Marvin

Having had an outbreak at the school, now we've had an outbreak from the local Football club's bar (people watching the Euro's). It seems to be spreading quite a bit, my parent's neighbours have it, 2 doors down from me have it and so on. 2 members of one of my old bands and myself were trying to get something together, and maybe try and get a first practice in, but as things stand at the moment it's too risky. It's a small town and very easy to come into contact with someone who was at the source of this outbreak. Given the current level of infection rate I'd only consider an outdoor gig anyway.

I watched the Kinks documentary last night, I thoroughly enjoyed it despite not being a huge fan. One thing that stuck me was how articulate the Davies brothers are and Suggs who contributed. Articulate, intelligent, observational. Attributes that are disappearing in mainstream popular music imo. Although Weller and Noel Gallagher didn't sound particularly articulate, so perhaps... I think it reaffirmed why I didn't like Britpop. It always struck me as just copying the likes of the Kinks

I found myself in the same position in the second lockdown...or was it the first? Anyway, it was one of them. I'd sold my cab and amp after my last band split and then earlier this year, in a fit of optimism, decided to get something to make loud noises with. The choice, as we all know, is actually mind boggling. I ended up buying a s/h Peavey MiniMax from fellow Basschat member, and a Fender Rumble 210 cab. It took me months to decide on each one (to the point it annoyed my wife with all the indecision). I looked at combos, heads, cabs, everything, of all the brands. I came very close to getting on end of line Ashdown combo, but just had a feeling it wouldn't be what I like. If it was now I'd have to add the new Ampeg Rocket Bass combos to my list of possibles...it's just endless. What I bought works for me, I think. I've not had the chance to use it in a band yet, but I'm sure it'll be loud enough and I like the tone/s it can produce.

This just came up on my iPod. It's still one of the best written and produced songs made in my opinion. The words, and I'm not mad on deciphering words, are simply brilliant.

My current twiddling sound companion. Peavey MiniMax, Fender Rumble 210 and my V7, of course. I had an Aguilar TH350 with a Schroeder 212L before. I liked the Schroeder but never warmed to the Aguilar, I like the Peavey ( difficult comparison but given different cabs, but I did try different amps through the Schroeder and the Aggy through different cabs). I've not had the chance to use this with a band yet, only at home, it sounds pretty good in the living room. The neighbours seem to like it as well, they've been tapping on the walls as I've playing along to songs.

Guitarist I was in a band in used to use one...the amp weighed more than my car.

If someone's out to make money out of me, I'll take my cut. All the best bands I've been in (some had pro musicians in) and the best bands in my area all charge.

This takes me back to my late teens, going to festivals and small INCREDIBLY HOT and sweaty gigs in grotty venues. Great fun. I always loved the simplicity of these bass lines, really punchy.

As with most ventures in life, it boils down to 'can you afford to fail?'. A lot of the artists that emerged in previous decades, some didn't have much to lose in the first place, and in the 70s and 80s the social security system wasn't as draconian and that gave just enough support to 'give it a go'. But it's always been the case that if you've got parents with money you can risk failure much easier than if you haven't go wealthy parents. Take Richard Branson. He's always held up as a some self made entrepreneur... which he is if you overlook the small issue that he could always fall back on his wealthy background for support (his grandfather was a privy councillor). Does it matter in music? If all we end up with is Coldplay, Florence and the Machine and Mumford and Sons....then yes it does. That said I'm a Radiohead fan, and a Doves fan (Andy and Jez Williams' dad was a well known architect) and I hate with a passion Oasis...so perhaps it might be a good thing

Great groove and a stand out tone. One of my favourite bass players.

Absolutely. It really boils my waste fluid when people insist on talking through a set, just sod off to a pub somewhere, I'm not interested in the weekend Steve and Jess came down and you all had a lovely time!!! People who turn up late and barge to the front. People who spend the whole gig videoing it on their phone. ...and why does the tallest person in Britain always decide to stand in front of my height restricted wife which means I get it in the ear all night about not being able to see anything.

