Marvin

Got a gig tonight and don't go on until 11.30. Am I nervous? Hell yes. I'm bloody hungry but can't eat and I've got shooting pains running down my arms into my hands. Simply caused by fear of screwing up. It's not the people watching, I don't think, but letting down the other members of the band if I balls up really badly. This one is particularly bad as I'm depping, something I've never done before, for an originals band and we've only had one rehearsal. I have no mechanism for dealing with it Oh bugger! My mind's just gone blank and I can't remember any of the tunes!

[quote name='charic' timestamp='1331133252' post='1568189'] What type of music is it? My stock setting was "rock", low mid boost, gain to suit and line at full. If you want to save it then press and hold the channel button and it will save it to a channel IIRC. If you don't want any effects then make sure that they are turned full anti-clockwise other something may be engaged. [/quote] That sounds about what I'll go for. The music is sort of prog rock/metal.

Thanks Charic. I've got to use the Line6 on Friday. I'll try and get a 'fiddle' with it during set up, although that's doubtful as there are two other bands.

[quote name='charic' timestamp='1331120088' post='1567854'] Did you check the line level I would think that whatever one you tried wasn't set up very well or was broken the last time I turned my 300pro up to half part of the church (where we were practicing) roof actually fell in [/quote] By line level, is that the Channel Level? That was on about half, which might explain it And I think one of the preset lights was on which may explain something else...possibly.

Sorry Charic but... I used a Lowdown 300 last night and hated it. The guy who owns it uses an array of the sims and effects on it which could get you a half decent volume. I don't like playing with effects at the moment and as soon as I tried to get a clean sound, firstly it always sounded as if one of the effects was still in the background and secondly the volume disappeared. This is the second time I've used this amp, the first was in someones kitchen (largish kitchen 20ft x 20ft) and I had the master up over half way and it barely made a noise, my Ibanez SWX35 kicks out more. My Fender Rumble 350 could blow this particular Line6 into next month and it's got a much nicer tone. I'd never buy Line6, it's got to be the most horrid thing I've ever used.

That's stunning.

Just sold Wayne the Corvette he sold me 8 months ago. Again, he's a top bloke, great to deal with.

[quote name='Gust0o' timestamp='1330447520' post='1557654'] Oh, I should have asked this earlier - we had a situation where three of our four band members were wearing glasses. We were in danger of starting to look like Weezer, so we used to draw lots as to who could keep his glasses on the night. I astigmatic and have trouble working out distances without the gogs, so invariably got to keep mine - nothing like your giant bass player losing depth perception on stage, as a precursor to disaster! [/quote] I usually remove my gogs before playing, however, at one gig we'd rearranged the set list and I'd stuck it to the floor. I had to wear my glasses as I couldn't see that far

NERVES!!!!!!! I'm a bag of nerves, and my next gig is 10 days away. All the best.

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1330429064' post='1557208'] No tie?? Get out!! Shabby chic?? Get out!! [/quote] It's still better than the smock and straw that we all usually wear down here in the wilds of North Devon

I've just been working on a line to a friends song and the chord sequence in the verse is A,F then goes to D,C. He's provided a backing track for me and as I play the D on the A string it just sounds too sweet. So in the context of the song I'm working on at the moment I could see the need for a 5 string. However, as it's unlikely I'll be joining the band I probably still won't buy one

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1330428040' post='1557175'] Got my set of Rotos this morning, thanks very much to Jason and Coral at Rotosound! I'll be fitting them in time for rehearsal on Thursday, a gig next week, then I'll post feedback. Anyone gigged their Rotos yet, any comments? [/quote] This morning!? Did they go for a small tour of the Maldives or something? I got mine 3 weeks ago.

There could be a bitter irony to all this. We may find out that in fact that a lot of these useless tabs have been written out by people who have read threads on the internet like this and thought: "Right! Those bods on the internet said use me ears. I will, and then write out the tab so people have the correct version". A cruel twist.

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1330425103' post='1557076'] Why don't you wear your first best suit? Er, I mean your best suit? [/quote] Um...the second best suit actually looked better for the gig...sort of. I wore a black shirt (no tie) and a very old pair of DM's. Sort of old and dusty smart? I've lost you haven't I? [quote name='Jerry_B' timestamp='1330425220' post='1557081'] Nowadays Metal is a pretty wide church so you can probably get away with what you already wear - unless the band are going down the Judas Priest or KISS route [/quote] The band I'm depping for are a right old mixed bunch. The guitarist goes for a traditional metal look. The drummer, whatever he found on the floor I think. Keys (yes they've got keys ) same as the drummer, I think he only owns 2 t-shirts actually. Singer, it varies. I did actually jokingly say I'd wear a suit

[quote name='paulypbass' timestamp='1330389721' post='1556833'] just put some fender nickels on today. sounding nice to be fair. was going to buy some ernie balls again but there like £24 in the music shop i go to. should of got them off ebay, [/quote] I bought a set of those a few months ago and put them on a Corvette, sound really good. I've stuck with D'Addarrio XL's over the last 3 years though. They're not expensive and sound good. Several people have told me that D'Addario make Fender strings anyway.

[quote name='Dave Vader' timestamp='1330422568' post='1557030'] I have played in many a metal band over the years, you'll be fine in Black marv. Just add big white trainers and lots of studs (oh wait, the 80s is over?) Recently I've been in an 80s tribute, so shiny suits with rolled up sleeves has been the thing. Looking forward to not having to dress up soon... [/quote] STUDS!? I don't think I've ever owned an item with studs on Minus the studs, that's what I usually wear, I must be stuck in the 80's I did wear a white shirt once though...oh and a I did do a gig wearing my second best suit. It was a private function and very enjoyable it was as well.

[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.