Naetharu

Hi folks, I'm after a bit of advice. My band-mate (rhythm guitarist and primary song-writer) is in need of a new guitar amp. He's currently rocking a Carlsbro Stingray from the 1970s and its on its last legs. He's about the lest tech savvy fellow I have ever met and knows nothing about amps or guitars aisde from how to play them. As such, he's asked me to help him out finding something suitable for band-practice and gigs. And I in turn and coming to you folks! The band is pretty heavy music wise; I guess a mixture of Mastodon and Porcupine-Tree would be about as good a description as I could offer. With that in mind does anyone have a suggestion or even just some advice about where to start looking, what size amps to consider etc. All the best James

[quote name='Number6' timestamp='1449448285' post='2923678'] I can absolutely relate to this Dad.....We just enjoy being a band and it suits us. Sometimes we earn a few quid and cover costs sometimes we don't but we always try to enjoy ourselves. I respect that Blue does it as a job and needs to earn from it. My day job earns me enough to be in a band [/quote] This is pretty much where we are all at. We each have a day job of some kind and the band is something we do as a hobby in the evenings. It would be fantastic if we can break even on the band (i.e. earn enough from gigs to cover the practice room costs etc.) but I don't think any of us are looking at it as a way to make money. Perhaps its a little different too since we are an originals band. I guess if we were playing covers then we would be looking to get bookings to do pubs/functions/parties/etc. and the money would come with that. But as an all originals we're just happy to get out there and have the fantastic experience of people enjoying the stuff we have written and performed.

Just done my first two gigs ever this week (and only the second/third gigs for the band as a whole). Thursday night was at the Colchester Soundhouse and was great fun. We were amid a line-up of pop-punk bands (with us playing prog/metal) and it went down surprisingly well. We were all a bit stiff given it was our first gig together but by and large a happy occasion and the other bands were really friendly and welcoming. Then Friday we were supporting Abode in Ipswitch. The gig line-up was more in keeping with our sound and we seemed to go down really well. I think we were all far more relaxed and having fun then too which no dount helped a lot. We've been invited back to play again in the new year so I guess we must have been doing something right! Oh, and here are a couple of piccies from the two nights: First the Soundhouse on Thrusday: and then at McGintys in Ipswitch on Friday:

Hi folks, Thank you to everyone for your input - its been really helpful when it comes to thinking things through. In the end we managed to call in a couple of favours and it looks as if we can put the whole thing on for free. We managed to get a sound-engineer who needs to do a live show for his degree course at the local music college and so offered to cover for free. He comes complete with a nice PA courtesy of his college too which is fantastic. We've also managed to negotiate a free venue connected to the same college - we keep the door money and they get the bar money which is fine with us. All in all, it looks as if we're going to be able to run the whole night at no cost to any of the bands. We want to encourage everyone possible to come and check us out so we're not charging a door fee which is fine - none of us expect to make money from the band right now anyhow. It's been a bit of a nightmare to organise but it looks to be a happy ending all the same.

Tbh given how nice these sound (I got to gig mine Thursday and it was fantastic) I'd seriously think about keeping it unless the dent is more than cosmetic. The price we paid is insain given what we got.

I use a zoom ms60b multi-fx but I really just use it as a tuner/mute and sub-octave. The latter is so I can play everything on my 4-string rather than having multiple basses on stage. I also use an ampeg scr-di since it means my sound will be pretty consistent even when using someone else's bass amp.

[quote name='elephantgrey' timestamp='1449339380' post='2922769'] Are you charging on the door, and if so, does your band get the money for putting up the capital to put on the gig? [/quote] In this case there is no charge on the door. We will get a cut from the bar profits however, but I think we can expect to go in and make a (smallsih) loss.

[quote name='taunton-hobbit' timestamp='1449339104' post='2922765'] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]''another local band hosting and someone has to pay''[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]'I've got this great idea fellas - lets run a gig & stitch the support act for the ex's'[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]I may be being a trifle harsh, but probably not..............[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif] [/font][/color][color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif] [/font][/color] [/quote] Aye, I see where you are coming from. Though to be honest the cost is being split 3 ways evenly. And we are getting the benefit of exposure to their fans which is a big plus for us. I don't know the main band well but the one time I have met them they came across as some of the most friendly, un-egotistical and all around nice people I've met in a long time. I very much doubt in this case its a stich up.

