Weststarx

I used a Fender Rumble 350 and it was great, it had a really nice punch to it and I really enjoyed playing with it. It was going to be my next amp but what I will say is that it didnt have that quality 'feel' to it for me. It sounded great but there was that issue for me that made me go and buy a Hartke instead as that felt like I could throw it down the stairs. Thats just a personal thing though, if it feels right for you then go for it. This was the amp head though rather than combo and not the newest version.

I take backup everything, I dont get very nervous playing, but I get really nervous with my gear not working so I have two of everything with me at gigs apart from my 4x10, I would take another one but I cant get it in my car! I can rest easy knowing that if something goes wrong I've got something to replace it with and can continue the gig, but I will worry about it until we start the second set. Two basses is a must for me just in case. My band often take the piss about how much gear I bring to gigs and that I need to buy a van etc etc, but the time something does go wrong I'm the man! I'm so OCD about it that I even took one of my six strings tuned up and ready to go just in case one of the guitarists had something go wrong because they didnt have a spare with them.

Our band got a contract wrote up which we all signed saying basically we all had the right if we wanted to to buy the PA system from the band or otherwise it would be sold a split 5 ways. The other good thing we did is get the PA system on a "Buy now pay later" deal and we're all just putting our share of the gig money back into it so none of us have had to fork out £200 each from our monthly wages. It has meant we're not getting paid for gigs but if you are like me and are there to have fun and not after feeding the family its been absolutely ideal. If someone leaves the band its also agreed that the rest of the band pays off the person leaving and then gets that extra share into the PA, because its a 5 piece if that did happen then it wouldnt cost anyone more than £50 each - which is only a little more we'd take home each from a gig. The new member to replace the person leaving then has an oppurtunity if they want to invest into it [i](but I dont know why they would)[/i] Its worked really well for us so far, might be worth trying something similar next time round!

This thread has scared me and now I want to learn our entire set vocally just in case before our gig this Friday...

A few band I've seen are starting to use Ipad minis that sit underneath the microphone. Personally I dont get put off by band using a music stand. With us pub band guys you tend to find some people/vocalists are in more than one band and have several different things on the go so remember the lyrics to every single song can be a bit of a mamoth task. So long as the music is good and the vocalist isnt taking 5 minutes between every song to rearrange and find the next set of lyrics I dont see a problem.

I play in a covers band and the Big Muff is awesome for 'Time is Running Out' by Muse. Its on our drop list though because it doesnt really suit our singer that well, so I might have to get rid of it because i dont like/use it for anything else.

I used mine for the first time at practice last night and the tone coming from my amp was absolutely awesome!! The overdrive is exactly what I wanted from a distortion pedal as well. I love it so much I'm really tempted to buy a second one...

Definately, for me the drummer is the most important member of the band. We had a drummer that liked to throw in random fills in the most weirdiest places and it would throw us all and make us question where we were in the song. So we politely asked him to leave. I couldnt join a band with a bad drummer

Gig Gear in Essex are really good, the bass selection isnt massively great - so the same as every other shop, but they set up the bass for you how you like it before you try it out if you want them to, and also will do it when you've brought it. Every other shop want £55 for a set up I've been to. So I tend to buy my basses from there because of the good service.

Mine came today, got a gig tonight but dont want to risk using it straight away with having a play first! Fustrating!

What I also find annoying is that going into a shop and trying a product you like to find out they are asking for loads more than its going on the internet. I tried a PRS Kestrel bass the other week, its about £600 everywhere on the internet, the shop wanted £750 for it and it had loose screws and wonky Volume and Tone knobs. So I politely walked away!

Heres the Vimeo link for those who cant see it http://vimeo.com/112889729

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1417086806' post='2616888'] Shawshank redemption is all I'm saying about the shoe thing, if you have seen it you will get it, if you haven't why haven't you?! [/quote] Haha like it!

It is indeed, thanks guys!

