northstreet

There's not really any point to this thread but I just wanted to write it down to help me work out what's been going on. About a year ago a guitarist mate and I decided to form a band. We started advertising for a drummer and a singer and one of the places we tried was musofinder.com. While I was on the site I created myself a profile, just to see what might happen. Shortly after I get a message saying would I be able to dep in a local covers band (Band A) that had a couple of gigs lined up but their bass player was out of action. "Nothing to lose" I thought, so I went along for an audition and ended up getting the gig. So we start rehearsing. Then, the guitarist in Band A says that he plays in another covers band (Band B ) that also has a Christmas gig and needed a dep bass player - would I be interested? Now up till then I hadn't gigged for 30 years and all of a sudden I'm in two bands learning two new sets of songs with three gigs lined up - all in the space of about six weeks. Suprisingly it all goes off OK, everyone's happy, and after Christmas the leader of Band B calls me up and asks if I want to join full time - their bass player has moved on. It's a good band so I say yes and we've been gigging regularly all year. Band A have also called me up a couple of times, so that's kept me busy. On top of this, in Feb I call another contact through musofinder, a guy is trying to put together a band, am I interested? No harm in having a look, I thought, so I go to a first get together. Turns out the guy is a bit of a waster, it's never going to happen, but I hit it off with the drummer. Afterwards we get talking and he says he knows some else who's trying to form an originals band and would like to along to a rehearsal? Makes a change from covers, I thought, so I go along just to see. They've got some nice songs, and so when they offer me the gig I say yes immediately. You can see us at the Bull & Gate in Kentish Town on 16 Nov - Random Patrols - our first gig. Going back to the band I was originally trying to put together, that's come together really well and we've done a couple of gigs with a couple more hopefully lined up. This one's been more like hard work because none of the guys had ever gigged before so it's all had to be presented on a plate to them a bit, but it's getting better. Anyway, just when I think everything's settled down, the leader of Band B (remember them) calls me up to say there's been a cockup with a booking, he now can't make a gig he actually arranged, but he's a got a mate's band to cover. But, you guessed it, theiir bass player can't make it so would I dep for them! I believe it's called deja vu. What's really odd about this is that I'm not even very good - steady and reliable are the most appropriate adjectives I would use. Nearly anyone could play me off the stage. Turning up on time, learning the songs, and remembering you're rhythym not lead seem to have got me a long way. If you're still reading then I admire your endurance. And, if there is a moral to this story, it's if you're sitting in your bedroom saying to yourself you want to play in a band, then go for it.

[quote name='steantval' post='601752' date='Sep 17 2009, 09:47 PM']Our drummer Mr Jeff Rich has secured us a gig at High Barn in Great Bardfield and looking at the website the venue looks superb. Has anyone out there had any experiences of playing at the venue?[/quote] Played there just before Christmas. It's a great venue, really impressive inside, with a decent size stage and good acoustics. I remember it was a bit awkward getting our gear in though, through a narrow door and passageway. And yes, it is in the middle of nowhere and you will definitely get lost of you don't have good directions.

After a good few hours annoying various sales assistants by trying every bass in the shop, I've decided to buy a Jazz. But I'm torn. I really like the look of the Geddy Lee, but the Highway One has the same Badass bridge and I can find it online at nearly £100 less, which to me is a lot of dosh. To my ears (in the shop at least) they sound very similar. Anyone got any experiences of playing either, or any other views/opinions on their relative merits?

Wirelessly connects your PC to your Bluetooth-enabled devices - mobile, PDA etc. Works perfectly in Windows XP but not in my new Vista machine. Still in the original box with driver CD and instructions. PM if interested. Gone to waynepunkdude

Top man - a pleasure to do business with.

John Entwhistle

I feel good - we sometimes do it as a bass and vocal duet!

I've had a LH500 for about 6 months and it's exactly the same. Maybe it's the valve in the preamp warming up?

Did anyone catch The Noisettes gig being shown on the TV earlier today? Shingai was playing a stunning acoustic bass that looked (and sounded) nearly as big as her. Any ideas what it was? A serious GAS attack is brewing!

One of the bands I play in has just given up using backing tracks, for a number of reasons. First, you have no flexibility at all - you just play to the track. If the song's going well you can't extend it (and conversely can't cut it short if it's bombing). And that leads on the next point which is you can't cover up mistakes - get out of step with the track and it's game over. And this will happen unless you always guarantee a decent sound - if you can't hear the track because the monitors aren't working one night.......... It's OK for a solo artist because you can work round these problems but if it's a couple of you, you will need to be almost telepathic. In my experience the drawbacks heavily outweigh the advantages. And then there's the point that playing bass against a drum machine is pretty soul destroying as all you do all night is count bars to make sure you know where you are. So that's why we've just recruited a drummer. Less money, more hassle maybe, but much more fun.

