SteveXFR

Yep, I put a meter across it and it was seven point something ohms.

Pair of Trace Elliot cabs, 4x10 and 1x15. 8ohm each and each one connected to an 8ohm output in the Trace head or connected in series to the Orange.

I have a fairly simple pedal board between my bass and the front end of the amp. Stingray bass > Cali76 compressor > Two Note Le Bass preamp Both times with the Trace head I didn't have the preamp, just the compressor. The compressor is set so volume is the same on or off, the preamp is set with a slight boost but not a lot. Each failure has been in a different building so its not a dodgy socket. The Trace was running at about 80%on output volume and the Orange at about 40%

I'm a bit new to all this so I don't know how reliable amps should be but so far this year I've had three amp failures. Trace Elliot GP12SMX went up in smoke quite spectacularly with a failed power amp. Fair enough I thought, vintage electronics can be fragile so I had a new MOSFET power board fitted and thought that would be the end of it. Two hours playing and the new board failed, faulty board apparently so got that repaired under warranty. Last week my Orange Terror just stopped working, apparently its a catastrophic short circuit in the power supply and obviously the parts it needs are in China so that could be six weeks. Is it just me or are amplifiers less reliable than a badly maintained Alfa Romeo?

So you did actually use the B string? Not for its intended purpose but that wouldn't be punk anyway.

I'm not sure if they count as punk or not but Reel Big Fish's bassist uses a Stingray and its a five string although I'm not entirely convinced he uses the B string much.

Hammer Smashed Face by Cannibal Corpse will always get the grannies up for a dance

I forgot about Happy by Pharell Williams, that's far worse than I got a feeling. My idea of a great party tune would be Funeropolis by Electric Wizard

That's probably the song I hate most from the last 20 years. I guess that means it'll be an ideal party song.

That's it then. If it's good enough for the man who in my opinion is the greatest ever punk bassist and also just one of the greatest bassists full stop then it's good enough for me.

Stupid Girl by Garbage for a bit more 90's indie rock. Rock & Roll Queen by Subways would work well with a female singer.

How about Cannonball by Breeders? A 90's classic often ignored by party bands.

We're punk band back then playing real Fenders?

So no to the BC Rich for the smooth jazz audition then

I have seen an Industrial metal band with an electric upright. Bow plus heavy distortion plus some very low tuning sounded like the apocalypse.

Thanks. That explains it all pretty well and makes sense. The photo also helps my understanding quite a lot. Will I have trouble playing it with a less impressive cleavage?

I know there's a few pop punk bassists using stingray's but for some reason they seem rare in more traditional British & US punk, hardcore and thrash/punk crossovers.

I completely forgot Flea was in Fear. I just associate him with Alanis Morissette and RHCP. Without doubt he's one of the greatest bassists but I've come to associate him with music I find rather dull. I need to listen to some Fear and early RHCP again.

The standard basses for punk rock (not pop punk) have always been the P bass and Rickenbacker. There's been the occasional Jazz bass or Thunderbird but I can't think of any punk bassists who use a Stingray. Is there something about it that makes it a poor choice? It seems to have the punch and plenty of mids and treble. Is there something I'm not seeing?

I quite like the idea of a pair of guitarists similar to Idles. Not really lead and rhythm, nothing fancy but interesting.

I went for a beer with the vocalist yesterday, really nice bloke. I checked out some videos and recordings from his last band and the dude can sing in a punk style and has stage presence and his lyrics are good, the make some sense and the lyrical content suits me. Political but without in a way that's different. I've sent a message to a local drummer who's band recently split, he's the ideal drummer but I'm not too hopeful although if you don't ask, you don't know.

Is that the same everyone and their mum who's packing heat around here? Farmers and farmers mums?

I've found a singer with PA and lots of experience in some relatively well known punk bands. I've contacted a few drummers who I know are good. Guitarists shouldn't be too hard to find. Maybe we'll be the next Idles but even older.

I'll try playing the double bass once I've mastered the single bass

Epiphone started in the late 1800's so I guess it makes sense they'd have made a double bass