Count Bassy

[quote name='JamesBass' timestamp='1385048080' post='2283840'] Well that would surely just depend on the music written, would The Beatles have sounded so fantastic on a Solid State? Would John Entwistle have sounded as good with SS? Etc. Personally I don't think so, the valves allowed for the amp to become something much more than what SS has, in my opinion of course. I much prefer the warm, tone and all round feel of an all valve head. Obviously cabs play a HUGE part as does the guy or gal on the bass! [/quote] [size=4]Well, they would have sounded different, and as that is how we would have first heard it we would probably have thought it sounded great. All I'm saying is that perceptions depend very much on what you're used to, and what you heard first. [/size][size=4]Same sort of thing with Vinyl and CD: If CD had come first would anyone be singing the praises of vinyl, with its poor fidelity and [/size][size=4]susceptibility[/size][size=4] to damage? [/size] [size=4]The all valve Amps I have played through and heard generally sound great, but to me it is like having a built in effect that you can't bypass. [/size]

[quote name='Jazzneck' timestamp='1384963727' post='2282868'] GEEEEEEEZ - how old are you? [/quote] Too old by far! [quote name='Jazzneck' timestamp='1384963727' post='2282868'] Have you ever used a valve head through a good cabinet at a gig with a smokin' band? [/quote] Yes, used an enormous Ampeg head, through an Ampeg 8x10, and it sounded great. All I'm saying is that that sound probably bore little resemblance to the "Sound" coming out of the bass. Of course this is true of most amps & cabs, otherwise they'd all sound the same, and what fun would that be? However valve amps seem to try and make feature out of a fundamental flaw. If clean solid state amps had come first, and valve amps had been a later development people would probably be clamouring for the cleanness of an "old time" solid state amp, and bemoaning the "muddy" sound the new valve amps."

[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1384958329' post='2282780'] It's not the "how much", it's the way it does it. There's just so much more ... erm... [i][b]Distortion [/b][/i]in every note you play. [/quote] Fixed it for you! [size=4] [/size] Seriously though, I'm not arguing against Valve amps, but they should they not be regarded as an oversized effects pedal. If you want the amp output to be a true representation of the signal that is leaving your pickups then it's surely got to be solid state all the way. Obviously you spoil the Fidelity by then squirting it into a loudspeaker! (and using a pick-up in the first place) Ducks for cover.

We do Superstition with 1 Guitar, Sax, Bass & drums, though in quite a different style to the original, and the audiences seem to love it (I haven't actually asked them, but they don't throw things).

[quote name='paul h' timestamp='1384495439' post='2277319'] Three times I have started to reply to this and three times I have thought better of it. This is draft number 4. I apologise for the "I'm amazed" comment. Unfortunately that's my opinion. The exciting thing about music for me is that it's constantly developing and changing. I love nothing more than discovering something new. A genre I haven't listened to before. A new artist I admire. A new song that I love. Luckily I'm not alone in this because well...new music is being written all the time. Music that has absorbed all those wonderful influences from a post Mustang Sally world Luckily I'm not alone in this because well...The Beatles, The Beach Boys, Jimi Hendrix, Queen, Funk, Disco, Punk, Hip Hop, Dance Music, The Moog, Drum Machines, Programming, Sampling, DJ's, Mixing...and of course a million other influences that make up modern music. And to answer some of your points directly. The only reason I don't like a song is because I don't like it. It has nothing to do with popularity. I also never said anything about wanting to play obscure songs or thinking obscure means good. And I certainly didn't mention Sex on Fire. And I certainly wouldn't describe it as a classic because I can no more see into the future than the guy who wrote Mustang Sally. [/quote] Paul, I can see that echoing your expression gave the impression that my post was a direct rebuttal of yours, but it wasn't meant to be that. It was more of a general comment on the attitudes of some people here, not aimed at yourself directly. Perhaps I should have put through several drafts before firing it off as you did your reply! I too enjoy discovering new stuff, even if its old stuff that I've only just discovered. However I also like some of the old classics. It doesn't have to be an either or situation, new and old stuff can coexist, neither is inherently good or bad: As you rightly say it comes down to do you like it or not (and, in a band situation, do the audience like it).

[quote name='paul h' timestamp='1384323984' post='2275170'] I will never to cease to be amazed that musicians and bands just can't embrace new music. When I say new, I would actually settle for something written in this decade....or century...or maybe since I've been alive. [/quote] I will never cease to be amazed that musicians and bands can't embrace old standards! There seems to be the attitude that if it's popular and the audience like it then it must be bad!!! Conversely obscurity seems to be taken as automatically meaning a song is good. Songs that are obscure are generally obscure for a reason, songs that are still being sung and enjoyed are being so for a reason. I have nothing against modern "Classics", but will "Sex on Fire" still be being sung in 40 years? Mustang Sally is often regarded with scorn in these pages, but its a good song that is still being sung and enjoyed 40 years after it was written! As far as I'm concerned that must mean it must have something right. I wish I had written it!!

