thepurpleblob

It's a hard question to answer without questioning the OP's attitude as the question was really *about* attitude. I certainly mean no offence but I do think he's wrong and I explained why. Just my $00.02 though - my wife will tell you that I'm wrong about *everything*

The odd audition I have done I've always got in there first and said "let me know what songs you want me to learn". Would you rather be the keen guy offering to learn songs or the one that argued that he couldn't be bothered learning songs because he already knew some other ones? Depends how much you want the gig I suppose....

If you'd said that to me you would have failed the audition without even having to turn up. Knowing extra stuff is a bonus but, as has been said, demonstrating the committment to do some work for it is important. It's a bit like "what do you know about this company" in an interview. It shows you could be arsed putting some effort it.

Metal is second only to Jazz as a genre I will never understand

Yeh - PayPal is about as safe as you are going to get short of getting on a plane. Not that it's saying much. Ask the guy for photographic id and a picture of the bass next to today's newspaper. A genuine seller won't complain. Mind you - with the caveat that we are only hearing your side of the story - if the other party is saying things like "seems your a waste of time, PayPal, take it or leave it" then do you really want to deal with them at all (would you deal with someone who doesn't know basic grammar ) ??

They're a bit of a one trick pony at the moment. A shame because they are potentially fabulous. Their cover of Britney's Circus was, IMO, jaw-dropping. This is a bit dull in comparison.

Anybody who uses the word "gotten"... well... enough said!

"can we play that a bit slower - I can't fit all the notes in at that speed" Ahhhhh.... that's *me* that says that

Well, after five years the main band I play in seems to have fallen apart. The guitarist left at the end of last year and we've never really recovered. It's a shame because we have some really great players (mostly ex-pro types fallen on harder times) but there just doesn't seem to be the will to get up and carry on. I was easily the least experienced (good for me). The other band I play in is full of enthusiasm but we seem to sound better separately than together. I don't know that I've got any right to say this, having been playing little more than ten years myself (and now pushing 50), but they just don't seem to get that it's competitive out there in the covers scene and you have to be really spot-on these days. Gigs are getting really hard to find. Pubs and clubs are very cautious now and are reluctant to give unknown bands a try. Even in the few years I have been gigging I've watched this get pretty bad. Having said all that, I hate letting people down... I don't want to make a career out of it. I just want to play a gig once a month or so. How hard can it be?

[quote name='xgsjx' timestamp='1334785626' post='1621407'] Could it be an active bass with passive pick ups? It's an Ibanez SR1000 from 1989. I like the idea of not having to worry about flat batteries, but it's only ever been an issue once in it's life as an active instrument. [/quote] Most "active" instruments have "passive" pickups (i.e. they do not need power in themeselves) which are followed by the "active" amplifier circuit (missusing the amplifier term slightly). Active pickups do exist, but it just means that the electronics are built into the pickup casing so there is no real difference overall. It's not true to say that an active bass will give no sound with flat batteries. It depends entirely on the circuit design. Some signal *could" bleed through. One example I can think of is the 3EQ Musicman Stingray circuit. If you pull the battery out it still works, albeit on the quiet side.

In my limited experience, all the passive basses I have had have been much "louder" than the active basses I have owned. As has been said, the advantage (of active) is generally to provide an EQ that will give you boost and to provide a lower output impedance. A passive bass has a very high output impedance such that your instrument cable will affect the sound (due to its capacitance). In the real world it doesn't matter much. You have an EQ on your amp - you don't really need more than one EQ do you? There's a good discussion here - http://www.ovnilab.com/articles/active.shtml

It's got steadily less in the time I've been gigging - about 6 years. For pubs it used to be about 250 now you're doing well to get more then 150. The size of the band is irrelevant. To the venue it's simply a matter of getting punters in and buying drink. They don't care if there's one or twenty of you. I've also noticed a worrying trend of pubs just generally getting quieter and quieter. It's tough out there! Luckily, I've never done it for the money

[quote name='warwickhunt' timestamp='1334043953' post='1609875'] The only way you get to keep items after a refund is if the seller simply refuses to respond to a complaint, which coincidently you can only initiate 5 or 7 days (can't remember which) after the sale ends, then you have to wait a further period of time for them to respond. [/quote] Yes, this! That's the way to deal with it. You need to wait it out. TBH, if it's a high value item such as a bass you probably have to put loosing the carriage down to a bad experience. As long as you get most of your money back etc.

