PaulWarning

just come in from seeing the Ramonas, both the guitarist and Bass player played down strokes all night, I couldn't do it, but it captured the essence of the Ramones

I've seen the Glitter Band twice in about the last ten years, they've gone down a storm when they play GG songs. I think you're missing trick not playing any, just ask the crowd first

I too switched to bass because it seemed an easier way to get into a band, but I first became aware of the what the bass could do listening to Alan Lancaster on the Status Quo albums Hello and Quo, nothing complicated but it made the band rock

I have seen fast fingerstyle players but I can't do it, but I've never tried hard enough, playing in a Punk band there's no incentive, like some others I suspect, I moved over from the darkside so it seemed obvious to me to play with a pick, and all my bass playing heroes play with a pick. As a general rule pick players do cut through the mix better, but not always

I'm eternally grateful to prog, without that self indulgent tedium (IMO of course) we wouldn't have had the perfect antidote, Punk

I'm with Cato on this one, just teach him how to play the songs he likes, trying to teach theory early on is a turn off, it's not until you've learnt some songs that you understand the relevance of it

I suspect he escaped by the skin of his teeth, if the story had come out post Savile he'd have been toast, pre Savile stuff like this was mostly brushed under the carpet, even if it did go to court some kindly judge made sure the verdict was the 'right' one, anyone watch a very English Scandal?

I liked some of the brit pop stuff, that was rock wasn't it? that was probably the last time Rock Bands were really big, and then there's Green Day and grunge

phew that's a relief, I thought your mate had bought a dog from a puppy farm or something :), seriously if he bought from a private seller it he's stuffed, if it's a genuine guitar dealer trading standards may be able to help, I presume he's been in touch with the guy to try and swap it back?

I've started using a compressor in a band situation, not because I know what it does but because I suppose it might be doing something subtle and it's on my multi FX so why not? so although I'm a user it wouldn't bother me if I wasn't, some compressors seem to make it louder but a volume knob does that, when I've evened out the volume there's no difference that what my knackered old ears can make out I don't really understand how it can alter your tone, when all it's supposed to do is even out the differences in volume.

Thinking about it, I'd love to see my band so I can see if my mistakes stand out as much as our guitarist thinks they do, and to check out his pink torpedo ups too

Need a catorgary who uses a compressor but can't tell what it does lol

I may be wrong (pick player only) but I suspect finger players with no gain or especially slap players do find a use for them, pick players don't tend to suffer the same spikes in volume when playing

I've just started using one, can't tell bugger all difference, but I too use a bit of bass drive, but hey, it's in my multi FX pedal so I might as well use it

I know what you mean, a decent pint and a decent band within cycling distance is more appealing to me than a big venue with crap lager and £25 to go in, wouldn't do for us all to be the same would it?

yes, I go and see us, because we play the songs I like (and the rest of the band do fortunately), must admit though I've got a really low threshold on originals bands, may not be popular with some on here but I soon get bored if I don't know the songs

don't know whether you know but the Malt Shovel has recently changed managers, might be worth having another go, but I know they're fully booked for the rest of the year. Found yourself a new band then?

ok, I can do the self depreciating bit, next month how to get that muddy boomy tone so no one can tell when you play a wrong note

next month, making sure all your different 'sounds' are at different volume levels

which is the beauty of going wireless, you can hear what the punters are hearing

seeing as my last post was way off topic, sorry , this subject, should I play for free, has been done to death it's entirely up to the individual band, my own view is if you're struggling for gigs and it's local, do it. Some won't agree which is fair enough

trouble is Pubs that do not put music on regularly book bands thinking the bands will publicise it and bring their own supporters along to the gig, also pub managers can be lazy and incompetent. There's a pub near me that puts bands on every Friday night, they can't even be bothered to advertise it on their facebook page, last Friday there was about 10 punters in the pub edit, no doubt soon they'll stop having bands on because the don't draw enough people

as with full bands, some acoustic acts are good some not so, we've tried a couple of 'stripped down' shows, drummer with cajon, acoustic guitar, me on turned down bass (can't really see the point of acoustic bass if you're going through an amp), we didn't enjoy them and won't be doing any more. I do open mics and a very occasional gig (usually charity, so no money) with me on acoustic guitar and vocals and my partner on snare, hi hat and crash, they work better or maybe expectations are lower lol. I do think acoustic guitars and bass sort of cancel each other out because acoustic guitars are bassy anyway

plenty off low mids bit of presence (around the 3k Hz ) but no boom, my job being in a band with one guitarist is to fill out the sound, not really interested in the really low stuff, I leave that to the bass drum

no worse than copying your CD's to cassette tape, or copying off the radio,