Skinnyman

[quote name='vsmith1' timestamp='1406881296' post='2515494'] I put it down to a combination of ego and ignorance. Ego in terms of they think they are the main attraction and ignorance in terms of not understanding or wanting to understand the balance of sound as well as thinking somehow everyone else will be fine. All band members in my view should have some appreciation of the basics of PA and mixing. In my small experience they want to remain ignorant because when you try to explain you can see the shutters coming down and yet they expect miracles like its as perfect as when I'm playing at home on my own with the backing track. [/quote] What he just said. I run the sound as well as bass duties and I've lost count of the number of times that someone has nearly had a guitar or mic stand firmly planted where the sun don't shine, watching me stomp off with the words "well do it your 'kin self then...." Ringing in their ears. I like the one-handed signal attenuator posted earlier in this thread too

One of our guitarists insists on playing at full volume ALL the time. He reins it back at sound check and then whacks it up to 11 as soon as we start. Threats of physical pain, abuse and pleas to his better nature have all fallen on deaf ears (sic). We've taken his amp away and DI'd him straight into the mixer - he just turns up the gain and cranks up his monitor. It's got to the stage where I have to wear ear defenders to try and protect what's left of my hearing. Until now. Last week we got him a set of wireless in-ear monitors which he loves. He can have them as loud as he likes while we can mix him into the stage monitors at a reasonable level. Two blissful gigs done since. Sorted.

+1 they're brilliant.

[quote name='Simon.' timestamp='1406633198' post='2513180'] Fender Japan have a colour called Old Lake Placid Blue, which I just love. I have serious, serious GAS for one of these (but with a pearl plate on it): [url="http://[URL=http://s1138.photobucket.com/user/Simon_Ritson/media/JB75-OLB.jpg.html][IMG]http://i1138.photobucket.com/albums/n535/Simon_Ritson/JB75-OLB.jpg[/IMG][/URL]"]http://[URL=http://s1138.photobucket.com/user/Simon_Ritson/media/JB75-OLB.jpg.html][IMG]http://i1138.photobucket.com/albums/n535/Simon_Ritson/JB75-OLB.jpg[/IMG][/URL][/url] [/quote] Aaaaaaargh. Why did you show me this? It's gorgeous. I want one. Can't have one but can't un-see it either.

The Granary in Long Sutton (where's that??! Where? That's miles....). Took forever to get there and the definite feeling that although the phone book might be quite big, there's only going to be a couple of surnames in it..... But, a brilliant gig. Mixed crowd, including Nana celebrating her 70th. Dance floor full, loads of banter and crammed to the rafters. I tried out the new (to me) Bass Collection with it's upgraded EQ for the first time live and loved it. Both guitarists and the singer commented on the sound I was getting and my back commented on how little weight it was having to carry. My Fender USA Jazz sat on its stand all night, relegated to backup bass. Of course, I still played like I was wearing boxing gloves, but at least it sounded nice when I got the right notes now and then. I am loving that little bass....

I just bought a Bass Collection SB310 and, although I love the guitar, I was a bit less impressed with the level of hiss and noise coming from the 30-odd year old electrics. Plus, as has been mentioned on here before, the jazz pickup was a bit on the quiet side. So I bought an Artec SE2 EQ off eBay which arrived this morning and I've just spent a happy hour or two fitting it. In case anyone is impatient to find out the answer, I'll just say right up front that I'm really impressed with this. For £21 it's incredible value. Here's the full story.... First thing to mention is that the thing comes loosely wrapped in bubble wrap with no instructions, wiring diagram or anything. But if you take a minute or two to study everything, you'll see that the connections are printed on the boards. There are wiring diagrams on the Artec website so it's not really an issue. The various pots are all connected to each other by molex connectors so the only thing that needs to be soldered is the input from the pups, the connections to the output jack and the battery clip. It's not the hardest wiring job in the world if you're reasonably competent with a soldering iron. As always, three hands helps and the SB310 has loads of room inside the cavity so for me it was a nice easy job. Other basses may not be quite as forgiving.... I get very OCD about keeping wires tidy, making sure everything is shielded and properly grounded etc so whether it's my spectacular workmanship or the quality of the Artec but the upshot is that when reassembled I found the hiss had gone, the J pickup is on a par with the P pickup and the overall sound quality is really impressive. The bass and treble cuts/boosts are subtle but effective. There's not a huge dynamic range on either the bass or treble pot but there's plenty for me. Ok, this will never compete with a East, EMG, etc - but then, I don't think it needs to. It's a £21 replacement for a set of ageing electrics that I've put into a great little bass that's never going to be worth a fortune but warrants an upgrade. At twice the price this would be excellent. At this price, it's a steal.

