The Dark Lord

I use these. [url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/dunlop_straplok_ergo_lok.htm"]http://www.thomann.d...ok_ergo_lok.htm[/url] Really cheap, non-permanent so don't muck up the spec of the bass (or guitar). I bought a dozen or so sets aaaaages ago.

Just bought a couple of Ashdown Mi12 cabs from someone on here lately and will be giving them a run at a two hour gig in Horsham tomorrow. I haven't had the chance to play my existing MiBass 550 through them yet, but they certainly look good and proper standing in the foyer of the torture chambers there. I have previously played the MiBass 550 through an old 1x15 cab from other maker. It sounded awesome and with plenty of volume .... despite only using it with one 8 Ohm cab. Two of these cabs with this little thing giving me an effective 4 Ohm load should be interesting, I've used a lot of Ashdown amps before, but never Ashdown speakers. I don't know where the cabs are made (I'm guessing in the Far East somewhere). However, they seem to be really well screwed together. I moved from the other brand of cab as I liked the sound, but was unhappy with the build quality. No problems with that here. They seem top notch. Nice sturdy handle and a good solid feel. Each one is a touch heavier than the other brand but not overly so. There seems to be no skimping on materials - for example, the speaker grill isn't flimsy. It looks sturdy and good quality. Will give 'em spin at the weekend and see if I can get a mini video review - they look promising.

[quote name='Evil Undead' timestamp='1390128923' post='2341653'] As you guys all know, I've been mooching around in search for a small, light and decent sounding combo that could cope with pub gigs on it's own, no PA support, for about a million years now, or what seems like it. And I figured there must be others in the same position. It would be great if this thread could be a resource for folks like me so please could people post their experiences with various small combos, and help me and others make a choice in this minefield. I thought I'd start with a list that I've made of speaker sizes - more air moved generally means louder, right? First list is most common combo sizes, all in square inches. 28.27 (1x6) 50.27 (1x8) 56.55 (2x6) 78.54 (1x10) 100.53 (2x8) 113.10 (1x12) 117.81 (6x5) 157.10 (2x10) 176.71 (1x15) 226.19 (2x12) I've also added a second list to include common combinations for combo plus extension cabs, even though I'd rather not use one. 191.64 (1x10+1x12) 270.20 (2x10+1x12) 289.81 (1x12+1x15) 314.20 (4x10) 333.84 (2x10+1x15) 353.42 (2x15) 452.38 (4x12) So please feel free to chime in and let me know of a small and light combo that you think I could gig with in a pub, without additional cabs or PA support. And any other info you think might be useful! I'm wanting to stick with combos because I'd like to use it for home as well, so it ideally needs headphone in and aux in for mp3 (unfortunately meaning that most ashdown and markbass stuff is instantly out for me!) Thanks [/quote] I think you may be over thinking this? Just experiment a little and you'll find gear that will produce your sound how you want it.

[quote name='uncle psychosis' timestamp='1394018570' post='2386900'] This whole "everyone else hates us so we don't win" thing is complete and utter nonsense. Only the Irish (7 wins) have won it more times than GB has (5 wins). We've finished second 15 times. There's only been about 60 competitions, so thats a pretty good success rate. We don't win it because we enter sh*t songs and because the contest has expanded so there is more competition. [/quote] ...... and we don't roll out the big guns.

Hi I need a new mic stand. I'm looking for something sturdy, heavy duty, good quality, which is easy to adjust and set up .... and pack away. For some odd reason, I have a money no object policy for all of my gear ..... other than my mic stand. I've only ever spent about £15 on one - and they have all been terrible. I need one as I sing lead vocals on about 1/4 of our songs and backing vocals on all of the rest. What do all of you guys use? I gig two or three times a month and have to set up and tear down all of my own gear - so I need something decent. Can someone please recommend THE BEST mic stand for my needs?

[quote name='CamdenRob' timestamp='1393939234' post='2386006'] I think you've mistaken this for a genuine music competition?..... [/quote] That's our problem right there. It IS a serious music competition. Everyone else treats it so. We used to, with Cliff and Dusty etc ....... we gave it our best people. Now, decades of Terry Wogan slagging off the rest of the competitors ..... who looked strange to us (but they're culturally very different a lot of these places) ..... has resulted in them getting the knock with us. If we take it seriously and enter serious people with good catchy chuuunes, like we used to, then we make get somewhere.

If we wanna win, we need to roll out the very big guns. I don't mean Englebert or Bonnie ..... I mean Noel Gallagher or Adele or David Bowie or Morrissey. I suspect we could take a right go at it if One Direction agreed to go into it ......... although I really don't like their music or who they are. They would cause a big stir and have a shot at winning with some bubblegum pop song written by someone. I think the rest of the continent recognises that we don't take it seriously - so they don't take us seriously. We made a BIG mistake allowing Terry Wogan to talk down to the rest of Europe and belittle them for all of those years. They're getting us back for that - and quite rightly too. And Norton is doing the same thing. What are we thinking? Like anything in life, if you are going to enter something, do your absolute best. We're not doing that.

I have an Ashdown MiBass 550 which I used for a year as my main gigging amp along with an Barefaced Compact. Great sounds and huge output - never got it anywhere more than half way 'round the dial with a very loud rock drummer and a guitarist with a very noisy Hot Rod Deluxe. Medium sized pubs is where I play. Never any PA support. And that was only using half the power (since it has two separate 8 Ohm outputs). Just about to give it an outing again this weekend with 2 x 8 Ohm Ashdown Mi12 cabs. I highly recommend the 550 and I'm a bit interested in the MiBass 2.0 ..... also looking at the BH250 and the Routemaster.

I quite like this girl. Not my kinda music, but her Strange Alien track is interesting. Beats Scooch and / or Blue anyway. Not sure if this is catchy enough to trouble the top of the leaderboard too much come the competition, but good enough not to embarrass us at least. [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wFUPCkmlOo[/media]

Interesting. I have two of these and normally use them both at pub gigs. I'm only running them half way round the dial (12 O' Clock) ..... don't know if that makes a difference. I think the fans always come on when asked. I dunno, I will check this weekend.

Do you have a MASSIVE stack of cash?

It's the Emperor's new clothes again.

I think it is simple. The tone is in your head. Your "good basic rock tone" is probably entirely different from mine. The ideal tone in your head has been put there by years of listening to the music you like. Now, you've got to buy and sell amps, pedals and basses on a trial basis, after to listening to the advice of others too - and one day you will hit on the kinda thing you need. For my tone, given the equipment you say you have, I'd set everything to the middle, then roll the bass up a bit and wind the treble up a lot. Set all controls on your bass on full bore ....... and then do something to make it one the edge of breakup when I dig in (which often involves a pedal to be fair). But's that's just me.

Yep. I've had that experience. Warwick - too weedy. Rickenquiterighttoprotectyourindentitybacker - too plinky. Steinberger - wouldn't sit in the mix. MM Stingray - only for your slap and poppers. Fender USA Precision ..... proper. Strap on - rock. Do not accept imitations. I can do muddy on mine, but I get punch and rasp with legendary bottom end.