icastle

[quote name='Happy Jack' post='1118031' date='Feb 6 2011, 06:35 PM']Ever since I started trying to get pub gigs for my covers band, I've been struggling to understand the economics of a pub paying a band, say, £200 for a Saturday night. Not complaining about it, I just don't understand how they make a profit out of it. Clearly they do, or they wouldn't pay it, so I'm missing one or more pieces of the puzzle. If I understood how it worked, I'd be better placed to persuade reluctant landlords ... well, it's a theory, anyway. Does anyone actually know (as opposed to merely having an opinion on the subject) how this works?[/quote] Both the pubs in my village have music at least one night a week, one of them (the one I sometimes play in) always draws a crowd, the other one gets a dozen people if they're lucky. Having a band in is a business expense and is tax deductable - I'm not an accountant so I can tell you how much a £200 band actually cost's the landlord, but it certainly isn't £200... Brewery managed pubs also often have an area of their P&L dedicated to "Entertainment" or "Promotions" which is also a good plunder point for pun managers who want to run a music venue...

I keep an eye out at what's appearing on the market. Some items may appeal, others won't. Some may look interesting, others leave me cold. I may try some of the appealing items out. If I find something that does offer a significant and, more importantly, justifiable improvement over what I am currently using, then I'll buy it. I treat instruments as tools and means to an end, no more, no less.

[quote name='Johngh' post='1117105' date='Feb 5 2011, 09:51 PM']Also had a few basses that turned out to be kippers, but that's another story. [/quote] Didn't you notice they were a bit fishy when you bought them? Yeah, I know... can I get my coat before I do though?

I don't get emotionally attached to people let alone a lump of wood with strings on it!

[quote name='Conan' post='1116930' date='Feb 5 2011, 07:56 PM']I remember them! In fact I really wanted one at the time... [/quote] Yeah, it was a lovely instrument. I'm really surprised they didn't become more popular.

You're not going to find a 90W 8Ω resistor. You would have to wire up a whole load of large wirewound resistors and then find a way of getting rid of the heat they produce. The easiest alternative would be to either replace the driver for a 4Ω one or add another 8Ω cab to what you already have.

[quote name='3V17C' post='1116424' date='Feb 5 2011, 12:28 PM']or are they forever coming loose and falling off?! The original ones on my head (Klystron 1000) had the grub screw to secure them but I soon lost a couple of those... I think they must vibrate loose or something as I did check 'em and tighten 'em on more than one occasion... admittedly Ashdown did send me some free replacements which are a better fit and just push on minus the grub screw to tighten but it is quite annoying![/quote] I usually use threadlock on grubscrews that have a tendancy to vibrate loose but a small dab of clear nail varnish on the thread before tightening it will do the same job.

Hi Doug. I'm pretty damn sure that I sold a couple of them in a music shop I managed many years ago - I remember them because they were decidedly 'odd', as in 'I've never seen anything like this before'. Seem to remember we also had a fretless with little brass plate pickups set into the neck - I think that was one of yours as well? Ibanez are certainly not the first, unless they are making other claims alongside to justify it.

Drums at 41.94% !!! For goodness sake don't let them see that or they'll want paying!

[quote name='gothpugs' post='1116068' date='Feb 5 2011, 12:23 AM']Thanks for that, I do like the look of the yamaha better [/quote] Well that's got to be a good starting point. The RBX170 is still a current model (as far as I know the FB is no longer made) and Yamaha have a pretty good reputation as far as overall quality is concerned.

They're both similarly spec'd instruments and won't sound vastly different to each other. The 80's Aria's have seen a resurgence in popularity over the past few years (I've got one) but the ones from the 90's, which the FB is, were not of the same quality that their earlier brothers were - they were made in a different factory, with different owners who had bought the brand. As much as I feel an alliegence to the Aria name, all things considered, I'd probably focus on the Yamaha. I understand that playing it to try it out isn't an option for you at the moment, but at least try them on and see how they feel comfort and weight wise. If it feels comfy then you'll be more inclined to learn how to play it and progress faster...

[quote name='charic' post='1116021' date='Feb 4 2011, 11:30 PM']You missed an opportunity to ge on tv with this one I think [/quote] Good I've been on telly a few times before and always cringe.

[quote name='si_t4' post='1115913' date='Feb 4 2011, 09:25 PM']I used the standard seymour duncan jazz diagram. [url="http://www.seymourduncan.com/support/wiring-diagrams/schematics.php?schematic=std_jazz_bass"]http://www.seymourduncan.com/support/wirin...c=std_jazz_bass[/url] And no I don't have spare parts :/ I'll put the old pickups back in and see if it makes a difference... because the new pickups are a lot higher output... will this make any difference?[/quote] No, the pickup output level won't cause this. The diagram is bog standard/tried and tested so as long as you've wired it exactly as shown it'll work fine. But (and this is a good 'but'!) if the pots aren't earthed to their casings, and each other, properly you are going to get major hum problems. (Apologies if you are already familiar with this next bit, but it's worth mentioning.) Soldering the 'third' contact of the pot to the casing can be tricky. You need to scrape or sandpaper the pot casing wherever you intend to solder - pot casings are often tarnished\laquered and this will stop a good solder joint being made. The other thing to check is that you have definately got the jack socket connected the right way round.

Me I'm the amp tech, guitar tech, PA setter upper, sound engineer, musical arranger, general trouble shooter and destroyer of egos. Oh - and I play the bass as well...

