TimR

Strung tension is an issue on basses. Other than that you can make an electric bass out of absolutely anything. I've seen one made from a length of scrap 2x4. Actually sounded quite good.

Yes. Depends on how you are using each compressor and what you want to achieve. The compressor on my amp has a single dial that affects level. Everything else; ratio, break point, make up gain etc is fixed. You can have hard knee and soft knee compressors. Nothing wrong with compressing the signal going into your fx loop and then compressing it again after it has been subjected to all the effects. After all, that's what happens in the studio. Compressed at source, then the final mix will be compressed as well. Then it'll all be compressed again when the radio plays it. It's not surprising people can't find their 'tone'.

A small amount of compression will also give you slightly more control over your sustain. You can't do that with technique.

[quote name='gs_triumph' timestamp='1469895058' post='3101870'] Yes, it's a pedal... EBS multicomp So you think it should be first in line after the bass? [/quote] Depends what your trying to do with it. I'd start with EQ -> Comp -> FX. But also try putting it right in front of the Amp. Use your ears.

[quote name='gs_triumph' timestamp='1469885473' post='3101780'] Exactly what I'm pondering just now. Got ale bass preamp with an effects loop and can't decide where it should go. Originally has it after my octave but moved it to before as this helped the octaver. Then I tried it last in chain just before the amp and it sounded better for general playing (don't really use the octave anyway)... However since getting the le bass I can't decide if it should go in the effects loop of after the preamp... Complicated business this 😜 [/quote] Again. It depends what you're using it for. Normally it's part of your pre-amp so it goes before the FX loop. Unless you're using pedal effects when it would then be after them. Unless you're using a compressor pedal in which case it goes before your pedal FXs.

[quote name='Kev' timestamp='1469875517' post='3101652'] Interesting. My own view is it enhances poor technique. String noise, bum notes, fretting where you shouldn't etc all a helluva lot more audible with a compressor. . [/quote] That really depends on your make up gain setting. If you use the compressor to allow you to play louder, then yes, EVERYTHING will be louder. If you use the compressor to reduce peaks then the sting noise etc will be the same. In the second case you're just going to catch the odd time when you accidentally hit a string with a bit more drive than you planned. So yes, covers certain bad techniques. Then there's multi-band compression...

As Skol303 alludes to. It's a useful signal shaping tool with various applications. The application will depend on the user, the compressor, and the settings.

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1469732559' post='3100764'] Yep, big modern estate pub full blast until 12, farm miles from anyone sound limiter installed, been there a few times. [/quote] That's because people move to the countryside on the mistaken belief it's a nice quiet place like you see on the telly. Not an outdoor factory with animals, machinery, guns, church bells, smells etc. They get quite annoyed when they find out about all these things.

[quote name='Nicko' timestamp='1469709034' post='3100504'] Well, now that's controversial. Does that mean the term "band" only applies to groups who are actively gigging or seeking gigs? It also means that while we are a band for most of our set, we are not when we play the obscure ones we chuck in because we like playing them. Theres audiences like you get in the local boozer, and audiences that will travel to see the obscure. Mod revival covers, Northern Soul covers are all valid and in the right context would go down well. [/quote] No. Because cover and original only describe the sub type of band. They tell you no more that the musicians generally play music that is either a cover or original. They don't tell you anything about genre, target audience, instrumentation, etc. They're two very specific and limited definitions. Imagine you telling someone you've brought a book. They ask you what type is it and you say "Fiction", they reply "Ah, I just bought a book as well, but it is non-fiction." So as far as the definition goes, it only gives you very limited information. I think people are trying to make it very complicated.

[quote name='4stringslow' timestamp='1469700138' post='3100381'] But what damage could a limiter power trip do that a genuine power cut couldn't? [/quote] Quite. The problem occurs when it's reset and you still have all the faders up. Ouch! Just make sure you ask the question before you accept any gig.

And this is why wedding bands charge big money.

[quote name='4stringslow' timestamp='1469620254' post='3099748'] But not theirs . . . which I suspect might surprise many fans of original bands. So now we need a term for original bands that write and perform their own material. [/quote] That's essentially singer/songwriter since everything other than melody and lyrics is just padding.

