Sean

Although your review is detailed I must point out that I have been left unsure of whether it's ANY GOOD FOR METAL! :-)

I'm having a 200w valve head made and have specified it so that it's switchable down to 100w and 50w for smaller venues so that I can get the full drive of the power section without demolishing the building we're playing in. I find that with my 400+ its best sounds don't come until it's way too loud.

They look like generic Korean/Indonesian instruments, like Indie or Shine, that sort of thing. Certainly nothing like you'd expect from PRS

I really don't think it matters what amp you have for Funk. Just get one that you like and play funky stuff. It's all in the fingers. Personally, I like a Mesa 400+ because it's loud and versatile and will do whatever I want it to.

That's the best thing I've ever seen. And I've seen a Porsche Panamera Grand GT this week.

Anyone got any real world experience of these? Any feedback?

[quote name='DarkHeart' timestamp='1402264382' post='2471574'] ask them to turn down half way through, if they wont ...............................................next! [/quote] We did, he did.

Everyone happy. Thanks for all the help and advice, chaps, it wa appreciated.

No.3 has accepted! I know we didn't sleep on it but there it is.

Interestingly today was the drummer's first real session with us and although I've played with him before and he was our original first choice for this band (wasn't available six months ago) it wasn't until today that I realised just how right he is and how much fire he puts under a band. It was good to be able to present a prospective new band member with us on form, firing on all cylinders and in a positive frame of mind.

[quote name='gary mac' timestamp='1402251591' post='2471376'] That's amazing that they were all ok and even good. Even more amazing that none of them appeared to be fruitcakes, ego monsters, flakey or any of the many other potential problematical characteristics. [/quote] Yeah, it's amazing. I must say that I enjoyed all four sessions and had my eyes (ears) opened to what the band could sound like. No. 3 was about as perfect as you could expect. We desperately tried to find negatives but when "he's got a French car", "he's tall", "he's um, I don't know" are the biggest minuses then Ia think you've found a winner. We managed to have enough of a chat with each to get a feel for them as people and we asked some of the standard questions like Señor Del Var suggested. All in all a very positive day and hopefully we've found the one.

Time for the full SP. Singer and drummer arrived on time and everybody was non-hungover and in a positive frame of mind, we set up efficiently and had a really nice cup of tea ; nothing fancy, PG Tips (standard type not any of the [i]Fresh, Strong, Rich, Mellow[/i] stuff). The schedule worked well and proved to be enough time in each case to play the four songs through a couple of times and also have a bit of a jam with one of the songs. So, what were the guitarists like? I hear you cry. Well, they were all good and based on what we saw and heard today I'd be happy to be in a band with any of them. The first one was great to play with, played for the song, had a bluesy texas vibe, played a Heritage LP through a Victoria all-valve head and 2x10 and had tone that most blokes never achieve in a lifetime and it was all good just not right for what we're doing. Second guy had a Line 6 100w head with valve power amp section and 4x12 cab. Rock monster and really nice guy that would probably fit; we liked him. He was the most nervous of the three and we tried our best to get him to relax and he had a good stab at it but on the negative side was blisteringly loud, like ouch, even my earplugged head is splitting. We did get him to roll back after the first song though. Third guy rocked up, set up in no time, 15w Orange head and small cab, self-made custom pedalboard that was beautifully designed and populated by some nice gear with some of it using the FX loop and some through in the input - complicated and lots of leads cable-tied and going through a junction box but he certainly knew how to operate it all so it looked really slick, no fiddling, no faffing just great tone and then he nailed all four songs in his own style but had interpreted the material really well - it felt like a band that has been together a while. He gave us a really good vibe as a bloke too and was very easy to get on with but knew what he was about. Difficult to find negatives, really. His Soundcloud stuff was amazing and he went into this easily the favourite musically. Fourth guy nailed all the stuff, so-so tone but was using a borrowed amp as his wasn't available (long story), learned the songs and put his own stamp on them and seemed like a good chap with lots of experience in originals bands and ticked most of the boxes. We'll be contacting them in the next couple of days...

[quote name='Bigwan' timestamp='1402171229' post='2470766'] Only advice I can give is that they're auditioning you as much as you're auditioning them, so don't act like knobs... Having been in your position a few times I've had to rein in band members who seemed to forget we wanted certain auditionees to come back! Good luck! [/quote] My band's as knob-free as a nunnery full of lesbians.

[quote name='flyfisher' timestamp='1402167313' post='2470724'] Don't bother with the ones who don't like tea? Seriously, sounds like you're putting a lot of thought and attention into this, I hope the auditionees have the respect to do the same. [/quote] I have been out today (don't do that often) and stocked up on quality tea bags and milk for tomorrow!

