phil.c60

Assuming you don't work with me, of course, but I'm sure I'd know if you did.

I'm not with you, I'm at work.

[quote name='KevB' timestamp='1427289017' post='2728302'] I've said it before but the increase in using 'of' in place of 'have' (when preceded by 'should', 'would' etc) is irritating. [/quote] As is "bored of" instead of bored by or bored with. That and "seckertary". And all sorts of other things too. I'm off to calm down now.

Oh - not run by me, in case you were wondering he just happens to be Phil, too.

We've been rehearsing at a new place in Hove: PA Studios. New rooms, new gear (for the most part) smart TV with Youtube in the rooms, and reasonable PA - new, and plenty big enough for rehearsal volumes for the size of the rooms. There is also a bigger room for those who'd like to bring all their own gear. Run by Phil a very nice guy, amenable and helpful. It was recommended to us, and I'd recommend it to anyone else.

My father in law (sadly no longer with us) used to live in Flint Cottage. He received a letter from the Inland revenue addressed to him at "Funt Cottage" which annoyed him intensely. When I asked why it bothered him so much, he drily remarked "I don't know, but I suppose It's a good job my name's not Clint Eastwood, really".

[quote name='icastle' timestamp='1427208990' post='2727197'] Hang about - isn't this the cheesy quip thread? [/quote] I'm still waiting to see a post from Roquefort Stone.

[quote name='Dazed' timestamp='1427033533' post='2724876'] I quite enjoy a proficient slapper It's the tappers I can't abide. Get a piano. [/quote] This actually made me laugh out loud so much my wife thought I'd finally gone completely mad.

Thanks all: I will take a look at all the suggestions. Thanks for the food tip, Donnyboy. I may indeed have been seen eating the odd burger now and then....

Hi All - my wife and I are going to Glasgow for the first time on the 7th of May for a few days, including Friday and Saturday night. As we are both (surprise surprise) keen on music and pubs I'm looking for any suggestions as to where we might go in search of entertainment. I know there are a few of you who post from that neck of the woods, and it might even be that one of you is playing somewhere that weekend! Our music tastes are quite varied but sadly no thrash/death metal or doom/stoner rock, thanks. We will be staying in central Glasgow near the station. Thanks in anticipation.... PS If this is considered to be in the wrong place, sorry!

[quote name='KingBollock' timestamp='1426070938' post='2713947'] It's amazing how much a Donkey ride can take out of you, isn't it? [/quote] There's always some ass ready to give you a going over, isn't there?

Try and do anything to stop you worrying unnecessarily on the way there: double check everything before you leave home, including any notes if you use them (written ones, before some sarky sod states the obvious) Get there early but not too early, get set up and check everything works and you are in tune without being in a rush. I always liked to have the running order correct so I didn't have to worry about what the next song would be and what the starting note/riff was when I first started playing in public (but I don't worry these days!) Just make sure you know where the first note of the first song is, hit that and you will be away. Once you are through the first one the rest will take care of itself. Trust me, it will!

Also slightly different - having played only electric bass and having only started 5 or 6 years ago only now do I think I have reached a moderate standard (although others including may band mates say I'm too hard on myself. Still, I'd rather people were pleasantly surprised by my ability rather than mildly disappointed). I am a finger player, and though I've tried to learn to play with a pick I just don't like it so have never persevered (that may change!). Same with "slap and pop" - some of it sounds great, but I don't want to play it so I shall probably never learn (that won't change). My real issue is Double Bass. I bought one because I've always wanted one, it was near, and because it is a proper left handed instrument and was reasonably inexpensive. I can't play right handed as I have a dodgy left arm from an old motorcycle accident. I'v always wanted to play one, and had some introductory lessons to get me started, but was told that the difference in technique meant that initially my electric bass technique wold suffer especially regarding the 3rd finger on my fretting hand. As my EB "technique" such as it is was hard won, and I'm gigging and rehearsing regularly, I have been reluctant to pursue it as I don't want top go backwards (and we are all short of practice time what with work and other irritations) so my DB lurks in the sitting room on it's stand looking very nice but sort of reproaching me every day! Any thoughts, Bilbo?

[quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1426020200' post='2713577'] One wonders how anyone ever gets to use a jenny, in any circumstances, without risking a fry-up..! Your biggest problem, by far, is going to be trying to stand upright if the lorry has to accelerate, brake or turn at all. A bit like a cross-channel ferry in February. Bracing yourselves will be all the more difficult with both hands occupied by the bass..! Even at slow, carnival procession, speeds, you'll get a surprise, so be prepared to lurch towards something solid, if there is such a thing on a carnival float. Accidentally leaning too far over the back can be a thrill, too. The step is rather high. I've played drums on trailers before, it's not easy keeping thz cymbal stands in place., even on a 'still' trailer. I hate to think how it could work without lashing absolutely everything firmly to everything else. Never mind the 'mecky shock stuff; work out how to keep your balance..! I still say 'Mime'..! [/quote] I always have a full English before I use a Jenny....or any other girl for that matter. It's the only way I can find the energy,

[quote name='danthevan' timestamp='1425995550' post='2713185'] I get your points about the genny being chucked on the truck with a jump lead connecting it to the chassis as an earth, but it will be done properly if it could be someone gets fried! You've given me some ideas of who to speak to now, know some decent sparkies and auto electricians so will fire some questions at them, original question was just to see if anyone had done it in the past with success :-) [/quote] Those who did it without success are unfortunately no longer around to tell us what went wrong. Still, that's Darwin for you.