[quote name='jakesbass' post='507046' date='Jun 6 2009, 03:49 PM']PM'd[/quote] Replied

I've got this USB thingie that lets you copy the contents of your phone's SIM card to your PC. Useful if your phone gets lost or stolen, or you replace it, as you can just copy all your numbers back to your new phone - saves re-entering them all. Used it a couple of times for my daughters (always losing there phones) and it works fine. Trouble is, it don't work on my new Vista machine. If you've got an XP machine and you want it, let me know and I'll send it to you. Brand new it only costs £10 - if you find it useful put a couple of quid in the next charity collection box you see.

[quote name='warwickhunt' post='502498' date='May 31 2009, 07:29 PM']Read the OP again... TGE is talking about running a [u]pair[/u] of [size=4]2x15[/size]'s NOT a pair of 1x15's! [/quote] I am so sorry - I should have made it very clear I was talking 'in principle', and offering a general agreement to the OP's idea without having direct experience of what he/she is wanting to do. That's why I asked him/her to let me know how they got on. I must remember the audience I am talking to in any future posts.

I've been thinking about doing the same. I run a Hartke LH500 into a Hartke VX115 (having replaced the driver with an Eminence Kappa Pro) which gives me 350 watts at 8 ohms. That's enough for most gigs but occasionally it would be useful to have a bit more volume, so adding another 8 ohm cab would give me the full 500 watts, and the extra power and more speakers should do the job nicely. Warwickhunt is right about the PA, but only if you run the bass through it - we don't. Having read a number of threads about mixing cabs with different drive units, the way I understand it is that it's not always a good idea, so another 1x15 would seem to tick all the boxes - it's a (relatively) cheap way of getting more volume and there shouldn't be any unwelcome issues with your sound. Let us know how you get on.

My set up is to get the action as low as possible, which suits my style of play. My sound typically is biased towards the low end, and I don't play too hard, but at points in some songs you do want to dig in, and imo being able to easily get a clank of the frets helps emphasise that.

I prefer the american naming convention. The last time I talked about quavers the singer went and bought some crisps.

I have used these as well [url="http://www.macksearplugs.com/hear-plugs-hi-fidelity-earplugs.htm"]http://www.macksearplugs.com/hear-plugs-hi...ty-earplugs.htm[/url]. They are very effective but can muffle the sound a bit too much - but our drummer swears by them. I prefer ER20s as they don't cut the high notes quite as much.

[quote name='Bill Fitzmaurice' post='420952' date='Feb 27 2009, 02:42 PM']Your observations are correct, but not the conclusions drawn. If you were to stack a pair of 4x10s and a pair of 1x15s, or a pair of anything for that matter, similar results would always ensue. Unplug the bottom cab and the bass response will fall. Two reasons. First. the raised impedance and reduced cone area reduces output by at least 5dB. When output drops you don't hear bass as well, see: Fletcher-Munson equal loudness curves. Second, when run alone the height of the top cab above the floor is sufficient to de-couple the system from the boundary reinforcement offered by the floor, and it does so in the midbass where bass impact is perceived to originate from. With both cabs plugged in the cones in the top and bottom cabs operate as one in the low frequencies and there's no coupling loss. Unplug the top cab and the midrange and high-frequencies will fall. Again, two reasons. The first is that same cone area and impedance situation as before. The second is that mids and highs are very directional. and if the source is on the floor they simply pass you by unheard. The notion that adding a 15 will fill in the bottom with a 4x10, or vis-versa, gains credence when one performs the same exercise as you did. But assuming you don't happen to have a pair of 1x15s and a pair of 4x10s lying about to perform the same experiment with different combinations of cabs you simply have no way of knowing that you'll get similar results no matter which combination you may use, including putting a 1x15 atop a 4x10.[/quote] So..........call me Mr Stupid, but if I understand this correctly, the best sound will be obtained by stacking two cabinets, largely regardless of what's in them? The bottom cab will give the bass, the top cab will give the mid-range, and the combined cone area gives volume and perceived bass response.

The bass solo in Hot Legs - I know, I know, but it's for a wedding and that's what the bride wants us to play.

I've just bought a second hand VX115 and want to disconnect the built-in horn. Seems straight forward enough to disconnect the wires, but my question is do I leave it open circuit or should I join the wires together? I'll be powering the cab through a Hartke LH500.

First one I bought didn't work from the off, but the replacement has been OK. Seems to be as effective as the equivalent Boss pedal, although there's a bit more hiss. And as I only use it for about 5 minutes in an entire set, £15 against £60 seems good value.

A EB3 copy in a faded cherry colour way back in 1974. Can't remember the make. I'd being messing around with various different instruments trying to find something that inspired me. I'd just bought my first album - Quadraphenia, by The Who. One listen to John Entwhistle on The Real Me and that was it - I wanted a bass. The EB3 was quickly moved on but 35 years later I'm still playing.