TimR

[quote name='tonyquipment' timestamp='1464100191' post='3056545'] Still gotta consider how many milliamps it will pump out .. It may not be enough to service the draw of the 9 volter [/quote] The USB specs say it should be able to draw 5A if connected to a charging port.

Yes. That's my major beef. Cases and boxes not put back in the cars when they've been emptied. There's usually not much space as it is. I have three large boxes that the lights come in and I religiously put them back in my car once we've set up.

[quote name='tonyquipment' timestamp='1464089186' post='3056422'] Nice idea but 5v to 9v? How many stepper uppers will you need? It will just blow it off the wall won't it ? Now u can probably charge phones from the 9v stepping down but the other way around is just ...entertaining to watch. [/quote] You just need a DC-DC step up. eBay is full of them at c£2.

Very clever idea. You can use one of those powerbank USBs to power your gear instead of messing about with 9v rechargeable batteries and chargers etc. Would be nice if a lot of electronic equipment started to go down the 5v supply route though. Although 5 volt batteries aren't that common. Yet.

Yep. Music is supposed to breathe.

One point is: It's not the drummers job to keep time. It's the musicians' job to be in time with each other. The beat should move slightly, sometimes pushing sometimes holding back otherwise the song doesn't breathe. A lot of musicians, not just drummers, don't seem to get this.

[quote name='troubadour' timestamp='1464001012' post='3055622'] Last gig I had to stand on the stairs . . . [/quote] At the top?

I played with a terrible drummer for years. It was hard work holding them back all the time and trying to provide some kind of groove. One gig I just let them go on one song. We just got faster and faster. Was horrible. The singer had a right go at him at the end of the song. It made no difference and I left. There are tons of band out there playing well. It's very rare to find a perfect drummer, we're all human, but there are plenty of drummers who are not bad.

I worked for a Swedish company. It was all about customer service. Make the customer feel valued and he'll return. We got taken over by a French company, they have a similar ethic but it's not so well implemented.

[quote name='BassTractor' timestamp='1463695178' post='3053508'] Aye, you did. But then I didn't state you hadn't done so. I just stated I hadn't seen it. Sorry for having overlooked it. [/quote] I think it's quite an important point really. Once you double up on cabs you get an increase in bottom end, not necessarily loudness per se. But how the cabs actually behave can be quite interesting. I put a 15" with 2x10s and it was quieter than the 15" and the 2x10 individually. I still recommend bin the 4x10 they're heavy and inefficient. Get a 2x10" or a 2x12" and look at postponing.

[quote name='BassTractor' timestamp='1463681058' post='3053365'] The point that is being made by those who advise to double up with the same types of cab, though I haven't seen that point outspoken in this thread, is that the impedance is a nominal number and that the "real" impedance differs, a.o. with frequency, so the behaviour of the different drivers in combination can not easily be predicted. An impedance raise in one cab at the same frequency range as an impedance drop in the other cab might cause some of the drivers to travel too near their Max. Here's where you need to use your ears. Normally you should be reasonably in the clear as long as you don't press your drivers hard. Sound quality is another matter. Me, just to be sure to not blow my drivers, I use a 9610, and our drummer likes the notion of being able to pick his nose without anybody seeing it. [/quote] I raised that point yesterday at 4:40pm.

No. It is right. The individual speakers in the 4x10 will be a different impedance to the speakers in the 2x10. Each can will present the same load - 8 ohms and the same power will be dispersed in each. .

[quote name='ras52' timestamp='1463656824' post='3053116'] If prog now was like prog was in the 70s, it wouldn't have progressed, would it? [/quote] I always thought the term progressive referred to the music. As in - the actual tunes are progressive in nature, they don't stick to the rigid rock verse/chorus structure and timings. I don't think prog rock has really changed that much. Once the basic idea is there there's not a lot further you can take it.

Forget about the power. That's just what the speakers can take without catching fire. Look at the sensitivity figures. The frequency plots for the two cabs will undoubtably be different. It's not all about all out power. So you can expect all kinds of weirdness going on. As alluded to above. If you're not loud enough with a 4x10 something is wrong with either your EQ or your cab placement.

It's Wednesday afternoon now. My PC that had died last night appears to have resurrected itself from the dead. And I've mended some broken stuff at work. The day just keeps getting better.

It's only Wednesday morning but this week has been pretty good so far.

