ThomBassmonkey

How long does it take you to set up amps and cymbals? Because if it's more than 10 minutes, you just ruled yourself out of playing any festivals. If it takes you 2 hours and 50 minutes to set up drum shells and a PA, you're definitely doing something wrong. My band can generally set up full back line, PA and soundcheck in an hour or so if we're on the ball. The key IMO is making sure you're not getting in each others' ways. I make sure that I stack my amp straight away and my basses are left off stage until I'm ready for them. Leads go into amp and the laptop case I keep my head in gets put off stage and my basses come out, get tuned and one stays out while the other goes back in the case. The drummer usually sets up his stands off stage while I set up my amp then when I'm tuning, he's putting up his kit. Guitarist uses a small combo so he works around us. If we're using our PA, that goes up last around whatever we're using for back line.

I don't think I've ever gone out of tune noticeably to punters during a gig, but I'd like to know that if I did, I had it covered. I have quite sensitive ears to tuning though and have noticed when I've been a couple of cents out and it annoys me, so I would like a stage tuner just for that.

[quote name='EdwardHimself' post='1345190' date='Aug 19 2011, 10:26 AM']My bass amp has 2 channels so i don't need 2 seperate heads for clean and distortion [/quote] The 2001 has two channels complete with their own EQs. It'd be nice to have the extra control though and if I was running effects I'd especially want a clean signal running behind my FX to keep it fat whatever I do with the signal.

[quote name='cheddatom' post='1345087' date='Aug 19 2011, 08:18 AM']Where's the video tour?[/quote] [url="http://www.jimdunlop.com/blog/?p=1673"]http://www.jimdunlop.com/blog/?p=1673[/url]

Mmmm, 3 2001rbs. The best and fattest bass distortion money can buy IMO, using separate heads for clean and distortion would be great. I may have to invest in another...

[quote name='JTUK' post='1341669' date='Aug 16 2011, 11:18 AM']If this combo is designed to be run with an extention cab...if will very likely be 8 ohms for the exisiting connection, so therefore you'll need another 8 ohm cab. Check the manual...but I believe this amp is rated 200..and that will be at 4 ohms...so if you run the combo as is...you probably only get 130 watts or so.. adding anothe 8ohm can makes a potential 200w. This is why combo's aren't as convenient as they would make you believe..as you need another cab underneath anyway to get the full makers ratings..typically[/quote] Just to correct this in case anyone is looking for info on the GK mb115, the 15" speaker is actually rated at 4ohms, so you can't add an extension but will get the full 200w without.

The MU offers something like £20m PLI as well as £2,000 unspecified gear insurance, free legal advice and various other perks. Seriously worth taking out a membership.

The polytune is handy for gigs, hitting all the strings means you can see what needs tuning in under a second instead of having to hit a string, mute, hit the next etc. I find clip on tuners a pain to use. They never seem to track well in loud environments (gigs), they're awkward to look at and they look stupid while you play, not to mention the added risk of losing it (me and the guitarist in my band regularly clash headstocks and ribs). The things worth paying for are accuracy, reliability and true bypass IMO. I'm still trying to decide n a tuner, it's only taken me about 6 months so far.

I'm not a big fan of Ashdown anyway but I doubt a 2x10 of any brand would easily compete with 2 guitarists in a metal band with no PA support. You should check out 2x12s, they'll have a bit more oomph without a huge price tag.

I first encountered the Fleabass at LIMS just before it was released and was expecting it to be a £150 cash in on his name, they really are horrible basses and I genuinely wince and feel sorry every time I see someone use one.

Andy Saxton that pops up from time to time here has one identical and my god it's hideous in the flesh.

If your EQ is doing nothing, it sounds like a fault with the head. Even with the crappiest cabs, taking the EQ to the extremes will affect the sound, it may not make it sound good, but it'll sound different. IME Laney are pretty average cabs, they weigh a ton and sound average but they're cheap and bombproof.

[quote name='AttitudeCastle' post='1343408' date='Aug 17 2011, 05:22 PM']A 42 year old kid? [/quote] yep. She was 42 going on 7 I think.

It's not far outside city centre, I can't remember the name of the place. If you could message me your email addy Bidd, I'll pass it on. I went for a jam with them last night (I can't re-join them because my other band's so busy but thought I'd check out where they were at and have a good catch up musically) and it was great fun. Loads of space for bass in the floaty sections and some great chugging riffs too.

I taught guitar and bass to kids aged 8-42 for a couple of years and I never found the neck profile held anyone back. I've seen kids struggle with scale length on bass (though they overcame it with practice) but a bit of adjustment in technique (to a better technique) can overcome neck thickness easily. One of the basses I mentioned above will last until the player wants a change, if they ever do. It's a better investment IMO.

I'd say if possible save up another £100 and have a choice from a massive range of basses. Musicman Subs, Ray 34, Warwicks, G&L tributes, MIJ Fenders and many others can be got for about that price tag and are a big step up IMO from MIMs and the Ibanez and Yamaha budget models.

[quote name='chrisd24' post='1342830' date='Aug 17 2011, 10:26 AM']Are the quality of the effects the same?[/quote] Yep, afaik it's the same cosm circuits in both, the GT6B just has more options. Unless you're desperate for amp sims (which I found unusable on the guitar version) or very odd FX that you'll probably never use, the ME is the better bet IMO.

[quote name='Monckyman' post='1342734' date='Aug 17 2011, 09:08 AM']+1 for GT6b. I don`t know why they have a rep for complication. Anyone used to using sub menus (phones computers cash machines!)can breeze through this and it took me very little time to put some great multi patches together. They also have a good amount of hands on controls for quick tweaks. The full manuals for this and the Boss ME50 can be found online and I recommend reading through them for an idea of how they are set up. MM[/quote] It's not to do with the controls, it's to do with the amount of parameters. If someone's trying to get to grips with effects, it's better not to go overboard being able to modify every little thing. I used to be really into guitar effects and knew the Gt6 inside out but it could still take me over and hour to set up a patch I was happy with which if you're trying to learn would be frustrating. The Me50 is set out like a few stomp boxes and has the controls you'd expect on them so is more intuitive and less fiddly.

I have a Gt6 and they're awesome bits of gear, they're quite complex to use though, if it's your first try with Fx, you might get on with the ME50b more, it's far more intuitive.

Gallien Krueger MB Fusion wuld fit what you're looking for. It's got valves in the preamp and has the standard growly tone. Input gain lets you control distortion levels from clean to full on and it has two foot switchable gain structures.

Find the cheapest, smallest cab you can on here and get it for home use. For practicing at home it doesn't have to be good, it has to be functional and I think a lot of us forget that.

This is one of my old bands that I left because of other commitments, they're good musicians, one drummer and a guitarist. They play a mix of music, kinda a mix of make yourself/morning view incubus with some mastodon and APC. I've put prog metal but it's not really restricted to any style of music and you'll have free reign on what you're playing. They both work well together and will give their opinions on what you play without being forceful or aggressive. They don't have any massive ambitions of global domination, they want to enjoy what they do and make the effort to do what they do with no hassle but without large levels of commitment. They generally practice Wednesdays, they've done a couple of low key gigs and are hoping to do more, maybe with an aim for some small tours, including abroad. If anyone wants any more info, let me know and i'll pass you on to them.