ubit

We used to get free drinks and we were driving too. I'm much more sensibler now!

Trouble is, round here, pub gigs are getting scarcer as the recession put paid to all things jolly !

It's the meat and potatoes gig. We do it because that's all we can get. Every now and then a bigger, more prestigious gig will come around, but pub gigs are where you hone your skills, because no amount of bedroom practice can make up for playing right in people's faces, getting abuse, drink spilt on your gear etc, but the joy of people dancing and enjoying your set makes it all worth while

He's unique in that no other people can play like that, sing and play foot pedals all at the same time! I'd say he's one in a million!!!

Try living in the Scottish highlands!

Any metal paint from home base as told above. It doesn't have to be anything special. Do you not think that worn looking pedals have character just like guitars ?

Happens to us all mate. I wouldn't put too much emphasis on worrying and just keep on rehearsing. I've seen me forget simple songs that we have been playing for years, then worry about it so much next time that I cock up again. Sometimes you just have to relax and let it flow

We play in two different tunings because it's easier for me to sing the songs when we are slightly de tuned, but we have an accordionist for some more traditional songs and he likes to play on his white keys, so we play in standard. We all just use two guitars and its not really a problem at all. Just takes a few seconds to change over. Means I get to rotate my basses too.

We had another occasion way back when we started. We had managed to secure a gig in the best bar in town at the time. We had set up flash bombs to explode as we hit the first note. It was going to be a real rock intro that would make people really notice. Big intro tape played, keyboard player stood on the specially adapted "footswitch" and we were off. Trouble is, we had bought the wrong flash bombs. These were slow burn. No one would have noticed but we all started laughing at the irony of the situation. I could hardly stand up for laughing and totally missed the cue for the vocals to come in. As far as I remember we managed to keep playing, but the first song was filled with bouts of giggling at our failed big rock intro. We used to have loads of spinal tap moments !

All these suggestions are just for surface corrosion. Again, if it's eaten into the metal, there is no going back. You are going to have to live with it or else replace the hardware on your guitar. I don't mind having worn looking hardware on my guitars, especially Fenders. They seem to suit it.

I once tried to sell a plastic bottle on e bay labelled as queen Victoria's third from last fart. E bay took it down and gave me a warning that I had broken their rules by trying to sell a fake item. I had put in the advert that I had a certificate of authenticity too !!!

I struggle to agree that even wood makes a difference to an electric guitar. Pick ups and strings yes, but whenever people talk of the incredible sound of say maple over some other wood, I'm somewhat sceptical. It certainly helps with the look of a guitar but does it really help with the sound?

[quote name='Lorne' timestamp='1258933441' post='662272'] Settee and stuffed toys Here's some of 'em,although the white Warlock and red Ironbird are gone now I need new settees [/quote] Country and western musician by any chance?

[quote name='CamdenRob' timestamp='1414501584' post='2589859'] a blue one... [/quote] Definitely, or a red one, or a black one, or a sunburst one!

Does that mean buying two complete systems though? A tad extravagant in my world of playing only when I'm home

My problem is, we play in two different turnings, which means changing of guitars quite a lot throughout the set. If I fix the system securely on the strap, it's quite a hassle changing to another strap. Using the same strap is also a problem what with strap locks. It's just easier to pick up a guitar with the strap already fixed on. I used systems in the past where I used to stick the sender in my back pocket but that seems a bit dodgy, especially if I go for some acrobatic guitar swinging. Short of buying two systems, suggestions would be welcome

It's a fact that most money you give to charity doesn't reach the ones who really need it. Personally I'm sick of paying for African politicians limos!

I reckon my taste is extremely eclectic. There are songs of particular genres that I do hate, but not to the extent that it puts me off the genre. Pop is definitely the least favourite of my tastes , purely for the manufactured element involved. I find there are just certain songs I hate, regardless of genre, like money for nothing, American pie, etc

Why can we get the new slip knot album free on our Apple devices? Now that would interest me a lot more. As for Bonio, there's no doubt he has talent. I'm just sick of hearing him preach about us digging into our pockets for this charity or that charity, whilst he mosies about with his millions. Rock stars should just be that. I really get cheesed off when they preach politics or the like!

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1414310303' post='2587989'] no one in the audience I spoke to after the gig had noticed anything amiss. [/quote] This is the strangest phenomenon. I have come across this too. We have played nights where there have been bum notes aplenty, argued visibly on stage, had instruments cutting out or stopping altogether. One night I had to play through the PA directly because the electrics in the barn we were playing in would not power my bass head. I could not hear a thing, yet not a soul complained and everyone was dancing around. We even got bookings during our break. I just cannot believe, when you have people who have no clue about music listening to a show. As long as they hear drums and the singing, everything else is unimportant. Countless times we have come off stage bereft and spoken to people who tell us, that was brilliant!

Later was always my favourite show but even I, with my extremey eclectic taste, am finding some of the acts just a bit too average and/ or , unknown. There also is a real lack of rock bands to give a bit of balance. I am sure I will be proved wrong in future episodes, but up to now, just a bit unimpressed

I haven't watched it yet, though I was a bit peeved when their album appeared on my phone. Maybe I'll give it a listen now after all

Yeah I watched that and it's clear she's dropped right out the mix to allow the guitRist to carry the song cleanly. I don't think anyone would say Courtney Love is an accomplished axe " man" but I would have thought she was better than that. Just goes to show, eh?

Also all too frequently we have started the night only to find the sound has changed dramatically because of people coming in and I can't hear a thing from the rest of the band. It's a most annoying phenomenon that only seems to happen at big prestigious events . We sventually realised that monitors were essential !

It's a good song anyway.