Adrenochrome

[quote name='TimR' post='1067615' date='Dec 23 2010, 11:21 AM']... What other musicians are there that obsess and swap instruments so much?[/quote] Guitards

[quote name='benh' post='1067459' date='Dec 23 2010, 09:08 AM']RoTN, great website for Northern bands and a nice bunch who run it! I tend to try and be positive regardless of what the band were like - I don't like giving criticism, whether constructive or otherwise, because it usually comes out wrong and is taken the wrong way! I must say my eyes are usually drawn to the bass player at most gigs I see, but I do try and enjoy the band for what it is. Adrenochrome, which band do you play for? I think I've probably seen you out and about in West Yorkshire, did you play one of the RoTN do's last year?[/quote] Eyup Ben! My main band is Delirium. I'm also in Angel Of Sin (currently on a baby break) and yes we've done quite a few RoTN gigs, conventions, Frock Of The North etc. We played at Travsfest in 2009 which is the only time we've been on the same bill I think. Good to hear from you. Cheers, Jon

I try and 'switch off' and enjoy the performance but don't always manage to do that. If I'm watching an original band then I find that quite easy to do. With covers bands it's more difficult as bum notes scream out to me, and basslines that are over-simplified compared to the original really grate with me. As with others, I'll always make an effort to tell the band if I've enjoyed their performance, or perhaps leave a comment to that effect on NWB or RoTN websites. If asked my opinion, I will try provide some constructive feedback, eg "that solo was good, maybe boost the level/add some treble so it cuts through more next time" type comment.

There is just no need for a heavy, unergonomic bass. I am big, strong, healthy and even I can get back ache over a 3-hour gig, including stripping down and loading our huge PA in the cold night air when you've been sweating buckets under stage lights and your muscles are rapidly cooling. Having a moderately-light, well balanced bass is just another thing that helps reduce the strain. It's no big deal and doesn't reflect badly on those players that want a lighter bass in my opinion. Jon

[quote name='algmusic' post='1064539' date='Dec 20 2010, 12:55 PM']I think bassist have to be careful they don't turn into guitarists or keyboard players, the low frequencies are very important to the music[/quote] In my main band we only have part time rhythm guitar (our singist), and the other band none. So I do regularly cover rhythm guitar and keyboard sounds and lines (not full chords on the bass though, obviously).

Yes! in moderation... My amp is not used for tone-shaping, so my 'normal' sound is a Marshall emulator with the gain only on 10% - this gives me some compression and a warm cleanish sound. On top of that I also use a bit of chorus when I play my fretless, a higher gain setting for proper distortion, and an autowah. I regard some distortion as being essential for playing Rage, Audioslave etc, and the autowah is needed for For Whom The Bell Tolls and Cochise. I also find these effects useful when I've done Muse songs on dep gigs. Jon

I'd suggest having the TAB as well as the notation. I can read music score but I also find reading TAB (occasionally) to be very quick and easy. TAB has limitations but showing positions and open strings (or not!) can be very useful, and you can't always infer that from written score. Jon

The Samson Airline kit is very reliable and consistent. Fairly cheap as well.

If all you're missing is a singer, couldn't you cover the lead vocals with the rest of the band, maybe even get a guest up to do a song or two?

Yeah! I sing lead on The Trooper with my main band, and often do for odd songs at Jam nights, and I also sung about half the set for a scratch-band trio that I put together. I'm not a great singer but I'm confident and happy to do it, as long as I have a bass (or maybe g*****r) to hide behind Most bass parts (in covers bands) are easy so I think singing (backing or lead) is something we should all do as much as possible.

