BILL POSTERS

[quote name='JamesBass' timestamp='1376141392' post='2170160'] Didn't know where was best for this so apologies if it's not in the right section! Recently I got my parents old Hi-Fi out of storage and low and behold it's knackered and Sony don't have any sort of support for it so minus reverse engineering it I need to buy a new Hi-Fi. Just wanted to get some peoples opinions and experiences with Hi-Fi's. I mainly got my parents one out of storage for the use of the turntable, so I'd want one with a turntable. I don't own any tapes so won't need a tape deck but would like a good cd player included as well. Any recommendations or guiding thoughts out there? Thanks James [/quote] Is it not repairable ? Majority af parts are not Sony specific, and anyway a dealer who sells will be keener to sell you a new one. Sonys spares department was never great tbh. I used to have a Sony approved trade service business years back and, sods law, only skipped the manuals from the 80s and 90s about 6 months ago, I had hundreds as they all came free issue as soon as a new model came out. Try a decent eperienced independent engineer and see what he thinks, Most of the amps were pretty good. Turntable and Cassette decks probably just have mechanical problems due to grease hardening and belts drying out if its not been used for a while, so could well be cheaply repairable. The belt that ejects the CD tray was a really common problem with Sony stuff iirc, and the processor shuts the deck down if the drawer isnt opening when the motor runs.

[quote name='superclive' timestamp='1376169237' post='2170550'] Someone that earns a living through playing music? Doesn't necessarily have to be any good just earns a living. [/quote] This. Like any other job I guess, some better at it than others, some better at bullshyt than others, some quicker, some earn more, some only there cos of who they know etc.

[quote name='tauzero' timestamp='1375706653' post='2164488'] Well, that's no good. Only Fender have the secret of how a bass turns from pristine to looking like sh*t in a fortnight. [/quote] Quite literally. Last may I returned a 5 months old USA Precision to Fender cos the paint was peeling off. Mind you, they replaced it without any problems, which in my book is great after sales service.

[quote name='Junkyard Rocket' timestamp='1375574936' post='2163158'] These things are pointless & idiotic - I won't play a venue with them if we are using our own backline. The last time I encountered one was in a function room at a council-run theatre / arts centre where it triggered before any amps were plugged in, but the drummer was fiddling with his snaredrum. Without being asked, the tech there provided an extension cable plugged into a socket in the kitchen for us to plug into instead. [/quote] This. Aint seen one for years, always refused to mess around with em. But thats the way to do it.

Only read half of the thread, so sorry if this has been said. I'm tot a technical player by any stretch of the imagination, some people, including myself, would probably say I dont actually know what I'm doing. So to me it has to be a good song to start with, and usually a simple bass line. But its the way its played, the feel, that makes a difference. Plus of course, its in the mix so you need to hear it.

Does it smell when its on, or just smell all of the time ? an old valve amp will have a distinctive smell when it warms up if it aint been used for a while, kinda likean electric fire thats not been used, but tht will go away after a bit. Otherwise its in the wood probably. Unless its a combo, in which case old paper speaker cones could probably absorb something. I'd sugest taking the guts out,sprinkle either dry carpet deodoriser from Wilko, or Borax ( same thing probably ) liberally around the cabinet inside, leave it half an hour and then hoover it out. Usually works wonders. I like old Roost amps Theyre great, really basic design, and very bloody loud.

Tried Johnsons Baby Oil ? Bit thicker than fast fret. Cheaper than Thunder glides 'especially formulated' stuff as well I bet.

I been looking for a band round Brum as well, pickings are a bit slim lately, apart from the usual nutters. Hadnt seen this one, but I think I'll pass. Having said that, aint Britain great ? When you consider that in the countries/governments a lot came here to get away from, you'd probably disappear in the night,never to be heard of again for recording something like that.

My Sharona maybe. Or Puppy love for those of you in really really naff covers bands Are there any you cant do if your old and bald ? Couple of bands I been with had baldy singers who wouldnt sing 'Get a haircut and get a real job'

[quote name='Urban Bassman' timestamp='1374941625' post='2155061'] Here we go two...three....four They don't make em like that any more. And, what was the bass that his bassist was using? This could on and on and on... [/quote] Dunno, but I'm glad you said using. He sure wasnt playing it. Whatever, at least it was done in fun. Not the impression you got from the previous lot

[quote name='icastle' timestamp='1374861936' post='2154254'] I believe Greggs have now removed them from their product range. [/quote] You beat me to that one. Whatever floats your boat, but I thought the dodgy miming on that TOTP performance was awful. But at least Jilted John came on straight after just to show how it should be done...

[quote name='EssentialTension' timestamp='1374921896' post='2154792'] You could pay extra to have your new car 'undersealed' but they still rusted. [/quote] Even Waxoiled, where holes were drilled and some thick sticky stuff that smells like WD40 was sprayed in, trouble was the corrosion had already started by then so it was too late. Changing car electrics from +ve earth to -ve earth was supposed to help as well..

[quote name='Fat Rich' timestamp='1374860398' post='2154224'] Quite a few string manufacturers ship their strings in airtight sealed packaging which maybe helps keep them bright. Maybe they use better quality metal wire now. Cars last for ever these days but in the 70s they were rusty before they left the factory, well the British and Italian ones were anyway [/quote] There wasnt so much choice as now, it was Rotos or Picato, maybe Fenders. Only flats I saw came on a bass I bought new, I liked em, but couldnt get any more when they died about 3 years later. Roto swing bass were definitely not the same as they are now Disapinting really, they used to be great in my humble opinion but now some of the real cheapos are nearly as good, and last better. Oh yeah, ALL cars rusted in the 70s not just BL & Lancias.

