptor do?

Weird year for me. Lots of equipment coming and going due to various issues - not liking them, liking them but needing to pay for the van to be fixed, just not fitting in with the current band or being used to fund other purchases. I'm left at the end of the year with only with what I consider to be the best purchases too... These are: Laney Digbeth 500H head Laney DBV vertical 410 cab Harley Benton MM84a x2 Sire P5 (although this may be up for listing soon depending on the van). Love all the above. Affordable, reliable and great sounding. And they have that underdog label and feel I like. Gear that's come in and gone in the year (I think these were this year)... Charvel San Dimas - great looking and feeling bass. Really nice sounds too. Unfortunately blew the preamp up. Fender FSR Electron Green Precision - love this, my second one. Another unbelievable find in such immaculate condition. Had to sell due to van breakdown. Bass Collection precision - really nice sounding bass with flats. Bought it for a tribute that didn't work out. MLD pre amp - great box but currents bands went back to using Amps. EBS 360 - lovely amp. But sold before I could gig it when bands went back to being in ears. Boss Sy300 - another one sold due to temperamental van. Taurus 112 cabs x2 - really really nice cabs. Surprised how good and nice they sounded. Sold to fund the dbv410. No real bad purchases this year.

(deep panto breath....) "Ohhh no it isntttt"

Hi all, just for a bit of fun... We all know and have had basses (and some may have had guitars) that have their own mojo. They're supposed to be the same as all the other exact make and model, but they not. They just sound better. Play better. Have their own quirks. And for those reasons it's hard to part with certain instruments - buy an exact same one of the shelf just won't be the same. But what about Amps and pedals? Anyone had an amp or pedal (or even a cab) that was just irreplacable? That couldn't be replicated or bettered with an exact same model?

Sire - do that sparkly one in fuschia like the bongo and you'll have a winner. Light blue also looks great. Black/Grey though.....

Yes, I've been there and regularly get hit the same way. Down to one and just scrambled a second. Its the way it goes at the moment, get yourself a giggable, cheap second hand bass that's good enough to gig (Harley benton spring to mind) and you'll be fine. I'm gigging in a wedding band and 2 tributes with really cheap bass and it works just fine. Once youre back on your feet then the basses will come rolling back in.

And the SUB that was made in America, with American parts and was almost an American stingray but not quite and definitely not a SUB that was made as a completely different cheap model elsewhere with completely different parts and body... . Honestly, they're baffling!

Weirdly, just to show how mad it is, there's different version of the ray 34s as well

If you can pass me his details that'd be great, thanks.

I tried to figure it out once....... I'm still non the wiser!