Low End Bee

We drove our producer to distraction as the quiet verse in one of our songs is about 10-15bpm slower than the rest. He asked us to play to a click and it sounded flat and lost all the feel and dynamics. We then played it again without a click and we come in bang on the same tempo after the slow bit. He's worked a lot with Depeche Mode and the Cure so I guess he wasn't in this sort of zone. He did say our way was best after though. We'd never noticed the tempo change before it's just how we'd always played it. I guess you should just have faith in your playing and your drummer. You could record it in sections but that sounds that time and money. This is the (very non prog) song if you're interested. .[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qxnnlo5PFFk"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qxnnlo5PFFk[/url]

3 other bands now. Anyone in them?

I've done a few gigs with my teenage heroes in the past few years. They've all been true gents and it's always been fun.

The oldest I've owned was a 68. Played many others including a 57, 63, 66 and lots of 70s models. I'm a bit vague on 80s and 90s ones. I prefer the recent ones to be honest. I like my 2007 best. It's a lot better than my 68 was and nearly all the 70s ones I've played. There is the odd gem form the 70s but I'd want to try before I handed over any dosh. That said there was a variance of 2007 models when I bought mine too. The old ones certainly look a lot cooler with the maple going amber and a few dings here and there. That's important too. If it makes you feel better when you're playing it you'll probably play it better.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=eFYFFt3UMhI Glen Matlock using one with Iggy. I'm an LP Junior fan so I like the look of them too.

I have recorded with Ian at AirPlay in the past. Lovely chap and top value for money. But I'm looking for a specific lo-fi sound. I've heard Ranscombe Studios in Kent may be up our street. Anyone used them?

In addition to all the normal stuff. A small towel - Suits are hot on stage. Optimistic felt tip pens - for signing CD's and female bits. A pork pie hat - Take it on stage. turn it upside down and voila. A pefect place to put pocket contents - keys/mobile/change/wallet Band business cards - For drunk people to remember what the band they saw the following day.

Thanks. I shouldn't have mentioned cheap really. I was more after people who could nail that 'sound'. But obviously budget will always be an issue.

Good points Kiwi. I always print out an A4 of any new design and blue tack it on the wall. I make sure all the relevant info and the basic design is legible 12 feet away. If you can't read the band name or make out the logo it's money down the drain. Email flyers you can be more flexible with. Don't get me started on fonts.....

We've got some new songs together for an EP that we think would suit an old style bash 'em out a bit rough around the edges garage band (not the Mac thing) style. We're very happy with the standard our previous EPs recording but fancy a change for this one. I'm not bothered whether the studio uses analogue kit or not. So anyone know anywhere in the South East that fits the bill? Must be fairly cheap too!

It's worth doing well. My advice is find someone who can do you a favour for a drink and get your artwork printed at a proper printers. Making sure your artwork is at least 300dpi, in the right format, the text won't bleed over the borders, etc. is sometimes a headache if you don't know what you're doing. Printing on a home printer will look very non league too. I've a graphics background and my guitarist has previous in photography so normally we manage to get some fairly nice looking artwork sorted. We've built up a relationship with a fast and helpful printer. We budget about £30 per gig on printing half a dozen A3 posters and a couple of hundred flyers. Glossy and professional looking is half the battle. We've got quite a few gigs on the strength of showing venues our old artwork.

[quote name='Musicman20' timestamp='1365076556' post='2034875'] The TC RS210 gets my vote for giggable/small/fairly light/compact and a great tone! Very nice coax tweeter. [/quote] Gets my vote too.

[quote name='chasblaisdell' timestamp='1365017606' post='2034262'] Juke joints generated alot of music in the 50's that inspired alot of Englishmen to play lousy blues in the 60's . Cranking out Waters and Wolf behind chicken wire with a .38 in your bass case and a roadie with a shotgun watching your équipment van is inspiring , put's an edge on it . A white guy from London would have the time of his life and probably never play better . [/quote] I thought we were talking about now? I don't find violence or guns inspiring. I'm over the moon that the threat of getting a kicking at a gig has like at football been mostly left in the past. I've been in plenty of 'edgy' gigs and I can do without it. I also accept the inspirational qualities of the blues and classic rock but I don't have to like them much. I'm not sure what your point is?

[quote name='Highfox' timestamp='1362072406' post='1995383'] I like my guitar solo's pretty short and simple: [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LgEA5AO-K3U[/media] [/quote] Works for me. I prefer a motif/break to a solo any day.

[quote name='Mr Fretbuzz' timestamp='1365001181' post='2033939'] Check out this new long scale bass, the Motown [url="http://duesenberg.de/en/basses/motown-bass.html"]http://duesenberg.de...otown-bass.html[/url] [/quote] Ooh no. I like their other basses a lot . But this. No.

[quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1364996100' post='2033797'] Hear, hear... add Status Quo to that and see where the thread goes Anymore takers..?? [/quote] Status Quo in a pub would be fun and appeals to my Anglocentric side.

[quote name='xilddx' timestamp='1364996456' post='2033816'] I'd love to go back to DR Black Beauties but after 4 dead Gs I gave up. [/quote] Me too. Once they changed the coating they went to pot.

I do too. I emailed them at 4pm once about a dead G string in a set of DR's and they rang me straight away and I had a replacement in the next mornings post.

Too many good gigs in London. I'm trying to wimp out of going to one tonight as it's too cold. On a personal level I'm thanking any relevant deity that I'm not lumbered with a juke joint and ZZ Top.

We're back at the Scream Lounge but on the big stage downstairs for the first time. I like this venue. They always put a lot of effort in. I think we're on last. Are we headling or providing the drums for the night? I'll take it as a headlining ego fluff. Other bands confirmed so far are the Junkyard Choir and the Renounds. Don't know them. Either bass player on here? Did I menton it's a free gig! Ice cool flyer to follow.

Should be there mon brave.

It's all about context innit.

I've got 15 of them! Just goes to prove I own too much music. The only ones I still listen to regularly are Dare, Parallel Lines and C'est Chic.To be fair there's some pretty good stuff on that list mixed in with the likes of Keane.

[quote name='SteveK' timestamp='1364909738' post='2032461'] There is a misconception here that 'Stage presence' means having to jump around on stage. IMO 'Stage presence' can come from being totally relaxed and confident on stage, not being timid, making eye contact, making the occasional excursion to the front of the stage, make as if you'd like to scoop up and embrace every punter - all at the same time as being totally focused on what you're playing. Before going on stage it can help if you get in to the mind set that the audience are about to expeience something truly extraordinary, an almost religious experience. Of course all that's not going to work if you have no confidence in yourself or your band. [/quote] Excellent post. As Discreet said there are a lot of bands that come across as cringeworthy when it's too forced. We played a gig with two other bands. One had a bonkers front man all over the stage, madcap antics and slightly deranged. It was huge entertainment because he was totally genuine. I asked him if he was like that every gig and he replied once he got up there he couldn't help himself. The rest of the band were fun too bouncing off his energy. The other band had a front man who did all the moves, had a dance and gurned away like no tomorrow. And it all looked toe curlingly awful and fake. I guess you have to mean it. I'm not saying that you shouldn't push yourself but it has to feel somewhat natural. Being genuine and having a good think about it like SteveK says prior to getting on stage is a great idea I shall try next gig.