OldGit

[quote name='Rasta' post='562092' date='Aug 6 2009, 05:12 PM']I stumbled across this thread, got hypnotised by a Bot, got the credit card apparently and ordered....don't remember funkin any of it until i saw the email from paypal just...strange things these bots...what about a Robo[b]Bootsy[/b]bot...i could dig that.....or Rastabot (Red,Gold & Green)....could well put me back in that hypnotic state again!!![/quote] ha ha How about Hypno-Bot or Mesma-Bot?

Good luck!

Thanks Leo. You did the world a big favour.

[quote name='mike257' post='565125' date='Aug 10 2009, 04:23 PM']I think to have a satisfying experience as an originals band, everybody involved needs to have more or less the same aspirations and work ethic. My last originals band wasn't exactly a profit machine, but we took the business end of things very seriously, and always at least broke even. We worked our nuts off to build a committed fan base in our local area, and bypassed promoters by hiring the venues ourselves. We used to make a comfortable few hundred quid doing a local headline show every other month, and that covered our expenses travelling further afield to places where we didn't yet have the pulling power to attract a decent fee. Between that, and merch sales, we got all around the country, staying in Travelodges every time (no roughing it in the van!) and covered all our expenses, and it never cost us a penny of our own money. The thing is, it takes up countless hours of everybody's time, probably more time than you spend practicing, to do all the promoting and haggling and whatever else, and if you're the only guy in your band taking it that seriously, there's a real problem. Just realised this is turning into an essay, so I'll shut up now. I'd be wondering, If the rest of your band aren't pulling their weight, maybe they just haven't got the same ambitions for it that you have![/quote] +1 I've been doing band promotion for my bands for years and in some cases I've been the only one. It really is a case of sharing it out. I find that some people are great self-starters and basically get on with it by themselves. Others need a bit of a steer. You have to give them a job and make sure they know what to do . I used to have poster putter-uppers in one band they had a "section" of town where I'd give them a list of 30 or so places each and send them 50 posters. Then they got on with it cos they had a "job" and they were contributing to the band overall goodness. That was all theyt did though, in a few cases. If you expect people to know what to do and do it themselves they quite often won't do anything cos they have no idea about it. Also if you are mug enough to do it all they will let you. I've played in bands where some people brought 100 people to some gigs where otehers never even brought their best mate along ... It takes a bit of managing...

[quote name='Musicman20' post='564533' date='Aug 9 2009, 10:22 PM']So....either I give it a break or I let them know my frustration I think.[/quote] Both, I'd say.

Slow wires from your place Protium ..... Gnasher's PM overtook yours on the way (by 2 hours)

Sounds like you have decided. I was going to suggest doing the money thing with a covers band but you are doing that. So try this.. Take an organised 6 months off from the band - ie the whole band and not just a lack of gigs. Set a date to get back together in March or so and stick to it. Have fun with your covers band and then review things with the originals band then. If they have missed it they may be more inclined to be organised and focused.

No looking back and a [i]lot[/i] of time to make up ... On you go!

I'd suggest a Herculese GS414B or GS412B [url="http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/Hercules_Auto_Grab.html"]Here[/url] £25 from MArk at BassDirect and worth every penny.

[quote name='silverfoxnik' post='564000' date='Aug 9 2009, 09:03 AM']+1 Lot of good questions asked & points raised in there! Doesn't matter how long you've been playing, what kind of music you play, what gear you have, how it's set up etc .. the whole process starts in your head. It's all about getting our thinking right when it comes to making music I suppose.. More often than not, the gear gets in the way! I used to see that situation a lot when I managed bands for a living.. The amount of times they'd complain because they couldn't hear themselves properly during a gig was untrue.. [i]"The gig was crap because i couldn't hear my self in the monitors"[/i] was the usual refrain.. And that despite the fact that the PA was usually quite decent and had a seperate mixer for the monitors.. So I always used to say to the bands that if The Beatles could play to 50,000 people at Shea Stadium in 1965 without any monitors, then they should be able to play brilliantly to 50 people at The Barfly (or wherever) with or without being able to hear themselves on stage and without complaining![/quote] A little off topic but this idea of "It's ok to not be able to hear yourself" is somewhat outdated these days. If you learn to play with decent monitoring and audibility and that goes away at a specific gig it is a serious handicap. Sure the Beatles could do it without monitors because they had to. The concept didn't exist until Watkins WEM invented it in about 1968 but we all expect to be able to hear the vocal, drums and our own instrument these days. If you can't hear things then the audio cues that many tunes depend upon dissapear and chaos ensues. So I have a lot of sympathy for your estwhile band

