ubit

There seems to be a school of thought that you are only good if you slap! I've watched videos on you choob and you are trying to hear the tone of a bass or an amp and all you get is poxy slap! It drives me nuts!

American pie, walk of life , wagon wheel

I actually find that the live music scene moves in cycles.. When I was very young, too young to go into pubs, the live scene was vibrant round here. We used to dream of playing the gigs that the older boys were playing. Eventually, we were old enough and bloody discos were all the rage. No one wanted live music. We folded, then decided to go out as a two piece with a drum machine. That took off too. For years live music was King. Now we seem to be in another rut, with only a select few pubs, putting live bands on. As said earlier, these pubs are jammed. Why they can't see that people love live bands, I don't know.it it must be overheads. Back in the nineties, people had more money to spend. Now folk get pissed on cheap supermarket booze, then hit the pubs for the last couple of hours!

It makes you mad, thinking , you have spent lots of time and money, trying to perfect your sound. Then some random guy decides he has a better idea, as to how you should sound. It's just very difficult when you are playing a one off gig with strangers responsible for the sound.

My worst memory, is of a wedding we were booked to play at years ago. Weddings are always hard gigs as the window for setting up can be small , due to venue constraints. We turned up and the whole wedding party were already sitting waiting. The other band, somehow had got in earlier and had used up the complete stage, even though they were well aware we were playing. We had to jam ourselves in, PA included, to this tiny area at the front of the stage. We had no sound check and the evening went exactly as predicted We tried our best, but the sound wasn't right. We knew this by the faces on the revellers. What annoyed me more , was the reluctance of our guitarist in going out front, to hear what was wrong. I am also the lead vocalist and am tied to a mic stand. It was a horrible night and I couldn't wait for it to end. Years later, the groom was talking to me and asked do we practise? As we obviously hadn't that night. I was annoyed at this, because this was the guy that booked us on the strength of our local performances, so he should have known that we had had a problem that night. A bad sound can ruin a bands performance and selfish headliners, are the worst !

[quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1481496229' post='3192756'] It`s always best to have someone along who knows the bands sound so at soundcheck they can give the nod as to what needs changing. All of what is described in the OP should have been sorted prior to the performance. It does seem that there is a current trend for vox to be just about audible, so when we soundcheck if this has been the case for the other bands I`ll speak to the sound-person and tell them that we like our vox to not just be heard but to be understood, so if that means the backline being quier through FOH so be it. A lot of it I find is clear communication, and instead of ranting be pleasant and ask. I also give the sound-person a list of band details/line-up, and what is required in the monitors for each band member. As a couple of posts have put, you`re at the mercy of those on the desk/lights, so the more professional and pleasant you are, the less likely they are - hopefully - to knack you in on purpose. Of course if they perceive you as a prima-donna due to behaviour then it`s their way of payback. [/quote] Trouble is, most bands don't have the luxury of a soundman of their own, or an extra guy to help with sound advice I firmly believe vocals should be the loudest thing as it's the most important to the song. Bass drum close second, then everything else in balance under these.

It's a shame , because when you are giving your all, you expect the sound out front to be good. I would always expect support bands to be quieter, but to deny them subs, or a decent mix, is just disgusting!

We've had people turn speakers round because it's too loud for them. They stand right in front of it and think it's ok to turn it towards the band !

Yup, it's happened to us too. In fact, I reckon you would be hard pushed to find any pub gigging band who hasn't turned round and found drunken people manhandling expensive guitars ( usually roughly) and generally being where they shouldn't, because everyone knows how when you are drinking, , it's hilarious to pose like a rock star with a guitar, or even better shout down a microphone and let everyyknow that Dave is a knob or such like !

[quote name='Lord Sausage' timestamp='1480948548' post='3188284'] No I'm JTUK [/quote] I'm JTUK and so is my wife!

God no ! I might complement a band if they had played well, but I hate anoraks , who come and talk gear at gigs!

We play in two different tuningsvand rather than keeping tuning, it's easier to have another bass/guitar. I would most likely take a spare anyway in case of broken strings

I tried Elixirs ( sorry forgot I had tried them too ) and I was disappointed. They do last longer, yes, but the initial brightness just isn't as good as with say, Rotos. The Elixir guitar strings are, however, incredible! Bright and long lasting. I just found the bass strings to be muddy compared to an uncoated steel string. It's annoying because my brother in law gets Elixr guitar strings free from Elixr and he could easily get me a supply of bass strings. I just don't like them.

[quote name='markdavid' timestamp='1479976612' post='3180657'] Hi, have decided to broaden my range to stainless steel strings as i think i may be more likely to get the aggressive tone i am after, how are Daddario pro steels for aggressive tone? Thanks [/quote] Can't help you there mate, as I've only tried Elites, Rotosounds and some cheapos. The cheapos even had a great sound, so I'd stick my neck out and guess. The Dadarrios will be great!

Apart from the obvious skin reasons, I do prefer the bright sound of steels. I know it's a contentious issue, but brand new strings just do it for me. It's the sound I prefer. Brand new strings, Ampeg SVT . Mutts nuts!

I have to use steels , as I get horrible rashes when I use nickel. I find Rotosounds are very bright. In fact , if you want a brighter, more metallic sound, steels are your best bet everytime , in my opinion.

That is completely unacceptable behaviour. Some people have no regard for other people's feelings. As said, you are well shot of them mate !

I've never ever had an audition as I play with my lifelong mate. It's good in a way, but can be a bind as it's hard to leave and play with someone else. I don't know how I would handle an audition, as even when I pick up a guitar in a shop, my mind goes blank!

[quote name='Woodinblack' timestamp='1477351462' post='3161714'] We opened with Money for nothing on friday, we had played the same venue a month ago so we wanted to change it round. Its a good start song. [/quote] Whilst I agree, it's a great riff. I was subjected to it so many times in the 80's on the local video jukebox, that I've now become quite allergic to it!

[quote name='squire5' timestamp='1476906621' post='3158428'] Weddings - 'Dance the Night away' (Mavericks) Pubs - 'Bad Case of Loving You' (Robert Palmer). [/quote] We used to play bad case years ago. It was actually written by Moon Martin and the original is a great version

My biggest depression is when you ask " did you work out such and such?" No, but I worked out this !" Even though the last thing we agreed was to learn such and such for next week !

My biggest depression is when you ask " did you work out such and such?" No, but I worked out this !" Even though the last thing we agreed was to learn such and such for next week !

Put the action down as low as you can until you get buzz. Then gradually bring it up until the buzz disappears. If it won't disappear until the action is very high, then you may need a tweak of the truss rod. If you are not happy doing this, take it to a music shop and they will be only too happy to do it for you. For a price of course.

I have the same symptoms. It's GAS, but more than GAS. You dream of a bass you have ALWAYS wanted. Finally get it, then you want something else. It's fine if you have the money, but harder if you are going through a thin patch. That's another thing. GAS gets worse when you are flush.

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1475962853' post='3150169'] Our BL would never call the same song twice. Blue [/quote] There are occasions, when you may have learned a new song. You want to play it as a big song, but the pub is quiet, so you try it out to see how it goes and you know the audience will most likely change and grow later, so you can play it again. It's hardly short changing the people if most of them never heard the earlier rendition.