[quote name='Dingus' timestamp='1374850111' post='2154074'] They wouldn't sound the same as genuine vintage dead strings . The recent trend towards coated strings is actually nothing new . In the 1970's your typical bass player was using a set of dead -as -a -doornail Rotosound Swing Bass that was usually coated in a layer of chip fat , by virtue of the fact that that was all most people in Britain had to eat due to the economic crisis brought about by the Labour Government , Hyperinflation and militant trades unions . Subsequently ,back in the 1980's most bass players were wearing hair gel that made strings die off quicker and gave a distinctive sound that can be heard on many recordings of the era by bands like A Flock Of Seagiulls and The Thompson Twins . Reliced strings would need to be treated with the[u] right [/u]kind of chip fat and/ or genuine 1980's hair gel to sound , feel and look authentic , or another Basschat ruckfest would ensue . [/quote] But I was playing Bass in the 70s, and changed my strings more often than nowadays. I'm sure they didnt zing clang or klank anywhere near as much as they do now. Also, financially I was far better off when Harold was PM than I am now. No I'm not trying to get politics into the thread, I was better off in the Thatcher years as well. I just think theres a lot of cobblers talked about the so called Dark days of the 70s thats all.

I hate new strings, to me, theyre much better after a month when the klank and zing had died down. Is it me or has something changed with strings, either in the materials or the manufacturing methods ? I'm sure new ones zing and klank more than they did years ago, and seem to go dead much sooner and more suddenly, so the time beteween when they are just nicely played, and dead seems shorter.

[quote name='Grangur' timestamp='1374492554' post='2149239'] Would Elvis' ego have allowed him to walk amongst the common folk? [/quote] Dunno about ego, but an Elvis tribute night would have been perfect cover wouldnt it ? What I was getting at is that sometimes the lookalike, by emphasisng certain bits, will be more like the public perception of the artist than the artist is in real life. Ozzy for example would sound normal in Brum, (almost) so impersonators invariably add a black country accent. although he does have an Aston accent, and hams that up a bit for the cameras, its very different.

Not quite on topic, but I once read that Elvis entered an Elvis tribute acts competition at a bar owned by a relative, and came 8th. I think we need to distinguish between a band that just plays a set of numbers by one particular band, which is a compliment, and a tribute act that parodies the original members by dressing up and wearing wigs etc ephasising certain traits, which would probably leave the original artist a bit miffed. theres a fine line between paying tribute and taking the pissi sometimes. Cant help but think of Freddie Star and others Jagger impersonations.

[quote name='Jonesy64' timestamp='1374326737' post='2147612'] Somebody mentioned K*nt And The Gang earlier....they played a gig recently in Nottingham on the same bill as [i][b]Arse Full Of Chips.[/b][/i] I can't decided whether that's a dumb name or a great one! [/quote] Great one, definitely a great one. Course said with a South Yorks/Notts accent it probably means something completely different.

[quote name='Nibody' timestamp='1373181768' post='2134332'] Just out of interest, thought it would be good to start a directory of basschat members bands so we can put a name to a bass player. I know some folks have it in their sig but would be good to have it in one list. My current is Colorado Lounge and I will hopefully be doing a punk covers nock about soon. [/quote] Only skimmed the thread while I eat my Shredded Wheat, weathers too nice to sit looking at my PC. So sorry if I missed something here. But why not go one further, and list a few past bands. Dunno about anybody else, but I quite often see faces that seem familiar from bands years ago. Or remember characters who dont seem to be around any more and wonder what happened to them.

Is it all that critical ? My way. Thumb of left hand on 1st fret, Ring finger if the right hand at about the 16th fret, and push down at around the 7th or 8th with my thumb. Get it straight, then increase the relief a bit at a time till it plays nice, usually about 2 thicknesses of fag packet, but never really measured it. Point is, when it plays right - its right. Surely which fret, and how much relief depends on what works.

[quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1373032425' post='2133023'] [b]He doubled the figure and put a few more thou on it...[i]and the accountant wrote out the new cheque for that figure without batting an eyelid... Calm as you like...[/i][/b] I don't know whether that is a good way or bad way.. but again the band leader was nowwhere near doing it face to face. [/quote] Sounds too easy. Bet hes still kicking hjmself thinking he shoud have asked for more. Yep, text sucks as a way of saying goodbye, I'd be offended, so would most people. Only been sacked from one band, and that was cos I had injured my left arm and couldnt play for a while. They werent going anywhere and split not long after anyway. But I have been in a few bands that split up and reformed without me...lol. In my 'other life' I lost count of the day jobs I been sacked from years ago, and I've been self employed for donkeys years. I've had to sack a fair few as well, Its never easy, even when you dont like the person, and they are rubbish at the job etc. but I'd never not do it face to face, thats just cowardice.

Never really managed to crack this, at least not so I'm happy to gig it. Not that its complicated, just cant get the right feel if you see what I mean. [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eHQSz1kGL5w"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eHQSz1kGL5w[/url]

Just a Gigolo, Louis Prima.

Nobody mentioned Peaches ?

[size=6][sub]Only skimmed the thread so sorry if theyre already been mentioned.[/sub][/size] [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3gVzE2YxWw"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3gVzE2YxWw[/url] [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gN9JoNRiWo0"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gN9JoNRiWo0[/url]