I used Peavey 1x15 combos more or less exclusively for 20 odd years (and some normal ones ) My fave was the mark one Combo 300 1x15 Black Widow and I found one last year to use as a back up, loaner and "dodgy venue" amp. It weighs far too much for me to gig with regularly (and I lourve the markbass and Bergantino rig I have for posh gigs) but as everyone has said, great bang for your buck, IMHO a really good solid rock sound, very reliable and cheap to fix. The black widow bass guitar speaker is a classic and has a great sound. Watch out for black widow PA bass bins being passed off as bass guitar speakers though. They are different. My bass playing brother inlaw is still regularly gigging his 1980's TNT 1x15. 45 of the louded watts you've ever heard. Yup can't beat it for budget boom.

Cross genre stuff is a particular favourite of mine. Here's some ideas we were looking at for a similar project. You may want to get onto Spotify .. Some used but good examples Got to get you into my life: Earth Wind and Fire Take 5: Tito Puente (in 4/4 ) CCS (note, not CSS): I Want You back, Whole lotta love and Wade in the Water. A bit big band as is but some good ideas. Donna Summer: State of Independence Police: Invisible Sun, Beds too big, If you love Somebody Set Them Free Louis Jordan, just about anything but Reet Petite and Gone is a favourite Ry Cooder: Down in Hollywood Jefferson Airplane: White Rabbit

Due to the generosity of a BC member I have a spare unused Infeld Superalloy round wound hexcore 0.125 string here. If you'd like it PM me your adress and I'll share the lourve Cheers.

[quote name='Musky' post='563617' date='Aug 8 2009, 06:15 PM']Yeah, but I can never resist a touch of schadenfreude. [/quote]

Semi-result ..... Would have been nice to get the first messages without the third

[quote name='Josh' post='563590' date='Aug 8 2009, 05:34 PM']Whilst replenishing the whole of the Booze aisle last night, I was constantly mauling this over and have been taking in what's been said. And to honest, in regards to taking it out for a set up, I can't really see what else can be done beyond a fret stoning or a neck shim, which won't make much difference if (as CK has pointed out) the bass designed in such a way. There is no physical problem with the bass, the problem is (and which I accept) that my expectations were far too high and my fussiness has gotten the better of me this time around. But, I now know that I'm always going to be more inclined to side with Jazz basses so I would not be sad to move this bass on for a Sadowsky.[/quote] Nuts can make a huge difference too ...

[quote name='paul h' post='563333' date='Aug 8 2009, 10:02 AM']Lol....yup, another thing to sort out. I am back up to page 6 for "robot t-shirt" and that's before some of the changes have been crawled. That is pretty damn good in my book. Couldn't have done it without you and this thread Si, cheers! [/quote] You are welcome, Paul. I am sure you understand why I try to relate the points to band websites on here ..

No comment on my recommendation to take your bass to Eltham Jones. So I'll explain why I recommended that course of action. For many years I frustrated setup people by demanding low action and no buzzes for my plectrum style playing "Yee cannae change the laws of physics, Captain" was a common reply. Then I discovered Eltham. I don't know how he does it but he does. Unlike a lote of fettlers he will ask you to tell him what you want and then to play the bass in front of him. He will the fettle it whilst you wait and some times whilst you watch (if the shop allows it). This is repeated until you are happy. He is the best fettler I have ever met and although I can do it myself these days he adds something else that just makes the bass feel and work so much better. I take mine to him in Bristol just for that last few percent that he can add. He's in Bristol a few days a week which is a short train or bus ride from you. Invest a day and a few quid in popping up there to let him have a go. You will not regret it. You can play all the mainstream stuff in Reverb whilst you wait. Alternatively +1 on a visit to the Gallery, BassDirect etc. but nothing will ever be right for you straight off the wall. He works in a room at the back of Reverb in Bristol a few days a week. [url="http://www.edgeguitarservices.co.uk/index.htm"]http://www.edgeguitarservices.co.uk/index.htm[/url]

[quote name='metaltime' post='562949' date='Aug 7 2009, 06:05 PM']Why not get a pro to set it up like you want it they might be able to work a bit of magic.[/quote] I'd suggest you take your bass to Eltham Jones [url="http://www.edgeguitarservices.co.uk/index.htm"]http://www.edgeguitarservices.co.uk/index.htm[/url]

[quote name='paul h' post='562930' date='Aug 7 2009, 05:19 PM']Typo! I meant robot t-shirt.[/quote] ha ha yeah well you have to allow for typos too