jonsebass

So what is the going rate for gigs then? Do you have a "bass" (geddit) cost (of say £200) and then add on extra $$$ for longer sets etc? I've played bass in the same band for yonks now, and we started off playing pubs for £160 (when we first started out as a 4 piece) and then that went to £200 as we became more popular. Now we are a 5 piece we play 1st pub gigs for £250 and subsequent for £300. We have pretty much always done 1x 60 min set and 1x 90ish min sets. Weddings/parties we charge double for (£600 just for the band) because the majority of the time we have to setup early/the day before so theres a lot of travelling. Set times are normally chosen by the person thats booked us. I've heard of some bands that charge more to bring their own PA/lights and things, which I find ludicrous really. In terms of playing for 4 hours, I think I probably would as long as its pointed out upfront and reflected in the booking fee (I will never forget the time that our guitarist couldnt do a gig so we did it as a 4 piece with about an hours notice - it was a common gig for us but a new landlord. He asked the 4 of us to play from 10pm til 1am with a 15 minute break (we used to do 9:30 - 11:30 under the old landlord). He knew we charged £250 (first gig for him) and we managed to get thru the gig by playing our normal set as best as we could and blagging a few others. He came up to us at the end of the gig and paid us £200 and told us that he didnt need to pay us fully as we were a man down! What an idiot. Needless to say he didnt stay there long!)

There is on hotcovers.co.uk abd its £41

OK, so I got the 2x10 version of this on Monday.. Initial thoughts were "hmmmm". Took it home, put gain, volume, and all eq flat (12 o clock) and notched the master volume up to an acceptable level (not even 4 clicks round), and it sounded OK. A quick mess with the EQ made it sound a bit better, but not much. Tried the tweeter switch in the on, off and -6db and could tell the difference. Cranked the gain up to distort slightly, and you do get a nice warmish tube type sound - but all the way might be a bit much if you're using a pick. I took the speakon out of the back of it, and plugged my headphones in (custom built with extra bass response) and I didnt like the sound I got - No matter what the gain/volume/master/eq was set at, I couldnt get rid of that bassy fuzzy clicky sound you sometimes get with some cheap headphones (mine werent cheap, but appreciate it could be the headphones rather than the amp). The best thing about this is the contour knob - it does make a subtle difference to your sound. Well, actually, no - the best thing about this amp is using it live. Took it to a gig last night. Gain was about 11, Volume about 2, Contour knob about 10, EQ flat, and Master Volume at about 9. I turned the tweeter off. I use a Squier VM Jazz Bass, newly strung for this particular gig. I tell you what - this thing shook me from the 1st note to the last note - i alternate between fingers and pick throughout the set (pub rock covers) and this thing really got me moving. Clarity was fantastic (we play Life in the Fast Lane by The Eagles, and you could hear the "ghost notes" as i was hitting muted strings), volume was superb, plenty of headroom - and as i was initially messing with the amp, i cranked the gain up with the volume, and you get this lovely crunchy tube sound. I could have done with a bit more top end, but now i know what its like with a flat eq, and no tweeter, I can custom my sound from there. This is a great amp, and I would recommend buying it if you are looking for something lightweight and loud.

Right..I'm going for the 210. Will hopefully have it and have gigged it in the next week or so and will report back.

No the Ashdown had a problem with the transistor so im told. The heat sink snapped off the circuit board and shorted out the Trace. I pay about £60 a year for 1m liability cover, and amp and bass insurance for 500 and 300. And I mean combo. I think a trip to Mark at Bass Direct is in order. Really like the Contout

I suppose it will always be horses for courses.

Yeah, had the same problem with a MAG a few years ago which has put me off Ashdowns, plus none of them seem to have any balls. Ive mainly used Peavey and Trace and had no problems until the Trace went pop.

True. I should explain... I bought a used trace, insured it, and it blew up at a gig. Got it fixed but it hasn't been the same and always that sneaking feeling that it might go at any point and it still intermittently cuts out. So I cashed the insurance in and they paid out fully but I need to buy a new amp before they will cover me on it again. Plus, I bought my first new bass this year and wanted to follow up with a new amp. I've never had that much to spend on an amp (or anything) before and am like a kid in a sweet shop! I know ebay will give me more clout but I don't want the risk of being in the same situation again.

Looking for a new amp (as in shop new) and have a £500 budget. What's best in your opinion? I play in a covers band; pubs, clubs, weddings etc, and its all rock and indie rock (normal stuff really). I've been looking at the Genz Benz Contours and TC Electronic BG250's but am open to other opinions, even on speaker configuration etc. And of course if it's cheaper than £500 then theres room for a new bass too Cheers

[url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_trksid=p5197.m570.l1313.TR2.TRC0&_nkw=maple+veneer&_sacat=0&_from=R40"]http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_trksid=p5197.m570.l1313.TR2.TRC0&_nkw=maple+veneer&_sacat=0&_from=R40[/url]

Try Zilla Cabs. Brilliant quality, service, the lot!

sorry - gone now to the first person that pm'd me. fyi - i got it from ebay for about £3..

Some kind of Yamaha mixer (MG210c?) - I use mine for everything! Recording, monitors at gigs, disco's - pretty much everything musically that i do. Not really an expert in monitors, but anything by Mackie or Wharfedale seem to be about standard in most studio's ive been in.

Had a MAG Combo from new. Sold it a month later. Was the worst thing i ever owned. Horses for courses tho innit

Some maple veneer .6mm thick that i didnt need. free to anyone that wants it. There are about 3/4 sheets, about 4" x 10" and a few other bits. ta.

hows about.. [url="http://www.bassdefret.com/book/bd_ebook_001/bass_defret_ebook.pdf"]http://www.bassdefret.com/book/bd_ebook_001/bass_defret_ebook.pdf[/url]

Im in the process of converting a fretted to a fretless, and ive found help in the guide below. There is a bit about setting up a bass later on in the document, so if it helps, brill - if not, im sure ill be posting the same question in about a week! [url="http://www.bassdefret.com/book/bd_ebook_001/bass_defret_ebook.pdf"]http://www.bassdefret.com/book/bd_ebook_001/bass_defret_ebook.pdf[/url]