[quote name='Musky' timestamp='1383471427' post='2264681'] Why? Because these things weren't always valuable and some people like to modify instruments. [/quote] Exactly!

What I found curious was that the perpetrator went on the roof and "Shot himself to death". It makes me wonder how many shots it took.

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1383818132' post='2269404'] Actually I have to disagree with that. Whether or not something is a good tune is entirely subjective. If it was true, then we'd all like the same music which we most patently don't. [/quote] Well, I think there was the implicit assumption that "good" was in the opinion of the listener. He was simply saying (my interpretation) that we shouldn't rule out doing a tune because of where its come from, who's written it, or some misplaced dogma. IIRC he was referring to the inclusion of some none English tunes on an album (him being essentially (at the time) an English folk musician) In the point I was making I was extending this to include tunes that had been written by someone else.

Well, I've done it. To be honest I haven't taken it to the nth degree, but have reduced the clearance at the first fret by about half. I wasn't actually struggling down there before, but its definitely a bit slicker down at that end now. Just need to let everything settle down for a day or two and then tweak the intonation. To be more honest I did f*** up on the A string and took it too low, and ended up super-glueing a bit of plastic (a bit of the base from a CD Spindle pack) in and taking it down again.

[quote name='Phil Starr' timestamp='1383816950' post='2269378'] I guess the more powerful ones are the 7x3W tri-led lights which seem to be about £100 a set more expensive. Are they worth the difference? One or two reviews suggest they are a bit overpowering on full power, though I don't propose pointing them at anyone's eyes. I'd rather put the £100 towards bass gear but it'd kill me to think I'd bought something inadequate or even just a bit limp for the sake of £100. What do you think? Anyone regretted either purchasing the lower powered ones or wishing they'd not bought the mega ones? thanks for al the responses so far. [/quote] When I said the newer ones I actually meant the later versions of the ParBar - mine are MkI and I know that the MkII claimed to be 30% brighter. I think they are now up to the MkIV, but not sure how bright these are. By contrast when Kam first brought out the PowerBar I think they claimed to be 400% brighter than the then current ParBar. I do have some of the 18 x 1W QTX ones, and they are indeed very bright (you wouldn't want to look straight at them). Great if they are high up and 15 feet away, but you wouldn't want them just above head hight and close to you.

[quote name='xilddx' timestamp='1383814034' post='2269336'] Like I said, I have no issue with cover bands. I certainly could not be in one, I couldn't learn 150 songs of other bands, partly ability, partly motivation. There are specific skills and motivations required for either type of band. But I am disappointed in the attitude from some quarters towards original bands. Those who have not been in an original band may not appreciate how much work is involved, and how hard it is to build an audience and keep reinventing the band to keep it fresh. [/quote] Just to make it clear that I have absolutely no problem with originals bands, after all without original bands there would be no covers. What I can have a problem with is the attitude of original band members who regard cover bands as being musically worthless.However I don't know any cover band members who regard original bands with the same disdain. To my mind there are two questions: - is it a good band? - is it a good song? To quote John Kirkpatrick (Button accordion and concertina Maestro): " A good tune is a good tune, no matter where it comes from".

[quote name='xilddx' timestamp='1383221538' post='2261676'] It's not the same as classical orchestras and jazz bands playing others' compositions because they are keeping the music alive and bringing it to new audiences, it's more often out of love and duty I think. Cover bands are often doing it for kicks and money from what I can tell, more taking than giving, an easy way to play at being the rock star without the creativity, effort and uncertainty of going out there with original music. [/quote] And I thought talking bollocks was my speciality! [size=4] [/size]

[size=4][quote name='neepheid' timestamp='1383229482' post='2261849'][/size] And people in covers bands get fed up of people in originals bands looking down their noses at them for being unoriginal, selling out, making more money for perceived less effort/artistic value or whatever the damn beef is. At the risk of sounding like a total sap - we're all performing music here, can't we all just get along? [/quote] This! Hendrix's 'Hey Joe' & 'All Along the Watchtower', Pino Palladinos bass on "Wherever I lay My Hat", Johnny Cash's version of 'Hurt', Cream's 'Crossroads' etc etc etc obviously all crap. PS: I see that BertBass beat me to it with examples of crap covers songs.

