mingsta

Blue, I enjoy your posts and this has been an interesting thread. But the way your OP read it had the air of asking "how much do you gig, and why?" then bigging yourself up on account of your 75 gigs a year, while looking down on those who aren't living that life. I'm sure that's not what you meant, but its certainly how you came across. You probably could have done the first two things, but skipped the last 8o) I'm a working stiff/hobbyist and can speak from that perspective. For many a hobbyist just getting to the point where you are doing 1-2 paid gigs a month is already a good achievement. I've reached my glass ceiling and I'm happy in my greenhouse! If I had more time for music, I'd put more time in to expanding myself creatively/musically rather than necessarily doing more gigs. We have a growing setlist of about 40 songs, and it'd start to do my nut in if we were bashing out the same songs 1-2 times a week. Music is quite far down my list of priorities so I'm just massively thankful to be in a set up that works well and where we get a semi-regular stream of gigs 1-2 times a month. The only reason I do it is because I enjoy the pressure and release of performing live and because its massively rewarding (satisfaction, not money!) to be paid in recognition of this. For most of us its not glamorous or cool being in a band at all, so its certainly not for that! When we play weddings and parties you're just some dude carrying heavy boxes and running cables for 50% of the time, then the other 50% of the time you're at the back with the drummer while the singer and guitard lap up the glory. So no, far from being a Boys Night Out...not by a long shot...

Really depends. I could quite easily go without FX as I played for years just going in to an amp with nothing else. I gig once or twice a month nowadays and it's useful to have a volume pedal, clean boost, tuner and compressor. I use octave, chorus, envelope filter and mild overdrive for a handful of songs, but I doubt anyone notices apart from me and the band. Mainly it's just a good laugh, albeit expensive, building up a pedal board, it's like lego for bassists. The smart money is on a small multi fx like the zoom b3 if you're not a heavy user, much more user friendly than some of the multifx beasts of old and good sounds if not quite up there with separates.

Yeah, have a look at floating thumb. Its a good technique to have and you can pick it up quite quickly with a bit of practice. Its becomes more important if you move to 5 strings or are moving across the strings a lot and want to keep things clean. Less strain on the hands as well.

[quote name='r16ktx' timestamp='1448008917' post='2912177'] Do you have any back line with these, and if not how do you handle monitoring? Also Yamaha state that the frequency response is 49Hz-20kHz @ -10dB and this handles the bass guitar fine? [/quote] With our old set up, we had a fairly weedy PA which we'd just run vocals and guitar through, while the bass and drums were amplified via their own backlines. We don't use a backline anymore with the DXR15s. The guitarist goes straight in to the desk after his effects. Drummer has an electronic kit and headphones and also goes straight in to the desk. I use a Genz Shuttle 2x10 but only loud enough so I can hear a bit more bass above the monitors. We have a couple of monitors running the main mix from the desk. We all run a bit of compression and I roll off a bit of bass and boost the mids a bit, as does the drummer. This is something we did as a matter of course anyway rather than because we're trying to get more volume out of the PA. We've not been close to pushing it in the past four gigs. Its all relative, I guess. We're not a quiet band, but we're not as loud as a loud rock band. Whats plenty for us may not be for others. I've had no issues with the bass response on the DXR15s, but I'm generally basing that on what the sound guys and mates in the audience have said as I've not done much listening out front in the 4 gigs we've done since we got the PA.

We've got everything (vox, backing, guitar, bass, edrums) going through a pair of yamaha DXR15s. It's a compromise as we don't have the budget or biceps for tops and subs, but it's been working well for us as a portable full range PA. We played a good sized hall the other week and I was impressed by how much it could kick out while still sounding good.

What's your main purpose for the site? Is it just to give you your own spot on the net and more for your own satisfaction,or a shop front for promoting the band and getting more bookings etc?

