chris_b

[quote name='cheddatom' timestamp='1437563594' post='2827031'] it's possible to entertain a room full of people, and please a landlord, without playing the same old covers [/quote] You'd think/hope so, wouldn't you. A few years ago I was gigging a guitarist's new album of original songs. On the first gig and after a reasonably successful first set he came back stage and said, We're playing the usual set next. They've been asking for some numbers they know! Like it or not, audiences do not think like musicians. That's why the list of the most popular songs is made up the way it is. I play popular and obscure songs, originals and covers and we get compliments because we don't always play the obvious songs, but there is no difference between any of these songs if the audience doesn't like or react to what you are playing.

The original Mustang Sally is a great number recorded by the fantastic Fame gang session players, including Tommy Cogbill on bass. The only problem with this number is that it's usually played very badly. So play it properly and it becomes one of the best grooves around. . . . which is why it's so popular with audiences.

4 amps failing in 5 years with exactly the same problem? That's not normal or even a coincidence. Could be gremlins, sabotage or maybe they just don't like what your playing. Seriously, it's has to be something you're doing to them. Have these amps all failed with the same cab? If a speaker has been replaced with the wrong ohms you could be damaging these amps in the same way.

There are quite a few, but these are pretty close to the top of the list. Spoonful by Howlin Wolf [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3LFjHo7Cdrw[/media] Stay With Me (Baby) by Lorraine Ellison [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pDBuPK0_DU[/media] Piece Of My Heart by Erma Franklin [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUM161EgKdI[/media] America by Simon And Garfunkle [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W773ZPJhcVw[/media]

[quote name='Dan Dare' timestamp='1437331924' post='2825140'] They're pathetic snobs, hung up on technique at the expense of musicality. . . . . Half of them can't even play a straight four in the bar without throwing in all sorts of inappropriate off beats, etc. When you ask the to keep it simple/solid, they look at you pityingly. [/quote] You've just dissed the Funk Brothers, most of the Cutting Crew and Tommy Cogbill. Nice one.

Wasn't there one in the classifieds recently?

[quote name='JapanAxe' timestamp='1437308956' post='2824973'] This topic is begging for a blind shoot-out along the lines of Lozz's Precision test. One for the next SE Bass Bash? [/quote] Already done. . . last year or was it the year before? The differences were on a par with. . . do you prefer yellow socks or red socks. I didn't hear anyone say that they would be changing their amp as a result of anything they heard in the test. I started when you could only get valve amps and there were a lot which sounded crap. So IME, valve amps do not always sound better, D class amps do not always sound worse and you can't generalise about SS amps either. As I said, they all lack oomph? No. Are some better than others? Of course. Anyone generalising? I don't believe them.

I recently rehearsed with a modern blues and Americana project. Think Crusaders/Keb Mo/Delbert/Robben Ford/Bonnie Raitt. It never ceases to amaze me how good players can make basic grooves sound so good.

In answer to your question, this nonsense doesn't even qualify as an "urban myth". Play your gear knowing that you get a good sound, on stage and in the room. Another cab is always a good idea. You tone improves 500% when you add a second cab. There are many guys out there incapable of getting a good sound out of any amp. Generalisations are pointless in this discussion.

210's are equally good, but again I'd always use 2 of them playing with a band.

Double gig bag? Way too heavy for my poor old shoulder.

+1 The only musical thing I'd change about the 80's is the horrible compressed and processed drum sound everyone used.

Modern 212's are the new 410's. The only 112 I'd use on a band gig would be a Barefaced SC or BB2 so if you get anything else I'd always double them up. There are 2 AE112's in the classifieds at the moment. I used 2 of these cabs for about 5 years and they just have the best sound.

No one needs to play through an amp at home. Put it all through headphones. I have a very noisy neighbour and we've had to endure DIY at all hours and for days on end. I know how it feels to knock on their front door at 1 am to ask them to stop hammering. We came to an agreement that he wouldn't make noise after 8 pm.

Does it work on a low B?

The best sound I heard out of a Markbass rig was a guy using 2 Standard 102HF cabs. More punch and thump than a 210 and 112 rig, and much more than Traveller cabs can manage.

A Barefaced Midget or Super Compact and a good trolley will get you a mobile rig with more tone and volume in the smallest space.

[quote name='Weststarx' timestamp='1436876704' post='2821562'] I just want to feel like I'm living life rather than just excisting [/quote] Richard Briers' advice to budding actors was; "If you really want to be an actor, don't. If you really, really want to be an actor, don't. If you [i]need[/i] to be an actor, OK". If you want to be a professional musician just to get away from a boring office job then you're not basing this decision on the right criteria. I'm not sure what you think the life of a "professional" musician is, but if you think "existing" stops when you get your P45, you've made a big misjudgement. Are you a very good musician, flexible with a great tone and ability? Do other people think you're as good as you do? What else do you bring? BV's, another instrument? Do you read? Are you regularly called up for deps and to join start ups? Have you got contacts? A lot of contacts, who are all working? You don't have to look far to find fantastic musicians who are struggling to make a living. Sorry, but I think you need a better office job.

Music in the 80's was great, if you were looking in the right places. Tina Turner, Robert Cray, Stevie Wonder, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Delbert McClinton, The Fabulous Thunderbirds and many more were making good records and touring. Little Feat reformed. There was a lot of good stuff happening in the 80's.

Move over Nathan. I'd be in Stevie Wonder's band.

In some of the clubs it seems the standard way of getting paid, when the promoter started getting funny about the money, was to pull out your pistol and put it on the table. As a reminder that you wanted [i]all[/i] the money.

[quote name='BILL POSTERS' timestamp='1436717035' post='2820153'] I have a great early 60s live CB album 'Chuck Berry on stage 'All the tracks are just studio versions with applause dubbed on. [/quote] That would have been the record company selling the same album twice. Used to happen a lot and the artists wouldn't necessarily have been told. Chess put out several Bo Diddely albums which had a couple of demo's and a load of his songs played by someone else.

IMO the only good performance Chuck Berry put on tape was Hail! Hail! Rock And Roll. And that's probably because he wasn't in control, Keith Richards was.

That's too embarrassing to watch.