The answer is quite simple: just play in rubber gloves and wellies.

Be organised thoroughly - make sure you've got lunch/snacks/drinks so no one want's to knob off for an hour that turns into an hour and a half. Make sure all your gear works. Even if you are not particularly accomplished - if you know the songs you want to record properly as a band (ie the exact arrangements of who plays what where) and have rehearsed them enough you can get a lot done in a weekend. Your ability is not going to improve much right this minute, so try and be honest if you really have played as well as you can on a particular section rather than keep going over and over things you just can't do any better. Let the engineer give you a rough mix to take away, listen to it together and then remix it afterwards - don't waste hours of time that you could use to record things a little better trying to get what you think you want as a mix - all listen to it at home, in the car, at someone else's house and then get together and discuss what you want to change then go back and remix it. One band I was in that rehearsed and gigged regularly recorded 12 tracks in one day (a la Dr. Feelgood - all in the studio together, bass DI'd, guitar DI'd etc.) then a couple of hours the next day doing overdubs and sorting out the bad bits (not many, fortunately but one real "suck a lemon" note from me right in the middle of a quiet section that stood out a mile) followed by a rough mix and then 3 hours mixing two weeks later: Dropped two tracks we weren't sure about and ended up with a pretty god 10 track CD for a total of about 2 days (10 hr days) studio time. When we had finished the engineer commented that we go through so much because: "You can all play, you all know the stuff inside out so you are not wasting time trying to record stuff you don't really know - unlike a lot of bands we get in here!" That's my two pennyworth, anyhoo.

I know what you mean about the Jazz basses - I've got a 1999 Hot-Rod P which I love and gig regularly (I know a lot of people don't like them in the same way they don't like 70's Ps but....hey, it's mine and it's left handed too) and it's a slight as a feather: I also have a 79 Jazz and wow, it's heavy! (but sounds great, and guess what - yup, it's left handed).

Sorry, Solo, but here's my 2p: The folks that post on this forum clearly do so because they enjoy it, as well as because they think they [u]may[/u] have something valuable (or not, value is always subjective) to offer. Enjoyment is often linked with humour (it is with the people I [s]inflict myself on[/s] mix with), the humour is rarely meant to be offensive (but it can be sharp: always my favourite kind especially when I'm the subject. If you can't take it....). I don't think the original post that got you all lathered up was meant to be anything but a bit of teasing, and we usually tease hardest the people we know well or think may be like minded. If he was wrong about the second I'm sure he's sorry for not appreciating how sensitive you are. But, to pinch a bit of your shorthand ffs lighten up. Take the joke. Please. Who knows, if you had responded to it with a bit of humour of your own perhaps something more valuable (whoops, there's that word again) might have been forthcoming. Just saying. I appreciate, by the way, that my opinion is probably worthless. And a bit humourless, on this occasion.

.....and just when you thought he couldn't be any more of a twat; [url="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/11418110/Kim-Kardashian-posts-image-of-20-month-old-daughter-wearing-bulletproof-vest.html"]http://www.telegraph...proof-vest.html[/url] Yes he can!

Roland BassCube 30 for me - I picked one up for £60 on fleabay and it was nearly new. Had it about 4 years, it sits in my study/practice room so I can just plug'n'play. Sensible volume, some effects and amp modelling which I never use!

Classic at last night's rehearsal: guitarist trying to work out why he can't get his amp to light up. I was just about to say "But aren't you still holding...." when he realised he was pressing buttons and flicking switches with one hand while in the other hand was the mains plug for his amp. Inserted plug in wall socket and all was well.

[quote name='BigGuyAtTheBack' timestamp='1417010506' post='2616035'] In my case the phrase 'ya canna polish a turd!' applies. Clean jeans, polo shirt, big f*** off boots thats it. Wedding gigs n posh do's I prefer a casual trouser or kilt lol [/quote] No, you can't polish a turd but you can roll it in glitter. I bet you'd look great in something sparkly!

Having just learnt that we are losing our guitarist/vocalist (he has been struggling to balance bands, family, retraining for a new career etc for some time) who owns/operates the PA (which we will consequently lose and have to replace, along with him) I found Phil's article really useful and just what I need at this point. As usual, it seems like the bass player (me) will be required to look at all the options, do most of the research and come up with a solution. For next to no money if at all possible, obviously.Thanks for taking the time and trouble to write It, Phil, and I'm sure I'll be asking you stupid questions before long!

...and the lyrics are pretty awful as well.