Hi folks, My band started gigging this week: we did our first two on Thursday and Friday night and it was fantastic. We've been asked by the headline band from Friday if we would like to share a gig with them in January in another town. The catch is that we would be hiring the hall and paying for the sound-tech outselves. Chances are we would be out of pocket doing the gig by around £40 as a band. Now my feeling is that: (1) We're a brand new band and this is a great chance to play to a crowd of around 200 people (estimating numbers based on the previous time the band in question played there) - it would give us some major local exposure. (2) Its also a great chance to build up some solid relationships with a couple of local bands that are already doing the rounds and that means more gigging oppertunities down the road. Given the above I feel we should take it. We play original music in the prog/metal vein so its not like its super-easy to get gigs in the first place, and right now getting known for doing a good live show (which by all accounts we do) seems to be a smart move even if it costs a little. The others in the band are either torn or against doing it because they feel we should not have to pay for the hall hire and hence be out of pocket. So, what would you do? Would you look at this as an investment for the bands future or would you simply say no and refuse to play unless you get paid for it (keeping in mind its not a venue but another local band hosting and someone has to pay for everything).

I've recently picked up an Ampeg SCR-DI which does everything you need. Being a DI box it is great for recording and it comes with an aux in and headphone out so it can be used for practice too. Sound wise it's pretty much classic Ampeg - check my review in the review-section of these here forums for a full rundown and some sound-samples (please excuse the background noise on the sound samples btw, it was down to the poor audio-interface I used and not the DI box).

[quote name='steve-bbb' timestamp='1448701633' post='2917466'] give the thumb technique a go at first and eventually you will pick up speed although its as much an agility issue as it is speed imho - used to struggle like anything a few years ago with all that donna summer octave stuff and initially used to do it with the thumb and 1st finger method but gradually you pick up speed and get on top of it - although i must admit it does seem to be one of the areas where it does take a considerable amount of time and repetition to achieve the final result [/quote] Cheers! If nothing else it's good to know that it is not just me that finds it tricky. It seems simple when I stop and look at it, yet getting the notes to all sound clean, clear and in perfect time is hard work. Well, looks like I know what I am going to be practicing this morning.

[quote name='Japhet' timestamp='1448703623' post='2917486'] Adding a distortion pedal with the 'gain' knob turned right up and your amp running flat out will be perfect for folk. Sorted. [/quote] Jeff Lewis pulled that off pretty well with his (anti)folk song "If you shoot the head you kill the ghoul".

[quote name='dannybuoy' timestamp='1448702707' post='2917476'] That's actually not that uncommon. There are plenty of left handed players who learned to play upside down on unmodified right handed instruments. [/quote] I respect that, and I've amended my first post to better reflect my intended meaning. Cheers for picking me up on it Danny.

[quote name='cameltoe' timestamp='1448697169' post='2917441'] Do use a floating thumb technique or do you keep your thumb anchored on the pickup? Either way you do it, it just sounds like it could just be a practice issue. I prefer floating thumb, however it does take a while to get accurate with this. If I'm only hitting one octave note before heading back then I usually keep my thumb anchored. If you find it hard slowed down then perhaps this is the issue- start slow, get it right, then speed it up. [/quote] Right now I am always anchored but I'm certainly open to trying something different. I'll look up floating thumb technique later today and have a go.

[quote name='sunburstjazz1967' timestamp='1448673012' post='2917412'] That's a bit harsh just because I don't know what they do, I just plug my peavey amp in and turn the volume up to suit. Us folk players don't use or like distortion but I know rock guitarists do. [/quote] Humm, well ok - I just got the feeling something was a bit off with the manner of the question. Apologies if I got that wrong. But for reference you'd use a distortion pedal to get that dirty distorted sound. Check out Muse for a good example of how it can be applied. Many of their tracks use distorted bass to great effect.

