joeystrange

I’ll be there. Playing at some point. Mostly looking forward to seeing Descendents, The Damned, Republica, Bad Brains and Bob Vylan.

That means it’s one louder.

Short list for me… Black 35 Epiphone Fender Squier Vox

If you’re going to be taking a DI out from the pre-amp then put that last in the chain otherwise any effects that you put after it won’t be included in the DI signal.

I’m 0-0 over here.

I believe a lot of the more recent Deftones stuff has the bass in Drop-D or Drop-C with an 8-string guitar tuned to Drop-E.

Noddy has long referred to this song as his pension plan.

I have four. The wife also has four.

I bought a new bass at the beginning of the year. Didn’t like the pickups so I changed them for a Seymour Duncan Quarter Pounder, which I’ve used in various basses for 15+ years. The first set I bought had ungrounded pole pieces so I sent them back and got a replacement from a different supplier. Exact same issue so got a third set from another supplier. Same issue again. At this point the guy fitting them decided to ground them himself and everything was good. Last week the treble coil stopped working completely. Rather than get another SD I decided to go for something else instead. Talking to the tech he realised that the last couple of years he’s has a bunch of faulty Seymour pickups (across both guitar and bass) but none before that. Has anyone else had any issues recently or does anyone know if they moved production sites or anything like that? Regardless I don’t think I’ll be buying them again.

Probably Mike Dirnt. He’s a great player (still much better than me) and his sound is always fantastic.

I have all my pedals (wireless, tuner, Big Muff, SansAmp) on a board in front of my cab and have done for years. Mostly so I (or anyone else, for that matter) don’t step on them whilst I’m playing. The SansAmp is always on and the Big Muff is always on for one band and on for a few songs in their entirety for the other band so no need to switch anything mid-song. I don’t talk into the mic while I’m tuning either so I can do that at the back too.

Really?! That’s really crappy.

Since when do retailers sell Custom Shop Fenders? I thought the whole point was that they were commissioned and built to that person’s specification?

Fully agree with this. Plus it doesn’t matter where you’re playing or to how many people. Whether it’s 5 people or 5000 people if they’ve taken the time and/or paid money to see you then they deserve the same show. I’ve always seen this as as a good marker between pro bands (even if they’re only ‘pro’ in attitude) and amateurs.

8 Idle Hands - First band. Indie/punk-ish. We wanted to call I it Idle Hands but there was a local blues band called The Idle Hands so we decided to add the 8, despite being a 3-piece. UgLi - Blues/rock. Once described as Stevie Ray Vaughan meets Rage Against The Machine. Patchwork Grace - Named before I joined. Grunge/punk band. One album and some decent touring. JD & the FDCs - Rock n roll/punk. I love this band. The name was an acronym of Jamie Delerict & the F*cking Douchebag C*nts which was something we got from a friend’s band. At the time we thought just a string of letters was really funny (we even called our first release The FDCCDEP) but we fairly quickly wished we’d chosen something more memorable. By then it was too late. Two albums released and a few years of solid touring. Spunk Volcano & the Eruptions - Punk/thrash/rock n roll/whatever. Named for our singer whose stage name in his main band (Dirtbox Disco) is Spunk Volcano. Long story. Sometimes shortened to SV & the Eruptions. Three/four albums (two plus one double album) since I joined. Lots of UK/Euro touring. MeMe Detroit - Indie/grunge. Name came from the singer and started as a solo project. Slowly turned into a band and I joined around a year ago. A few other things here and there but these are the bands I’ve been a member of.

Currently in four bands in four different cities: 1. Gigs regularly and rehearse once a fortnight. I think we have 5 shoes between now and September then we’re taking the rest of this year and next off. 2. Similar to the above. Rehearses once a fortnight on average but could be more or less frequent. 3. Old band that has recurved for one show. Maybe four rehearsals over six months then the show and it’s done. 4. New band, yet to start gigging. Rehearse maybe once a month or so. No issues with time but if they were all regularly gigging bands I would struggle.

Done.

All black everything always.

CBGB.

Last time I saw The Alarm (perhaps 3 years ago?) James Stevenson was playing bass for 95% of the set, a bass/guitar double neck on a few songs and guitar on a few songs. The songs where he was playing either of the guitars he was also using bass pedals to play root notes. Nothing on tracks at that point. Mind you, he did look like he was bored out of his mind when he was playing bass so maybe that’s why they made a change. From what I’m told (by friends who know them well and others who support for the tour I saw) Craig Adams left to do Mission stuff and they decided not to replace him as they’re a very close-knit almost family-like band. I still think it’s a strange decision though.

Don’t be precious about the sound on stage. If it seems like the stage sound won’t be great then as long as you can hear what you want to hear that’s enough. Don’t spend hours in sound check chasing the unattainable. It will probably sound different when you play anyway. Don’t concern yourself with FOH sound. 99% of people won’t care and won’t notice that special pedal you used on the middle 8 of the fourth song. You won’t hear the FOH sound anyway. Unless you’re doing your own sound. ALWAYS change your clothes before playing. Even if it’s just a different t-shirt. At least look like you’re making an effort and haven’t just walked in off the street. Take spare shoes. If it’s hammering down during load-in you don’t want wet feet al night. Make sure all of your gear is working before the gig. Always stretch before you play. Hands are most important but arms, legs, neck, anything else is also important if you do anything more than stand still. Especially as you get older.