phil.mcglassup

We will be playing anything from old school metal / rock to popular songs of the seventies onwards. The budget will be a few hundred quid ....towards a grand if I have to buy new. Would depend on secondhand values and what's about at the time. Also, do all the combos suggested come with a good and sensibly priced spares back up ? And are they repairable ? I'm just thinking that other non-musical electrical equipment that I've bought recently have no spares availability..or repairs are too expensive to justify !!

After a break of about ten years or so from playing bass I have now picked it up again and am in the very early stages of forming a new covers band. I imagine things have maybe changed a bit since I last gigged i.e. lighter and more powerful gear..... so which secondhand combos or head/cab units can you suggest for small and medium sized pubs ? I have no idea at this stage what the proposed PA system is going to be, also I won't start looking seriously for a bass amp for some time. I last had a Trace Elliott stack but it was very heavy to lug about and now that I'm older, lighter and smaller gear would be appreciated !! I play a Hofner violin bass so am not looking for any particular sound, nor am I bothered about expensive brand names....as long as it is reliable enough and loud enough for gigging. Any thoughts appreciated.

Thanks everyone, I didn't think this style of music was still popular. I'll just have to find out if the locals do too. If someone starts a new topic linking to my prospective advert on JMB, don't forget I come on here regularly

The old goth band I was in were around in 1987...and no one needs to know we had a 25 year break to write new songs If I remember correctly we supported the Sisters of Mercy at the Albert Hall back in '85 . Great gig but it was so long ago I can't remember a thing about it .

Thanks for the replies. Every time I look on internet band / musician websites most people want to play blues / general rock / tribute act or wedding band. No-one seems to do anything like goth or goth rock. Whitby is only a couple of hours away, I've been to visit the town but never when the special events are on. The events are attracting more people every year Any other opinions? I don't want to post adverts to then be ridiculed on forums Not that I'm bothered really. The only good thing is that I'm still skinny

Hi All, Just over a year ago I posted an idea for an originals punk band consisting of members of slightly more advanced years. From the replies received it was considered to be a good idea. However, at the time I was too busy on a uni course, but now that the course has finished I have time to turn the idea into reality. Since then I have had another idea to form a goth/goth rock band playing originals and covers, influenced mostly by the bands of the eighties, and again consisting of mainly more mature band members. Would this work? Or would we just get laughed at? Any opinions appreciated Phil.

[quote name='rOB' timestamp='1362349436' post='1998866'] Aw man, that sucks. I had to leave a band I loved once. It was totally rubbish at the time. You have my sympathies. [/quote] I once left a band that I didn't like because it sucked!! The band was completely rubbish....except me Seriously, if I had to leave a decent band I would be gutted. Any chance of a comeback once your problems are sorted?

I heard so many negative comments and reviews about the the Hofner violin bass I tried one and loved it!! (I think mine is the contemporary model) Even better with flatwounds. I prefer the short scale because I have a shoulder injury so my fretting hand and arm is more straight ahead rather than stretching out to reach the end of the neck of a long scale. To some experts they might be rubbish but I can easily cope with the neck dive and thuddy tone!!

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1361703695' post='1989366'] Doncaster with Dick Venom & The Terrortones last night. First gig since NYE, and as we've been spending the past two months auditioning drummers our first rehearsal with the current one in the afternoon before the gig. Surprisingly few mistakes in the rehearsal and similarly in the gig itself. Doncaster's a bit of strange place (apologies to anyone from there). Saturday night in what looks like the town centre and we appear to be the only people on the streets. The satnav couldn't find a usable route to the venue so we spent 30 minutes driving around trying to find non-pedestrian streets going in the right direction. Must have gone round "the big church" at least 4 times before we found the way... Not a bad little venue, and a friendly promoter (who's also the PA engineer). Free beers (and shots) for the band. It looks a little empty during the first band's set, but when we start playing I can see plenty of people and they are all down at the front! They don't even flinch when Mr Venom vaults over the monitors to join them on RockinRollin' VampireMan, Sounds pretty good on stage and considering that we haven't played together with this line-up for 8 weeks it's remarkably tight - something that both of the other bands on the bill compliment us on. The band playing after us look absolutely devastated that they are expected to follow what we've just done, so all-in-all pretty much a result as they say. Sold a decent amount of CDs and the promoter has asked us back for Halloween. [/quote] Excellent gig Mr St. Clair It was a mix of good songs with a tight performance, not just from a sound point of view but visually too. I'm sure we were all wondering what Mr Venom was going to do next? Doncaster town centre did seem like a ghost town..very strange. Anyway, nice to meet a fellow basschatter and thanks for your advice !! Phil.

Ok thanks...see you later.

I should hopefully be able to make it tomorrow night. What time does your set start and what's the best time to get there? Cheers.

I used to wear ear plugs when I last played in a loud band because of mild and intermittent tinnitus. They were reluctant, i.e. refused, to turn the backline volume down. I eventually splashed out on some of the more expensive ones that allowed me to hear my own voice for BVs but they did not work too well and for me would certainly be no good to me as a lead vocalist. Is there an answer? (apart from finding musicians who know what 'sensible volume' means)

I can hit notes very well, my problem is that my voice is so 'thin'- it has no depth or strength to it. Can a voice coach improve it to an acceptable level?

One band I joined years ago had been gigging without a bass because no-one else was interested, so when I turned up making low notes in tune I was in!!

I like to stand near the snare as I wear earplugs!! I once had a dose of tinnitus...I don't know who I caught that from I know nothing about upright basses, but would a fretless sound better?