Get powered speakers if you can, it's so much easier! The PA for my main band is ridiculous - 2 x 2x15 bass bins, 2 x 1x15 cabs for the mid range, and 2 x 1x15with horns for the top end. We run 2 crossovers and a big pile of old amps (5000+ watts) with a writhing sea of cables to (badly) wire it all up. We have active monitors for the front (yey!), but a passive monitor for the drummer which means another amp. It sounds immense but can give me back ache for days after a gig The other band has active tops and bottoms (with the built-in crossovers) and a desk. Sounds just as clear with only a bit less volume

I use the muted tuner on my multi-FX between songs. Silent, accurate and easily visible on a pitch black stage. I'm shocked that some of you would tune up audibly between songs at a gig

[quote name='JTUK' post='1036272' date='Nov 25 2010, 01:07 PM']Detuning the whole bass involves a nut re-mod, plus maybe something at the bridge and a new set of strings anyway. You don't really want to be playing low B or C's on anything less than 118, IMV.[/quote] I don't fully agree if you want to try it with the kind of gauges that I was talking about. I've done it on a couple of basses and neither bass needing the nut cutting. Obviously if you're using the bottom 4 strings of a 5-string set then nut modification is more likely. Yes, the C is a little bit floppy with a 110 but it sounds fine and does intonate okay up the neck.

We play in D standard with some songs in drop C. I use a 50-110 set and it's fine. The low C is a tiny bit floppy but sounds great with no loss of volume.

[quote name='icastle' post='1034824' date='Nov 24 2010, 10:27 AM']You reckon that it won't fold then, hey, fine (have you actually tried it?) Sooo.... You'll then need to change the bridge - the strings wont attach because the ball ends are too big. The nut will have to be recarved to accomodate the thicker strings. Then you'll have to change the machine heads to accomodate the thicker string and windings which means redrilling the headstock. Once all this has happened you'll then have to just hope that the neck is wide enough to accomodate the massively thicker strings [b]and[/b] remain a playable instrument - at this point I think you might discover why they make 6 string basses with wider necks than 4 string basses... [/quote] I thought the whole point was that Fender Bass VI strings were not as thick as 'normal' bass strings? I'm sure I've seen baritone guitars being tuned EADGBE and used like this with no bridge problems...

Everything I've read suggests that it's not good for conditioning wood. I haven't used it for a few years on my fretboards.

[quote name='Hutton' post='1029246' date='Nov 19 2010, 01:06 PM']It's a shame that this thread is still open. How many people have to have a go, and how often, before enough is enough?[/quote] Until it stops being funny

Dear Geoff, It's Friday, and it's been a long and tiring week. I'm in the market for an early weekend treat. Do you have anything pastry and/or chocolate based that could satisfy me? It'd have to be delivered to my desk before 2pm though. Sprinkles would be a bonus. Thanks, Tim

We've had a very steady year playing just as many gigs as we'd like. To be honest though the phone hasn't been ringing as often as previous years and we have had to go out and get a few gigs which we haven't had to do in previous years. Next year is looking okay. We want about 50 gigs and have 17 booked so far which is about right. Jon

[quote name='Low End Bee' post='1025503' date='Nov 16 2010, 08:42 AM']Didn't the bloke from Bad Company use one of these? I can then bore you with my Bad Company anecdote.[/quote] For the sake of argument, 'yes'.

[quote name='Jean-Luc Pickguard' post='1022346' date='Nov 13 2010, 02:13 PM']Maybe they don't sell as people don't think they look as cool[/quote] Exactly. For most decent pub bands with bass through the PA they're a great idea, especially if you want to keep backline levels sensible. I could have done with one last night on the small stage at The Lion in Cas Vegas.

I had a big old HH 4x12. It sounded the tits. When I downsized my car, it wouldn't fit flat in the back, so it went. To be honest my backline now is just a bit of monitoring so I couldn't justify a cab of that footprint in some of the tiny pubs we play.

I gigged one of those heads through a huge HH 4x12 cab for a while quite a few years ago and it sounded pretty good - obviously the 4x12 moved a lot of air. I thought the head was decent but lacked a fan and got a bit warm at high volumes. The parametric EQ worked very well, I could get some lovely sounds from it.

Yep I'm guilty of reverse snobbery. I absolutely LOVE the fact that my £199 Peavey bass had superior ergonomics and sounded better than the US Fender Jazz I tried for the encores at a gig I played. I also enjoy the fact that punters comment on my great valve amp, which is actually a Zoom multi FX into a SS amp.