krth1985

I never realised most of the problems related to the singer, but reading back on my original post im struggling to come up with any positives. I think the fact that we all mates and or related to each other somehow makes it a little harder. I never mentioned this in the first post as i when we are in the band i think all alliances should be left at the door and everyone should be treated as equals. Singer and rhythm guitarist are both brothers. Drummer is my cousin. The rhythm guitarist is my best mate, and the lead guitarist is a friend of the singers! Although i did speak to the rhythm guitarist last night and said i feel there is a lack of respect in the band, and too much negativity and pressure to "perform" - which he agree'd. Band practice tonight, so i think i'll have to bring it up. Although whenever i do bring things up it just turns into a massive argument and nothing gets resolved I'll report back later tonight...maybe in the wanted section!

By the way, the lad who did the sound last friday also did the sound for this gig which everyone said was good, so he knew what he was doing. It was just the venue in my opinion. The drums were under a small arched roof - and we're mic'd up. And it was only a small stage, so surely the mic's on the guitar amps would pick up everyone else? I dunno, but it just set a really bad tone for the gig [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KcsolVrVEmA"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KcsolVrVEmA[/url]

I dont want to come across as moaning, and being ungrateful, but (!) there's a few things niggling away at me and i get in the mood where i think i should leave because being in the band is just not fun anymore. Here's my reasons. - No camaraderie. Not at rehearsals, or at a gig. Feels like 5 individuals, not 1 band. -Singer and lead guitarist saying drummer is too loud. I dont agree. In small venues he will be loud, theres no volume knob on the drums. Yet this is always brought up, and the drummer cant get through to them that he doesnt play loud, drums are just a loud instrument. He does have something which he puts on his shells to dampen the sound slightly (big plastic rings?) - Too much negativity. Constantly being told at soundcheck before gigs that we sound sh*t (by singer). That we "murder" this song and that. Also I feel like i am being watched and my performance monitored. After every gig there is an email that goes out. 99% of it is negative. - Too much pressure. Lead guitarist constantly going on about stage presence and we need to move about more. Its not my thing, and i'd feel awkward doing it. Plus, we are not that type of band. Plus its hard to enjoy yourself after the above comment. Also comments on dynamics. Gives each part of a song a rating out of 10 for dynamics. What the difference between 7 or 8 is i dont know... - Timekeeping. Singer is always late. For both rehearsals and gigs. Not by 5 or ten minutes, but by 30 minutes plus. Last gig we did was friday. We needed to be there early to soundcheck. Everyone was down there for 6pm. I didnt finish work till 6 so said i'd be down for 7. After a long 12 hour day at the end of the week not ideal, but i rushed around, got my stuff together and i was there for 7. Singer rolls in 30-40 minutes after me. - Arguments over upcoming EP. We are finishing off the 4 track EP this weekend. The songs were decided without me (i had to work but put forward my choice of 4 or 5 songs). After everyone else met up with the producer they all decided on 4 songs, 3 of which i had hoped to do anway so all was good. Now as of last week the signer kicks up a fuss about the new lyrics for one of the tracks. I said i wasnt involved in the final decision making process, so why didnt u say something then? He shrugged. I said who actually voted for the song? Turns out only me and the lead guitarist. So i said why are we recording it then? I then pointed out that we have tracked demos for these songs, and the producer is expecting us to do this song. Saying your not happy about the song a week before we enter the studio is pointless. His reply was "f*** it, we will just do it". So we will all be recording this song knowing that the singer isnt bothered about it. - Appreciation for the promoter/soundman/other bands etc - He never says thanks to so and so for playing, or thanks to promoter for putting on this gig, or thanks to the fans for coming to see us, or thanks to said band for letting us on the bill with them. When we brought it up he said "if someone wants to say something they should get a mic." - The booking of gigs. The singer thinks some of the gigs we do "turn off potential fans". These are your usual 4 band line-up at a venue thats established for live music. - but yet tried booking us to play a 60th birthday party? We are not a covers band by the way. He also refused to book gigs now because "knobody gets back to him". By that he means he agrees to a gig thinking everyone will be ok with it and gets pissed off when someone says they cant make it. - Band website - It was agreed a few months ago that I would re-design the website as it looked sh*te basically. I am in no way a professional, but i did 2 years of it at college, (and ran my own websites after leaving college for a bit of pocket money) and and i am proficient enough to come up with a decent website. The next day, the website had changed again. I now no longer give out our website address! and -Singers vocals. Really grates on me now. I'm not much of a fan of Oasis, but he is. Can you tell? (but i dont think i can count that as a reason) Does this sound like a happy functioning band? Or a band that will soon implode? Or is it just me nit picking????

