peteb

9 hours ago, chris_b said:

 

For me, being 18 meant unlimited opportunities and possibilities.

 

Unfortunately I wasn't very focussed, was too easily distracted and didn't reach anywhere near my potential.

 

I'd do much better if I had another time around.

That's the problem - I had all this energy and attitude, but didn't know how to focus it. All it takes is the right gig and being in right place at the right time and who knows what could have happened? 

7 minutes ago, Bluewine said:

 

I'm old, if I was born 10 years earlier I'd have been playing with Benny Goodman. Lol

 

 Blue 

Well I'm nearly ten years or so younger than you, so who knows who I could have played with if I was in the right place at the right time?? 

Not that I would want to wish myself to be older, but in a way I wish I was born ten years earlier! I moved to London aged twenty in the early 80s with just a Fender Precision and the hope to get in a band and do something. Had it been in the early 70s, there might have been more opportunities for someone with my tastes, talents (such as they are) and sensibilities. Then again, whether I would still be around these days is another thing! 

11 minutes ago, Silvia Bluejay said:

I did not say that. Regarding what I actually did say (scroll up if you like), I suppose I'm bound to know what makes a woman a little uncomfortable better than a man would. I don't tend to talk nonsense, at least in this case.

 

As for girls learning to drive later - grain of truth, but mostly, in our society, for people our age, the *expected* priority for young women was to look good while the expected priority for young men was to have a good job and a car. Things are different now, so much the better - it wasn't as much fun as it might sound like.

 

Childcare - same applies, for people my age but also those a little younger and still able to have kids. Carer/provider role separation is still far from balanced.

 

In all of the above, weare not talking what would be FAIR. We're talking what still too often happens in real life.

I would suggest that you know what makes you and women with a similar outlook to you uncomfortable. I know plenty of girls who would regard the type of lyrics in question as either amusing or a complete non-issue. This attitude is helpful if they want to play in a rock band of most sorts. 

I totally agree with your other points. 

10 hours ago, Al Krow said:

@peteb Hmmm...kinda amusing to find a post in which I find myself going both "yes, 100%!" and then in the next breath "oh really?!" :

• "There is a shortage of singers who can really deliver on stage, both male and female." YUP AGREED!
• "There is an added disadvantage for girls in that they tend to learn to drive later than guys..." WHAT ARE YOU BASING THIS STATEMENT ON?
• "There is also the added issue that performing music has always been tended to be a male dominated world throughout the ages, be it in a rock and roll band, a jazz ensemble, an orchestra or a medieval group of strolling players. Don't get me  wrong, there have always been female musicians who have been successfully involved in playing music, but they have to have a 'one of the boys' attitude and to be able to hang to cut it in a band. If they are too girly or easily offended, then they've got no chance." SURE, THAT WAS TRUE HISTORICALLY AND MAYBE ALSO STILL TRUE IF THEY'RE FRONTING A MALE BAND. BUT THERE ARE PLENTY OF VERY SUCCESSFUL GIRL GROUPS AND FEMALE SOLO STARS OUT THERE, IN FACT SOME OF THE BIGGEST ACTS ON THE PLANET RIGHT NOW ARE WOMEN. AND BEING "EASILY OFFENDED" ISN'T JUST LIMITED TO WOMEN IS IT?
• "What you need in a singer is someone who is a genuine musician, rather than just someone who happens to have a half-decent voice. This applies to both males and females..." AGREED! "...but it is undoubtedly rarer for girls." REALLY?! YOU CHECKED THE OUTPUT OF THE MAJOR MUSIC COLLEGES WHO ARE PRODUCING VERY TALENTED VOCALISTS AND MUSICIANS EACH YEAR?
• "Having said that, I have played in bands with several girl singers who do just fine..."  YUP, WELL NO SURPISE THERE!

OK, it seems that you are mostly agreeing with me. To answer your points:

1.      I am basing the statement that girls tend to learn to drive and get a car later in life on Happy Jack’s post above, backed by personal experience. A sweeping generalisation to be sure, but I’m sure that it is largely true.

2.      You agree that playing music in an ensemble has historically been a male dominated thing. But where are all of these all girl bands and how many have been successful? It’s a long time since the GoGos and the Bangles and where are the all female equivalents of the Foo Fighters and The Killers. For every all girl band you can name, I’m sure you can think of a hundred all male bands.

