geoham

An alternative head worth thinking of would be the BH550 or BH800. I find it a pretty clean and modern sounding head, and I can get an Ampeg sound easily enough from my Zoom B3nwhen I need it. The toneprint feature is less gimmicky than you may think too! (The octave is particularly good, it tracks well all the way down!) Also, I have two RS112 cabs. One is normally enough for what I'm doing, but I like two since brings the sound a bit closer to my ears!

What I do is have a good, reasonably flat tone and use fingers / pick / tone control / pickup selection to suit the song. I have a few effects on my Zoom B3 for songs that demand them. A phaser for Thin Lizzy Dancing in the Moonlight, some filth for No More Heroes, octave for Sledgehammer - you get the idea! Some folk will recommend you get separate pedals. I previously tried this and it meant carrying a lot of often expensive pedals that would be used for one song. The B3 is a great multi-fx - between the effects and the amps sims, you can get whatever sound you need. Have fun!

Thanks Bill, that was quite interesting! I agree that ideally we'd put everything through the PA, it's just not practical at many of the gigs we play. (A five piece band squeezed in the corner of a local pub, with the headstock of my bass almost up the keyboard player's nose!) It's definitely something I want to look at for bigger gigs.

Hi, I've been gigging with just on TC Electronic RS112 cab recently, with a BH550 head on top. The gigs have mostly been in small pubs, so it's been perfectly adequate. However, i recently played a fairly large pub and while the speaker was loud enough, I did crank the master volume to about 70-80%. I know the cab is rated at 200w, and I guess the amp will put out something like 300w with just one 8 ohm cab, so I was probably pushing things to the limit. It did sound great though - I was approached with a couple of musicians after the show who were flabbergasted that such a small setup could sound so huge. Anyway, I've gone and purchased a second RS112 (from Ebenezer on here!). I'd planned on just stacking one on top of the other, but my guitarist has suggested placing the other at the opposite side of the stage! His logic is that he'll hear it a bit better (he's half deaf!) and also that it would sound more better out front. I suppose I can see where he's coming from, it just seems a bit unorthodox to me! Have any of you tried such a thing? How did it work for you? FYI - neither the guitar or bass go through the PA. Thanks, George

Just bought a speaker cab from Mark. It was shipped within hours of payment. It arrived very well packaged and in perfect condition. Excellent communication throughout and no problems whatsoever.

I'm a huge fan of Roger's, so perhaps a bit biased! I love the album. My view is that it's deliberately a bit 'Floyd by numbers' in order to appeal to as wide an audience as possible, and spread his political message as wide as possible. Also, he's been promising the fans an album (the Heartland project was mentioned by him and he was often asked about it) for about 10 years. I personally know some Floyd fans that don't like Roger's solo stuff - but do like the new album. I loved his last album, Amused To Death - but I feel I'm in the minority! In my view, in the past 15 years or so, Roger has been addressing his reputation of making self indulgent, often dreary records and reminding people he was the creative force behind Pink Floyd's most successful albums. A key point for me is that the two 'demo' songs he released in the early 2000's (Leaving Beiruit and To Kill The Child) are nowhere to be seen now. I think this is his way of giving the mainstream fans what they want.

I want chip in on the point that virtually all music is recorded digitally now, so there is little point on playing it back on an analogue medium like vinyl. I think the 'loudness wars' have a lot to answer for here... For those of you unfamiliar with the term, it's the trend of using sometimes excessive audio compression to make a record as loud as possible - but removing much of the dynamic range. Apparently most folk automatically equate louder with better. I recall reading that many of these highly compressed recordings were simply not suitable for vinyl - damage could be caused to the needle or something. So, modern vinyl releases are produced from a different master, with less compression. Assuming this is correct, the vinyl version could sound better. (Though the exact same version could be released on CD, the vinyl itself adds nothing)

The UK price of a Sire V7, imported from Thomann (Germany) with the weakest Pound I remember is is around £400. A US Fender would set you back about three times that. Here, this is in the same price range as Mexican Fenders and Squiers - and look to be far better value basses. I suppose a US Fender is much cheaper in the States and the Sire is more expensive.

I'd love our whole band to go direct to the PA. I suspect I've no chance with the guitarist though... he insists on cranking a JCM 900, 4x12 full blast even when rehearsing. Only way to get a decent sound out of a Marshall apparently!

[quote name='Jonse' timestamp='1492523272' post='3280908'] I use the titanium version with the small tips. I've used them about 30 times and they've lasted just fine. However, when I initially received them I tried out the medium tips first. Upon deciding they were too large I tried to remove them and they just came apart in my hands. I was applying very little force and was using the suggested removal method. I like them though and would buy replacement tips when the time comes. [/quote] This is quite interesting. I'm a large guy and assumed the large would be the size for me - but they were quite uncomfortable and fell apart after a single use. I got twice out of the mediums and maybe 3 times out of the two small sets I've been used. Maybe I have abnormally narrow ear canals...

[quote name='Muppet' timestamp='1492066909' post='3277543'] I've just got some of these but yet to use them in anger. What do the Flare Audio guys say? Im sure three uses is no way good enough and just sending some spares just leaves you with the same problem..... [/quote] The tone of the message I got (via Facebook messenger) was that I was misusing them. Along the lines of 'we'll give you a free set this time, but here's how not to damage them in future'. If nobody else is having similar problems, I'm happy to accept I'm the problem and not the product. I've never really tried any other earplugs, so reckon I should look at some other options. As a side note, after playing with these in, I never want to go back to unprotected ears again. God knows how much damage was done in the past 20 years!

Just to add, I do really like them - I can hear everything in the band well, particularly the bass. Despite being a large guy, the small size is most comfortable (the only thing I'm not an XL in!), and I need to roll them to get them in. Only getting 3 rehearsals from a set of tips really isn't good enough for me. Perhaps I have especially toxic ears! What earplugs are the rest of you using?