[quote name='leschirons' timestamp='1463224565' post='3049690'] Sorry if this has been on before but I couldn't resist. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHsjFdsd5lA MJ's Beat it in a major key. I couldn't stop singing "Dance the night away" in the solo. [/quote] That's quite good. Enjoyed it.

There's an It Bites forum that can get quite tasty argument-wise. No doubt there is a Genesis forum and a Marillion forum as well as loads of others. I think you probably need to decide what exactly you want to play. What era and what artists. Then find a forum. There will be musicians on them. I have a selection of friends who are always talking about getting a prog band together but unless you're going to play prog hits it's a very specialist market. Probably just as specialist as the originals scene. If you market it well you'd definitely get pub gigs and a following. Assuming you can drag some fans away from their XBoxes and Linux PCs.

[quote name='Iain' timestamp='1463236054' post='3049817'] We have an understanding - I don't comment on shoes, handbags and gadgets she doesn't comment on guitars! [/quote] Except to ask where you're going to keep it. Next time she buys a pair of shoes, ask her where she's going to keep them. See what reaction you get.

[quote name='Iain' timestamp='1463170743' post='3049317'] ... a wife who doesn't expect me to justify purchases either. She does get practical asking daft questions like "where are you going to keep it?" ... [/quote] I'm guessing you don't know much about women then.

I play bass in a gigging band. I need a bass and an amp so that I can do that. That's the simple justification for the gear. I wouldn't like to even try to justify why I play bass in a gigging band.

[quote name='gjones' timestamp='1463171836' post='3049333'] Well I do have have people, down The Pig & Whistle, regularly prostrating themselves in front of me at the weekend but the're usually fat, drunk, middle aged men [/quote] Judging by some of the gigs I've played, you should count yourself lucky that they're men!

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1462971405' post='3047407'] I'm fine with playing any of these numbers and the audience reaction is the only criteria we judge a song on. . . . however. . . . one of the main comments we hear is that they like us because we play different songs. Apparently many cover bands play the same numbers. [/quote] I agree. We play two of those numbers. I've probably played them all at some point, some of them only once, on the fly, at a gig as a dep. The only criteria for our set list is the tune has to be well known. There's nothing worse than having members of the audience siting there with blank faces asking you to "Play something we know." Well actually there is: having people coming out of the audience and pleading with you to play a particular song that's not, never has and never will be on your setlist. People like familiarity but they also like to be surprised. Hence the positive comments and reactions you'll get when you play something the rest of the bands don't play. This was on last week. Why we like Repetition in Music: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p03t9drb

[quote name='Twincam' timestamp='1463059753' post='3048186'] Was unsure how to title the thread. I'm embarrassed at how nice my bass is compared to my lack of talent. So everyone who picks up my bass has been a great player and they say how great the bass is then proceed to play something far from my level. I get the bass back and don't have a reply. Now ive started to feel a bit self conscious even though I believe in a more simple bass playing style and even if I could play at a higher level I wouldn't play anywhere near as fancy as some do. I'm thinking my current ability makes me look a bit all the gear no idea or something to that effect. So much so I've thought about getting a cheap bass so I don't look a plum. My catch phrase is fast becoming "I work on them much better than I play them". [/quote] If you're in a band then your band mates think you can play bass to a pretty good standard. If your band plays gigs and people stay, then a few more people think you can play bass to a pretty good standard. You'll always get some strange people at gigs staring at your gear and making comments. If you have a cheap bass they'll say you'd be better if you played an expensive one. If you play an expensive one, they'll suggest you play a cheap one for gigs. Enjoy your playing. And if someone picks up your bass and plays something fancy, just remember; that's probably their party trick.

[quote name='Muppet' timestamp='1463047819' post='3048032'] Lots of interesting replies so thanks to all for taking the time. I guess it does come down to us spending more time on the detail before we engage his services. If he said " it's this price on the basis that you give me a hand" then that's absolutely fine. He is a good guy which is why we will continue to use him and we get on well, but I think clarification on what we are getting for our money is the way to go. [/quote] I'd just be careful how you approach that conversation as you've already agreed to help in principle by helping in the past. I'd be inclined to say something like it's taking quite a long time to set up and pack down and the band are pretty knackered, and ask if there's a better way for everyone. Bear in mind that most bands have to double hand their own PA gear anyway - Load the van, empty the van, set up, pack down, load the van, empty the van. So we're already doing a good hour and a half at each end anyway. Or at least the bloke who has agreed to do the PA is.