chris_b

I don't understand. How can you be playing too loud?

If people still wish to imply that TC amps only put out 200 watts, I'll continue to relate my experience of them, that they are easily the equivalent of 500 and 750 watt amps. The yawn is because the continued misinformation from a few people is getting very boring.

What are you listening to? I'm assuming your listening to old recordings? If so you're probably not actually listening to a valve amp, but either a bass being DI'ed or a valve amp going through extensive EQing in a studio. You've got a good combo, so I'd look at putting a preamp pedal in front of it. The Aguilar Tonehammer pedal might do the trick.

How loud are you playing your 215? What amp and volume are you using? While MASSIVE isn't a technical term I can say that my 212 with a 500 watt amp sounds like that in all of the bands I play in. These days there are a few 212's out there pushing as much air as your 215's, so the size of the speakers is not something to get hung up about. On the other hand, a 212 [i]will[/i] sound different, so you'd better get out and start listening to 212's and decide if that is your sound or not. That's not over thinking, it's just being careful.

Hard facts? Several TC amps generate their volume from 236 watt power modules but, due to how they process the signal, their final "watts" rating is easily an equivalent to other amps in that class. Yawn. Whether you like the tone or not is the issue with TC amps [i]not[/i] their volume. Back to Barefaced cabs, Small cabs are usually part of a modular set up which is where they shine. I don't care about extra trips to the car as long as each trip is a sensible weight for my back. None of my Bergantino 112 cabs have sounded as good on their own as they do in a pair, or even 3. If the Retro and Compact sound that good together I'd happily use them in that combination.

Type Motown into YouTube and start working through the list.

Those big 210's sound pretty good. I know several bassists who use 2 of them. IMO, the Traveller cabs are too small to get the tone I prefer.

That was Pete Thomas from the Attractions, sitting in for JB's drummer. As soon as the "talent" gets a deal the band is usually fired and a bunch of kids hired who will look "prettier" and be happy with a much smaller pay packet.

I had 2 side projects and 1 main band fold up this year. That leaves me with only 1 main band and 1 side project. I need to get networking ASAP.

+1 These days I never suggest songs I really like. Someone in the band will invariably underachieve. I'd rather have less emotional connection to the numbers then I don't mind so much what the others do to them. Last example was me suggesting Long Distance Love by Little Feat. The guitarist and me got it right but the singer made such a mess of the phrasing that I just wanted to kill her. Never again.

After the first rehearsal you can point out which songs are strong and which are weak. The weak ones will need a lot of (too much) work and even then they probably won't be strong enough. So they'll not be making the cut. People who insist on playing their favourite songs are a liability. You have to play the best songs for the band. You play your favourite CD's when you get home.

Duck Dunn played lots of P basses, different ones through out the years, then he switched to Lakland basses. He also used many types of amps and cabs. Most of the music of the era and place that you're playing was recorded on P basses but many of the guys that went on the road to promote the songs were playing Jazz basses. IMO all you need out of your ACG is a fat warm bass tone. The rest is down to you and how you play the numbers.

There's Charlie Chandler's Guitar Experience in Hampton Wick. One of the very best.

I don't pick the numbers for our cover band. Some of the suggestions from the guy who does have made my jaw hit the floor! To be honest, I've had to eat my words on almost every occasion. The audience reaction to our numbers is usually enthusiastic. Soft Cell, Adele, Andrew Gold. . . . now I'm playing some of these I've discovered they are good, well crafted songs.

[quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1419355152' post='2639103'] ....but that`s the reality, judge with eyes not ears.... [/quote] That's show business, but why plug it in at all if the second cab is just for show? I wonder if Alex would let you order an unloaded cab.

Hi Vail, loved your playing with Keb Mo.

This is terrible news.

I can't envisage playing a song where I need to pluck the strings any faster than I do with 2 fingers. I'm noticing that these days I'm playing more numbers with 1 finger.

I know Dave Gilmour uses cryogenic leads on gigs and in his studio and says there is a difference. IMO you'd need to be in that environment for any difference to be important. It'll all seem like a waste of money next to a shed builder and thrash merchant down the Dog and Duck.

The problem with this song is that there is no song. It's 10% song and 90% performance and the power of Lorraine Ellison's performance puts this song out of reach. IMO Bette Midler comes the closest. Almost but not quite.

I have more watts in my rig than my first 2 bands put together, (actually with my new 900 watt amp, that's probably the first 3 bands) but IME the more you turn the volume controls anti-clockwise the better the tone gets. Funny that! We played a gig on Saturday where we were asked to play "a bit quieter", because of neighbour problems. We turned down, got a good balance, had an enjoyable gig, the audience spent the night dancing and we did 3 encores. The pub owner was telling us afterwards that the rock bands (with their huge stacks of amps) on the previous 2 gigs had refused to turn down, causing him lots of problems. They've been fired and we've got 4 gigs there next year.

Duffy? That awful vibrato ruins the number.

[quote name='Roland Rock' timestamp='1419179264' post='2637277'] He went on to state that to a bassist, the choice of bass was no more important than the choice of pen is to an author. [/quote] Some authors did choose their pens with care, but I still like that line. I wish I'd thought of it.

How good is your singer? The problem with this number is the power of Lorraine Ellison's performance. She's the only one I've heard that nails it. She's singing it, everyone else (including Sam Brown) shouts it.

Looks like a great bass. Put flats on and it'll sound even better. My Lull is one of the nicest basses I've owned.