[quote name='Phil Starr' timestamp='1383641576' post='2266796'] OK, we too have to take the plunge into lighting. We want to keep it simple, just to liven up our visuals without adding to the set up time or the already cluttered stage area so the four Led cans on a controller/ParBar type lights will suit us just fine. One question is what level of light to go for. They don't all quote light output so it is hard to compare but the choice seems to be between the 3x3W tri-leds (PowerBar and equivalent) and the ones with 10mm leds (ParBar). I saw a band recently using the ParBars and they seemed bright enough. Would the more powerful lights give greater intensity of colour? Would they prove too bright in a usually restricted stage area. I know I could get a proper controller to dim them but to be honest I want to plug, forget and play. If i can get away with a ParBar then that's great, more to spend on bass gear. What are your experiences? [/quote] I have two of the Kam Mk1 Par bars and they have worked great in slightly darkened room or stage area, but don't do much if the pub has all its house lights on. The newer ones are more powerful so can only be better. Of course there are better/more powerful ones out there (I've got some of those as well), but the difference between no lights and a couple of ParBars is tremendous. My experiences have been good. Cool running, compact and robust. Up and running in seconds, and no waiting for them to cool down before moving them. Efficiency isn't generally a concern since it's generally someone else's electricity, but the cool running can be a real bonus in a cramped pub etc, when they're just above your head. I've always bought second hand, and consequently have had a few problems with LED failures, and occasionally the driving transistor. Thankfully I'm handy that way so have spent a few evenings soldering new LEDs in. In fact I now look for second hand ones with failed LEDs as you can pick them up fairly cheap. Probably not economically sensible if I was charging for my time, but I love tinkering with this stuff.

[quote name='gary mac' timestamp='1383648857' post='2266923'] Still a useful reply for me Richard, as I've been thinking about replacing the six spot light bulbs in my kitchen ceiling light with LED's [/quote] I've had a very good experience of LED Lights for domestic use. True a few years ago the colours were awful (blue) and output was low, but the ones I have now you can get in a range of whites (Warm, Cool, Daylight). The only problem I've had recently is that some cheap "warm whites" are too yellow. Always look at the colour temperature in the spec (warm white seems to range from 2700 to 3500K) than than the words, and if you don't like them send them back! Also pay attention to the beam angle! a lot of them tend to be quite narrow (35 - 40 degrees),, but the ones I've gone for are 120 -140 degree (ish) and are far better for general lighting. The ones I use tend to be around £8 each for a 5/6 watt one ([i]around[/i] the same output as a 50W Halogen). Instant on, and Flyfisher has already done some sums. I have 13 of them in my kitchen alone and if they last 10000 hours (some probably already have), then according to FFs calcs that's £700 quid saved. I have had a few premature failures, but the supplier I use (Homewatt) have always exchanged them without quibble - even one that failed after 18 months. Out of interest they do claim 35000/50000 hours, and some of mine have failed early. It's not a lot of consolation, but only in one case has one of the LEDs itself failed - otherwise its always been the driving electronics (integrated in the bulb) I'd say try them, but YMMV.

Two old Shermann full range (3 way, 15" + 6" + Tweeter) cabs, old 16 channel studiomaster club mixer. Two old nameless Foldback wedges, old Crown XLS800 (?) amp. The amps is not a patch on its predecessor (Audio management 600),and looking to replace it with something lightweight when funds allow, but it all sounds great and has done everything we need, including outdoor pub garden gigs. The Shermanns have has Tubas, Sousaphones and bass guitars through them and we've never felt that we need subs.

Would it be stirring things up again to mention "Power Factor"?

There's a site in the states that has obviously stripped a Fender Urge down and is selling all the bits separately, and charging silly prices for them.

Bring back Bob Harris!

[quote name='Alec' timestamp='1383666649' post='2267314'] Or add a second socket to either/both of your cabs if the outlet plate easily allows. Just connect in parallel. [/quote] This is what I'd do, if at all possible [quote name='Alec' timestamp='1383666649' post='2267314'] I do find it daft that so many cabs & amps come with just a single socket (though I realise it saves money) - they could at the very least have a second hole blanked off to allow for an easy DIY mod... [/quote] I'd hope that its more a problem of space with the compact amps these days. I'd be pretty peed off if they only fitted one to save a couple of quid on a £500 + amp!

Saw them in the Billy in Northampton last night. Bass player is still functioning, but didn't try the jump off the milk crate this time! (mind you, if you did that in the billy he'd crack his head open first, then fall on the floor)

Wasn't there myself, but here's a snippet of my lad's band a few weeks ago (he's the drummer). [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gtFFFbsiY_I[/media] He appears to keep playing!

Very Crafty!

Thanks for all your thoughts chaps, Ill probably have a go at it next weekend and will report back. Clive