Very little going on gig wise around this way. None of the local bands I know are getting bookings really, the odd one maybe but that's it. Right now Covid is getting considerably more prevalent where I live (which is very rural). Up until now we've been much less effected than other areas. However, the local secondary school is sending kids home left right and centre it seems, something it's not dune since the start. And cases in general are increasing quite a lot ☹️

I borrowed one of these for a couple of practices in a village hall with 2 guitarists and my nutty mate of a drummer. One of the guitarists lent it to me as I didn't have an amp at the time. He uses it in a 4 piece band that gigs a lot, although they're not massively loud. I found it to be a pretty decent combo to be honest. Nice enough sound, as with most of this size I think I had the gain at about 10o'clock and the master at 12o'clock. I cut the low frequencies a little and boosted the low mids, didn't use the built in compressor. I considered buying one at one point but the band didn't get off the ground. It all depends on how loud the band you're in plays. I used to have a Fender Rumble 500 combo, which was great for the 3 piece I was in at the time, but that folded and I ended up in a 4 piece punk indie band and the Rumble just couldn't keep up because the drummer and guitarists were morons. I knew one guy who used to play 3 or 4 gigs a week and used a Behringer 500w head into a 115 cab that looked like it'd been dragged behind a car, it was monster loud. What I always think about combos of this size is that you'll probably hear them but won't feel them. If you're in a sensible band I find them fine and I thought the Laney was pretty good.

I've virtually always been the weakest/least experienced in the bands I've been in. Two things have stood out for me. Quite a few more experienced players that I've played with have been truly awful. This has actually made me feel uneasy as I've had no confidence in them. In the 'other' bands I've learnt a lot. The band I was in with the best guitarist I've played with, my playing came on a lot. I'd say I played better then then I do now.

That's me as well...

G4M certainly do seem to have a lot of Eden in stock...

I do apologise if my comment put you off your dinner 🙂

Open to any 'heavy' music...right up to the point where the vocalist sounds like they're clearing a fur ball from their throat, retching, sounding like they're almost about to vomit, clearing mucus from the throat or any other similar noises.

I've still got mine. I probably won't sell as it's one with a signed neck plate. The 2nd generation seem quite popular now as well to be fair.

Has you Father in Law's band played at the Palladium in Bideford?

@Mace has a band called Fighters Foo I believe.

I don't think there is an answer to this. I owned a Fender Rumble 500 210 combo. They are loud and the sound for me was just lovely. However, it wasn't loud enough for the indie punk band I joined. I swapped the Fender for an Aguilar TH350 and Schroeder 1212L ( a 2x12). The latter was just stupid loud for it's size. It had no problems with two knuckle draggers using 2x12 cabs with 100w valve heads and a drummer who sat on his brain. It also managed quite a decent sized village hall not going through the PA with a 6 piece blues band. Apart from the noticeable difference in driver size between the 2 there were a lot of other reasons why the Aggie and Schroeder were louder. That said, I never really liked the Aggie and Schroeder, which is odd because in the last 10years it's the set up I've owned the longest and done most gigs with. Because I don't want the next band I'm in to be particularly loud I've gone for a Fender 210 cab and Peavey Minimax 500w head. It'll be more than enough for the places I'd likely be playing. That's no help is it...

My mum's never played a p bass, then again she's never played any instrument.

With the advent of streaming I'd have to say there is virtually no artist or band that I always buy. Having the opportunity to test drive it saves a few quid. For example, I would have said I always bought Richie Kotzen, but I didn't buy his last solo album 50 for 50. I listened to it on Spotify and there were some good songs, but much of it was a bit meh to me. Same for Radiohead. I've got up to King Of Limbs (which was a bit crap to be fair) but haven't bothered with the last effort. At the moment I know Rival Sons and Editors are recording new albums and in looking forward to having a listen, but that doesn't mean I'll buy them.

2 regrets @discreet 's 76 Fender P bass. Should have bought that one. A Warwick Corvette @xilddx offered. But there you go.