Hi guys, I purchased a set of Flare Audio Isolates ear plugs a while back. They came with three sets of tips, one in each size. I can't get through more than three rehearsals without the tips falling apart. I contacted Flare about it, and they sent me a replacement set (a goodwill gesture), along with a video with instructions on how to properly use them. I'm not sure whether to just cut my losses and try another brand, or keep buying replacement tips for these. I'd be interested in your thoughts on this. Thanks, George

Thanks for this, very interesting! I've been considering changing the preamp in my own 5501 to something where I could change the mid-frequency. Other than that (which is really a minor annoyance!), I love the bass as it is. One thing I'm hoping you can clarify - how I understood things worked was that the push/pull pot could be used to bypass the EQ (effectively setting it flat) - but I didn't think this was going entirely passive. Have I got this wrong? How did you set the EQ for the 'Active' recordings? Thanks,

It's one of the reasons I prefer smaller gigs. I saw Lake Street Dive at Oran Mor in Glasgow (capacity around 500) in November, and the bass sounded amazing - even my guitarist friend commented on how good it sounded.

I'm not sure what I'd class as my first gig... my school's music department were quite cool and put on a few shows each year. By the age of about 14 (around 1995), I was the most competent and willing bassist, so I played in most of those. I preferred guitar at the time, but was a far better bassist! Gear wise, it would have been a school owned 'ZZ Top' branded P copy through a Gorilla 1 x 15 combo, or perhaps my Squier Strat through my Laney 30w, 1x12 combo. My school also gave my first paid gig! A year after I left, they were putting on Grease, and the guy who was supposed to be playing simply wasn't good enough. I was asked at two weeks notice, and was payed the awesome sum of £50 for three shows! I used my own Tanglewood Rebel 4K. The drummer from my own band was still at school, and did the show too, so was quite enjoyable! My first non-school related gig was with an originals band, Silent Haze at Strawberry Fields, Glasgow in late 1999. I used the same Tanglewood through a shared backline - I remember it being an Ampeg head & 2x10 cab. I didn't own my own bass amp at the time!

[quote name='MoonBassAlpha' timestamp='1486913531' post='3235452'] I'm curious, what is the perceived deterioration in flats? I've had a set of Status flats on for about a year and not noticed and difference in sound or feel. Unless the frets wear the winding out, I can't see how the strings would change. Enlighten me please, this is my first experience of flats. [/quote] I suppose it's possible that whatever oils or others substances come from your hands could have a effect on the string. I'm on my 2nd set of flats (first set sold with a bass). I've had these Chromes on my Jazz for about 2 years. The definitely did sound a bit brighter when new, but I'm still perfectly happy with how they sound!

I think that EBay is now dominated by business sellers rather than private individuals, hence 'Buy it now' being so common. Many private sellers are now sellers my via Facebook groups or even sites likes this, avoiding EBay and possibly Paypal fees.

I currently have a P-bass strung with round-wound strings and a J with flats (Chromes). I'm going to switch them around - I have some brand new rounds that are going on the Jazz, but am considering just reusing the flats. So - how long do you keep flats for? I know rounds sound their best when new, but to me flats don't degrade in the same way. Ideally I'd have two Ps and two Js - they both sound great with both types of strings. Until such times that I have a bigger house and pay-cheque , I'll need to make do with what I have!

A fair few... for starters:- Hendrix - All Along The Watchtower Guns n Roses - Knocking on Heaven's Door The Clash - I Fought The Law

Looks a good lineup, Minehead is a fair trek from Glasgow though! I was at a slightly more tame Butlins event in Skegness last week. It was the first such event that I've been too, and really enjoyed it. Lot of good acts, including some I'd never heard of before. Reckon I'll get another in at some point.

I was at this gig last weekend and had a bloody good time! The Butlins camp is its own little self contained village with a few good sized stages and a few pubs. Our apartment was as far away from the stages as you could get, but only took 15 minutes at most to get to the entertainment. Skegness itself isn't the greatest place in the UK, but Butlins is disconnected from it entirely! Moreland & Arbuckle were the best band of the weekend. I also enjoyed Sugarman Sam and the Voodoo Men, The Texas Flood, Marcia Ball, Toronzo Cannon, Joanne Shaw Taylor and of course Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel.

Apologies for the old thread resurrection! I'm driving down to Skegness for this! I've taken the kids to Butlins before, so I have an idea what to expected. I'm quite a big fan of Steve Harley and he hasn't brought his full band to Scotland for years, so making a weekend of this. My friend and both our wives are going down. About £450 for the weekend - not bad for three nights entertainment and accommodation. We've not heard of too many of the bands, but we've looked up most of them on Spotify. Moreland and Arbuckle sound decent - will make sure I catch them. Should hopefully be a decent enough weekend!

[quote name='roceci' timestamp='1478876306' post='3172325'] I've had a look (don't you just love Friday afternoons in 'work'...) & can't see any ads matching the clues so far. I take it it's definitely not this one tho https://www.gumtree.com/p/other-musicians-wanted/bassist-needed-for-queer-cabaret-pop-band/1196055562 [/quote] Ha - looks an interesting gig! Probably a bit flamboyant for the likes of me though.... I got an email today from them. Apparently there were two bassists called George who responded to the ad and they assumed we were the same guy. The other George called off on them, hence the cancellation! They were really very apologetic and sound genuine. I'm tempted to give them a bash... I'll mull it over!

[quote name='roceci' timestamp='1478869573' post='3172243'] They're after a bassist, we're all bass players...chuck us a link to the ad so we can string em along a bit [/quote] I really shouldn't! But the ad is from about 2 weeks ago in the Glasgow area...