GreeneKing

My networking starts today. I don't want to burn any boats but I could be so much happier. My mind's dwelling on this knob too much, being told I'm trying to be young and that modern music is dire is a step too far. Okay I do have wider tastes than most but the guy's such a music bigot. It's not just music he's a complete old letch and has such a middle class superiority thing going on.

At the risk of boring you all, just got in after another practice and it seems I've upset the lead guitarist. We play 15 songs and we want to up it to 20 odd. The idea has been to do something modern appealing to a younger audience as we're predominantly 70's rock and white man's blues. Discussion follows and guitarists agree on 4 old Rolling Stones numbers I get a bit fed up and ask if we're going to become a Stones tribute band (we already do two of theirs). I also say 'how is that going to appeal to a younger audience'. Lead guitarist then shouts at me 'music's gone downhill since the 70's you're just trying to be young and the Rolling Stones are the best band in the world'. When I beg to differ it's 'my children think they're the best and so do all their friends'. Narrow taste in music methinks. The truth is he's probably never heard of Budgie, Man, Wishbone Ash, Van Der Graff Generator etc so his experience of the 70's would be narrow too. So out of 20 songs there's not one that I have chosen or particularly requested. Would you lot be happy with that? New songs btw are Starman, Jumping Jack Flash, Start me up, Common People (love it), Disco 2000 and 2,4,6,8 Motorway. The guy then sulked at the foot of the stairs for 10 minutes My suggestions as per usual were vetoed. Town Called Malice or Peaches because you need a keyboard for them. I might be old but at least I've not quite started to stagnate yet. In answer to a previous question no they haven't gigged yet.

Much cheaper rackmount is the dbx166XL - I love mine and find it better than any pedal compressor I've owned.

Train don't strain. You've got to give the body a chance to adapt Anne Marie. That's you told then

I play interval as a warm up but don't really listen to them That link was great, if only at showing me how pants I am at recognising intervals.

[quote name='Spoombung' post='462761' date='Apr 15 2009, 10:06 AM']Hurrah for Britain! Yes, I realised Steve was simply feeling patriotic - eventually. Yes, we do make good instruments here but so does nearly every other country - I suppose it makes sense to buy British at the moment because of the sorry state of Sterling.[/quote] I see what you mean:

[quote]I think he's just saying the best basses are made on these shores. It's a compliment[/quote] What, like driftwood

I'm fairly sure I've discovered the problem. The batteries on my pre were flat (3.5 and 1.5 volts) and I assume distorting the output. The bass died completely on me today and a pair of new 9v cells have worked their magic.

Hehe, I was a motor mechanic for 4 yrs when I left school and a 3 litre flat 6 with more electronics than the space shuttle is not something I'd look at. To be honest I can't even get to anything under the bonnet anyway! Maybe I'll see how it goes at the next practice and try to isolate the fault if it re-occurs to either the Hartke or the Aggie. If it's the Hartke I'm not so worried as it wasn't expensive and maybe a set of new drivers would be in order anyway?

I was using my Hartke 410TP and the Aguilar GS112NT yesterday and after about 1 1/2 hours practice, while at quite low volume I got a 'parp' sound coming from one of the cabs on low notes (E string). I tried reducing the volume a little, removing some bass from my tone and introducing more compression but it persisted when I dug in a little. I think it was the Aggie but I'm not certain. The amp wasn't clipping at all. When I drove home I got the VDC and engine warning lights up on the Subaru - the last time this happened it was over £500 to fit a new Lambda sensor! So I wasn't particularly joyful I stopped at the Motorway services to grab a sandwich and the car warning lights reset themselves (I tried this earlier but got no joy). Today I'm trying the same rig and can't get the cabs to replicate the farting. So is it too good to be true? Is the cab likely to have a problem do you think? I've owned the GS112NT from new and only had it a few months. Will it likely return to farting when it's warmed up? Is it likely to be anything I've done? I don't pretend to understand cabs beyond the basics.

The other guys in the band have been really ace and we've all joined together in having frank words with the lead guitarist. Things continue, we may be getting a keyboard player who is very professional and that can be but a good thing. We're talking about gigs again.

[quote name='bassicinstinct' post='461260' date='Apr 13 2009, 02:59 PM']I respectfully suggest that you make it a priority to tamper with his crampons. Go on - you know it makes sense - the world would be a better place. [/quote] It would be like, a sort of public duty

[quote]Peter, has anyone ever pointed out your massively over developed left hand[/quote] I think I fret a little too firmly

Unfortunately CK the band is made up of 3 'friends' who all live in the same area and I came in as an outsider via an ad on Mad Monks board. Their original bassist had already left to join another band (surprise). However much his commitment must be questioned he is probably at least half of the band in terms of organisational, social, practice venue and equipment issues. I've emailed all the band and said we need to be clear about what we're doing and where we're going and mentioned the commitment thing. Sadly I've never gigged and I thought it was going to happen so I suppose I'm particularly disappointed and angry. On the plus side my ability and confidence have shot up over the past 6 months. I just think he wants to play at being a 'rock star' but doesn't have the necessary balls to get up there and actually do it. I've not given up yet (not quite) but the signs aren't good. I don't want to lose my momentum and I just want to get up there and perform. Lap dancing anyone?

It kinda gets worse, just when I thought we were making progress. We had a song discussion about possible new numbers the other day. We firmly told the 'plonker' of the band that 'Wish you were here' was a no-go. It requires 2 acoustics and the bass and drums don't even come in till bar 27. It's just him wanting to sit and strum unaccompanied for a song. A great song but not in a pub. We agreed, well I thought we did, on a more modern 'pop' number not blues or rock, something for the younger audience. So I email him several links, BRMC, Travis, Killers etc. He comes back with some snide comments about it all being 'dire' and not doing 'teenage angst' and maybe we should do 'Wish you were here'. FFS! He really is a complete stuck record, only good for shaping into a flowerpot. He's out climbing today and the weather is glorious up here. We're looking at a get together later for some practice and I'm really wanting to get gigging soonest (the rest of the band feel this way too) as it's coming together nicely. I'm not available next weekend either. Plonker comes back today to say 'Not sure how the neighbours will appreciate having their peace disturbed in this nice weather, everyone sitting in their gardens.'. Realising this is a pathetic excuse I text him 'That might mean no practice for most of the Summer '. I just get a reply 'Certainly this weather makes you think.' What a tosser! So he's had his little play at being in a band and now he's bored. He can't get his way with the songlist despite whining and sulking. So all the time and money invested can now go down the drain. What a knob!

Is it just me or is that BIN very high? Peter

I'm not even bothering to enter this one. Full Naval pension in August though

With a week to go I'm really looking to this. Going up on Saturday and stopping over for a curry/bevie or two.

Hiya John. Have you tried posting on the Ernie Ball forum? They are a helpful bunch, if a little bit blind to EBMM's alternatives. The boss of EB and several of his staff visit and pontificate [url="http://www.ernieball.com/forums/"]http://www.ernieball.com/forums/[/url] Peter

You're welcome to try my G&L 2k Tribute any time. I'm quite impressed, I even use it passive most of the time - who'd a thought it