Marvin

[quote name='EssentialTension' timestamp='1330384158' post='1556753'] While I share the dubiousness about tabs and how inaccurate they are, I've come across proper notation that was incorrect as well. [/quote] So have I, from some rather well known music publishers.

[quote name='Truckstop' timestamp='1330376745' post='1556554'] Jeans and a tshirt is fine! I used to wear baseball caps, check shirts and beach shorts to gigs in my death metal band. Got some pics somewhere... Truckstop [/quote] I tend to steer clear of shorts as a general rule. My spindly legs repulse me, so I think it only fair I don't inflict pain and suffering on others. [quote name='Clarky' timestamp='1330377159' post='1556561'] I can send you my Slayer wife- beater shirt to show off your tatts, Marv? Just pair with some baggy camo knee length shorts and black Vans trainers. Can't go wrong [/quote] I was wondering about the tatts. Thought I might get some of those temporary ones, or just let the kids lose with some felt tips on my arms.

Does your band have a 'dress code' and if so is it specific to the genre you play? I play in a covers band and we tend to...um...well...everyone wears what they bloody well want really. I always go for black jeans, black t-shirt and my check pattern skater shoes. I find the black quite slimming, not that I need it too as I'm a skinny git I'm to play in, what I believe is generally referred to as, a heavy metal band, soon. I'll be honest I don't think my wardrobe is suited to that genre. Not a thread of my clothing falls into this particular music scene, neither does for that matter my hair. I'm thinking of taking the safe option and going for a smart shirt and my second best suit, oh yes.

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1330370045' post='1556401'] I need the exercise. Edit: In any case, what are you doing playing beyond the fifth fret? [/quote] Well quite! Especially as if one is feeling lazy and doesn't need the exercise there is a perfectly serviceable C on the 3rd fret of the A string, conveniently positioned under the G on the E string. No need for any of this fancy 'up the dusty end' playing needed there.

I had a quick noodle on a six string the other day. The string spacing completely foxed me. However, the whole experience wasn't helped by the fact our guitarist had got hold of it and tuned it to standard guitar tuning. That's right that bottom B was tuned to a standard E. The upshot being the strings were so tight as to make it near unplayable. I shall not be getting one, neither would I get a 5.

[quote name='Phil Starr' timestamp='1330365800' post='1556311'] It is pretty hard to explain something as technical as this in simple terms. One day I'll have a proper go. Mr Foxens analogy is as good as anything. I'll attempt something in between this and the wiki article. You need to understand the way the amp works just a little The sound from a speaker is made as the speaker moves forward and back in time with your strings vibration. To make it do this the amp increases the voltage to push speaker cone forward and reduces it to let it back, at some point the voltage then reverses and the speaker moves further backwards behind its starting/resting position. The simplest way to do this is to have a single output transistor or valve doing the whole process. This is class A. The problem with this is that when the speaker is in the halfway position the voltage and current in the amp are also halfway so the amp is working pretty hard when the speaker is in the resting position doing nothing. This means class A amps get very hot even with low signals as all that energy has to go somewhere. As a result class A amps tend to be low powered and inefficient as it is the heat that kills transistors and valves. The next trick is to split the signal so one device does the positive side of the cycle and another does the negative side. This is class B. Now when the speaker isn't moving neither transistor or valve needs to do anything and there is no energy to disperse as heat. This makes class B amps more efficient and more reliable. The problem now is the point where you switch from one transistor/valve to another. The output devices aren't very linear at the bottom end of their range, there's always a bit of a gap and you end up with distortion when they change over, This is really noticeable in the quiet bits of music or whatever. The solution which worked for years was to have both output devices working at the crossover point, meaning you had a class A amp at this point filling in the gap and class B for the loud stuff. This is class AB. This is still the most common way of doing things though it is changing rapidly. The next way is to control the sound by switching the output devices on and off very quickly. This is class D. By switching them on more than off you get more current and therefore more power and less by having them off more than on. Because transistors make really efficient switches this means less energy and so the manufacturer saves on expensive heatsinking and supermassive transformers. this means class D is cheaper for really powerful amps. so your PA amp or anything over 200W is likely to be class D. Class H (orG) is using a different trick of varying the power supply voltage in the amp to make it more efficient again saving on heat problems and expensive power supplies. The reality is that you don't need to know any of this. You won't find a class B amp. Guitarists might have a class A amp or even one they can switch from A to AB. Some people think a class A amp sounds sweeter. Typically switching from class A to AB means the amp will go from 7W to 15-20W. Bass amps won't be class A unless they are nutty 'boutique amps'. (discuss). You'll get class AB, D or H. It won't matter because you'll be playing and not designing the thing. They do have different distortion characteristics but you aren't intending to distort by overloading the amp anyway. It is more important that they are well engineered rather than what class they are. Hope this helps [/quote] WICKED! I understood that. A HUGE thanks.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kx6FV2qR2TY was recommended to me by someone at work.