Just bought Mike's Bass Collection SB310. Easy transaction, nice guy to deal with. Many thanks

So, it's not just me then...!! Phew. That video is brilliant and will become part of my exercise routine from today. So the general consensus is; simplify or sacrifice the bass part for the vocal, practice and, er, practice some more. Thanks to all for the constructive comments - and for the reassurance that I'm not a freak because I can't do this!

Does anyone else struggle to sing and play at the same time? Or is it just me? We have a great singer but he wants someone to do backing vocals. I'm happy to do it and, apparently, sound okay - but it turns out I can't sing and play simultaneously. Am I alone in this or does anyone else have the same problem? More importantly, has anyone had the problem and solved it? Any suggestions for practise routines to help me would be gratefully received....

It was the local Masonic Lodge Ladies Night. We found ourselves crammed onto a tiny stage, no chance to do a sound check and a growing conviction that we (classic rock covers band specialising in the heavier end of the pop/rock spectrum) are in the wrong place. 5 minutes later the audience are equally convinced. An interesting night made all the better by the elderly couple (70 if they were a day) who danced the entire night, often on their own and to everything. Respect.

Played the Golden Fleece in Stamford on Friday. Just before we started the drummer said "oh there's the bass player from my old band - he's brilliant" and proceeded to trot out all the reasons for this dude's brilliance. Oh great. So, no pressure then. Got through the first number okay but then we went into All Right Now. Got to the bass riff before the guitar solo and had a complete melt down. Just two bars but those two bars were very, very bad. Over the last three years I must have played that song a thousand times and never had a problem. Now, when I'm trying to prove to the drummer that I'm not the ham fisted buffoon he thinks i am..... Played my best ever for the rest of the gig but somehow.....

Just bought a lovely Yamaha fretless off Chris. Great guy and a pleasure to do business with. Bass was in great condition, exactly as described. Chris even came over to meet me part way (and bought me a coffee). Highly recommended - deal with confidence. Dave

I had a similar problem, wouldn't go away and the more I played, the more I aggravated it. Ended up with a cortizone injection in the shoulder - sorted! That and a Pro-Series Strapp (sic) from Bass Direct - seems to halve the weight of my bass. Best thing I ever bought (well, aside from the latex catsuit for the missus)...

We had a demo CD made last year and have been dropping it into pubs around the area - seems to have worked as we're booked up pretty solid now till December. Last night was the first time at the Hole In The Wall, Stamford. We're a covers band (pretty much anything from the 70's up to today) and a decent crowd turned out - which was good. We played well - which was very good. Then in the break, someone said our backing singer shouldn't bother - which was less good. Thought things were going to kick off - but she rose above it, got pissed and sang better than she's ever sung before. Might try that again some time.... I was a bit ring-rusty for the first couple of songs and had that awful "oh Christ, I've forgotten how this one goes" at the start of a couple of songs - fortunately, my fingers could remember how to play them. All in all, not a bad gig - we got called back for a couple of encores which is always good. Just a shame it's such a hike to the car park to get the gear loaded.... Week off next week and then it's Valentine's night. Best dust off the Erection Section

She's still going and according to an interview I found online has a new incarnation of the band. I believe the deafness was permanent - she stuck a pearl in her ear when she was a child....

[quote name='KevB' timestamp='1388959019' post='2328224'] This is news to me, may well be to Annie & Roy too... [/quote] Turns out they were engaged for four years..... Still doesn't explain Toyah and Bob Fripp though.....

The Golden Fleece in Stamford on Friday night. First weekend after Christmas and we were expecting it to be dead. Last minute booking, tiny pub, no room at all and several drunken fights (or maybe the same one in instalments) outside. But a brilliant crowd, packed to the rafters and loads of fun. Great surprise. Unlike the gig we played in November where we turned up to "we've been trying to ring you to cancel"....the pub was closing down the following day, no-one, but no-one came in all night but with a guitarist having driven 40 odd miles to get to the gig, we played it as a paid rehearsal and took reduced money to cover petrol. Audience consisted of two barstaff and a dog. The dog left after the first set.

[quote name='YouMa' timestamp='1374790953' post='2153415'] Annie haslam,very hot. [/quote] +1 to that. I believe she married Roy Wood of Wizzard. Which always struck me as a weird pairing.... Almost as weird as Bob Fripp and Toyah Wilcox. Anyway, back to Renaissance - for the last thirty-odd years it's felt like the love that dare not speak it's name - seriously uncool to like them. Both incarnations of the band had stand-out bassists and a Sounds poster of Annie Haslam on my bedroom wall got me through most of my formative years. That and the underwear section in mum's Freemans catalogue.... She was deaf in one ear apparently. Annie Haslam that is, not my mum.

Ian just bought my Zoom B9. Lovely bloke to deal with, nice easy transaction. Highly recommended