Quilly

I've played in pub bands and part-owned a pub at one stage so I have some sympathy for both camps. On the one hand margins have gone so tight that to pay a band £300-400 on top of staff and overheads etc really puts a dent into a nights takings, especially if that band hasn't generated that revenue in extra customers. Plus there's the lost floor space, hassle with neighbors, police , etc and now insurance ("I tripped over that guitar cable, honestly guv"). Its no wonder they dont bother with it or just get a man with a guitar and a beep box. On the flip side there are unscrupulous landlords that will pay you a pittance while you pack their pub with thirsty revelers, I've experienced this on a good few occasions where the pub would be jointed and we come away with €150 between 5 musicians. I think a pro-rata payment would be the fairest in an ideal world. I found that the only way to make serious money gigging is to sell your soul and do corporate events, weddings etc. Life is too short and there inst enough shower gel in all the world that could wash away the shame of being reduced to playing 'rock the boat' to a bunch of idiots with ties around their heads.

Recently purchased a second hand 2 * 15 Schroeder on this site for small money...the sound is immence. 1/2 the price and twice the wattage of my barefaced two10.

I did a straight swap with a guy a few years back. He had a passive Mayones Jabba 4, I had a Fender Jazz USA. To me the Mayones was just streets ahead but he just wanted that Fender Logo on his headstock for some reason. I sometimes feel guilty about the swap. Sometimes.

We use a Behringer PA for vocals and it works just fine.

I remember buying a beringer/burgera 300w all valve SVT clone and it was a monster. I only sold it because it weighed 36kg 😂😂. Really solidly built . Heaps of low end. I think I only paid about £350 for it . Sorry I sold it but I was afraid it would go wrong and I’d be landed with a very heavy paper weight

Could never get on with flats TBH. I mean that’s what the tone control on your bass is for 😂😂

I paid a fair bit for one of those Orange SP212 Cabs a good while back. I couldn’t get on with it. Sounded really muddy Picked up a Genz Benz budget focus 115 for about 1/2 the price of the Orange and all my bandmates said it sounded so much better .

I had one of those fretless ‘jaco’ Ones and I agree the hardware was excellent but the wood work was just woeful. The wood they used would dent if you looked at it too hard 😂

Was looking at those ...they have a ‘deluxe’ range active MM style humbuckers. Very reasonable

To be fair I played a Mim p bass in a store a few months ago and I was really impressed. They must be coming on a bit.

I have to say I owned a German Warwick corvette many moons ago and thought it was superb.

There’s one big American brand of guitars that I’ve never been impressed with . I’ve been disappointed every time . I know they ‘must’ have good stuff because of all the publicity they get ....maybe I’m getting the bad ones and am just unlucky or maybe I know jack 💩 Even the ones made in the US that I had were ‘meh’

I’ve been buying gear for 30 years and I’ve found that I’ve been really pleasantly surprised on numerous occasions by budget, non-premium gear and left scratching my head with expensive purchases thinking ‘where’s the legendary big deal I’ve been reading all about’ . Maybe I’m wrong but it seems there’s a little bit of ‘emperors new clothes’ at play with certain brands of gear

Hi folks just noticing lately that this amp isn’t as loud as I remembered, not using it a whole lot and I tried it lately . Is it time to change the output valves ? They shouldn’t be knackered yet 🧐.

The worst thing about time waster is that they want your goods for a ridiculously low price . I’m all for bargaining but some take the P altogether.

A fender jazz master bass

I regularly with a band a long time ago that never rehearsed and winged it for every gig. Luckily they were amazing musicians but it never felt good . Songs just went on and on .

I played a gig in Jan and the LG and signer were seriously out with each other. The tension was unbearable, I thought it was going to come to blows.

I hate those gigs where you just want it to be over.

Even if you have one of those terrible gigs , you just have to chalk it down to experience and learn from it for the next time. I can’t understand why for some musicians it’s a breaking point moment and they quit. It’s happened a lot with bands I’ve played in .

Yep...the only reason for me as far as I’m concerned. Nothing feels like playing to an audience that’s into what you’re at and getting that energy back, it’s like a synergy and it feels fantastic.

You know it’s gonna be a long rehearsal when you see band members pick up their instruments from where they left them last time . “What are the chords again “

Lightweight transformers that can make high power ‘lighter’ valve amps a feasible option.

Rickenbacker 4005 reissue with improved components.