Graham56

Or this superb version: And I still think this one has a lot to say:

Where do you want to spend your energy? Getting bitter and twisted? Planning 'revenge' sillyness? Badmouthing them? Playing it over and over in your head? Or you could accept that phase is in the past and don't waste any more time, energy and emotion on it. Instead, look forward and upwards and start working on getting your next gig. I've been fired from more than one paying job, and that's what you have to do. Forget the past, the injustice etc. Get yer erse in gear and start on the next phase. Because that's what you really need to do. This time with a drummer that can keep time... Cheers! Graham

Could be worse. He could be referring to himself as "The Rikkster"....

Thanks to everyone for contributing, and there's a lot of food for thought. As I said, I don't actually need more volume as such, but I would like a better sound quality. The current head is over 10 years old and when I push it, the sound gets 'tight', kinda like someone speaking between clenched teeth (is this making any sense???) I tend to set the EQ with a bit of a treble drop to make the most of the P-Bass mid-range hump. It sounds great at low volumes but not once the master goes past about 1 o'clock. I know nothing about compression, but maybe a decent compressor would help as well? I don't play in terribly loud bands, but the two I'm working with at the moment have lots of instruments that fill up the sonic space. I do get the points about extra cab, but if I have to trade sound quality for portability I'm leaning towards portability. There are a couple of venues I play where I often have to park some distance away, so a single trip is really important to me. To misquote Al Krow: "But we also need to factor in the age and efficiency of the OP..." I'm tempted by the Ashdown. I had a Mag 300 head before which had a great sound, but couldn't keep up (this was with an inefficient 210 cab). I do keep seeing comments about Ashdown output not being as loud as the wattage suggests but other people love them. I didn't know anything about the Fender, although a friend has a Rumble combo and that sounds great to me. I was very interested in the Quilter, although a couple of people (including Dave_bass 5) have commented on their 'flatness'. I guess I have to go up to Wembley to hear one. Some tests in retailers may be called for! Cheers, Graham

Hi all, I'm after some opinions on lightweight heads in the 800w area. I currently play a P-bass with flats through a Little Mark II into a Barefaced Super Compact. When the amp has to work hard it gets a bit snarky and unpleasant. I don't want to add another cab as I want to keep to a single, lightweight load-in . I don't really need more volume either, but I'd like a bit more headroom to keep the amp relaxed. So I'm considering one of the following: - Little Mark 800 - Quilter Bass Block 800 - TC BH 800 Any thoughts on these - or anything else in the same space? Lightweight is important, and keeping it under £600 would be good. Cheers, Graham

I'm a bass owner...

Of course, it can go the other way. I was in a typical pub covers band and we got asked to play a private marquee party at a large house in the country. Good fee, people easy to deal with, food and drink supplied etc. The wife of the guy who booked us asked for a couple of specific pop songs to be played. This was about four weeks beforehand and they were songs that fitted in with everything else we did, so we had time to practice them. But the amount of beaching from some band members: "Why should we?" "Does she think we're a jukebox?" etc etc Well, to an extent a jukebox was exactly what we were. We already had a set full of mainstream pop-ish covers, so why not add another two? Were we suddenly going to have an attack of musical integrity? Sanity prevailed. We did the songs, the wife thought we were wonderful, it was a great night and they added a bonus onto the fee. We also got another booking from a family friend after the wife had sung our praises at length. Cheers, Graham

One advantage of being a lefty - only a lefty can borrow my bass, and as we all know, we leftys are sensible, pleasant, organised people who are a joy to help... 😆

I'll Take You There - Staple Singers Anything by ACDC

The Jam at their best - all three of them.

Murderface! That's all I'm sayin'

The in-ear monitor sounds right. They had a very clean stage with almost no monitors/boxes in sight. Ta.

Oh well, if we're posting SAHB links, here's one of my favourites... The audience look completely bemused...

I saw a Blues Brothers stage show on Saturday. Cheesy as a cheesy thing with extra cheese on top, but great fun. The bass player punched out these Duck Dunn (and some Jamerson) lines with pizzazz and energy using a standard P-Bass and a small effects unit on the floor. But he also seemed to have two leads going into the instrument. I was too far away to work out what was going, but I could clearly see two leads going up to wind through his strap. Any idea why he would do this? Cheers, Graham

Luna Lounge, Leytonstone Lovely little venue. Cheers, Graham

Playing an old (very!) classic. The drummer and I were both deps for these guys. For those that care about such things I was playing a 50-year-old P-bass with flats through a Little Mark and Barefaced Super Compact. Cheers, Graham

OK, so he wasn't a bass player. But he was a damn fine drummer. Died last week at 68 from comp[lications during an operation. See here Was the drummer for the Sensational Alex Harvey Band then also for Rory Gallagher, Michael Schenker and others. The SAHB were a huge part of my teenage years in Scotland - an amazing theatrical rock outfit, but rock-solid under it all. Graham

We were playing a typical pub covers set and there was hen night in. They kept hassling us to let their mate sing - "She's really good!" Eventually we relented and asked what did she think she could sing? She looked down at our setlist taped to the monitor. Pointed to Lady Marmalade. "I could do that." We exchanged looks and started the song.... And she was ace. Yes, really. She belted out the lead with a great soul voice and also fitted in to the harmonies with our singer. Turned out she sang that song in her own band. It meant the hen-nighters ended up our best friends and the whole evening was a hoot. It's never happened like that again... Cheers, Graham

My Ding-a-Ling should be easy enough though...

I bought an amp from Joel. We exchanged emails on the Thursday and completed the deal on the Friday. I arrived to find he'd already sortied out box and packaging to make it easier for me to get it home. He's pleasant and easy to deal with, the amp is as advertised, and I'd be perfectly happy to deal with him again. PS: The only tiny disappointment is that he looks nothing like his avatar... :-)

Freebird Yep, really. (especially the Oakland live performance)

It's not a ballad but why not Bad Company - "Bad Company" Or Free's "My Brother Jake"

[size=3]Some great ones here. But for me, the combination of song and visuals is one of the most emotionally wrenching covers ever...[/size] [size=3]Johhny Cash - "Hurt" (I can't get the embed thing to work...)[/size] [size=3]And then just for a different take on a classic...[/size] [size=3]Pattid Smith's take on "Smells like Teen Spirit"[/size] [size=3]Cheers[/size] [size=3]Graham[/size]

[size=3]I won't add to the advice about making a living from music as I know next to nothing about that. [/size] [size=3]You've also had plenty of good advice about being self-employed. [/size] [size=3]Two things though - I note that you say that you are a: "[b]qualified trainer and provide training courses in my workplace"[/b][/size] [size=3]Have you considered taking those skills into freelance life? It's what I did.[/size] [size=3]I started offering training courses in my workplace skills and have now built it up into a reasonable living that pays the bills. One that I enjoy much more than any previous job I've had. It took about three years though to build up to a decent amount of work.[/size] [size=3]The point is that most trainers are freelance, either working through agencies or direct to clients. [/size][size=3]The advantage is that you can build that side of the business up as much as you need, leaving the rest of the time for building up your music income.[/size] [size=3]And the other thing is: [b]"she understands where I'm coming from and is very supportive"[/b][/size] [size=3]This.[/size] [size=3]This.[/size] [size=3]This.[/size] [size=3]Cheers[/size] [size=3]Graham[/size]

Maybe replace the 'D' song with something easier just this once?