discreet

I think it's pretty meaningless to make any kind of attempt to judge audio equipment on YouTube, regardless of the specs - which can be made to show almost anything - and the business of listening to sound on YouTube is subject to so many different parameters (not least the quality of your monitoring equipment) that you'd be mad to make a buying choice based on it. Would you listen to a YouTube demo on laptop speakers then go and spend the best part of £1000 on a cab? I wouldn't. The only way to properly judge a cab (or any other gear) is to ignore what anyone says about it on the internet and audition it in the situation that it is going to be used. Playing and practising at home, recording, gigging. Joining in any discussion about gear if you haven't used and heard said gear yourself, in a real-world situation, is fruitless speculation at best.

[quote name='PaulWarning' timestamp='1460109433' post='3022619'] maybe it just sounded louder in the 'old days' because everything was so distorted [/quote] Maybe it was louder than you think - remember, everyone had hair over their ears...

[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1460109005' post='3022606'] Are you sure he didn't say, "that's the way, uh-huh uh-huh, they like it, uh-huh uh-huh"? [/quote] Give It Up, Jack...

[quote name='ians' timestamp='1460106834' post='3022575'] I work in the promotions industry and I've lost track of the number of recent events employing a large PA, inside and outdoors which were often being run so loud that I've seen little kids running around with their hands over their ears....madness. [/quote] I had cause to accompany young master discreet to the pictures to see a film recently (he calls it 'cinema' and 'movie') and was quite appalled at the skeleton-rattling volume level of the soundtrack, which was obviously being relayed through a giant sound system. Luckily I had my earplugs in my pocket, but the levels really must have been dangerous for the kids' hearing. I complained to the manager on the way out, but he said 'that's how they like it'. Obviously he saw immediately that I was not included in 'they'.

[quote name='taunton-hobbit' timestamp='1460056242' post='3022244'] We're very close to getting on to the 'heft' thing here... [/quote] Well I wasn't going to say 'heft' - dammit!

[quote name='Twincam' timestamp='1460056142' post='3022241'] ...what's the point in anything over 500w as if you need more power surely your in a venue you need pa support!? [/quote] Exactly. People will say 'headroom' I suppose, but over the last 5 years or so my bass rigs have been getting smaller and lighter.

[quote name='ians' timestamp='1460056045' post='3022239'] ...a far cry from the old Bassman 135 and 1 X 15 I used to use back in the day. [/quote] Which I'm guessing was a valve amp that could probably go loud - but you used it sensibly.

[quote name='FinnDave' timestamp='1460040723' post='3022014'] I used to gig with a Selmer treble & bass 50 and 2x15 home made cab. It was enough, and the bands I was in then played heavier and more intense music than I do now, and now I use a 500 watt amp! [/quote] Was not a Selmer T&B 50 a valve amp, though? I know technically they're not supposed to be louder, but everyone knows that they are, and by quite a large margin. The loudest amp I've ever used was a Burman 100W valve amp. Which I regret selling, by the way. Having said that my Rumble 500 combo running at 350W is also really bloody loud, in fact in my current band I have trouble getting it quiet enough. But to answer the OP's question - in my opinion pub bands haven't got louder. They are generally way too loud and always have been. If I go to a pub and see two 100W guitar rigs set up I just walk straight back out again and do my hearing a favour.

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1460024453' post='3021843'] ...the cab is the messenger so it often gets shot first. It's easy to put the less "coloured" cabs in the frame when the amp, bass or technique might be at the heart of an "issue". [/quote] +1. I discovered recently that something as simple as a change of strings can make a radical and almost unbelievable difference.

[quote name='TimR' timestamp='1460021283' post='3021793'] The Violin bass is a testament to how we "hear with our eyes." [/quote] Yes, you get a lot of that on here.

[quote name='TimR' timestamp='1460021283' post='3021793'] Well, he did, and a Rickenbacker and a ... [/quote] He didn't get that until it was gifted to him by Rickenbacker in the States in 1965 when he could easily have afforded any bass he wanted, the bloody parsimonious mop-topped git!

[quote name='Rich' timestamp='1460021044' post='3021787'] You can never have too much sneed or too many underpants. [/quote] I dunno about that, there so much sneed in here I can hardly get my underpants on. I have three underpants.

[quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1460005896' post='3021640'] ... and sneed. You forgot sneed. [/quote] Ha, ha! I think I'm finally beginning to understand. It's all these herring, they're confusing me.

[quote name='Lw.' timestamp='1460020028' post='3021763'] Unless you record a lot - we all have our preference for how to record the bass but I do like a mic in front of a nice sounding cab on occasion. [/quote] That is very true. And of course if one wants to buy a decent gigging rig to play at home then so be it. I wouldn't, it seems like unnecessary overkill to me, but of course that is just my opinion.

[quote name='4stringslow' timestamp='1460017798' post='3021735'] I guess it's that cheap violin bass that has limited Macca's playing career [/quote] Yes, just think what he could have achieved if he hadn't been so tight and bought a P Bass instead!

[quote name='wateroftyne' timestamp='1460017739' post='3021733'] Yup. I'm very wary about anything - cab, amp or bass - until it's been gigged a few times. [/quote] +1 It's really the only way to make a decision about gear. Unless of course you're not in a band, never do gigs nor have any intention of doing them. In which case buying a decent gigging rig is tantamount to buying an expensive car and keeping it in the garage...

[quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1459992190' post='3021628'] In where..? [/quote][quote name='discreet' timestamp='1459987677' post='3021617'] I know exactly what you mean. As one reaches those autumn years it's good to have something that keeps your mind elephant boggler [b]sneed sneed[/b] ashtray cheese on toasty lampost-buggery. [/quote]

[quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1459988463' post='3021622'] ... and sneed. You forgot sneed. [/quote] I got two 'sneeds' in there - how many more d'you want?

[quote name='gary mac' timestamp='1459978667' post='3021554'] ��. Just recently listened to his "if we make it through December" [/quote] Played that at rehearsal last night. It's a great song, the bass line is a pleasure to play. He really didn't write too many '3-chord roots and fifths' stuff, his songs and arrangements are full of interest.

Recently joined a band that plays quite a few of his songs. Never even heard of him previously. Fantastic songwriter. It's a shame I only got into him shortly before his death. But we still have the songs. RIP, Hag.

[quote name='Number6' timestamp='1459986396' post='3021607'] I am learning some new basslines at the mo. These aren't basslines i will ever likely play in a gig yet still strangely i feel fulfilled just learning and feeding the grey cells. [/quote] I know exactly what you mean. As one reaches those autumn years it's good to have something that keeps your mind elephant boggler sneed sneed ashtray cheese on toasty lampost-buggery.

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1459962935' post='3021346'] Basschatters can argue about ANYTHING!! [/quote] No, they can't.

[quote name='Moos3h' timestamp='1459962376' post='3021343'] *Sigh* Funnyship sunk. [/quote] Basschatters can argue about ANYTHING!!

[quote name='RockfordStone' timestamp='1459957567' post='3021277'] ...a £40,000 diamond encrusted bass made of compressed unicorn hair... [/quote]