TimR

It'll probably be a bit daunting at first but as you are a solo player you will probably get by with simplifying the parts (if necessary) and learning any solos. What is their gig/rehearsal ratio? I played with a band which was more of a hobby band and the players tended to meet just for their own pleasure (and a social beer afterwards). Gigs tended to be for family and friends, locally two to four times a year.

As has been said, a few times now. Sticking the 12" on top of the 15", without plugging in the 15" will solve your problem immediately. Mainly because you'll then be hearing what the singer can hear. Raise the cab and turn down.

I tried to mix a trace 15" with a Warwick 210 with a horn. Strangely it sounded quieter. I ditched the 15"

It does if your lead is 500m long. Otherwise. It doesn't.

[quote name='Dropzone' timestamp='1441632801' post='2860401'] I just presumed that the electricity went down the cable regardless of cost. To be honest I didn't even know you could get four to two pin speakons??? [/quote] It does. It's just not very good at jumping across gaps.

[quote name='4-string-thing' timestamp='1441639018' post='2860468'] The singer may well be "The Star" but the overall sound should be balanced.... [/quote] ...like a huge game of human Jenga where the drums and bass are those two blocks on the bottom you can't move and the guitar and singer are perched on the top ready to tumble down if anything happens to the two at the bottom.

[quote name='cheddatom' timestamp='1441623951' post='2860277'] Indeed, but all the american musicians who grew up in the 60s learned their wisdom from The Beatles on TV! EDIT: Sorry, I am being a bit sarcastic. There's loads to be learned from gigging, but I'd say it's mainly "stagecraft". I'm sure the Beatles had this in spades, and it's a big reason for their success. Was it more important than the music they wrote though? I don't think you learn how to write music by playing covers in a pub, but maybe I'm wrong? [/quote] Some people don't seem to. They just copy without understanding. A lot of people do though. Luckily.

[quote name='Thunderpaws' timestamp='1441621219' post='2860235'] And I don't see why not, if you can afford it. And I don't see why an advanced player, or a pro, should have to either. And, cheaply produced expensive basses?! Fender tried it and failed. Value for money is not the same as cheap or expensive. [/quote] I think the premise of the thread that no one 'has' to.

[quote name='Thunderpaws' timestamp='1441619332' post='2860209'] This thread has some really sttoopid posts and some cracking posts. To me, to a great extent, most of this can be blamed on the marketing departments and magazines. This doesn't just go for musical instruments but sporting gear, cars, houses, etc... When we start out we are encouraged to buy a beginners model until we get good end ugh to buy a more expensive model. companies need us to progress so they can sell more units. [/quote] I don't agree. If they wanted to make more money they'd just produce expensive basses cheaply. I don't see why a beginner or intermediate should have to shell out £2k for a bass.

[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1441617260' post='2860182'] An excellent slew of advice here which I can't really add anything to, so I'll offer a new perspective. Buy a Zoom H2 or similar and start recording your band. Rather than relying on opinions (the singer's, your own, comments from punters) you can actually listen to how you sound. It's not a black & white thing and recorders often struggle to capture the true sound of the bass, but it's way better than nothing. [/quote] That's a good idea. There are plenty of cameras (not phones) that now have good quality sound as well. Then you can watch to see who in the band is shoe-gazing as well.

This is typical of non musicians. They just assume because it's music and you are a musician then you can play it. It's our job to make things that are very hard to do, look very easy. I think you just need to 'manage their expectations'. The big problem is they have a very clear idea in their heads of what they want. It's very unlikely that what you eventually produce will be anything like what they're thinking of. I don't have any advice other than offering to add the tunes to the setlist but explain the funk aspect might be a problem. Then the ball is in their court.

Busses should be red. End of discussion.

Basses are mechanical. Amps are electrical. And as pointed out. You can plug into the PA. it won't be the same but in the unlikely event of a failure it'll work.

The 15" trace is a LOUD cab. But it'll be making all that noise near your ankles and knees. Your ears are about 4-5ft higher than the directional highs coming from the cab. If you're going for a 2x12" then stack it vertically and tilt it back so the directional highs are aimed at your ears. In the mean time can you put the 2x8" vertically on top of the Trace and tilt them back a bit? Also 2 guitarists, make sure they're not cranking the mids and bottom ends. Guitarists like a rich full solo sound which is rubbish for bass players in a live setting. That will be a difficult conversation. Good luck. .

I take two basses to a gig because I had a catastrophic failure of my semi-expensive bass. A machine-head snapped clean off. I didn't have a spare bass with me. The gig was 'interesting'. My spare bass stays in its hard case - off stage. I'm not sure how people manage to play different basses with different tones. My bass is what I like through the amplification I like. Everything (apart from the gain and volume) is set at 'flat'. I've only ever had one complaint; from a guy who identified himself as a bass player, who said I should be playing a Fender for all the 70s tunes we did. He was a slightly odd bloke and I made my excuses and went to talk to someone a little bit more interesting.

Well, I'm with Milty. It's interesting to see what motivates people and what lies behind their choice of instrument. I never understand why some people see words on a page to have any malice. Non have been written. It's all in your heads guys. I just thought there were two reasons for choosing a particular bass. Seems I'm wrong so the thread has at least been interesting to me. Rampant consumerism? Hardly. We don't buy an expensive bass as soon as it's released and bin the old one. The supply chain and exchange of second hand gear is far more complex than that. As I wrote earlier, if you feel you have to defend yourself then maybe you should look at really why you bought the bass. So far only one person has admitted to being an out and out poser.

I would pack all the gear away into stacks on the stage ready to carry out with as little fuss and as late as possible. Rather than carrying the drums out one by one over the hour.

[quote name='MiltyG565' timestamp='1441491882' post='2859306'] Alright guys, you honestly need to learn the difference between innocently asking questions, putting forward a point of view, and bringing down the gavel in the USSR for unwarranted and illegal indulgences. I haven't forced anyone to justify why they have the gear that they do. I haven't said they don't deserve it, or that they shouldn't have it, simply that IMO it's not really necessary [i]for a local covers band[/i], and in some cases, perhaps a bit over the top. I spend my time in lots of ways, and frankly it's stooping to a pretty low level to suggest that my questioning of the phenomenon implies that I'm a poor musician. And you don't need to avoid the word "better". It's perfectly reasonable to assume more money invested in a product returns you a better product. I've never denied that. [/quote] Seems some people don't like to have their decisions questioned.

[quote name='bassman7755' timestamp='1441489023' post='2859275'] This thread might have a point if there was some inherent disadvantage to using a more expensive instrument, but there isn't ... [/quote] There is... They cost more.

[quote name='spectoremg' timestamp='1441377929' post='2858472'] Come on, give us a clue about the offending subject? Was it EMG's on Jazz basses? [/quote] Guy was foolish enough to say which pop bands from the '60s influenced his playing style.

Choppers, Grifters and Clackers.

Well. That's what he says anyway.

You shouldn't have admitted that. You could have let the mystery run for at least 12 pages first. Bit like one of those songs where everyone reads hidden meanings into it and the artist just says; "No, really. It's just a song about a plank of wood floating down a river." And everyone nods wisely.

John Lenon was 'assassinated'.

To me the phrase "all the gear and no idea" refers to someone who has just spend a lot of money on expensive professional equipment but has no idea how to operate it. I'm not sure it applies to someone who upgrades their gear in the mistaken belief that better gear makes up for lack of talent. 'Eye' usually refers to how you see something, a point of view. As in "beauty is in the eye of the beholder".