[quote name='BurritoBass' post='1115715' date='Feb 4 2011, 06:31 PM']I've only played a small handful & my experiences are not like icastle's in terms of weight.[/quote] Yeah, but I'm a delicate little flower...

[quote name='walplayer' post='1115494' date='Feb 4 2011, 03:58 PM']I'd keep that one (after having it checked for Rabies!) Try other places if Cats Protection can't do any more ,you may be able to get vouchers to help out with having them neutered etc. Bet that was fun getting them in cages if they been living feral like ![/quote] Yep - I will be keeping a couple of them, they're good company and manageable in sensible quantities. CP took as many as we could find and are happy to take the rest. Chatting to the two girls that came to collect them it transpired that it was probably one of the worst animal hoarding situations they've seen in a couple of years. Getting the bigger ones caged was a total nightmare - especially when they realised what was happening! Two of them I had to corner, put the cage over them, slide a piece of hardboard under them and then turn the cage over - a bit like catching a bumble bee. Slowly working my way round the house with a scrubbing brush and some enzyme cleaning stuff I bought to try and get rid of the smell of urine and faeces. I've pulled up two carpets so far, wrapped them in polythene sheeting and taken them to the tip as they were beyond all hope of saving. I'm reckoning on at least two more carpets going the same way - looks like I'm going to be going down the sanded and varnished floor look as recarpeting that lot will cost an absolute fortune (old house = big rooms!). I've sussed out how to set the catflap so they can get in to just the utility room but can't get back outside, so I will be having another roundup next week...

[quote name='tauzero' post='1115289' date='Feb 4 2011, 02:00 PM']As a former CPL person (before it dropped the "League"), I can tell you that homing kittens is easy. Cute little balls of fluff (um, perhaps I should rephrase that).[/quote] Absolutely. Problem is when the 'owner' is also fixated by those cute little balls of fluff and won't let them go. [quote name='tauzero' post='1115289' date='Feb 4 2011, 02:00 PM']The policy used to be to have adult cats neutered before they went out to new homes, and to ask the new owners of kittens to have them neutered at six months. How much of the time this actually happened, I don't know.[/quote] The adult cat that started this sorry chain of events was actually from CP. They hadn't had time to get it neutered and only supplied it on the promise that it would be neutered. It never happened. Policies are great on paper and promises are fine if the judgment call is right, but throw a manipulative fruitloop into any process and it'll soon go wrong. Now't against CP at all, they're a great bunch of guys and gals who deserve far more support and credit that they get. [quote name='tauzero' post='1115289' date='Feb 4 2011, 02:00 PM']And of course, lots of kittens are rehomed through the traditional postcard in the newsagent's window with the consequent embarrassment when it turns out that the clientele for small furry pussy is not the same as that for Michelle's lessons in French.[/quote] I must admit that I totally misunderstood the original proposal of having "pussy in every room" as well...

[quote name='Evil Undead' post='1115189' date='Feb 4 2011, 01:02 PM']Ok, I'll keep trying. The local family run store doesn't stock many 5's so I may have to make a number of trips there to see what's in. There's another music store in town but it's a chain, and not very good really. Can anyone recommend brands to try? Preferably 35 scale[/quote] I know you found the Ibby BTB uncomfortable because of the neck width but take a look at their SR range - reputed to have the slimmest and fastest necks going...

[quote name='Bassnut62' post='1114570' date='Feb 3 2011, 09:36 PM']Ok there must be some admirers of twin-neck instruments out there. I'm starting to play a bit of guitar as well as bass. My band is a trio with keys and the keys player has some bass pedals, which could free me to play little bits of guitar ocassionaly. So what does anyone know about twin-necks? What are the pitfalls? Any particular makes and models to GAS hard for or to avoid at all costs? Just to give a pointer on my tastes, I'm into classic Fender-ish tones and styles. Thanks for any advice. And if you know of any going for sale at a good price, please let me know.[/quote] I can usually find 'something' positive about most pieces of kit, but I'm really struggling here. I've fooled around with a couple of them in the past and have always found that they weigh an absolute ton and were good guitars with a lump of rather uninspiring, limited and often pretty mediocre bass added on as an afterthought. Apart from that they're fine(ish!)...

When I made the transition from 4 to 5 it took me a good couple of weeks to get to grips with it. I don't even think about it now, it's just an instrument the same way that my 4 string was.

[quote name='4-string-thing' post='1114355' date='Feb 3 2011, 07:21 PM']Never been tempted then, eh? [/quote] Nah. If they survive the lecture and the physical that follows afterwards then they'll do.

Can you share, or point us to, the diagram you used?

[quote name='Darshan' post='1114199' date='Feb 3 2011, 05:47 PM']Doe anyone have any experience using one of these with an extension cab.. if you add a cab does it bypass the built in speakers or use them in addition?[/quote] Looking at the manual it seems that it uses an 8Ω speaker as an addition to the inbuilt ones.

[quote name='dave_bass5' post='1113501' date='Feb 3 2011, 09:37 AM']I cant see how anyone can play with the bass hanging around their thigh area. Respect to those who do.[/quote] I seem to recall seeing an interview with Peter Hook who reckoned that playing his bass right down there was responsible for the back/neck problems he now has...

[quote name='lemmywinks' post='1113742' date='Feb 3 2011, 12:30 PM']Crikey! When you convert that into bass purchases it could quickly turn into feline resentment! Well, ex missus resentment....[/quote] Could easily have done but I've always made a point of keeping money earned from music away from my ordinary money, that way any musical purchases are self financing.