3.      We are talking about girls joining a band here, rather than a manufactured girl group via a TV show / impresario or a star singer with a backing band made up of interchangeable jobbing musicians.

4.      There have always been many talented female singers, whether they went to a musical college / stage school or not. There is a tradition of divas ranging from Mariah Carey to Aretha to Maria Callas, back to when women were first allowed to perform on a stage. But not so many women were in the bands / orchestra pit backing these star female singers.

5.      I know that being offended is due to become an Olympic sport next time round, and is by no means just confined to females. However, some suggested earlier in the thread that no self-respecting woman would want to be in a rock covers band because of the lyrics they might find themselves being obliged to play. This is obviously nonsense, but you have to recognise that it does take a certain attitude for a girl to be OK with this, as well as being happy with being ‘one of the boys’ in the band. For many girls, this is perfectly natural and no big deal. But for many, it isn’t…

There is a shortage of singers who can really deliver on stage, both male and female. There is an added disadvantage for girls in that they tend to learn to drive later than guys, not to mention the obvious issues about childcare, etc that exist in the real world like it or not. 

There is also the added issue that performing music has always been tended to be a male dominated world throughout the ages, be it in a rock and roll band, a jazz ensemble, an orchestra or a medieval group of strolling players. Don't get me  wrong, there have always been female musicians who have been successfully involved in playing music, but they have to have a 'one of the boys' attitude and to be able to hang to cut it in a band. If they are too girly or easily offended, then they've got no chance. 

What you need in a singer is someone who is a genuine musician, rather than just someone who happens to have a half-decent voice. This applies to both males and females, but it is undoubtedly rarer for girls. Having said that, I have played in bands with several girl singers who do just fine... 

10 minutes ago, RikiB said:

I was told it’s plenty loud enough as it’s class AB and not class D but my GK legacy is lots louder.

Something definitely not right. I would take it to a tech if I was you. 

I'm using a R-400 with a pretty efficient Berg 212 cab for a loudish rock band playing reasonably large stages and I'm not having any issues with it not being loud enough. 

If I ever got asked by a punter for any requests, I always used to ask if they had a pound coin on them. If they said yes, I would tell them that there's a jukebox in the corner. 

I don't always post in this thread, but last night was a little notable as well as being a great gig.

The reason it was notable is that on Friday morning I woke up in a hotel in the Malaga after a couple of weeks driving around Spain. We checked out at midday, then had to wander around the city centre in pretty intense heat for four hours, before retrieving the hire car and driving to the airport for our late (and slightly delayed) flight. We got to bed just before two in the morning.

About fourteen hours later, I had to load the car and drive ninety minutes in the rain for a Led Zep tribute gig at the Waterloo Bar in Blackpool. It turned out to be a good night at a great venue with a decent sized and enthusiastic audience. We haven't played a gig for a few weeks and it was the only the singer's second show with the band, but it sounded really good playing to a great crowd. I hadn't picked up a bass in anger for a couple of weeks (apart from my mate's not so great little Hofner bass in Spain), so it took a toll on the old fingers, but all in all a top gig. A decent payday as well, which was nice coming back from holiday... 

15 hours ago, Beedster said:

There's a rather elegant lifecycle to things on BC; how many of us have bought something, then sold it as the result of GAS, only to find ourselves realising the error of our ways and buying the same model - sometimes even the same item - again? 

 

This has sat unplayed for almost 6-months. I sat down and played it this evening and realised that, if I didn't own a Mesa Carbine M6 Combo, I'd be posting for one in Items Wanted. So I guess i've saved myself the bother of selling it only to find I need to buy it again! I'd like to say 'So with apologies, I'm withdrawing it", but given it's sat here for 6-months, I don't feel all that guilty  

It is a great amp and I almost considered buying it. Of course, I already have gear that does a similar job and too much of it, but for a minute, I was tempted...! 

I hope that it sees more action in the future and that you continue to enjoy your 'new' non-purchase... 

59 minutes ago, Baloney Balderdash said:

I honestly don't get this attitude.

 

Why even play if the people you play for couldn't care less and just wants to be entertained?

Does an audience care about small differences in the way a bass guitar sounds in a mix? Will they even recognise the difference? No, of course not.

