Beedster

[quote name='Daz39' timestamp='1453482571' post='2959967'] All bands have to start somewhere. A similar argument persists with e.g. aviation and the publishing world (both of which I have had experience of), in which the common whine is that new entrants are making it a 'race to the bottom' by undervaluing themselves. If you have a problem with others valuing themselves for less than yourself, you need to ensure you are properly differentiated to get the required attention. If these pubs want to pay peanuts they will get monkeys (as it were.) You can't directly attribute falling pub numbers to rubbish bands. There's a lot more to do with social drinking culture, the spread of cheap supermarket booze and a million channels of drivel to watch on TV to stop people having a good reason to go to the pub. [/quote] +1, the old 'rubbish bands undercutting us' argument is utter crap, I've seen some excellent bands playing for free and some utterly crap ones charging a fortune. It's a free market chaps, everyone has to start somewhere, all bands have the right to charge what they want, and if you want to ensure that you can keep charging premium rates you need to ensure that you are substantially better than the 'rubbish bands' in question, and not simply expect a closed shop. Long may that be the case.

[quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1453378857' post='2958878'] The answer is, of course, 'Yes', but I won't be coming to the US any time soon, since the 'security folks' stole my nail clippers at the airport, upon leaving Chicago. Funny ol' place. We give gladly; I also give away garden produce and jam that we make. I like making jam, but there's far too much made for us ever to consume in a year, so we give away to anyone that wants a jar or so. I also 'give away' my time helping folks with PC problems, and a young lad with no income needing a rear light on his scooter. I'd rather buy and fit him a rear light than have him knocked down for lack of visibility. Yes, it's daft to some, but we're not likely to change our ways, as it keeps us and others happy enough, whilst doing no harm. Life can be so simple at times. An aside benefit is that I don't have any worries about money or accountants, having nothing worth counting. Crazy..? Surely, but content to be so. [/quote] I like your world

[quote name='Machines' timestamp='1453387913' post='2959034'] How long until Fender ends up copying itself ?! [/quote] They've been doing so for 34 years so far

Whatever model you buy get fretless. I really can't see the point in fretted acoustic, every time I've heard on live they sound like an electric bass, albeit with the added bonuses of feedback, higher risk of damage, and playability issues.

[quote name='ras52' timestamp='1453395761' post='2959147'] Even more bizarre is the one doing the rounds about Leslie Nielsen dying.... again (he died in 2010)! [/quote] Dying twice is really bad luck. Having said that, anyone who saw us play in the early days saw us die live on stage pretty much every night.

[quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1453397029' post='2959172'] [/quote] Ha ha, not only is that possible the best reply I've ever received to a post here, but that thought had not even crossed my mind Dad!

[quote name='Evil Undead' timestamp='1453293982' post='2958126'] For anyone still interested - collection has failed again today. Courier apparently rang the bell and no one answered, partner has been home all day and confirmed that no one has been round, no bell ring. Someone is not telling the truth and it's not my partner - either that or the courier has gone to the wrong house despite being given directions. What can I do? I'm worried that I won't get my money back, £200 is a lot of cash to me! [/quote] This happened to me a while ago, but with a twist. The courier claimed they had attempted delivery, but not only had I been in all day, but had been forced to sit in the hallway to work most of the day because I'd 'upgraded' to OS whatever, was getting a "WIFI: no hardware installed' error, so had to plug my laptop into the Broadband hub via the only cable I had which was about 6 feet long. When i wasn't there, I was in the kitchen a few feet away. My other half and my two year old were home all day as well. Anyway, no-one rang the doorbell, banged on the door or put anything through the door, but guess what, when I looked to see why my 'Guaranteed next day delivery" hadn't been delivered, the tracking website said "Delivery Attempted". So I called the shop who'd sent it, who were able to produce a photo of my front door taken by the courier to prove they had attempted a delivery! WTF? Anyway, long story short, the shop had a go at me saying I was being difficult so I no longer shop there, and the courier company said they'd done all they could given I wasn't at home? Theories? OK, Occam's Razor says he did try but I missed the door ringing. That theory however assumes that so did my other half and my two year old girl, who trust gets VERY excited about who might be at the door. Could the guy have arrived at my place only to find he didn't actually have the package on board, then took the photo to prove he had in fact tried delivery to avoid a b*******g? Or did he know it wasn't on board but had to take the photo so that when the customer asks for a refund for failed 24 hour delivery the courier can say "here's proof we tried". Answers on a postcard

[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1453383928' post='2958978'] Oh bloody hell! It's a non-memorable bunch of letters and numbers, and ultimately it all comes down to the 'brain' IIRC. This is a kit which used to retail for £1200-£1500 and for which the direct replacement is now about £2000. If you buy new. Which I didn't. Basically it's a pro-level kit but probably nearer entry level than anywhere high up the range. [/quote] Ha ha, pretty much what I'm looking for! Thanks Jack

Thanks chaps. Jack, that's really god of you mate, which is the Roland kit in question?

[quote name='Machines' timestamp='1453378442' post='2958872'] My 2 basses with J neck pickups do not sound like my bass with a P pickup. The P is a lot fatter and has more thump. In the mix - I doubt those nuances would stand out so much. [/quote] I find that it's in the mix that those nuances are most evident

[quote name='PaulWarning' timestamp='1453375564' post='2958831'] I've just bought a Squier VM Jazz and to I can tell very little difference between that on the neck pickup only and my MIA Precision, the jazz is a shade more trebly and a bit noisier (but not with both pickups on) but that's it, used it at practice last night and it cut through just fine, I'm a bit gutted actually, so if you're after the best of both worlds I don't really see the point of the P/J configuration to be honest. [/quote] All other things being equal, the neck PUP on a Jazz and a P-PUP (assuming both are in the right place) are chalk and cheese to my ear, which is why I prefer Precisions.

