Ruiner

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1340894593' post='1711183'] [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mK-WbsxdzZI[/media] My current favourite Nottingham band. [/quote] Woah. Really liked that. Off to check them out on bandcamp

I think the no longer a newbie thing is post count related. GAS = Gear Aquisition Syndrome something I predict you'll start to feel after hanging around here for any length of time

[quote name='cheddatom' timestamp='1340183762' post='1700417'] So, have I got this right?.. If I download a song illegally, i'm a ****, even if i've contributed to that artist's income in other ways If I stream the same song legally, i'm a good guy. [/quote] Yes. That's correct

[quote name='uncle psychosis' timestamp='1340182559' post='1700373'] So, if someone illegally downloads one song by an artist, and then on the back of that goes and buys three cds, a concert ticket, and a tshirt, then the artist has been deprived of income? Please. [/quote] I think we're in complete agreement. SOMETIMES piracy can benefit a band. But It shouldn't be the downloaders call as to whether to pay for it or not, it should be the artists. You're right in as much as whether or not piracy benefits some bands is indeed not a black and white issue. But whether or not taking something for free that has an attached value (whether you agree with the attached value or not) against the artists will, is to me very much in a black and white sense, wrong.

[quote name='flyfisher' timestamp='1340138537' post='1699896'] But moaning about it will change nothing - what we need are some solutions to stop it. Trouble is, there don't seem to be any. [/quote] Yeah I agree. The initial record industry response of copy protection and DRM was reactionary and no real solution. I honestly don't think there's any way back now though. I think bands need to just adapt and evolve as best they can in order to try and earn a living.

I always feel like people who argue that most people who download your album illegally wouldn't have bought it anyway, miss the point somewhat. This blog from the frontman of 'Future of the Left' (written back in 2009) is a great read from someone directly affected by illegal downloads: [url="http://www.myspace.com/futureoftheleft/blog/485944356"]http://www.myspace.c.../blog/485944356[/url] [i]"[color=#262626][font=arial][size=3]it feels that getting annoyed about [/size][/font][/color][/i][i][color=#262626][font=arial][size=3]downloading in this valueless modern age is like taking issue with [/size][/font][/color][/i][i][color=#262626][font=arial][size=3]water for being wet or night for gradually turning into day because [/size][/font][/color][/i][i][color=#262626][font=arial][size=3]ultimately the entitlement that most people feel for free music [/size][/font][/color][/i][i][color=#262626][font=arial][size=3]completely overshadows any moral or legal issues and conflicts that [/size][/font][/color][/i][i][color=#262626][font=arial][size=3]may arise in the hearts and minds of better people, people who [/size][/font][/color][/i][i][color=#262626][font=arial][size=3]understand that actions, on both an individual and group level, have[/size][/font][/color][/i] [i][color=#262626][font=arial][size=3]consequences far beyond that moment of instant gratification."[/size][/font][/color][/i]

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1340134719' post='1699819'] It's a sad day when musicians no longer see the value of music. [/quote] This. Completely.

[quote name='uncle psychosis' timestamp='1340129167' post='1699677'] I'm afraid that the "downloading is stealing" camp repeatedly shoot themselves in the foot by using arguments that are flawed at best and totally bogus at worst. [/quote] Surely that's the bottom line though? If you're illegally downloading copyrighted material, then you're stealing, however you dress it up. That's pretty black and white to me

Love mine. You can always justify it if you try hard enough ; )

Just remember to remind your bandmates that the band that you're with at that moment is the most special and the only one you 'really' care about.

As a general rule of thumb, if a band we're playing with goes to the trouble of contacting me to ask prior to the gig, I have no problem with lending out my rig. I hate though when a band will wait until they're about to soundcheck and then ask if it's ok to use the amp. Why turn up to a gig without an amp unless you've specifically been told a backline is provided? Basically what your saying is 'can i use your rig or else you're going to prevent the band from being able to play' which makes me feel like a right bastard. And then typically they'll bugger off as soon as they've played and not even bother to watch any of the other bands. [quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1337334655' post='1658234'] the majority of bands we play with a punk/psychobilly who have a pretty "energetic" on-stage presence. Never had any trouble. Smiles and handshakes all round. [/quote] In my experience it's these types of bands that generally are a lot more respectful and friendly to each other on all levels. Sweeping generalisation alert: Obviously there are exceptions, but a lot of indie type bands I've played with have an arrogant 'us against them' kind of attitude and tend to be the biggest culprits when it comes to expecting everyone else to provide gear for them.

Thanks guys. Will check out all avenues suggested.

Hello, Does anyone know of anywhere in the north west that hires out db's or even EUB's? I've recently got involved in an acoustic band and I've always wanted to learn to play double bass, but don't fancy dropping a boat load of cash to find out it's not for me. Also, as a electric bassist, would you guys say the techniques required to play db are somewhat instinctive, or is it going to be like starting from scratch? I guess I'm trying to gauge how long it'll take me to get to a basic level of proficiency.

