chris_b

It was a long time ago, but I've been in bands whose names were so awful that I denied I was in them. I spent 10 years in a cover band with a name so appallingly cheesy that I (and the rest of the guys, who hated it as well) just referred to it as "Steve's band", the name of the band leader. It was a busy band but that name!! A good names encapsulate so much, they just work on all levels. Musicians will hate bad names but they usually don't matter to the public.

This irrational dislike of Markbass based on the look is not shared by most bass players, 99% of bands and 100% of audiences.

Why note for note? SRV played most of the covers he did in his own way. That's the way you do it.

There's got to be over 1000 12 bars out there. I can play them all.

Send Sadowsky an email. They know.

I use my regular amps (they turn down) and a Barefaced One10 cab. I gig with these and didn't want to spend any cash on specific gear to play at home. If you don't gig this might be more expensive but IMO it sounds better because practice amps never use premium components, have top quality EQ or have amps or cabs and drivers designed to good sonic principals. Even with tinnitus I'd still check out ear phones. IMO you can hear better at very low volume levels with ear phones.

I've played 2 of the songs listed and I'd happily play the 3rd if it went down well with the audience. Last Friday's gig was more to my taste but yesterday we played a lot of "old" stuff that went down a storm. Same band, two different gigs and two different sets. Two totally different and successful sides of the same coin.

+1 By definition a tribute band would usually stay true to the original but a cover band doesn't have to at all.

The only measure of success for me is how much is the band working and what kind of work is it doing. Whether it's an occasional gig down the Dog & Duck or an international stadium tour, a shaky video your girl friend shot on her iPhone or a million selling CD, your success or otherwise can be measured by these two things. As to who has heard of who. . . . ! If your favourite band has heard of The Stones, Led Zeppelin, the Who or any band of that ilk then you've been influenced by Willie Dixon (look him up). One of the most influential bass players ever.

As has been said on another thread. . . . this is often a problem with people who want to be in a band for a hobby and just play what they want or like. If he won't come to terms with the compromises needed to marry "his thing" and the "band's thing" then you need to start looking for a new drummer.

Aguilar prices are more likely a direct result of a policy to make all their products in the US instead of doing what most other manufacturers do, shipping production into the 3rd world, where they can make use of non-unionised and underpaid labour costs and a low tax business environment. Where are Ashdown Rootmaster cabs made again?

Always saying "No" is indicative of a problem. Either you guys are suggesting bad songs or the drummer has to start accepting some of your choices. Tell us some of the songs he has vetoed. What songs does he suggest? If he's a good enough drummer to work around and not just fire, change the rules and tell him that he has to agree to something or the rest of you will impose songs on him.

+1

There are lots of reunion tours which were exactly that, reunions. There are others, it seems, who rather imagine they did all by themselves.

Really? When the 30th anniversary tour was being considered, the band, who were instrumental in her success in the early days, were told they weren't being included. Using "the guys" on the way up and discarding them when you get there is a sadly common trait.

I have never broken a string. I only change my rounds when they are dead, 9 months to a year. I make sure I don't twist them when I put them on. I've always used heavier gauges. I don't slap. I stroke the strings rather than pull them. I turn the volume up rather than digging in. I always carry a spare set of strings but so far have never had to use one.

Sorry. Not for me.

You can list as many cheaper cabs as you like. If they don't sound as good then they are equally not a good use of your cash. The price of anything is not an issue unless you want to buy one. You can either afford one or you can't. I don't see the problem.

It took me 25 years to realise that everything I played was 100% influenced by Duck Dunn, David Hood and Tommy Cogbill. The sound track to my life. These days I've added Nathan East, Nate Watts, Reggie McBride but mostly what I play and how I play it still boils down to Duck, Dave and Tom.

No. 2 x 8 ohm cabs or 1 x 4 ohm cab. That's it.

I asked that 3 weeks ago. Still no reply!!

Yep. I preferred when there was a "them and us" feel between the band and the audience. It didn't take long for the audiences to start looking weirder than we did!

In my experience the recorded music scene in the 80's was full of fantastic bands playing great songs. The local gig scene (London and the SE) was vibrant and there were more gigs than a band could fit in the diary. The audiences were lively, interested and enthusiastic. Most of the gigs we played were full. IME the 80's was a great time for music.

Hell is other peoples children.

Nigel Tufnel once said; "The last band was so bad that the audience was still booing them when we were on!"