magee

Thanks both of you, that's very kind. Fingers crossed.

[color=#3C3241]The Barrelhouse Band is looking for a versatile, responsive drummer to join us for gigs in and around Glasgow. [/color] [color=#3C3241]We're looking for someone who likes blues, can groove and is responsive to the playing going on around them. We can provide a busy gig diary, good tunes and sometimes biscuits at rehearsals. [/color] [color=#3C3241]We tend to rehearse once a fortnight and gig around two times a month. [/color] [color=#3C3241]Would be great if you could send some clips of your playing when you respond. [/color] [color=#3C3241]Hear us here: [/color]https://soundcloud.com/thebarrelhouseband/sets/live-bar-gumbo-dec-2016

I don't suppose anyone has one of these anywhere near the Glasgow area do they? I haven't seen one mentioned on the thread, but mentioning just in case there's a lurker. They sound ideal - I'm currently using an Ashdown tube pre / SS power amp but it's too powerful (and therefore too heavy) for my needs. The master never gets past eight o'clock, so I'm thinking this might be a better fit for me.

Leonard Cohen's Tower Of Song has a lovely reference to Hank Williams: 'I said to Hank Williams, how lonely does it get? Hank Williams hasn't answered yet But I hear him coughing all night long Oh, a hundred floors above me in the Tower of Song'

I've been in bands almost constantly since I was 12, so nearly 30 years, and it's always been the focus of my playing. After the first few teenage years of teaching myself I'm not sure I've taken the bass out to play at home more than a dozen times, for maybe ten minutes at a time. So I guess I'm the exact opposite of you. I admire what you're doing musically - it sounds hard, and satisfying. But I would advise giving playing with others another go. One bad experience (and it does sound bad) shouldn't put you off and playing with others is just great fun - musically and socially rewarding. I've been in some really bad bands and some great ones; I've mostly played with people I don't know that well and not got on with them that well. But that's fine - rubbing along with people you don't agree with is good for you. And it's always worth remembering that the people towards the front of the stage are under more pressure and have more to lose than those of us towards the back. What I like about bands is that it's a bit like work (you have to muddle through with people you maybe wouldn't choose to in order to achieve a common aim) but ultimately you can walk away if it gets too much without risking missing a mortgage payment. That's cathartic and satisfying. Then you get to find new people, learn all their quirks and foibles and try and make a go of the new band. It's difficult and icky and frustrating, but also satisfying, great fun and a good way to meet new people. I really recommend giving it another go.

I had a Buster head for a while. Really high quality stuff but the EQ was just too demanding/sensitive for me and though it was pleasingly quick sounding and responsive, that meant that the sound wasn't actually as valvey as I wanted. The head was as heavy as you'd expect a 200W valve amp to be. I think people find the shape of the combos makes it even harder to cart around.

There's quite a lively blues jam scene in Glasgow. No help for your main question, but I've found it a really great way to meet other players and find out what playing/depping opportunities there are, and finding people to play with. My blues/rock and roll three piece found our current drummer at one. It's a great environment for scouting potential bandmates/bands/replacements because you can actually hear them play before you approach them (and they can hear you). Saves a ton of time, hassle and mis-matches. Good luck.

Bought an Ashdown Spyder 550 from Buff: no-hassle transaction, came quickly and as described, amp sounds great.