Mog

OMFG! Just home after a night out with the ladies rugby team I used to coach. The band were shocking. Really shocking. By the end of the night the main guitar was tuned (approx) D# A D G A# E. 350 euro later and the bar owner booked them for three weeks time. The crowd was buzzing all night, easily one of the most enjoyable nights in a long while. Lesson learned? I gotta stop being so anal and just go make some easy money. Principles are for losers (and the poor).

[quote name='Doctor J' timestamp='1334990315' post='1624362'] Cheers, Mog, I appreciate it. Funnily enough, the last time we played with ye, at the Siege, I had spent the previous evening trying to talk people out of a last-minute cancellation because they didn't fancy the drive to Limerick and that was the final straw. I made the decision to honour the last two gigs and then end it while on my way to the Stables, so was probably a little distracted when I was talking to you [/quote] Between the hangover from the night before and the beer that day I don't remember much of anything......

Aye the fingerboard material has a big part to play in it. You could try using halfwound (groundwound) strings which have the best of both worlds and are less damaging to the board.

Our guitarist uses a Toshiba pad thingy. Got it when his ipad went tits up. He rates it above the ipad too. I'll try and get the model number tomorrow and post it here. Alternatively there's something like this http://touch.adverts.ie/guitar-accessories/i-tab-electronic-tab-reader/810427

[quote name='Earbrass' timestamp='1334940238' post='1623862'] There are already too many people shouting 'No'; shouting is all some people are capable of. Being angry and breaking things is easy. Building a better alternative, on the other hand, is hard, unglamorous work, which requires discipline, humility and an ability to compromise and understand others' points of view. [/quote] I like that. There's no doubt that political/religious/racial etc. influences in music have produced some of the classics. What pisses me off is when it becomes commercialized and overmarketed. That's what happens over here with so called rebel songs which glorify the slaughter of innocents and twist political history to give it a more romantic sheen. That is not a good thing at all.

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1334926717' post='1623572'] Also it doesn't stop you from playing up the neck. Some things sound better done this way, some sound better playing across the neck; having a bass that allows you to do both has got to be an advantage. [/quote] Agreed, however I never said it would stop one playing along the neck but generally IME bassists who use extended range instruments do so because it offers economy of movement. I was coming from the angle of having to put in the extra bit of brain power required to play along the neck rather than go through the motions across a 6string neck. For example I learned aeroplane on the 6 playing across the neck with virtually no deviation in left hand position but when I play it on the 4 I have to run through the correct progression in my head before I zip up to the second octave.

[quote name='Doctor J' timestamp='1334819936' post='1621643'] I, too, wish to subscribe to this newsletter. We've just passed the first anniversary of me getting totally depressed with the band situation and quitting the band I started, turning my back on five years worth of 200 mile drives for rehearsal, countless hours writing the songs, doing websites, artwork, facebooks, myspaces, getting gigs and all the other crap. For the first time in my life my default brain setting isn't "Must Gig" and I'm really enjoying [i]not[/i] being in a band. I was even sounded out a few weeks ago to see if I would be interested in restarting it... no thanks, just not interested anymore [/quote] And here was me thinking of asking if you fancied the lead guitar spot in Castero before Richie came on board. Back OT. Its a tough situation. IMO the only way to sort these things out is with open discussion. Try to explain that by cancelling gigs the band is effectively going backwards. If a suitable dep can be found the gigs should go ahead for the good of the bands name. It will keep the band circulating and also show venue owners/booking agents that the band can function in a professional manner.

LH 1000 and an 8x10? Good luck getting the volume past 1 The speakers in the workingmans were "custom-specified swr drivers" or as I see it built offsite. Not the worst cabs in the world by a long way. Edit: 'cause me no spell goood.

[quote name='wateroftyne' timestamp='1334423291' post='1616081'] [/quote] That Jazz is a amazing lad. Great collection.

[quote name='chrismuzz' timestamp='1334676370' post='1619567'] I get a similar reaction whenever I gig the 6 string I always feel guilty and have to explain to people that it actually makes playing easier! [/quote] Yep, get that at nearly every gig. Back OT I'd suggest keeping one 4 string. Sometimes the extended range basses can make things too easy. Nothing wrong with having to move along the neck every now and again.

[quote name='Papalampraina' timestamp='1334579349' post='1617885'] Anyone here ever tried Devi Ever Bit: The legend of fuzz pedal? [/quote] Yep. Great tone on its own, probably as good as the Ruiner, but in a heavy setting it can get swamped. Mine was very noisey also.

Fluke. They have a varied back catalogue. Worth checking out. [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkOAajavItk&feature=related"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkOAajavItk&feature=related[/url] [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43CLoWlNjGY"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43CLoWlNjGY[/url]

I like the digitech bass chorus, the multivoice thingy. Very nice even on the low notes.

