thepurpleblob

This comes up quite a bit and I'm sure we've all been in the same situation. Personally - if I don't have a recording of the songs and some time to learn the songs properly then I'm not interested. I've never played guitar so can't follow chord shapes and (even after quite a few years and hundreds of gigs) I don't have the skills to improvise base lines "on the fly". So, what I'm saying is, the information you are given prior to the audition is often a big clue whether this could be the band for you or not. Don't sweat it... another will be along in a minute!

Having suffered from anxiety and panic attacks in the past, I have a great deal of sympathy. I've been in the situation where I could get up on stage no problem but could not sit in a pub as a 'punter' (I would take a panic attack). I'm sure, for me, it's all about that feeling of being in control. A phobic reaction is - by definition I think - an extreme reaction to a stressful situation. It's reasonable to be nervous getting on stage - it's not reasonable to have debilitating fear. Perhaps you should find some professional help? It took group therapy to allow me to cope (not cure) with my anxiety issues. I'm naturally sceptical about such things but I'm very glad I went along. Most people were much worse than me !!

I'd never heard of him either... but according to Wikipedia he's got a fair old list of well known bands to his name! He was a geeeetarist, it seems, which may explain the ignorance...

I live in a village, on a hill, in some out of the way corner of West-Central-Scotland. I've never had any bother and I get loads of stuff picked up and dropped off. Possibly just the sh*tty attitude at your local UPS depot.

Florence and the Machine, Ceremonials. I've been avoiding it as much too popular up until now but there's no getting away from it; good stuff!

I'm in the interesting position of - at the tender age of 48 - learning to sing backing and play bass at the same time. This is having never sang a not before in my life. I have absolutely no idea what I am doing. Singing is surprisingly difficult. I'm starting to crack the mechanics of doing it but I have no idea how to make my voice sound good. Sigh!

I don't get stage fright per se (I've been playing something-or-other on stage since I was ten, nearly forty years ago). However, I am fundamentally an anxious person. That means it doesn't take much to turn me into a gibbering wreck. I now have an almost OCD approach towards gigs to make sure everything is organised and I won't get stressed out. Stress prevents me playing basically. My advice... be properly rehearsed and be properly organised. If you have to be a control freak and do the organisation yourself then so be it. Minimise the number of things to be worried about. This may not apply to your situation of course.

I practice as much as I can (i.e. half an hour to an hour or so a night), rehearse twice a week and play in two bands that pay live (sometimes). I can't find one for that That makes me sound like I'm a better bass player than I actually am

[quote name='ThomBassmonkey' timestamp='1330853875' post='1563669'] If I can ask, what made you go for the 4Ohm cab? The percievable volume difference between 4 and 8 ohm cabs is very little and if you go for a 4 ohm, you won't be able to add another cab if the volume isn't there. The only reason to go 4 ohm IMO is if your head runs at 2 Ohm. All just my opinion, of course [/quote] Me? Well.... assuming Alex is on the money then the single (4 ohm) cab will do all I need it to. If it doesn't then it's going back anyway. At 700-odd quid a pop I don't anticipate having to buy another one. If my circumstances change and I need insane volume then I'm quite prepared to buy a slave power amp of some sort. The primary object is to have each bit manageable to carry. As an aside, I'm pretty sceptical about 2ohm amps. I know it's different but I used to work in the car audio business and everybody went on about 2ohm like it was free stuff. Well it isn't; it just seemed (to me) to be a cause of massive distortion (and warranty claims for smoking mid-speakers).

[quote name='brensabre79' timestamp='1330702831' post='1561914'] The Shuttle 9 is pretty much the same as the 6 - but with more output stage power. The Barefaced cab should take either with aplomb, personally I don't think I've used more than 50% of the 600w on my Shuttle but if you're getting a Compact its an 8ohm cab (S12 = 4ohm) You'd be getting just under 500w from a Shuttle 9 at full chat - remember though that watts does not equal volume! Also, to get twice as loud as a 100w head you'll need a 1000w head, so the difference is not as big as it may sound. In short, I think you'll be fine with either a 6.0 or a 9.0 - You will scare any audience with that setup! [/quote] Its the 4 ohm 2x12 I've ordered so the amp would be on full chat. Several reviews I've read seem to think that the GenzBenz power claims are a bit optimistic. As I've said... I'm completely paranoid about not having enough volume. I've just filled in Alex's questionnaire so it'll be interesting to hear his take on all this (if he's still talking to me )

Hmmm... I am currently thinking that the Shuttle 9 might make sense. That and the Barefaced cab should be both nice and light and should (hopefully) frighten the audience

[quote name='markstuk' timestamp='1330694551' post='1561722'] The Shuttle? Bass player in a band I play keys in has a S12 and a Shuttle 6... Seems to work well, although he eq's quite differently from me.. General opinion is that it's a little clean and the streamliner is the current GB fave for rockier material.. [/quote] Cheers! Is the Streamliner 600 £214 better than the GB 6.0 though? I was thinking of picking up something like an Eden or a Little Mark. But the going rate for these used is around the 400 quid mark and I could have a GB 6.0 for £375 shiny new - requires some thinking about!

