Patster1969

Their chiropractic bill will be a lot bigger as well though!

Thanks Lozz, did you gig with a couple stacked or just the one?

On a similar vein, what do you guys think about a 2x10 vs a 2x12 cab in terms of how they would sound/perform for a pub gig (not super loud, covers band)? Have a TC Electronic 500 head & looking at the K210 or 212 to compliment it (or the Barefaced Two10s). Anyone had a chance to play either of these cabs in anger? Apologies to the OP for highjacking the thread.

There's a very amusing video of Iron Maiden on a foreign TOTP-style program, where they consistently swap instruments and then the 'roadies' start to take parts of the drumkit away

I've got Rocksmith on my X-Box 360, didn't find it as useful as the guys above but maybe I wasn't using it properly - assume that it's the same version as the PC version?

I also enjoyed the Mastodon & Prophets of Rage albums. Also enjoyed 'No God to Save' by Steak, 'Heaven Upside Down' (Marilyn Manson) and 'Judas' (Fozzy). Also noticed that I hadn't bought a lot of new stuff this year

There's an excellent re-recording of the St Anger album (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lU-UI3_6HcM&t=2964s) which makes the album much more enjoyable by two guys from Grace The Skies - kicks the original in the proverbial!

Having come to music late, first gig was when i was 42. Having no friends that played instruments, wanting to play in a band and having only picked the bass up 18 months before, I signed up for Get Rocking in Guildford, which is for 'mature' musicians to get together for 4 Sundays at a rehearsal studio and then have 5 bands play a gig having 'learn't' 5/6 songs each Location: The Boileroom, Guildford Bass: Squire Fender Jazz Amp: Through the FOH system, although I had a Ashdown combo behind me Set List: Covers. Sure we played Vertigo and Back in Black as two of them but can't remember the rest. I do remember that myself, the singer & the drummer being pretty well prepared (having never played with anybody before, I made sure that I had learn't the songs as best I could in the week prior to rehearsals) but the 2 guitarists were terrible (one of them was of the impression that he didn't have to play his guitar at all during the week and would just learn the songs at the rehearsal, whereas the other guitarist was of the 'all the gear & no idea' school, he bought himself a brand new guitar for the gig to look good - he didn't, as he couldn't really play very well at all). Was a good laugh but don't think my face showed that at all - the wife just told me that I looked like a rabbit in the headlights (which I was). Embarrassing part: Looking up and seeing both my mother & HIDs leaning on the crash barrier at the front of the stage - The Boileroom has a lot of gigs where the barrier would be of some use, it wasn't that night!

Also noticed that during the Mastodon set, it took them ages to figure out where to point the camera when Brann was singing - they kept moving the camera shot to Troy, Brent & Brian and couldn't work out why none of them were singing. Eventually they found him )

Agree with most of these comments, the kick drum was very evident throughout, particularly on the main stage, sometimes wondering if any other instruments were being played at times. Having never seen ROTM live, very much enjoyed Prophets of Rage (nice tribute to Chris Cornell as well), Mastodon were excellent. Agree with Steve, that Kverletak were a surprise, as knew nothing about them and only saw them to escape from whoever was playing the main stage. Saw Brian Marshall (Alterbridge) struggle against the sound, as I could see on the screen that he was flying up & down the fretboard - not that I could tell from the sound. Very impressed with the bass players from Coheed & Cambria and Clutch. We went to see Devilskin in the tent (basically because the singer looked very easy on the eye) but very enjoyable as well - she had a great set of pipes on her (and the guitarist & bass player looked like the Mitchell Brothers with red chin beards). Overall, nice weekend and more enjoyable as you could actually have a sit down and not have to wear a rain jacket all day. Also, they had spaced the site out a bit better this year. The only thing I was surprised about was that none of the stages got named after Chris Cornell as a tribute (no Crumble Shack this year, gutted ().

Will also be going (7 years now) but as per every year, not camping either - too old for that. Will be bussing in as well. Not so fussed about the headliners to be honest (although unlike Steve, may see Biffy as don't mind them) but looking forward to Mastodon, Slayer, Alter Bridge, Clutch plus a few others that don't know much about but have heard songs on Spotify. My DL buddy is always way ahead of me in terms of new bands, so I wager he's been doing his usual investigation work.

As per TrevorR's comment, I've (until the last 3 years) spent all of my live around Woking, so it's always quite exciting reading about the crappy bits of the town and still hoping they get vaporised

I ended up buying loads of tapes as a kid for 2 reasons:- (a) had many Walkman's (although none actual Walkmans, as they were too expensive for my pocket - lots of low cost brands that I could replace easily when I managed to break the thing, which I did many times - probably false ecomony), and ( could easily stash new tapes in my bag and wouldn't have to explain to my parents that I had bought yet another album - was also buying vinyl at the time and it was more difficult to hide the Our Price bag! Haven't got any of it left I don't think though - might have something in the loft but have moved a few times and less and less stuff made it each time

Feel for you, any back/neck issues are horrible. Diet could be a good place to look though Steve. A wife of a friend of mine had had back issues/pain for several years (10+), which resulted in her ending up in a wheelchair after a back operation after years of physio/alternative therapies that never sorted the issue. I'm not sure how but after this, she was tested and found to be a celiac, so after changing her diet, she is now pretty much free on the back issues (she has since also had a daughter which she carried full term with no problems with her back). Maybe have an allergy test or speak to a celiac expert?