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1446220852' post='2897891'] Because we're not friends. Blue [/quote] Interesting point Blue, and one which is often made. My four piece band's been together for 2 years and its all been very smooth. Both the guitarist and I know the singer separately, but essentially we were formed for the purpose of learning a set list so that we could start doing local gigs and functions. We were not friends to begin with. After two years, its fair to say that we've all become good friends, though we rarely socialise outside of a band context. I think when its that way round, its fine. But the other way round (close friends -> band) it could be a nightmare in the same way that working professionally with a close friend or partner might be.

While there are plenty of entertaining posts from people in bands with various personnel/politics/money disagreements, I was wondering is anyone in a band with NO issues and if so, what do you think are the reasons that it just works for you guys?

So did anyone buy one? Thought not.

Lovely playing, but I think I would gave enjoyed it more without the video. If you ever wanted to see four men having sex with each other musically, this is it.

I've got a PJB cub in red - gorgeous amp. I think it should be a very good for your requirements as I use it for the same. I use it as a monitor for gigs and its loud enough for this duty, though I have to crank it up to 80% max. It sounds much nicer at low volume than a big rig, so a good one for home practice and low volume rehearsals with bandmates. The 2 inputs and aux in mean that you can have bass, guitar + backing track or e-drums. Sound wise, its clean and tight. Not massively bassy, but tight and musical sounding. It can handle a 5-string fine, as in you will hear the notes clearly and it wont fart out, just don't expect it to flap your trousers. Its not massively loud, but would be fine for an acoustic or low volume café/restaurant gig. For me its a keeper, I'd use the Cub for most day to day musical activities (practice, rehearsal etc) and only bring out the big rig for gigs. You'd definitely need another rig for gigs as its nowhere near loud enough for a rock band etc. Or you could buy the powered extension cabinet. Just be aware that I don't think those 5" drivers are particularly efficient, so that 250 watts on thepowered extension cab might not get you massively loud.

While I'm a compulsive window shopper and always stop by, I always find the experience massively underwhelming. Props to wunjo bass who have some decent stuff and friendly helpful staff. Not bothered about the rest of it. I much, much prefer places like Andertons in Guildford or guitar guitar in Epsom nowadays. I was at Andertons a few days ago and got that kid in a candy shop feeling.

Ah brings back some memories of my student days!!! United future organisation - loud minority Grey boy - freestylin Dj krush - dj krush As for neo soul, anything by maxwell, d'angelo, tony toni tone

Thanks for the input so far guys. Btw my budget is 800-1000 for the pair.

I've got a several different cabs cluttering up my house, but if I could do it all again I'd go for a lightweight modular 2 x 112 set up and congratulate myself on a job well done. Running the single 12 would be fine for rehearsals, moderate volume gigs and stage monitoring (if you're going through a PA), then you can bring in the other 12 if you need to go bigger.

I play in a Vox, Guitar, Bass, Drummer with e-kit set up. Our singer has a cheap 12" passive speaker and 300-watt power amp set up which the guitar and vocals go through, while the bass and e-drums are amplified via their own backline. The PA is a bit pokey and stuggles in bigger rooms/outdoor gigs and I'm thinking we'd have less kit and a better and more integrated sound if with could upgrade the PA and have everyone go through it. I'm currently ooking at Active PA speakers in the £800-1000 range such as Yamaha DXR15's (700 watts continuous, 2-way 15" and 2.5"). Does anyone run a similar set up with the whole band going through? Would it be enough for medium sized pubs? We're not a particularly loud band but would like something with decent headroom while being on a bit of a budget in a 2-speaker package. Any recommendations for alternatives in that price range recommended too as I know naff all about PAs.

Crez5150 that's a great set list. Out of those tracks, are there any that you think would work with a four piece band? Ie guitar, bass and drums? We'd love to do some more disco/funk tracks but always feel that we'd struggle without the keys.

Headphones for me too. I enjoy playing much more knowing I'm not pissing any one off.

Great news. Gb made great kit. I have two heads and three cabs