stewblack

Just teamed up with a great vocalist who is also a voice coach. She proudly claimed she could teach anyone to sing and I couldn't resist. No band I've ever been in would let me near a microphone unless there was a fire and we needed to clear the room. I sing like a cow with a throat infection giving birth to a tumble dryer. However she has taken up the challenge. All of the work so far has been around understanding my body, breathing properly, hissing and humming. Not a word has passed my lips in three lessons and I am amazed to find the process fascinating. I'm actually excited to continue and while I still doubt her chances of getting a noise from me which wouldn't startle passers by and cause the dogs to hide, I am enjoying finding out just how a real singer goes about their business. Turns out that they actually practice every bit as hard as we do. The voice really is an instrument which requires work. Who knew? My respect for vocalists will of course never be more than marginally higher than that with which I esteem guitarists, but I do feel slightly less contempt for them.

I have a similar situation but in potentia. New band, three rehearsals in and only the most recent one with full kit and PA. All of us new to the songs. I noticed immediately some obvious places for dynamic lifts and drops suggested them, overcame a little resistance which was based around not dropping the song so low that it lost its oomph, and we had another go. Problem is not everyone went with it. Now dynamics within a song is to me an absolute corner stone of a good band. In all other respects things sound good and the guys can play but I will have to say something if people can't grasp that the best way to make a part of a song sound strong, loud and powerful is to play more quietly just before going into that particular part. It may just be the fact that it's all new material to us and concentration is elsewhere at times. I shall certainly let it lie for a couple more rehearsals and see if things improve.

How about a bit of the late great Donny Hathaway?

£12 is a steal I reckon, come on boys and girls get yer feckin' money out!!!

I wouldn't be able to us the expression pedal. I fall over if I try to do too many complicated things with my feet while I'm playing!

Yes I hadn't even thought to mention the drum machine and looper functions!

Isn't the B1on just the best value for money thing any bassist could ever buy? After my Vox amplug suffered a prolapsed input due to me standing on my cable I recalled folk here saying the Zoom can do the same job and more. At £45 I thought why not take a punt. I'm stunned. It is a superb piece of kit. Perfect headphone amp, with aux input. Now with Audacity on my pc and this beauty connected to the sound card song learning has never been so easy. Oh and it has an excellent tuner too. Oh and the effects are really nice and easily customisable. And did I mention it only cost me 45 quid? Brand new? In the future people will describe any wonderful and innovative novelty as "The best thing since Zoom B1on" trust me.

This is a porn forum so lets put our basses on to the bed. Here's a few of mine reclining on the duvet Bass by Stew Black, on Flickr

So glad you got it all sorted. Looks the business and it now sounds the business too!

That Sire looks really lovely. Tempted now. Darn it.

I'm happily using them on my old Aria. They have a different feel from my Rotosound flats but all strings have their own feel. Nowt wrong with them and at a bargain price too.

That looks the bollocks, it really does. Convinced me not to bin an old broken down combo but strip it down for parts. I see a cab build in my future.

Love the way you set up your graphic

Can I add my voice to the chorus of praise and thanks for this wonderful insight into what goes into a huge gig like this. I could feel the excitement and joy you experienced coming through your posts. Oh, and from one photog to another, your shots were outstanding.

My first experience of flats was very similar then they played themselves in and I love them now. It did take a while though.

You win the internet

That's the entire point surely?

I used to like my Pocket Rockit but they don't seem to be available any more. Which kind of supports your point.

Thank goodness I'm not the only one happily using the Amplug! Sure it's plastic and feels flimsy but plenty good enough for learning songs at anti social hours. The hiss disappears when the tone is rolled back to about halfway and with a small MP3 player clipped to my guitar strap I can wander merrily naked around the house and garden playing along to my favourite tunes - without bothering the neighbours.

Looking good! Love the colour.

Great chap to deal with, excellent coms and item precisely as described, arrived very quickly. If Carlsberg did Basschatters....

Cheers! Even the middle 8 is reasonably sparse and just one change between verse and chorus. I'm learning this for a band right now and cannot wait to play it live.