[quote name='4stringslow' timestamp='1469620043' post='3099743'] Ok, but if we go with that, what's the definition of an originals band? Did they write their own songs or not? [/quote] No. They play music that hasn't been recorded by someone else. It's original and new.

[quote name='4stringslow' timestamp='1469616774' post='3099711'] Not really. It could be, but It's a narrower definition. A cover band plays music it didn't originate. There may be many reasons, they may only play a particular genre, they may play only a particular artists' songs, etc, but the common factor is that they didn't write the songs being played. Everything else is a variation on that theme. [/quote] No the common factor is the song has been recorded by someone else. Lots of originals bands don't write their own songs.

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1469612105' post='3099673'] I just don't see the 'released' part as relevant? [/quote] It's the only relevant part. The whole idea of a cover band is to play tunes that the audience knows.

[quote name='lojo' timestamp='1469596222' post='3099570'] Or it's about taking responsibility to do something , like I'll cover you , or number of seats to feed in catering. This is closer to the the meaning of covering a song, but still not the same Copy band would be OK , but then we would have a thread about "define copy" and if exact copies where better than reinventing [/quote] Not necessarily taking responsibility for but certainly doing a job for someone while they're unable to do it. Originally, before discos, you'd have bands playing at dances. People wanted to dance to the music they were hearing on the radio so I guess bands were covering the song in place of the original artist.

Sorry I missed this I was away. Would have been a fun gig. Did you get it filled?

[quote name='Paul S' timestamp='1469550172' post='3099302'] I Fought The Law - another song that was more famously covered by The Clash and Green Day than the original by Bobby Fuller. I can't believe this thread has carried on to 9 pages. [/quote] It would have probably only been 8 so far but someone started posting about biscuits or something a few days ago.

Here's a few more: http://www.nme.com/photos/27-classic-songs-you-didn-t-know-were-covers/253033/1/1#1

[quote name='4stringslow' timestamp='1469528391' post='3098978'] I'm sure it's not, but how many 80s electronica covers have become rock n roll standards? [/quote] Well rock n roll predates the 80s by about 30 years. My point is these things are cyclical and pretty much repeat every 30 years or so. In the 80s there were a lot of 'originals' bands covering 50s hits and now there are quite a few bands covering 80s tunes. The kids think it's all new.

[quote name='4stringslow' timestamp='1469527692' post='3098970'] How about this for a song that pretty much everyone has heard through millions of cover versions (ok, slight exaggeration) yet relatively few know the original jazz trio version by the writer and performer. Well here he is . . . ... [/quote] That's not the only obscure original that's been covered several times. In the 80s lots of the electronica 'bands' were releasing numbers from the early 20/30s.

[quote name='EssentialTension' timestamp='1469518034' post='3098864'] When I first started out all bands were called groups. [/quote] Whatever happened to beat combos?

[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1469513295' post='3098825'] Yup. Troo dat. If you ignore all those pesky blues musicians who didn't just repeat what Robert Johnson played. Oh, you meant pop music only? In that case, troo dat. If you ignore the exceptions. Like 'Move It' by The Shadows, written by Ian Samwell, of The Shadows. [/quote] Perfect example. A song written by someone no one has ever heard of and sung by Cliff Richard. QED .

Before the Beatles came along no one wrote their own songs. Everyone played covers or songs written for them. True dat.

[quote name='gjones' timestamp='1469466972' post='3098558'] This is the bit I don't like... '[i]● We also monitor the noise from a number of other locations outside the marquee on an hourly basis to determine if the level of noise is too much (ie. is traveling to our neighbours). While using the decibel monitor is useful some music or vocals travel more than others so please bear with us if we ask you to turn down certain aspects.'[/i] Bass frequencies travel. There's nothing you we can do about that. This means that 200m from the venue, all you can probably hear is bass. If you turn down only the bass, in reaction to this, then within the performance area the band mix will be altered and the bass will probably just disappear. What needs to happen, in these circumstances, is that the whole band needs to turn down, not just the bass. Then the band mix in the venue may be quieter but at least it will be balanced. [/quote] This will be why they have stipulated no bass backline and have provided 18" subs. It's sounds more like they have done their research and know how to control the aspects that will cause a nuisance if they go unchecked.