[quote name='steve-bbb' timestamp='1402166809' post='2470711'] video the entire proceedings - tell them it is for a reality tv idea and then post all the videos up on here and we can collectively vote for your new guitarist as an extra bonus im sure ped could possibly throw in a BC polo shirt for the lucky winner [/quote] That is a fab idea and you know it would work!

[quote name='KevB' timestamp='1402165046' post='2470693'] Bear in mind they are also auditioning you [/quote] See first post - [i]very[/i] aware ;-) [quote name='Sean' timestamp='1402135393' post='2470283'] We're also very aware that we are also being auditioned by each guitarist so I will be having a bath tonight and ironing my t-shirt in readiness. [/quote]

[quote name='paul_5' timestamp='1402164557' post='2470679'] If they plug their lead into the amp before their guitar, sack 'em If they spend more time tweaking their sound than playing, sack 'em If they try to tell you how to play bass, sack 'em etc... have you thought about keyboards...? [/quote] I'm ultra-sensitive to lead and strap etiquette and can get preachy about it so I'm well on the case with that, it's hardwired. Messing about with FX/tone is an incurable illness as far as I'm concerned and will drive me nuts. When I was playing guitar in bands, I had all my sounds pre-programmed and ready to go with a stomp. We have gone through some agonising experiences with keys players in the past months and will be revisiting that once we've got the guitarist sorted. We sacked a keys player earlier in the year and have turned down the last two because one couldn't commit and the other was absolutely unbearable; like a cross between Mr Bean and George Integrity Whitebread.

[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1402164060' post='2470669'] In the interests of verisimilitude, you should of course insist that they each set up by the door to the gents toilet ... [/quote] Should I take a friend along to tread on their pedals and spill lager as they push past them whilst they are playing?

[quote name='JapanAxe' timestamp='1402162287' post='2470629'] Text them all to check whether they can play, have learned the stuff, and aren't prima donnas. [/quote] One of my favourite posts of 2014 right there!

[quote name='JapanAxe' timestamp='1402147432' post='2470440'] Having been a guitarist auditioning for a band (albeit a functions band) in a similar scenario, I wouldn't worry too much about auditionee no.2 hearing auditionee no.1 through the wall. In my case at first I thought 'oh crap, he's way better than me', and then 'what have I got to lose', so I just went for it, and got offered the slot the next day. As both auditionee and auditioner, I always sleep on it before making a decision. The recording idea is also a good one. Put the four audition recordings up online somewhere only you 3 can access them, and everyone can make their comments when you meet up for a pint/cuppa later. You have probably already considered this, but money is a key issue - it's the source of many disagreements in couples! Try to get an idea of what they are expecting to put into, and get out of, the band financially. This includes cost/time of getting to rehearsals and gigs. If things are going well, your guitarist may not mind poorly paid gigs or chipping in for studio time, but these things can be a cause of resentment and discontent when other issues crop up. [/quote] Interesting perspective. Money has been clarified up front, there isn't any :-) We stated in the ad that we weren't looking for paid gigs per se and also that any money we did earn would be used to pay for rehearsals or recordings. As far as potential resentment about rehearsal fees, fuelling cars etc, I hadn't considered this. We will be expecting to split costs of studio time equally so I'll make sure that this is made clear tomorrow. Also rehearsal/writing frequency and costs will need to be made clear.

Some really useful advice. Wish I'd posted last week. I'm really looking forward to the whole process and it should bring the other three of us tighter as the drummer is very new although I've worked with him before and he's very good.

[quote name='toneknob' timestamp='1402137175' post='2470314'] Also, maybe post a week ago so you've got time to sort all this out. Otherwise, good luck with it! [/quote] Thanks :-) It's all been a bit touch and go but everything seemed to align yesterday and we get to go ahead as originally planned.

[quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1402136886' post='2470311'] And after all that, hire the one which didn`t turn up with a 412. [/quote] Appropriate gear comments have already been made within the band :-D

The singer has just told me that they will have to wait for us to unlock the door from the inside before they can get in. Sorted.

[quote name='steve-bbb' timestamp='1402136413' post='2470303'] 1715-1830 decision !! i admire your optimisim but seriously if they are all that close and not one individual stands out significantly above the rest then you might consider holding a second audition day especially as this is for original material and you need to find somebody with original ideas to bring something extra to the mix that is unique and different to the three of you already hopefully there will be one of the four that stands out from the others and the decision sort of makes itself with just agreement from you all to confirm [/quote] Hmmm. This has made me think. We've narrowed it down to these four from about twelve unseen applicants who submitted demos and youtube stuff so as these are the best of the bunch, it might prove trickier than we're currently thinking. I like the second audition idea.