[quote name='brensabre79' timestamp='1330692918' post='1561687'] You won't regret it Purpleblob. Welcome to the club [/quote] What do you think of that Genz Benz 6.0? Can be had for under 400 quid at the moment which seems like a good deal.

Approval granted - deposit left. Looking forward to less suffering and, hopefully, better sound

[quote name='gjones' timestamp='1330655101' post='1561182'] Look what you've gone and made me do! I've bit the bullet and put a deposit on a compact. [/quote] Just getting the final approval from the "management" and I'll be right behind you

This seems to be getting slightly out of hand... I've read a lot about the Barefaced cabs and nobody has a bad word. I just wanted to get a second opinion from people who actually go out and gig the things. I'm not trying to offend Alex in case anybody thinks I am. He's been very helpful. But... it's a big slice of wedge to put out without a bit of due diligence.

[quote name='alexclaber' timestamp='1330609798' post='1560299'] You did doubt me, that's what your first post was saying! No need to be nervous about going from 6x10" or 2x15" to 2x12", as you'd actually be going from ~650cc or ~550cc to 660cc volume displacement in the case of those particular cabs. There's about a month's wait at the moment. [/quote] I am very encouraged by your faith in your own product. However, my old dad used to say "never accept advise from someone who will profit by you taking it". There's certainly no arguing that Barefaced users are really impressed and happy with their cabs. Is there any point asking for a BassChat discount??

[quote name='brensabre79' timestamp='1330608024' post='1560244'] Thats just charming, if you wanted to try his cabs you only had to ask [/quote] Merely a figure of speech

[quote name='alexclaber' timestamp='1330607734' post='1560236'] There's no point us recommending cabs that won't do the job, we'd just end up losing a bunch on money on shipping when they get returned after a month! Other customers will confirm that they've come to us asking for cab X and we've told them it won't do what they want and we'll only sell them cab Y or nothing. A Super Twelve will play louder and fatter than your TE 15" combo plus extension 1x15" stack and will match your 2x10" plus 4x10" stack in those respects but with more punch. Volume displacement is what matters - you move air with cone area multiplied by cone excursion. Our cabs have much more cone excursion so they move more air with less cone area: [url="http://barefacedbass.com/technical-information/Volume-displacement.htm"]http://barefacedbass...isplacement.htm[/url] [/quote] Hi Alex, I don't doubt you for a moment... but it's a substantial investment and I need to look at the options. Are your cabs off the shelf or is there a waiting time?

[quote name='Paul S' timestamp='1330606498' post='1560184'] I've had a BF Compact for a while now and recently added a Midget. Amp is a TC Classic 450 which is to my ears about as loud as my old Trace Elliot 300W head. I play in two bands - one is a light pop-rock thing, the other a heavy classic rock band. Same drummer in both and he is loud. PA is used for vocals or very occasionally guitars go through too, never bass. Either cab on its own is plenty loud enough with the amp on or below half (4/10), just a different shape to the sound. Both together is perfect balance of sound and usually volume 3/10. I can't imagine a scenario where this combination isn't going to be more than loud enough - if it isn't then it will be going through the pa anyway. From now on I will be using the Midget for rehearsing - no-one in either band can believe how loud or good it sounds! not a hint of farting despite favouriing a bass-heavy setting. Both cabs for gigs. Compact is 12kg, Midget is 9kg. Classic 450 head about 3kg. For me the ultimate rig in terms of tone, portability and versatility. [/quote] Sorry - 'scuse my ignorance - I we talking about the Bill Fitzmaurice "build it yourself" cabs? Have chinned the guy selling the Schroeder 1x15 + 2x10 which sounds quite intriguing. Next exactly weightless at 26Kg but do-able I think.

I've actually never heard of Schroeder... off to investigate. Playing quietly is a non-issue. We have a drummer who is unaware that quiet exists....

Any thoughts on MarkBass? They seem mountainously expensive - yet loads of people have them.

I'm fed up of carrying mega-heavy cabs about, have some surplus cash and want to make an investment. However - I'm confused. Anyway... current set up... I play in a loud 6-piece covers band -the PA is used only for the keys and the vocals. I currently use either an Ashdown ABM-500 plus a 4x10 plus a 2x10 - which is probably a tad more than I need. Or a Trace Elliott 300W GP7 15 inch combo with another 15 inch extension cab. I wouldn't want much less volume than the latter. Lots and lots of people seem to use very small cabs (single 12s and such) but I suspect they are playing through the PA so that won't do. I spoke to Barefaced a while back and they recommended a Super Twelve (2x12 I think) along with the ABM-500. It would be nice if that's true but I'm really nervous about going from (effectively) 6x10 or 2x15 to 2x12. Will it work? Anyway, I'd appreciate any opinions and/or alternatives. Even better if anybody is selling anything. Money isn't exactly no object but I only want to do it once