Beedster

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

Pretty much since I can remember I've wanted a self-contained studio. In the past I've had the odd spare room with a music workstation, but it's not really the same, and with kids, there's no such thing as 'private space' in the house. So, last year was a bit crap, and around November I thought "If I don't do it now, I never will", so decided to just do it. It's as much about the kids learning to love and play music as it is about me recording my own stuff and that of my mates, so it's not a 'studio' in the true sense, bit I thought I'd keep y'all posted on how things develop over the coming months. First things first, the wrecking crew. We had to get rid of a rather old and rather rotten shed on the site, and it was pretty clear that the roof weighed a ton, so I got some strong-arm in. From let to right pedal steel, idiot (me), fiddle and, looking rather menacing with the crowbar, not only a great mandolin player but one of the UK's top acoustic guitar builders (who almost lot his right hand when the roof of the old shed came down somewhat prematurely). Shed down in about 4 hours. A couple of days later, three extremely hard working chaps arrived and did the below in two days And at the end of day two I had this.. It's around 20 feet by 15 feet (although it looks much smaller), and is bloody lovely... ... although it looks like a giant sauna, so I got to work with a paintbrush This the undercoat, and whilst it doesn't show well in the photo, it's translucent so shows the grain of the wood really nicely, in fact I have something of a boutique shed. Also had to get to work with a spade to get the electric in, trench had to be 24 inches deep. Next instalment will be the interior, followed the gear, and you never know, in the fulness of time, a few recordings i'm gonna need a name also, as I was recently living in Aberystwyth Greg (Shaggy) suggested 'Aber Road', but I guess if geographical it's now gonna have to be something more Canterbury/Kent/South-East. But hey, doesn't have to be geographical. Suggestions on a postcard please

With Basschat and eBay as options I cannot see any reason to sell a bass in a shop. Fees are higher, risk of damage is higher, market is far lower.

Bad day?

Most of the large scale online retailers are simply not close enough to their stock to know what they've got, they have to go by what's on the screen and bar codes, which can be wrong for so many reasons. The amount of times I've bought and paid for 'in stock' gear online only to get an email saying something like "Good news, your amp will be with you in July" is simply ridiculous. The only online dealer who can be trusted are Thomann, who are also generally the cheapest, most efficient, and most polite if you have to deal with an issue.

[quote name='Muzz' timestamp='1452791395' post='2953565'] "Can play a myriad of styles, basically speaking Jazz..." Calling Bilbo... [/quote] I've not met Bilbo so can't be sure, but whilst I can't quite put my finger on a specific reason, I'm guessing it might not be a trouble-free relationship?

[quote name='Beedster' timestamp='1452781119' post='2953435'] Perhaps you have your own tribute act? [/quote] We decided to advertise one of our gigs as a tribute act to our own band and got more punters in than normal (7)

[quote name='Twigman' timestamp='1452781420' post='2953440'] Have you been sacked but don't yet know it? [/quote] Ha ha, the infamous 'Lemmy Manoeuvre'.

[quote name='Twigman' timestamp='1452780648' post='2953427'] Another band operating with the same name? [/quote] Perhaps you have your own tribute act?

[quote name='Twigman' timestamp='1452780556' post='2953425'] That must be the least inviting ad for a bass player I've ever read. Whoever wrote it comes across as a right ****. [/quote] To be honest, I think they know what they're looking for and have made the terms pretty clear. I'd rather than than what happened to me a few years ago which is that a band advertised for me, seriously, I met every criteria they stated, including the exact taste in 70's funk rock. I turned up to the audition to find a bunch of 16 year-olds who realised they'd forgotten to put 'must be 16' in their ad. I was 45 at the time. Shame, their setlist was awesome, but not only did they look like Hanson's kid brothers, they sounded like those f*****g awful cartoon chipmunks. Good luck to the band in the link, as Jack suggests, there'll be plenty for whom that is a great opportunity

Frankly Jack, I think your attitude stinks, I would have paid good money to see you in that band