[quote name='Luulox' timestamp='1448659106' post='2917310'] Which hand? Fretting or picking hand? [/quote] Picking hand and aye I am not using my thumb. I could certainly give that a go - right now I am using a simple alternating picking with my index and middle finger. Cheers folks

Hi folks, I'm having a bit of an issue when it comes to playing a two or three string stretch with any kind of speed and accuracy. It came to my attention after trying to learn Master Blaster which as many of you no doubt know, is just full of octave patterns. I am finding it pretty tricky to get the high notes to sound clean and clear. I'm not 100% sure what my problem is here, however it is worth saying that it is not down to speed. I find it as difficult to do it at slow speed as I do when playing faster. Any time that I am moving from the E or A string up to a string that is two or three higher (i.e. E -> D or G or A -> G) it feels like a bit of a stumble. At the moment I am playing with my thumb resting atop the pick-ups or occasionally on the edge of the bridge or neck if I am after an especially bright/soft tone. Has anyone else had issues with this? Could it be a case of needing to re-learn where to place my thumb (I am assuming that it is the stretch that is difficult) or could there be something else I am doing wrong/could work on to make these parts of my playing sound better?

I think I smell me a forum troll here...

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1448551992' post='2916402'] Very good. I like the sealed cab sound myself. But comparing it to an HLF is apples and oranges really as the HLF isn't sealed, it's ported. An Ampeg 810 is sealed, so two GK sealed 410s would be a more interesting comparison. But no, I'm not going to supply the second one. Bottom line is you like your 410 and that's what counts. [/quote] I'd not realised the hlf was ported! Ampeg snuck those in behind the grill it seems rather than the obvious porting on their portaflex cabs. Ah well, I live and learn

For reference here is a better pic:

Beautiful - the wood grain looks superb on that!

Just a heads up Ray, you mentioned you were looking into finding a sampler: Amazon are doing a Black Friday deal on the Korg Volca Sampler which by all accounts is a rather nice little unit even at full price. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Korg-Volca-Sample-Digital-Sample-Synthesizer/dp/B00NKD1PUI/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1448551596&sr=8-4&keywords=Korg+Volca

Well a quick report back after having a chance to use this in the wild and A/B it with an Ampeg SVT-410HLF. All in all I am very pleased with the cab. Its the first sealed cab I have used and it sounds fantastic. It was really punchy and clear even at silly volumes. I'm not well versed in technical terminology with these things but to my year it sounded very well defined. I was able to push the bass quite a bit to get a nice sort of vintage sound for one song we do with no issue. The sound was never muddy and the cab seemed to handle anything thrown at it with ease. Compared with the Ampeg cab I was able to try I would say that the GK coloured the sound a little bit more. I found myself dialing back a little on my mids and pushing the bass up a little more than normal to get the same kind of sound. Very small amounts mind, but the voicing was certainly a little different. Our singer complimented the cab saying he could hear the bass better than he could using the Ampeg, however to my ears both sounded pretty good. Given the choice I still think the Ampeg is the winner if for no other reason than the better enclosure, more flexible attenuation on the horn and the wheels for added portability. However, I was surprised at how well this cab held up given the price discrepancy between the two. We're going to do a quick bit of live recording next week so if we have the time I'll try and switch cabs for a song and post the tracks so you can hear the difference.

[quote name='Beer of the Bass' timestamp='1448548250' post='2916360'] Discussion of amp requirements on bass forums always seems strangely unrelated to the world I tend to gig in... a 100 watt valve head or the 200 watt SS head into a reasonably efficient ported 2x12" seemed enough for pretty much everything I've done [/quote] I think it comes down to the old 'watts is not volume/loudness' thing. My MiBass amp is crazy loud and even running at 8-ohms into a 410 cab has buckets of headroom at rock gig volumes and will offer literally trouser-flapping bass if asked. However, I found that the Orange OB1-500 head was nowhere near as loud when I tried it out last week. Likewise I found the Ampeg porta-flex 300 somewhere between the two. With the Orange I had to push the head to nearly max volume going into a 8-ohm 410 (Ampeg SVT cab) to get it to stand up reasonably next to my band. I really do think that people are right when they say that wattage is a very poor guide to how loud stuff can go at least from my experience.

[quote name='cameltoe' timestamp='1448230851' post='2913883'] I have had nothing but great results from D'Addario balanced tension (medium). [/quote] +1 to the benefits of balanced tension strings. I used LaBella myself but the principle is the same. It find that not only do they feel nicer to play, but they also sound more even across the strings that unbalanced versions.