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1334573144' post='1617703'] I like what you did, there... but the pic is inconclusive. I'm nun the wiser. [/quote] Thankfully I couldnt find any full length shots.

Going rate over here at the moment is around 75 Euro a head. That works out at around 60 Sterling, recession is a biotch! If you dont need the cash just try and balance the expenses/costs and maybe take the price of a few pints also. Remember you are not obliged to take the market rate. Undercutting other acts prices etc is irrevelent. What you charge is nobodys business but your own.

[quote name='skankdelvar' timestamp='1334571360' post='1617641'] Which band is [i]more[/i] pants? The one performing or the one [i]not[/i] performing? If the function of a band is to perform and get paid, then the pants (but working) band wins. Which means we're the losers, not them. We're the ones who have to up our game. [/quote] I'm comfortable with or without pants...............and theres photos to prove it! [attachment=105233:habit.jpg] Tis a dirty habit this pantsless game............

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1334570609' post='1617622'] And what's wrong with doing both..? [/quote] Love it! Buy that man a pint!

Its the worst part of being a musician innit? Having to watch some pants band and knowing that they're getting paid for it when you maybe aint earning regularly. Goes to prove a point though. The punters are rarely as anal about the tiny details as we are. Time to sell those £1000+ rigs everybody.

Don't Dean Markley produce their own strings too?

Sounds like the GK is what you are looking for. FWIW I use a LH 500 with an M80 to dial in some grit. Sounds epic with a Spector. Most of the names you mentioned used serious amounts of rack preamps to grit up their signal so bear that in mind also. I know that Rex has stopped using most of the outboards since Pantera finished. The difference is very noticeable. The classic grit rock tone (think Mike Inez, Rex, Merrill etc.) was achieved by putting a Sansamp RB 1 before the input of a tube amp (Ampeg or SWR usually).

Had to stop using the POD lately because no matter what I tried I couldn't stop clipping the input. Shame really. Had some great tones in there. At the end of the day if you know your gear you'll know how to make it sound good. Simples. Is a modeling unit going to sound exactly like an SVT CL. No, but if you know what you're doing you can get close enough.

400 notes would easily get you a Hartke LH500 and a basic 1x15 cab (Ashdown Mag etc). Not the worst place to start.

The best thing about a POD is that it allows you to go straight into a house system. As long as you've got monitors you'll be fine without backline. The Fx are mostly usable but many find the synths to be very poor. TBH I'd suggest a x3 live. They go for very little second hand. The live series floor units are basically a combined fbv controller and the processor in a neat package. It can be run as an amp sim/D.I. or front of an amp or both. If you want to get used to using Fx they're a great place to start.

What time are ye on? Working all weekend but should be able to get in at some stage. First time not playing the siege and I get caught to work. Its a great day out. The best rock bands in the country plus a few excellent international acts. All for free. What more could you want?

[quote name='thunderbird13' timestamp='1333621807' post='1604317'] Bit of a rant really I play just for fun – I’m neither good enough or lucky enough to have been in a band which makes any money , no problem it’s my hobby. As a result of this the bands ( which I have lasted in ) tend to muck about a bit at rehearsal sitting around chatting and drinking. I ‘m a bit of a lightweight with alcohol and I know that it ruins my timing but in the past I’ve thought what the hell everyone else is drinking why shouldn’t I . The result tends to lead me being sacked as my playing goes downhill. The band I’m currently in rehearses for 3 2hours then goes to the pub for 2 hours which I think is a pretty good way of doing it. Now however they are saying why spend money in a pub when they can just buy some cans and drink at rehearsal. I hear alarm bells ringing already and I don’t really know what to do I like them as people and playing with them is fun BUT I know that when people start drinking their playing generally doesn’t get better and ultimately I’ll just be standing in a disused office with 4 other semi drunk men pretending to play (god that sounds depressing !!) I suppose I’ll have this band as a “social “ event and look for another band that takes things more seriously ( although with my other commitments I don’t really want to so this yet ) Has anyone else come across this problem in rehearsal ? ( on the odd occasion I play a gig I stick to 1 pint of shandy, or 2 if I’m on really late and have to hang around) [/quote] I really think this is something you should be talking about at the next rehearsal. Otherwise it could get to the stage where you're not enjoying the sessions and you're posting a "how do I leave the band on good terms" thread. Personally I've no problems drinking at practice. If a band member hasn't put on the work or is half assed during the session I'll call him out. Its a tough situation. For the covers band practice is for getting used to playing the songs together. Too much beer can be counter productive. With the originals band a few beers can open up the creative processes and lighten the mood. Id suggest that you explain to the band that you have no problems with them having a few beers during practice as long as it doesn't stagnated the group or get in the way of the band progressing. Edit: forget to add that a drinking culture at practice can easily lead to a drinking culture at gigs which is not a good thing at all.