Many thanks for the above guys, lots to think about and the potential to spend some money! All other things being equal - price, realism, playability, size - what's the thinking re sound? Which kit, or brand, is going to sound best recorded, even if in the fulness of time we might re-record the drum parts to any potentially good tracks on an acoustic kit in a larger studio?

[quote name='Dom in Somerset' timestamp='1453361457' post='2958676'] Norman and I are both jealous. Proper job. [/quote] You led the way though Dom

[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1453360843' post='2958670'] Whenever this topic surfaces, a number of misunderstandings pop up in its wake. Soundproofing. Unless you plan to record the next Muse album in your shed, there is absolutely no need to make it soundproof. What Chris wants is what I wanted - to avoid disturbing or upsetting the neighbours. For that you need sound reduction. Volume. I've known a number of guitar-playing clowns who claimed that they couldn't get their tone unless they played at gig volume. I no longer play with any of them. At a rehearsal you just need to be able to all hear each other, tone is almost irrelevant. Control. Assuming you can use an electric drumkit (which Chris will) then this is laughably easy. You just rehearse without a PA. The volume level is set by the unamplified human voice, and all other instruments have no choice but to match their volume to that. Experience. I've been doing the stuff above for about five years now, and with six (yes, six) different bands playing wildly different styles of music. It works. [/quote] As ever, I walk in your shadow Jack Yep, everything's going into the desk and either to headphones or monitors. Luckily I play with musicians who realise that volume is not necessary for quality performance. Having said this, an electronic kit is next on my list, so if anyone has a decent one they want to get rid of, and fancies a B-15 in exchange, let me know.

[quote name='Truckstop' timestamp='1453333141' post='2958628'] Alternatively, use an electric drum kit and get everyone kitted out with headphones! [/quote] For anything requiring volume this is probably what we're going to do (hence my selling my B-15 and replacing it with a REDDI). However, most of it will be acoustic so no huge problem. Re noise in general, I whacked the hifi up pretty loud in there yesterday and was surprised at how little of it travelled. Of course, from the neighbours perspective, recorded music doesn't have many of the annoying qualities of a band rehearsing or recording, but it's a good start. As has been suggested above, talking to the neighbours, letting them know when there might be noise, and the odd bottle of Chateua Manshed won;t go amiss and will likely be as effective as 15cms of cladding! Really appreciate all the responses above guys!

[quote name='Raslee' timestamp='1453328088' post='2958575'] Looks awesome mate. Like building a Deathstar...Deathstar Studio's [/quote] Ha ha, I like that

Mmm, not sure 'Pinewood' is what I'm looking for..... Thanks again for the above comments guys. Re alarm, any suggestions of what I should be expecting to spend and/or a good model? Noise is an interesting one and to my mind kinda relates to the alarm issue. I want to retain the goodwill of my neighbours. In this context, my old band used to rehearse quite loudly in the singer's flat, albeit a basement, and I always felt quite uncomfortable about it. No one ever complained apparently, but more than once I was on the receiving end of a very hard stare from a neighbour as I left (it's hard to pretend you're not responsible for the noise when you're carrying a double bass in one hand and an amp in the other). So yes we can play loud in the shed, it's whether I want to risk it p*****g people off. I quite like the idea of external cladding as I really don't want to reduce the room size further, but then again I'd rather everything goes into the desk and we do things at moderate levels (hence my questions re electronic drum kits elsewhere on BC.....).

[quote name='roman_sub' timestamp='1453128689' post='2956611'] I have a UK voltage REDDI, so at least one such unit exists [/quote] Many thanks, is it switchable voltage or fixed?

[quote name='51m0n' timestamp='1452164311' post='2947095'] REDDI I'm serious... [/quote] Hello mate, long time, hope all's well. Do you know if the REDDI comes with a UK power supply or is it US onlY Cheers Chris

Thanks for the above comments guys (and funnily enough, it is a bit spooky in there at night...). Re insulation, there is substantial insulation under the floorboards (pics to follow) and in the roof, but none on the walls. Having said this, the walls are thick, really thick. Humidity is something I'm going to wait and see about, although I will probably simply use a portable unit in the short term and deal with any serious problems as and when they arrive. Sound insulation is a different matter and something that, again, I'm going to deal with as things develop. Whilst it's at the end of a pretty long garden it's still in a suburban residential area and noise will cause problems. However, I don;t want a dead room acoustically so I'm going to trial some impromptu jams/rehearsals and recordings (it'l be a combination of acoustic instruments e.g., DB, mandolin, guitar, cajon, and electric instruments e.g., pedal steel, guitar), and see how much noise comes out and how the room records. I'm going to work on the principle of 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it' and go slowly, it would be all too easy to start adding acoustic treatment only to find the room less pleasing. At present, on both DB and hifi it's quite bass-tolerant with no obvious resonance, and seems to handle higher frequencies quite well also. No doubt once we start recording there'll be a few surprises however

I never thought I'd ask, but needs must. I need an electric kit that will allow a decent drummer to practice and record, and which will also allow the kids to learn to play the bloody things. Any advice warmly received. Chris