Gust0o

Ah ha! So this is where they've all been hiding!

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1340134719' post='1699819'] It's a sad day when musicians no longer see the value of music. [/quote] I suspect the issue isn't with the value musicians find in their music, but the value that other actors would seek to apply to it - in this day and age of manufactured music; and even in those cases, a lot of the funding which greases the wheels doesn't come from the music, but the corporate entities and propositions which attach to it.

Just avoid looking at Youtube comments, and the rage should pass shortly. They're full of bawbags.

[quote name='flyfisher' timestamp='1339664335' post='1692084'] At least he's not rapping. [/quote] Or loitering outside corner shops and pestering passers-by to buy him fags, as is the great British childhood tradition of modern years.

Not a glamour post, and there are thousands I've never tried, but... The fancier Ibanez SRs just look like loads of fun and sound great. I'd love a go - but would I be a brand snob... ?

That whole picture just reinforces my suspicion he's having a sh*t.

I'll confess, from personal experience, finding the right front person is the hardest task. Not only do they need to be able to sing - but they need the banter and presence to carry a crowd. If you're picking someone else, there's plenty you can do to help them - keep them engaged; be there when they engage with the crowd; keep the energy up; build in time to rehearse some of those little tricks you might pull. If it's you... I don't have any advice. I've not tried it yet. Backing vocals beckons, but I have this odd habit of stopping playing whilst singing, that I need to conquer first...

[quote name='woodyratm' timestamp='1339589459' post='1690967'] I think I'd like Rob from Metallica more if he just raised his bloody strap! It drove me insane on Saturday! More so when he did high register stuff! FWIW - I've read way worse threads on BC than this. I just think it was poorly worded . Get off the OP's case. [/quote] Haha, I'm fully supportive of this - it has [i]backache [/i]written all over it. Also, it has a touch of Rob squatting over some kind of chemical toilet, as he walks around stage like he does.

Of the other players who aren't me, I've always admired Geezer Butler for coming close to my own standards of perfection.

I think it all depends on how, for yourselves, you define [i]worst[/i]. It's a subjective value judgement, and complicated by the fact that we'll all choose different values. The OP called it along the lines of "pretty simple rock basslines", or somesuch - but for me, that's why so many of those players have been successful. Knowing what works best for the song, and then nailing it: simple [i]but effective[/i]. Sure, maybe for some they play what's needed for the song and little else - [i]but what do you suppose the purpose of the bass is, if not to directly serve the song?[/i] We can think back to a recent thread where a BC'er had had his basslines re-recorded, as an example of where not serving the song fully can leave a player. And, of course, if you have the [i]too simple[/i] side of the argument, you can also have the [i]too complicated[/i] side - we have some very technical players, well lauded on here, who do not ship records; who will not get on the radio with any regularity; and who will not be appearing in my music collection, simply because fret w***ery - for me - is the dullest expression of a musician's ego

I fear the LHC may well be asking for their Moog circuit back, at this rate. Checked Ebay, couple on there... big bollar, but case candy, etc.

Could be worse, spare a thought for poor old Daphne and Celeste. I think they needed tetanus shots after their last festival outing

[quote name='noelk27' timestamp='1339512231' post='1689594'] Maybe I'm in the minority, but my usual response is "I know". [/quote] To quote Team America: [i]cocky m*****f***er [/i]

[quote name='Hobbayne' timestamp='1339498845' post='1689252'] We played the other night to a good crowd and were the first band on. As we were packing up to let the second band on, their bass player came up to me and said "Some nice bass playing mate!" Instead of saying "Thanks" or "Cheers mate!" I waffled something about 'The sound being terrible and couldnt hear a thing!" He must have thought I was a right arsehole! [/quote] Probably more common than you think, chief. The last gig, the first band said much the same to me - and in the same, very British, act of recrimination I said "Nah, I was f***ing sh*te out there". It's maybe a bass thing. It's maybe a British thing. But you're not alone in seeing the downside, or in humbling some direct praise.

Haha, I suspect I'll just be echoing some of the above. Getting in on Friday was fine. Pretty much just drove up and parked up - some slight worries about how the field was cutting up, but all fine. I know other festivals use chain links or some other form of temporary road surface, and that might be a tip for Download. If the sh*t weather had continued beyond Friday they would have been totally f***ed come the Sunday. We'd - perhaps wisely - opted for family camping. I'll be doing that again - not that it's an less boozy, but it's a whole lot more friendly; and that campsite was pretty much pristine compared to some of the others. Plenty of banter; plenty of shared beers; and, being on a hill, we kept pretty dry. Getting into the arena was the first issue we encountered. Just masses of people milling about. I don't blame the decision, it was obviously made in good faith and common sense - but there was a complete lack of communication to the crowd. The first we really knew came from a steward making some jokes as he tried to get past. Later in the day, a few more lagers, they could well have had some issues. Getting out was sllloooowww... but not as ssslllllllllllooooooooooowwwwwwwww as we'd reckoned on. Thank f*** for the sun drying out the ground some, or Sunday night would have been a disaster. Took us an hour and a half to clear the car park, and thereafter was plain sailing. Overall, they were pretty lax - sh*t comms; no signage; right hand wondering where the left had gone to. As I said, if you're going to let even more people come in and ply them with booze, get your sh*t together for managing them. That said, it was a great festival - good atmosphere throughout. I thought Steel Panther were the highlight, for a needed pep on Saturday afternoon; and we had some comedy moments as Dive Bella Dive took too long going through the media hoops with their manager and making sure they'd smeared [i]just enough[/i] mud on to look suitably rock and roll... only to get both barrels and some pint glasses from the crowd, who instantly walked off and left them hanging. Such occasions are what you make of them, and I think we made the best of it Also, not being funny - but, in my experience, you get a better quality of punter at some of the rock festivals. I've had to put my fist through people at both Leeds and Reading, previously; none of that here. Typified by the moment a dozen of us, total strangers in our little groups, decided to club together to go "pikey fishing" with an empty pint glass and some string... managed to land a few of the collectors Loved it. Would do it again. But they can't organise for sh*t

Ebay and Stateside would be a suggestion if genuinely looking for a vintage - though I should warn you. There seems to be an unwritten rule with many vintage Gibsons, which is that they must have been treated like sh*t before they get to you. You quite often see them with their unqiue brand of relicing.

Have you tried turning his knob down?

I've only seen the one go on here - and I missed it... hence picking the Grabber up. If I get another chance, I'll snaffle it. A lot of the players I listen to use the bass - from the Cancer Bats to High On Fire, and it does some good work; with some apparently excellent craftsmanship.

If you the new RD isn't up to spec, have you considered the First Act Delgada? Probably my preference, all told: [url="http://www.firstact.com/Products/LimitedEditionGuitars/Delgada_bass.aspx"]http://www.firstact.com/Products/LimitedEditionGuitars/Delgada_bass.aspx[/url]

[quote name='bigsmokebass' timestamp='1339073647' post='1683246'] Which grabber have you got Gust? [/quote] Ah, this one is mine - 1976 G3: