Rexel Matador

Good advice about the cabs, thanks  - I think you're right - two of the same makes more sense

Hi all, I'm forming a new metal band and thinking of splurging on a new amp. It's so hard to know what I'm going to need in terms of wattage, cab size etc.

I play with a pick, on a 4 string bass tuned B-E-A-D with EMGs. Musical style is roughly a cross between The Black Dahlia Murder and Amon Amarth. Two guitars, bass and drums.

I like the look of the Darkglass heads - Microtubes specifically - as I feel like I probably wouldn't need to be messing around with pedals too much to get a solid tone with a bit of compression and grit. But I'm also thinking they might be a bit of a fad and maybe I should go for something more timeless that I could shift in a few years provided I take care of it.

As far as cabs go, I get the impression most gigs with a proper PA and a sound guy tend to mainly DI the bass, so would the cab(s) on stage be mostly for my benefit? My thinking at the moment is to get two - a 2x10 and either a 1x15 or a second 2x10, to be added if the situation calls for it. I was thinking maybe Fender Rumble because they're not too expensive and not too heavy.

Last time I played in a heavy rock band I had a Hartke LH1000 and 8x10 cab which were both insanely cumbersome and way too much power for almost any gig we played. My most resent band was a classic rock covers band playing mostly in pubs and I got by with a cheap TC head and a homemade 2x10 (basically two of the speakers from the old 8X10 that I screwed into a box - no tweeter or anything fancy!), so it's definitely time for an upgrade.

I know this is entirely subjective, but I just don't know where to start. Are there any places left (preferably in the north of England) with a good selection of amps and cabs that one can actually go and try out? I feel like Youtube demos that people were probably sponsored to make can only get you so far. Any advice would be appreciated!

On 28/06/2025 at 07:33, Phil Starr said:

 

That's interesting, how long ago was that? I got the strong impression from the information I gleaned that it is still pretty much a beta version/under development. I wouldn't want to use something that crashes too often because the band won't use something they don't have faith in.

For the last couple of years up until a couple of months ago when I left the band. They're still using it, as far as I know, and it took us ages to figure out how to delete me from it! I personally wouldn't recommend it, but I don't remember the others complaining about it, so maybe it was something to do with my phone.

I used BandMule in my last band - the functionality is fine but it crashed on me all the time.

I bought an interface from them for recording. Best price I could find and they took it back and fixed it when I had an issue with it. Good experience.

Everything About You by Ugly Kid Joe. 27 years later my band opened for Whitfield Crane in Newcastle and I got to tell him about it 🤣

I play in a power trio and in my experience the drummer holds the key. The change in the dynamics when our drummer opens up on his ride cymbal is huge.

First rehearsal of the new year last night. And first one since I announced that I'm leaving the band (have a baby now, just too knackered for it!). Something wasn't working on my pedal board due to it having been left in a cold car for a bit too long, so I ended up going direct into the amp with a single cable and found I actually preferred the sound.

Drummer had been in over Xmas and tidied the rehearsal space, which was a lovely surprise. Not tripping over anything anymore. We sounded surprisingly good - dusted off a lot of long neglected songs for an upcoming gig. I've told them I'll stick around until a replacement is found, so if anyone is based in or around Liverpool and fancies joining a chilled but hardworking blues/rock covers trio, give me a shout!

Hi all, I'm posting this to try and help out my band, which I'm regrettably having to leave as I have a little baby now and am really struggling to find the time and energy for it! 100% my decision, just to be clear - they were great when the baby first came along, giving me a few months off and getting deps in for gigs, leaving the door open for me. I'm just not finding the time for other things I want to do and don't want to hold them back.

It's a three-piece band, gigging around the north-west, with our own rehearsal space in Wavertree, Liverpool.

Setlist is pretty varied, but with a general classic rock/blues rock vibe - Free, Zeppelin, Rory Gallagher, Deep Purple, etc, with some more obscure stuff and a bit of Beatles etc if it's that kind of gig.

Rehearsal is usually one evening a week. It's a hard-working band, but pretty chilled at the same time. I sing a handful of songs at the moment, with the bulk of lead vox being shared about 50/50 by the other two - so you could say singing is encouraged but not mandatory! They're always open to song/arrangement suggestions, and no ego issues to speak of, in my experience.

Gigs tend to be between one or two a month at the moment, but they're always putting the feelers out for more. I've probably slowed them down a bit with my recent personal circumstances!

Anyway, if that sounds like something you'd be into, I gladly vouch for them as the real deal. Let me know if you want me to put you in touch or you have any questions, or drop them a message yourself. Here's the facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Stranglehold.uklive/ 

I think they're a great solution for a achieving a nice tight B string. I built one that was (I think) 35" scale on the bass side and it still doesn't seem to be enough for me. I'm planning another one that's 37" to 34", which I think is what Dingwall do.

I had no issues adjusting to it, but I guess that might depend on your playing style - I went for the perpendicular 7th fret, again based on Dingwall, as I assume they know what they're doing.

This is mine. The bridge and pickup look oversized because the body is very small. The fender was too much wood and my back just can't handle it anymore. It's still fairly new but wear is creeping in at the top of the pickup, where my thumb tends to rest, and on the headstock where I keep bashing it on cymbals in a cramped rehearsal space.

Just looking at it is making my back hurt.

Interesting though.

1 hour ago, Nice Guy Rich said:

The first song I played live was LIVEWIRE by AC/DC, I was on bass and backing vocals and, it was at The George & Dragon pub in Epping in around 1990/91.

My current covers band ends our first set with this song. I find it weirdly daunting to have to just play one note for the first minute or so. Really hammers home how it's all about the groove!

First song I ever played live was a self penned rap-metal original called "Harmless Powder". I was on guitar (sorry). Circa 1995, so I'd have been about 14. First cover I played live would have been about four songs into the same set, when I put down the guitar and me and the singer launched into a duet of "I ain't goin' out like that" by Cypress Hill. We genuinely thought we were the coolest mfs to ever exist.

54 minutes ago, Supernaut said:

busybodies who believe they are experts in all areas of life

That would actually be the perfect name for my band if it weren't a tad unwieldy.

Sometimes a band might not seem perfect at first, but things get ironed out with a little perseverance. I joined a covers band and was very unsure about it, but once the second guitarist got kicked out due to his negative attitude and generally not being a great fit, we started to gel as a three piece. We're not perfect but audiences seem to like us and the gigs are steady. I'm taking a break now as there's a baby on the way, and they're adamant they want me back when I'm ready - we'll see. Either way, it's restored my faith a bit, both in what's out there and my own judgement.

Branding on the body.

On 29/11/2023 at 01:31, tauzero said:

in a big house in Lichfield that belonged to the studio engineer/producer's parents

I think I once recorded there too!

1981 Tokai Hard Puncher

Definitely more of an Ox than an Este here. Except for the regular winces when I hit a bum note.

It's been a while, but I have made a bit of progress. The neck is profiled, the fingerboard is attached and the wings are currently being glued on. I've gone for a neck break angle this time. The last one had no angle, just a step down to accommodate the bridge height, if that make sense.

I glued on one wing then made a jig to match the angle with the second one.

I was going to do a walnut headstock veneer to match the wings, but I forgot to cut one from the body stock and the bits of walnut veneer I had didn't match. So I'm going to leave it as it is. I think it'll look quite nice with the laminates on display.

52 minutes ago, PaulWarning said:

here's the vid 

Ok, watching that and consequently hearing it for a second time, I didn't find the song quite so bad... but I think that's only because it was relative to how utterly terrible the video is. What were they thinking?

Love Ron. Jim Hall's Concierto is one of my favourite jazz albums, thanks in no small part to his playing - so smooth.

Really weak. Almost as bad as Imagine.

I have a lot of time for the Beatles, in general. Though living in Liverpool for the last 5 years and being beaten over the head with them daily may have dampened that a bit!

I'm in a 3-piece blues/classic rock covers band (what can I say, we saw a gap in the market 🤣) that mostly plays around the North-West of England. We usually get around £250 for two 45 minute sets. Some places are strict about the time so they get exactly that. If they're not bothered we'll play longer if we feel like it.

We've all got day jobs so the cash is just split between us for a bit of extra pocket money. I wouldn't do it for free though, on principle. I've done my time playing original music to empty rooms and a gig is a fair bit of work when you factor in rehearsal, setting up, etc.

AC/DC's ode to the A63 - Highway to Hull