Lozz196

Definitely, although as an unknown originals punk band of middle aged chaps there weren’t that many people willing to pay us. If the option had been there to gain the experience at paid gigs to the audiences we wanted sure we’d have snapped it up. We did get a few in between, gigs we wanted but no money and first on the bill as we were unknown Those also helped as the internet then allowed people who’d seen us to start talking about us, suggesting gigs for us and asking promoters to put us on. On the originals scene it’s very unlikely to get anything other than first on the bill/no money unless you’re mates with the promoter and they know your band is a safe bet. Otherwise what do they know that you’re bringing to their gig. A demo might not really represent your live performance, and even if it does the audiences still need to like you, you can be excellent in every way but sometimes audiences just don’t go for a band. An originals band needs “something” to progress.

We did a good few no pay gigs at the start, they were invaluable to us. In front of audiences that weren’t the market we were aiming at we learned how to work as a unit setting up/breaking down in quick changeovers, what we each needed from monitors, how to get through it when we didn’t get that, who laid their gear out in what ways when setting up/breaking down, who needed help on this and who was self sufficient. By the time we started playing the gigs we wanted we quickly moved up the ladder as we worked professionally, all thanks to the experience of those unpaid gigs. It depends on your band, on your plan, and what your aims are as to whether they’re the right move or not, pretty much like everything in life I suppose.

Strangely I find Trace Elliot cabs to not sound that good when hooked up to TE amps. There seems to be a hi-mid spike/bias that is just like tinnitus to me, just can’t get rid of it. But TE amps with other cabs, excellent.

I had something like this some years ago and it happened when I’d pushed the input gain too much. Mainly happened on certain notes (usually the lower G & B) it sounded like someone was hitting a microphone with a hammer. Backing off if the gain and the lows just a tad sorted it.

There’s a topic on the new Mesa amp where one of our members mentions expensive instrument cables and how much of a revelation he found them.

These are still strange times and we need to adjust a bit, my old band were meant to be playing a gig and were told that due to social distancing etc they could only arrive at the venue 30mins before their set, and had to leave 30mins after it. As it’s a 4hr drive there and obviously another 4hrs back they had to turn it down as too knackering plus a great part of our income was selling merch. Just a reminder how gigging, even though it’s back, is far from normal/how it used to be, hopefully soon it will return to how it was but in the meantime adapt, speculate to accumulate might be how bands have to operate.

It might be worth a try, tho with brand new batteries you shouldn’t have problems. The mention of low output is also something of concern, how high on the volume control do you have to set it so that it’s the same as before you switch it on?

From the set my band are currently playing it’s Rainbow’s earlier material with Dio on vocals. From previous bands I’d say The Specials, tho as we were a punk covers band we punked them up a bit, I did however play the right bass lines.

From the punk/Oi world I’d say BOSS TU2/3 and Sansamp BDDI, with possibly the BOSS BF2 (flanger) or CH1 (chorus) for the more goth/indie bands.

From what I read about their SCR DI pedal it can be noisy when the power is dropping, maybe all their pedals have this, are you using a battery and if so is it new/the pedal always been like this since you bought it? If using a power supply is it the right spec?

The more I think about this range the more I like the name. Rather than trying to be flash and glamorous they’re going with their heritage, well done to them, and I hope it proves successful.

Not on just Music Man basses but on all my basses I lower the height of the pickup under the E so that at home practice levels through my 15 watt 1x8 combo it is a bit quieter than the other strings. I then find it’s at equal volume at rehearsals when I’m using bigger cabs that handle lows better.

Similar happened in an old band I was in, drummer used to sing in silly voices as a “laugh” at rehearsals. Not only was he unprepared when we gigged but it put me off something rotten as not being the best singer even in my living room (and I’m alone at present) I need in tune vocals to pitch to. In the end we just asked him to not bring his mic (asking him to not sing would have been pointless as he wasn’t).

Rainbow - the band I’m in now does a few of their songs and although I knew the more popular chart/rock songs I wasn’t aware of the material with Dio on vox. Well now I am and really enjoy both playing it and listening to it.

Have to say that from what I’ve read of both brands the Yamaha seems to fit the bill more.

Good luck Sarah, I’m sure raising kids is more strenuous than gigging so it will be a walk in the park, relax & enjoy

That’s great Steve, thanks for posting this, I’ll certainly make use of it (at the rate I buy new basses probably weekly 😂)

Yeah, make them work for their dough, Col

Yeah, after carrying around 2 & 3kg Class D amps my Ashdown ABM600 at 13kgs seems a task - how times have changed, that would have been featherweight back in the 80s when I started playing.

Well I’ve had the 210/410 ABM set up and it was great, bags of power and sounded really good. Of course each cab will get the same amount of power but as long as you use your ears (and have the 210 on top) you’d hear if the 210 was being overloaded, though I’d doubt that would happen, those cabs take some serious power. I’ve had other brands 210/115 set ups and all have sounded good. The theory is always use two of the same cab but I’ve never had a problem mixing speaker sizes yet. Having different speaker sizes means that in all likelihood your sound would need re-eqing when pairing the two as opposed to using each individually. I put castors on my 410 and used that all the time, only dragging out the 210 for the bigger gigs. Once the cab had the castors it was so easy to move about, the only lifting was out of the car and up/down stairs. Much easier than carrying the 210 everywhere.

Yep, great songs made even greater by JJ

“They wouldn’t know a string quartet from a string vest” Sid Vicious

Great pickups, I’m sure you’ll be pleased with them, especially on such a great bass

Difficult, could be Rod from a demo or could be the OP…..

Sad day, but unless playing very big stages the RM amps can sound very much like the ABMs. The difference only becomes apparent when on those big stages and the weight/heft of the sound of the ABM shows up. In regular pub type venues the RM more than fills them out.