I have been asked by some friends to stand in to do a couple of gigs for their originals band as the bass player has left. It was all a bit tetchy at the end so I'm not using the original lines he wrote but writing all new ones. It's sort of proggy metal, so I'm completely baffled to be honest.

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1330011308' post='1551389'] I don't know. Maybe the musical circles that I move in are different to yours. I don't know anyone that would go out to a music venue without at least a passing interest in one of the bands that was going to playing that night. There are venues that we'd rather go to to see bands given the choice, but for me and all the people I know, it's the band(s) that get us in rather than the venue. [/quote] Really? How do you find new bands to listen to? I went to, an albeit small, venue just before New Year without ever hearing of the band that was playing. Last week I bought their CD.

I don't have contempt for audiences but I do for time wasting, lazy musos. Being dicked about raises the constant question as to whether one can be arsed with it all.

Absolution is good, as is Black Holes and.... I wouldn't bother with Resistance, I was a bit disappointed to be honest.

No.

[quote name='Dave Vader' timestamp='1329754592' post='1546798'] Interestingly, sticking faithfully to the original has had me accused of not coming back in in the right place by one punter. 2nd verse message in a bottle, Sting does not play on the first line, OK? (and so neither do I, and some people assume I missed a cue... ) [/quote] My former band mates (singer aside) always assumed I'd missed the cue on that one. The glares I used to get. All the more galling as the drummer was so completely crap at our last gig together he came in 3 bars late playing Layla

Sorry to hear this mate. Take it easy.

Can we not have a "Haven't got one because I get distracted by other shinny basses". I would like one, probably a P bass, but I tend to get distracted by things like this [url="http://www.ibanez.com/BassGuitars/model-SR400QM"]http://www.ibanez.com/BassGuitars/model-SR400QM[/url]

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1329494296' post='1543375'] Drummers [i]can [/i]play quieter. Whether they [i]want[/i] to is another issue. [/quote] This. As a point in case, I went to see a band call Willie and the Bandits around New Year. If you get the chance to see them I suggest you do so. Anyway, their gigging volume was spot on. I could hear everything perfectly well, still talk to the person next to me without shouting and I didn't come away with my ears whistling. If a band can do that live there is no reason it can't be done at rehearsal. Jab your drummer in the eye with a spare drumstick every time he gets too loud or something.

I almost forgot, I am a replacement at the moment in another band. Got a phone call from a friend a couple of days ago saying their bass player had quit and would I step in. Don't know if it's permanent, but I'll go along for the ride .

Well, what a question. If it's for technical ability, then it would be an absolute doddle to find a replacement. For a lot of the, what may be referred to as non-musical stuff, then no. I'm the reliable, learns the songs, turns up on time, pisses about a lot and makes people laugh bloke. And I can't be replaced anyway as technically speaking, it's my band .

Headphones all the way at home, apart from when I know the neighbour is out (end of terrace you see ) I occasionally use my Zoom B3 pedal to practice. It hasn't got an Aux input to put my iPod through it so...I use the in ear headphones connected to the iPod underneath headphones. You can get a bit tangled up some times but it works OK. Mostly though I use either my 35w or 350w combo as both have headphone and Aux in jacks.

I tried a MIM Pbass a couple of weeks ago. I seriously want a Pbass and although it was very nice to play etc, on reflection I'm not sure it felt like £450 of bass. Quality wise it didn't feel a whole lot different to my Ibanez SR300 (new £270ish) or my Rockbass Corvette (new would have cost you £350 I think, I got it S/H).

Good tune, great performance. Pisser about the gear.

[quote name='silddx' timestamp='1328541787' post='1528709'] Great song! I really like that! Great performance, and I can understand why you might be questioned on whether it's live, because people make assumptions about pop music, and the quality of the performance is so good. Great stuff! [/quote] What Nige said. He writes so much better than me.

[quote name='crez5150' timestamp='1328981501' post='1535677'] I've never found a fender that I would say is a player..... I ended up buying a copy.... Vintage brand that plays far better than any fender I've tried. [/quote] [quote name='discreet' timestamp='1328985905' post='1535765'] Vintage make great basses, and can't be beaten on price. Even by Squier. [/quote] Ohhh, what d'yu say that for? I'd just made my mind up to be a bass that has Fender written on the headstock

Quite a difference in price. For under £200 the HB looks very appealing. However, I'd go for the Ibby. I've got the SR300 and with the 'better bits' you get on the sr500 it'll make it a blistering bass. They've also got a very good rep.