However, they do want to be entertained by musicians who do know and care about such things. They want to hear great music with its own personality, to which such small details contribute. 

I would also add that when you get on a stage, it is your job to entertain an audience as well as to communicate the music you are playing to them in the best way that you can. 

What makes a successful gig can be one (or hopefully more) of a number of things:

1) A great reaction from the audience 

2) If you know that the band has played really well 

3) If it's a great hang and you meet cool people and make useful connections 

4) You enjoy some gigs just because you know that you're making a decent amount of money (although personally, I would avoid too many gigs that you are doing just for the cash)

I remember someone saying (but I can't remember who right now) that before he joins a band / project he looks at three factors: whether the music is great, whether the gig will advance his career & if he likes hanging with the people involved. If he can answer yes to two of those three questions, then he will take the gig! I would say that you can apply the same kind of criteria (but sort of in reverse as it is looking back after the show, if you know what I mean) to what makes a successful gig. 

40 minutes ago, Mickeyboro said:

Is it audience reaction (eg the number of people dancing/clapping along), how you play yourself, the overall tightness of the band, the sound?

 

You forgot the money! 

7 minutes ago, Reggaebass said:

They are not my colour choice, I’ve never actually seen one up close 

I've seen a few - they were around in music shops when I first started playing as a teenager in the late 70s. I didn't particularly like the colour then, but that one actually looks pretty cool...! Not a bad price either for a bass that may well be pretty collectable. 

edit: having had a closer look, it doesn't seem to be in the greatest condition. I've never thought of 'splitting of the wood' as being 'typical' of 70’s Fenders! 

7 hours ago, dmccombe7 said:

Sorry about that Jimmy i went onto their site and saw them AFTER i posted the comment. Bit of a "DOH !!!" moment there.

Just ordered one.

Cheers for that 

Dave

I've just ordered one as well... 

Thanks @jimmyb625 

8 hours ago, tauzero said:

 

But why bother saying so?

Because lots of people (with some justification) think that cables are inherently better than wireless. In this instance, I thought that it was valid for him to make that point. 

1 hour ago, tauzero said:

 

You win the award for pointless post of the day.

I don’t see why you think his post was pointless. Lots of players don't trust wireless systems and prefer to use a cable for a variety of reasons.  

6 minutes ago, dmccombe7 said:

Had the Smooth Hound wireless before the Shure and altho i never got drop outs i did seem to pick up noise or interference on it in some venues.

I've since played same venues with the Shure and nothing, it was as clear as the proverbial whistle.

Dave

I've had all sorts of issues with a variety of wireless systems over the years and despite the obvious advantages of going wireless, I always went back to using a cable. The Shure has changed that. It isn't cheap, but it just works and is worth the initial expense. 

6 minutes ago, nilorius said:

I don't trust wireless systems for bass and guitars. I prefer long, good quality cables. No offence there, choose & use what You like. 

Fair enough. I've had many wireless systems before the GLXD16 and always went back to a cable.

However, the GLXD16 is reliable and sounds / works great and is the first system that I've actually trusted. Hardly ever done a gig with a lead since I got it. 

39 minutes ago, jimmyb625 said:

Completely agree with all of this. The first thing I did was get a new cable from designacable, as I wanted an angled one, instead of the straight one it comes with. 

Same here, the one problem I have with my GLXD16. I don't suppose that you have a link for the cable you got from designacable? Cheers... 

18 minutes ago, nilorius said:

I don't trust them, never wanted to use.

Like Dave, I'm not quite sure exactly what you don't trust? 

1 hour ago, Reggaebass said:

Thanks BB, I’m waiting to hear back from him, he’s sending some more pics and info 

If I as in the market, which I am unlikely to be for a few years, then that is a bass that I might have gone for! Good luck mate... 

Looks great - nice weight and the price isn't ridiculous... 

11 hours ago, Gabriel1918 said:

Planning a similar trip to London and wondered if anyone could recommend any decent places for bass amps whilst I'm there? (anywhere except the Bass Gallery in Camden: I've never had a good experience of them, and this week has been the worst experience ever).

You've just ruled out the only decent bass shop in London...! It is better in person than online if that's any help... 

2 hours ago, Undertone said:

When you say that's not how you use it, where do you have Gain and Master for live performance?

Triple post!