I could never understand a band I went to try out with... We didnt actually play anything much for 6 weeks because they focussed so hard on image. I left pretty sharply because I knew at that rate we'd end up like Black Veil Brides who have a great image but the shittiest music. Personally I think the music comes first and then you can start to look at image. Dont get me wrong, I think it is important to have a good image, because your image, band logos and hairstyles etc etc become your identity as a band. Part of the importance of image is to stand out and be remembered by the people who havent heard of you or seen you play before. Take a look at Slipknot! They wear the masks etc and they have the most recognisable image for a band today. My colleagues at work who have no interest in music or dont like the rock/metal thing have all heard of Slipknot and I bet if you show most people a picture of them they could tell you who they are even if they havnt heard a song. Same again for Kiss. Obviously they are the extreme ends of having an image but they are the proof to my point.

Well there you have it... We had practice last night and the drummer comes in saying he's dampened his snare drum and a few other drums which reduced his volume. Mr Rhythm turns his amp up and it was the best sounding practice we've ever had! This all happened without me saying anything to anyone! So hello band if you're on basschat!!

I absoultely hated music lessons through school and music is my passion. They just shoved piano down our faces and told us to only play Beethoven stuff. It was more of a history lesson of music rather inspiring us to play. I wish I could of picked it as one of my options through secondary school and college but it was such a bad experience it stopped me from doing something that I really would have enjoyed doing. A few friends of mine from other bands are music teachers and one of them teaches drums in a school as a full time job which I think is fantastic now kids [i](in my local area anyway)[/i] are getting to choose what instrument they want to play and learn.

[quote name='tonyquipment' timestamp='1416835504' post='2614011'] Slap bass him and tell him to stop being a little bitch [/quote] I can well and truely say I just laughed out loud then!

100% cant afford it but brought it anyway...

[quote name='FinnDave' timestamp='1416823127' post='2613814'] We used to have a rhythm/slide guitarist who was like that, basically he was a poor payer and tried to hide behind the rest of us. Eventually asked him to leave as he was taking up stage room and a share of the takings to which he was not really entitled. [/quote] [quote name='Norris' timestamp='1416823374' post='2613819'] Sounds like he has confidence issues. If he thinks everything is too loud he needs ear plugs. More likely though is the confidence. At rehearsal get the lead guitarist and vocals to drop out leaving just you rhythm boys and get everyone to listen to it. Try to get him in balance. At the end of the day though if he can't cut the mustard he's dead weight [/quote] [quote name='wateroftyne' timestamp='1416825097' post='2613840'] Is your drummer too loud? Maybe the guitarist is making a stand... [/quote] All of these might be the possible situation, our drummer's snare drum is a bit over whelming somtimes and there has been instances where Mr Rhythmn has spoken to him about it so maybe its worth backing him up next time about the snare and see if that has an effect on his/our volume. He isnt the most confident of players either, he's usually the one apologising about playing crap... eventhough we cant hear him anyway Trouble is I dont want to come across like Mr Bossy Boots telling everyone this is too loud and this is too quiet, but I want us to sound the best we possibly can! [quote name='Geek99' timestamp='1416826137' post='2613857'] Probably has confidence issues - why not forget the drums for five minutes and give an acoustic and play along with him quietly to see if it's that ? You can't hide with an acoustic I had exactly this reaction on my first open mic night [/quote] And I think you've just hit the nail on the head because I brought up the open mic nights idea but he was the first one to shoot me down.

Yes you read that correctly! In my band we have me on bass (obviously) a lead guitarist and rhythm guitarist. Now me and the lead guitarist understand that you have to turn up to the volume of the drums because obviously with an acoustic drum kit you cant excatly turn them down... Mr Rhythm will often complain how loud it is and then straight away turn his amp down so we basically then become a three piece. When ever I try to get him to turn up he'll just pretend to because I watch him twiddle with the volume knob a few times and return it to the position it orginally was. Id understand this if we were loud but my 300watt bass amp is only ever at number 1!!!! He recently brought a long lead so he could check the sound with me (which yes is annoying) but I thought it was a great opportunity to show him how crap we sounded because of how quiet he is, but its just met with a shake of the head followed by ''it sounds alright to me..'' So this has become extremely fustrating because we may as well not have him and just have more space a gigs, and the odd solo he plays, he doesnt boost is lead volume so it sits as quietly as the rhythm does and it sometimes has been down right embarrassing to watch... I stand next to him in front of his amp and I cant hear him so he must not be able to hear himself either. Without being a ninja and turning up his amp myself how do I go about it? Thanks

I was highly offended by the advert

I'd be interested in this as well... Fed up of my Fenders now and started looking at these Subs and Sterlings!