Previous band just could never get going. The drummer was actually a guitarist but wanted to drum. However, every rehearsal saw him playing guitar and trying to tell the guitarists how to play the song (he was a good guitarist but he said he didn't want to play it). The singer had too much going on and would never learn the song outside the rehearsal, so he would have to try and learn it then in rehearsal or we would suggest a song and the others would spend the week learning it, only for the drummer to say the day before rehearsal "don't think it will suit the singers voice" and the singer would say "you're probably right" without even trying it - very frustrating

Have played with fingers since starting but have recently been using a pick on some songs for the covers band - will help me tonight as have a gig and having dislocated my middle finger playing football on Monday, it's a bit sore for the faster stuff, so will defo pick these instead

Used to live in Woking and a load of us were off on the train to Guildford for a night out. As we were standing about while others were getting tickets, this guy is walking past us having got off the train and being a bit crap with names (no memory), I did my usual "alright mate" as was convinced I knew him. As he exited the station, one of my mates said "You did realise that that was Paul Weller, didn't you" - thought he looked familiar. He did say hello back - nice man

Saw them on Jools Holland months ago & thought that they were excellent then. Have heard some more & will more than likely check out the album. Ty Taylor (singer) was one of the finalists in the VHI comp to find the new singer with INXS about 5 years ago & he was very good & adaptable, as he had to perform quite a few different styles of song for the competition. We (the wife & myself) were surprised he didn't go further then and wondered what happened to him until VT surfaced.

Thanks for your input guys, much appreciated. Might go with option a & b, so will replace the neck & bridge pups with the 1/4 pounders in the Squire and just replace the bridge pup in the Ibanez, leaving the split coil as standard for the moment (although if it sounds terrible, might change that later). Thanks again!!

Hi all Have a quick question for you. I have 2 basses that I am thinking of upgrading the pick-ups on but the query is this - is it essential to have 2 pick-ups of the same make (ie. am getting 2 Quarter Pounder Seymour Duncans for my CV Jazz) but as my second bass is a cheap Ibanez, would I be better off with a jazz quarter pounder at the bridge & a split quarter pounder at the neck or two entirely different makes? Any help/input greatly received Pat

Been playing just over 2 & a half years now Highs. Finding a group of people to play with & actually playing the first gig - only 6 songs but it took me until the 3rd to not be s**tting myself (also was a bit wierd seeing my mum & wife standing next to each other leaning on the crush barrier!) Lows. Finding out that the other band members are really unreliable when it comes to setting a regular day for rehearsal. Also, played a garden do last weekend & due to lack of rehearsal, making an absolute arse of the 1st song, then finishing strongly with the rest of the set (including the bodged first song). An hour later, a 4 piece band started playing that consisted of lads between the age of about 11-13 and not only were they really polished & tight sounding, the guitarist, bassist & keyboardist keep changing instruments between themselves and more depressing, they were bloody brilliant on each!

Our drummer is obsessed with Gov't Mule Spiny. TBH, I knew nothing about them until he mentioned that he really wanted to do this particular song. The basic riff is a great riff & I'll have to listen closely to what the bassist is playing outside of this, but as you said, if it's close, it should spoil the feel of the song.

Hi all Don't know if this is a bit hopeful but does anybody have a copy of the tab for the "30 Days in the Hole" bassline by Gov't Mule? Have got the basic riff down but there are a few parts where the bassist widdles away & can't quite get it. Have found many versions of the Humble Pie version but it appears to be completely different. Any help would be much appreciated - thanks Pat

Bass is the only instrument I've played tbh. Always listened to music but never actually played any music through school, my teens, my 20's or the majority of my 30's due to school not having any music facilities and me being lazy/more into playing footie from the age of 8 until mid-30's. Met my now-wife in 98, who has always played music (grade 8 piano & violin) & she always told me that I would enjoy it. For my sins, started playing guitar hero & after watching videos on Youtube of people playing guitar hero at super advanced level making no mistakes, decided that they must have had to practice for hours to get to that standard, which I thought was a massive waste of time as I might as devote the same amount of time playing/learning a proper instrument instead. Had been interested in the drums when I was a kid but had been put off by my parents who said that I would get bored very quickly, which I stupidly believed (I was at that age where I believed everything they said - they just didn't want to hear the noise tbh). However, size of house/being mid-terrace kind of put the kibosh on that, but wasn't particularly interested in anything else apart from the bass due to it being part of the rhythm section with the drums. Finally picked it up 2.5 years ago at age 39 and have been having lessons as I don't think I would have been as motivated, but have now joined a band, so have more motivation to keep playing now. Also like the fact that there is always a shortage of bass players - like being the odd one out!

Like Matt has said already, thanks for everyone's info so far - much appreciated. BTW, does anyone have any experience with any of the Line 6 heads or LD combo series? Really like the functions/sound options that my little 110 has & would be interested if anybody has used the bigger brothers? Also really sorry for the next question but how did you come to that calculation xgsjx? I understood the 350W 8ohm head into 2x10 8ohm being 350W, but where did the 350W 4ohm being 200W come from - apologies if this is a really dense question? Cheers Pat