Pretty well known now I know but what about some Red Fang? [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQPfQvLIseA[/media]

[quote name='jamirrorquai' timestamp='1335375470' post='1630191'] Shame that you think of me as a tool of the highest order, but that is your decision. I hope that you continue to make great music in the future and have loads of success in everything you do. Because although things didn't work out and as you say it was impossible to co ordinate everyone and to get them to care enough, I would never have anything bad to say about someone who tried to do something they have faith in. And I certainly wouldn't degrade someone on an internet forum, that they knew nothing about and couldn't get the chance to defend themselves. [/quote] At first I thought this was an elaborate joke. Then I read it and thought it must be serious. Then I saw the user name and I'm confused again

[quote name='thumbo' timestamp='1334484575' post='1616640'] If you're after aggressive tone that always cuts through check out the Rusty Box. This solution might avoid having to sell your current setup. [/quote] +1 Couldn't live without my Rusty Box.

Would love one of these if the price was right. I still have one of the Jaguar Baritone Customs that Fender Japan brought out a few years back, but the 28.5 inch scale struggles with the E-E tuning. Schecter are releasing a tweaked version of the hellcat VI too, this time with proper single coils instead of the mini humbuckers on the last version (apparently should be hitting the UK in the next few months) [url="http://www.schecterguitars.com/Products/Guitar/Hellcat-VI.aspx"]http://www.schecterguitars.com/Products/Guitar/Hellcat-VI.aspx[/url] Nowhere near as aesthetically pleasing as the bass VI though.

Just watched that grade A plonker Max Clifford discussing this on TV. I'm paraphrasing here but something along the lines of 'this US band only have 500 twitter followers, One Direction have much more than that therefore what right has this other band got to the name' I'd have more sympathy if the other band in question weren't also a boyband. Being mistaken for One Direction could be pretty annoying if you were trying to do anything other than vomit inducing pop for pre-teen girls.

Thanks guys, some great advice there and loads of information I had no idea about. [quote name='Bilbo' timestamp='1333374540' post='1600723'] If it is brought in as a set of chords and the singer adds a melody, the bass player a middle eight and the drummer an istrumental break then it is more likely to be a band song with 4 even shares. But its all open to negotiation and legal challenge. [/quote] This is generally how it is with this band 99% of the time. I think a sit down chat is in order to try and clear this stuff up. If the guitarist still doesn't see the situation as an equal split (and isn't willing to get it put in writing) I guess I have no option other than to leave and start something else up. While I'm not overly keen on doing that, it's sure as hell better than getting 12 months down the line, being offered some kind of deal (i can dream ) and finding out then. Once again, big thanks for sharing your experiences and advice.

Just wanted to gauge some opinion on something that's reared it's head recently in a band I joined last October. I've been in a few bands over the years, and it's always been a case of once an idea/riff is brought forward and other members of the band start writing parts to it and arranging it (adding new sections/dropping sections) it becomes the 'bands' song (as in everyone has had a hand in making it what it is) and so unless you'd written every section of it, you wouldn't use the material with another band (and even if you had, you often wouldn't out of courtesy to the people who'd added their own parts and helped make it what it is) After a few post-rehearsal pints in the pub, someone joked about not knowing if they could go through all the hassle of forming a new band if this one were to implode, and the guitarist chipped in with "well I'm ok, I can always just take 'my' songs and get another bass player and drummer" (we're a three piece). After further, less jokey discussion, it turns out that our guitarist views the situation a bit differently to me. He sees it more as a case of, if he brings the idea/riff forward, it is essentially his song to do with as he pleases regardless of how we ultimately may have shaped them. This makes me a bit uneasy. Maybe I've just been lucky in the past with other bands I've been in. Sometimes ideas are brought forward that are completely changed into something different to the original idea, with us all bouncing ideas off each other. My viewpoint is, If myself and the drummer were not involved , the song wouldn't be what it is. The guitarist suggests that the songs would end up different if he started a new band with different people playing them anyway (which I'm sure they probably would), but surely unless he's keeping a written log of who suggested what, who added which riff etc. for every song, there's going to be a situation where he's using material that we've written and claiming it as his own? Is this how most bands operate?

Bought a pedal board from Lozz. Still boxed, as new, and delivered quickly. Thanks again.

The Saffire 6 USB has Hi-Z instrument inputs as well (the inputs on the box are multi purpose suitable for both 1/4 inch jacks and XLR). So you can plug your bass straight in if you so desire. But in answer to one of your questions, you should be able to go straight from DI output on your MAG 300 into the XLR input no problem also. This site often gets recommended on here, and I've found it really useful as a beginner to home recording [url="http://www.recordingbass.co.uk/"]http://www.recordingbass.co.uk/[/url]

[quote name='GarethFlatlands' timestamp='1328018845' post='1520354'] A company called Fredric effects does a Russian Muff clone for £85. I use one of their harmonic percolators on guitar and love it so might be worth a punt. [/quote] I can vouch for these. Picked one up a month ago after a recommendation on here. I'd been searching for ages for the right fuzz and so far I'm loving it. I think they're based on the 'tall font green russian' muff. Either way, it sounds awesome.