chris_b

[quote name='geoham' timestamp='1402436751' post='2473601'] ....That's what I was hoping to avoid!.... [/quote] You should be working this stuff out by ear. It will improve your ability to identify the notes by their sound which will improve your playing.

Busy bass lines, a la Jamerson/McCartney, with a pick on a Jazz bass. That's what pop bands did back then. Not my thing, but still good for a lot of people. Being PC is the last thing you'd expect from the drummer. After the band he went into the soft porn business, then opened Britains first lap dancing club.

I don't know how any venue expects to get away with no complaints when they leave the windows open on a band night! Play as loud as you like but if people complain about the volume levels then you are too loud. Either don't do inappropriate gigs, turn down, use more realistically sized gear, use your ears, plug in your brain but don't argue.... if you are told you're too loud.... you are, and it's your problem to fix! If noise meters are generally installed they will stop most bands playing live. If anyone's excuse for p"ssing off the neighbours is "the drummer doesn't have a volume control" or equivalent nonsense then they're hastening that day. We saw 4 or 5 gigs close last year because of complaints about noise, several more are on notice and many have strict curfew times. We even offered to do an acoustic gig for one place but they were so scared of the locals they couldn’t afford to take the risk. Around here the trend is to turn gigs into "gastro" pubs, the Bulls Head, probably the Grey Horse, the Half Moon only just escaped and there are more. There are many reasons to lose a gig but suicide by noise is the stupidest reason. We all lose if these gigs go to the wall.

[quote name='Hobbayne' timestamp='1402231312' post='2471153'] ....We dont play that loud.... [/quote] The penny should have dropped by now. . . . you do!!! The landlord's running a business and these days his neighbours can call the shots when it comes to public nuisance. He might like your band and your music but I'd guess he doesn't want to spend £10K or more on sound proofing so his options are cancel the music or get the bands to turn down. It sounds like he's had a yellow card, if the council gets involved he will have licence conditions imposed and a red card could mean no gig and no pub. Many of our gigs have strict curfews these days. Neighbours do not have to endure late night noise any more. The drummer can't play quietly is a poor excuse. Of course the guy's "paranoid". It's his problem and it's caused by the musicians. Anyway, which gig is this?

Lots of gigs are under threat and noise is the main reason. We do at least 5 that have problems and we play at the level the gig requires. Why did he have to ask 3 times? Why did you say sod it? If you can only play at an excessive level then either you need to change how you play or don't accept gigs that are not appropriate for your band. We all loose these gigs if guys like you say "sod it" and don't do what you're asked.

Nothing will sound as bad as a band where everyone starts to overplay when the guitarist takes a solo, or the sound changes then changes back when he stops soloing. Don't "fill in" all the spaces. Spaces sound good. Leave them alone.

I bought a brand new 400+ in the late 90's so I know all about Mesa Boogie; the prices, the company and their products. They're handmade. Mine didn't come off a shelf, it was made to order. They are very good and they sell at their price point. Anything imported from the US is going to have an addition cost comprising transport, tax and currency exchange. They are what they are. Deal with it.

I never take the straps off my basses. I had a strap break once, so I now carry a lok-less strap in the accessories bag.

Yeah, let's pretend the 6000 miles and different tax regimes don't exist.

I play in an occasional Rock and Roll band (Twang Peaks) with Mick Molloy (Bees Make Honey). He's a lovely guy and wicked guitar picker.

+1 I think if you replace the Puma all you're doing is getting rid of headroom. The new head probably won't sound any better.

Dave, Is it not working with your CN212?

I wish my luck had been half as good! Also the new band allowed Cristine McVie to grow as a song writer. I agree that Little feat suffered a massive hit when LG died, but the Craig Fuller years are my favourite LF line up.

You could say the same about The Band, Little Feat, Genesis and Pink Floyd. When your main writer leaves you either give up or find a different way forward.

[quote name='tedmanzie' timestamp='1394312776' post='2390272'] ....what more could you want!.... [/quote] Another GS112. Then you'll sound even better.

Why buy an amp which has inferior sound? That's one trend I won't be following.

I have regretted [i]not[/i] buying something (like the 5 string Wal for £700 and 1968 Fender Jazz for £100) but I've never regretted selling anything, even the stuff that sounded great, because it was always replaced by something better.

What music do you play and how loud do you need to be? Most of the lightweight cabs being built are 12's, but if you really have to have 10's the first thing I'd do would be to check out 210 cabs and get 2 of them. I did that when I got my 2 Bergantino AE210 cabs and they were fantastic. IMO if a bad back is the reason for going lightweight (mine is pretty bad) then there is no 410 light enough. In the end I found that 12's were lighter so I switched to using them. These days I'm using a Bergantino CN212 (with a folding trolley) which is loud enough for most of my gigs. I'd also check out the Barefaced 112 cabs.

On my recorder. I'll be watching this next week.

I went from 2 Bergantino AE112 cabs to a CXN212 and the improvement in tone was subtle but still there, so it was a good move for me. Streamliners are reported to work well with the CN cabs. I haven't heard any GB cabs so I can't comment on those. It's a bit of a trek for you, but I'm playing in Weybridge on Saturday if you want to hear a CN212.

I used to play my Lakland 55-94 on every gig for about 7 years then I bought the Lull PJ5. You couldn't find 2 totally different sounding basses. On the first Lull gig I asked the guitarist what he thought of the new purchase. He said it sounds good but it just sounds like you. I was disappointed at first that he couldn't hear how wonderful the new bass was, then I realised it was a big compliment to me. I know that I'll EQ any amp and bass to sound pretty much the same so saying, "it's in the fingers" is just a simplistic way of including the ears, the brain, the whole person.

I've been using proper Dunlop Straploks, not the plastic ones, for 25 years. Never had a problem. If you can find Allparts Straploks they are Dunlops at about half the price.

An interesting point from S1m0n at one of the Bass Bashes; "Who's paid a thousand pounds for a bass?" Lots of hands go up. "Who's paid a thousand pounds for their amp?" Quite a few hands go up. "Who's paid a thousand pounds for lessons?" Silence. My take on this is to buy the best gear you can afford and forget about it. Then you have to start on the most important part of getting a good sound.... you and your technique. I think there are a lot more of type1’s out there, but they are the guys who don’t worry about gear and don’t post about it. They just concentrate on what they are playing. Slimmer’s want a pill rather than eating a lot less calories. Some people think that gear on its own will get them a good sound. An average player will get a better sound with good gear but you can sound good on average gear if you play it right and your technique is good. All IMO, and I nearly forget....... I've been very happy with my sound for the last 20 years.

[quote name='KevB' timestamp='1394111338' post='2388014'] Still no set list in my lot despite me bringing up the subject a few times. Just a crappy scrap of paper of potential doable songs that the singer chooses randomely from how he feels fit. He's clearly not 'reading the crowd' which is what he always comes up with as the reason to not generating proper running orders and all it does it put the guitarist on the spot when he calls one out that he then has to change a few pedal settings for. Glad I'm not using effects or my midi pedals, I'd have walked long before now. [/quote] Sorry, but I love bands like yours. It makes us look so much better. Promoters do notice these things.

[quote name='wombatboter' timestamp='1394097709' post='2387819'] ....still find it hard to believe that they didn't notice that Rainey was playing slap. Becker and Fagen never missed anything so I doubt that something prominent like that would pass their attention.... [/quote] +1 My view is that they didn't miss it but chose to ignore it because, grudgingly, when they heard it they knew Chuck was right and they were wrong.