I would consider that you got off lightly. Chalk it up to experience. If something is substantially misdescribed and you paid by PayPal AND PayPal agree with you - they'll refund your full amount and you'll get to keep the item. The moral is (as above), don't send it back - by doing that you've effectively agreed to the returns terms.

Some repeats, but just because they annoy me so much... * In the pocket (...and any other stupid Americanisms for that matter) * Plays like butter (...I do hope not!) * Jamming (...as opposed to rehearsing/practicing) * Can I see your guitar (...it is NOT a bloody guitar!) * You look like the bald guy off Lost (...well I do, but still..)

Was watching some videos this afternoon and something struck me... skinny young lad, precision bass, pick, huge 90 degree plus arm swing action on the plucking hand. Does anybody *really* play like this (I don't even see how you can) or is it purely for effect?

[quote name='karlfer' timestamp='1333855444' post='1607430'] Of course, the obvious way to get the gig is do what I have done for 20 years............ Have a van . [/quote] Yep - me too - don't drink and be willing to drive. Works every time! In my (nearly) 50 years, I have worked out that there are a lot of tossers in all walks of life. You just have to rise above it.

[quote name='oggiesnr' timestamp='1333740617' post='1606041'] A word of caution from the other side. If you are selling, and it is being collected, DO NOT accept Paypal, insist on cash. Reason is, they take your goods, then complain to Paypal that there is a problem (or even that they have not got them), Paypal stop the payment from your account and you are going to get your goods back how? Steve [/quote] My understanding is that for PayPal protection to be valid the item HAS to be delivered and HAS to be signed for. Meeting in a service station car park and doing the deal will not (should not) cover the buyer. Of course, if you're doing that, cash is probably a better idea regardless.

A 'me too' - very positive experiences on here. Just a couple of things... Make sure you send - or recieve - the bass properly insured. Some companies (notably Parcelforce) don't insure musical instruments. What you don't want to do is to fall out with the seller if the courier breaks or looses it. For a 1k instrument it will add around 20 quid to the carriage (with Interparcel anyway). If it's a new person on here with no feedback, I have been known to ask for a photo of some ID. Also use PayPal to pay. It all helps. A genuine seller will not be offended. If you buy something sight-unseen and don't like it, you can always sell it on. It's all part of the fun and it keeps the courier companies in business. The BC etiquette is that you don't buy and sell to make a profit though And once again... if the deal seems too good to be true... it IS!!

I used to play shows on drums and percussion. You *have* to be able to sight read to a good standard. You might get one run through if you're lucky! You have to stay awake too and watch for cues (well the leader does - you know what I mean) I really enjoyed it. I think it's probably tricky to get into. I was involved in theatre anyway and stumbled in that way.

Yeh - I spoke to him at a show probably 20 years ago. A really down to earth bloke.

Just noting the passing of Jim Marshall at the ripe old age of 88. Whatever you think of his amps, there's no getting away from their iconic status!

Without wishing to be too cheeky (!) I would go and check out some soldering videos. It doesn't look like the solder has flowed properly which could be more trouble in the future. Soldering to a pot casing is actually tricky as it acts as a heat-sink so no shame there

[quote name='obbm' timestamp='1333535472' post='1602961'] A proper stereo to mono cable should have mixing resistors. 22K is a good value, one in series with each of the stereo ouputs. [/quote] Sorry I meant "mono to stereo cable", which seem more common. I think you might have to make your own to be safe. I've never managed to find one advertised that admits to having the resistors.

I don't know anything about the SPX90 and you don't say what the outputs actually are. Personally, I would invest the 30-odd quid in a basic two channel mixer. What you don't want to do is to use a stereo-to-mono cable because they will just short the outputs together. That *might* work but equally well might break it or sound crap. Failing that, it could be done with a few resistors or a pot but you really need to know the impedance of stuff - hence the mixer.