I've noticed during our live gigs when there is a soundman that the singer and lead guitarist of the band interfere too much in the FOH sound. My opinion is that thats the soundmans job. The singer wasnt happy from the get go because of the sound and rather than say "we dont sound the best, but thats not our problem, lets just do what we do and put on a show" he simply says "that sounds sh*t, u cant heard lead, u cant hear this, thats too loud" and is never happy after a soundcheck - so straight away im in a bad mood because i think whats the point if ur gona be morngy all night? Anyway, my question is: How much control do u guys like to have with the FOH sound? Do u just set up and let the soundman work his thing, maybe throw him a few pointers to how u want to sound, or are u constantly at the desk??

[quote name='BottomE' post='1142436' date='Feb 26 2011, 03:59 PM']Ouch - not for a long time. What happened? Was it drug/booze related or was it nerves or unfamiliarity of band and material?[/quote] Just the usual couple of pints before hand. All well rehearsed material, everyone else was fine, just me. Major knock to my confidence

So last nights gig - decent venue, good sized crowd, tempremental PA system, but we managed to get a decent sound out from it. Half way through the first song i fell on my arse. I started playing wrong notes, wrong songs, became really sloppy and even managed to balls up the very last note of the last song! Anyone else have an experience like this before?

I know brian Marshall from creed uses a MM in the studio. Not sure what model though

I might be going off in totally wrong direction here but! Are using ahead sticks the same principle of say using a certain brand of string (some people play better, or think they do, with a certain brand) or using a certain pick for example? Such as using a jazz 3 over some paddle?

[quote name='Doddy' post='1139733' date='Feb 24 2011, 11:20 AM']I'm not having that. I know guys with awesome technique who have have used Ahead sticks from time to time,and have no problems. If you lack technique,you'll suck whatever sticks you use-using Ahead sticks won't help. Anyway,how can a stick help poor players and hinder good ones?[/quote] Agree. Are these the same sticks endores by Lars Ulrich and Joey Jordison? Two very average drummers

Just been at it again today, gone through the set list for fridays gig. I made a concious effort to use the extra string and although i wasnt in the 'groove' as i would have been on the 4 string it is a lot eaiser - less moving around the fret board etc - its also giving me loads of new ideas. Cannot wait for friday

[quote name='CHRISDABASS' post='1137505' date='Feb 22 2011, 07:15 PM']Im making the change to 5's as well at the moment To me there's nothing worse than battling with a shabby B string!! puts you off right from the start but once you find one you like it makes sooooo much more sense! I find the idea of playing both 5's and 4's a bit daft really!! especially the idea of having the same bass in 5 and 4 string version!! odd!! lol so for me its either one or the other hence the sale of my 4's [/quote] You can have my fender 5 for your sadowsky 4

I've just spent the last few hours getting the hang of that B string. Hell of a lot easier once you remember its not the E string. I think i'll give it its first outing this friday (Jardys, Birstall if anyones nearby!!)

Purchased a Fender J5 active - pleasure to deal with, really nice guy. cheers!

[quote name='Grand Wazoo' post='1137239' date='Feb 22 2011, 03:59 PM']what is it? which 5 strings have you bought?[/quote] Its a fender J active deluxe. Original sale thread [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=121646&st=0&p=1115756&#entry1115756"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=...p;#entry1115756[/url]

Recently purchased a 5 string off Fluffo, which arrived today (cheers!) and just been noodling about on it for an hour and i am totally converted. I'm looking at the 4 string in disgust

I like to log on after a heavy night out to teach myself a lesson...Look at what you could have if you didnt p**s your money up the wall

Taking a wander down memory lane I uncovered this gem, this is the song that inspired me to pick up the bass. The part at 4 mins is the tone to end all tones. I need an Ampeg [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_IooIZbqcBs"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_IooIZbqcBs[/url]

One Day Remains by Alter Bridge. Intense

[quote name='bassfunk' post='1134721' date='Feb 20 2011, 07:50 PM']Hi Guys I'm pretty excited today as my band Supersession have just launched our new website. We're a wedding/function band and we're just getting started so any hints or tips from some of you 'old' pros would be greatly appreciated. the url is [url="http://supersession.co.uk/"]http://supersession.co.uk/[/url]. We've spent a lot of time and effort getting to this stage. We have a Twitter feed at the bottom of each page and I was thinking of putting something like 'special offer £*** flat rate for any function within Greater Mancchester' but I'm not sure if putting prices up is a good idea? will it scare potential clients away? People always seemed to be shocked when they find out how much a band costs. But I know when I was getting married I found it refreshing to be able to see a price up front on a website without having to email for a quote etc. Thanks Guys Pete[/quote] Looks great, pisses all over my bands website

Purchased the Sansamp GT2 off of him. Quick an easy, nice guy. Cheers