Thurbs

Hi all. I have a Zoom B9.1ut which I effectively use for a pre-amp so I would like to get my self a power amplifier. Key features include: * Min 500w @ 4ohms bridged * Light as possible * Top price £500 * Could double up as a PA amp I have been looking at these: [url="http://www.dv247.com/pa-systems-and-live-sound/behringer-inuke-nu6000dsp--81807"]Behringer iNUKE NU6000DSP Power Amplifier[/url] [url="http://www.dv247.com/pa-systems-and-live-sound/yamaha-p3500s-stereo-power-amplifier--23638"]Yamaha P3500S Stereo Power Amplifier[/url] [url="http://www.dv247.com/pa-systems-and-live-sound/crown-xls1500-drivecore-power-amplifier--76359"]Crown XLS1500 Drivecore Power Amplifier[/url] [url="http://www.dv247.com/pa-systems-and-live-sound/crown-xti-1000-stereo-power-amplifier--46251"]Crown XTi 1000 Stereo Power Amplifier[/url] Any thoughts? I think of that lot the XTI is best, is it worth the extra? Any other ideas?

I think what you are describing a stage with poor monitoring. It may have been perfect FOH. Have you had any feedback from someone out front?

Just a thought, does your drummer have an electric kit? If so I would get a mixing desk in there and a low power PA with everyone going through it. That way you can turn down to just above conversation levels, get a really good mix and not piss off the neighbours. We do it every now and again around the guitarists house and really shows up issues you have playing together. Well worth it.

Really stupid question this, and I think I already know the answer... Following on from the 'Opinions please' thread, I am sure I could do more to liven up my performance over an evening. The thing is, every time I have spontaneously done it I have cocked up the song I am trying to play. Is it just practice? Does anyone practice at home "your moves!" so to speak? or just at rehearsals? Do all of you rehearse the movement? I am guessing the answer to all of those questions should be yes, but I am guessing egos may get in the way.

Great news...

I have just joined a folk originals band and it is very liberating playing at low levels. No ear plugs/IEM faf, everything can be heard and it is easy to add dynamics. We usually gig a 4/5 song set in London so to bring anything other than the instrument would be for ego purposes only. Usually take the DB with the Fishman Platinum Pro or the Ibanez EWB205 which has a DI out built in, both straight to the PA. When the ego will demand it then I shall the Ashdown LB & a Barefaced Midget T, but as yet they are both unused for this band. Oh, and a free plug: [url="http://www.blackdoghat.com"]www.blackdoghat.com[/url]

Rather join in the chorus of condemnation, tuning to other instruments around you is fine as long as you all tune to each other. If you all have a good ear you can get to as good a pitch to each other as any other tuning device. Obviously this is problematic with any fixed tuning instruments like Sax or Keys. How many people on this forum could be given a pitch fork in A and tune accurately to that? Happens a lot in many musical genres and any musician worth their salt should be able to do it. Having said all that, if everyone used a electronic tuner with middle C at 440 Hz then that may be the quickest and quietest way of coming to an accurate state of tune between yourselves. [i]Just to clarify my earlier post... It's the A above middle C that is 440Hz, not middle C itself. My post was coming across like C4 = 440Hz when it's actually A4 = 440Hz (C4 = 261.626Hz). [/i] As for the original question... on the guitar the tuning is very stable, even through large temperature changes. I usually find one string out of kilter and just harmonise between the others. On the DB I tune every string before the gig using a clip on (oooh err misses).

Sounds great.

So.. why have you missed the free plug?! What is it!!!

I know it is not really a rock concert, but if you go to kings cross, have a look at their PA speakers.. they have 3" drivers and are stacked about 25 high. I guess it is for the same reason.

I was at a gig last night modelled around the Later With Jools Holland format. Worked really well, 10+ bands on 6 stages each rotating and playing 2 or so songs before moving on. Each band probably got 4 or 5 songs in total. [url="http://www.laterwith.co.uk/"]http://www.laterwith.co.uk/[/url] Anyway, the bassist back line for the main stage broke half way though the first bands set and they tried in vane to get it working. As I was only local I offered to go home and grab my gear and they ended up gigging with it the whole night. As I was going home to pick it up, I was wondering to myself what I would have done in the same situation? I don't carry a spare amp, but usually gig with two speakers, two guitars (or DB & EAB) and plenty of spare leads. I guess I have a reliance issue with my amp! If I am on the train then I usually just carry the main instrument, IEM gear and hope for a good PA. BTW, the cab which broke was a Trace Elliot 15" combo and was replaced by a Ashdown ABM 500 & ABM 115. The main bassist using it was awesome and it sounded really nice. It is the first time I have been stage side listening to my own gear.

Forgot to say, I got a BTB575 and it is awesome, but not quite £2k...

I would spend £2k on this: [url="http://www.ibanez.co.jp/products/eb_page11.php?area_id=3&data_id=80&color=CL01&year=2011&cat_id=2&series_id=469"]http://www.ibanez.co.jp/products/eb_page11...p;series_id=469[/url] [url="http://www.dv247.com/guitars/ibanez-sr5006e-bass-guitar-natural-oil-finish--60914"]http://www.dv247.com/guitars/ibanez-sr5006...l-finish--60914[/url]

I bought an archer from gear4music with insanely high action, rubbish strings and a buzzy action on e & a. Took it to a luither who lowered the bridge and re-shaped the top half of the finger board for about £300. Worth every penny.

Good stuff, I liked it.

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' post='1159500' date='Mar 12 2011, 05:36 PM']Well I have grabbed an hour here and there and I guess Im close to the point where I could say I can read I could not sight read obviously but if someone gave me notation for an original song the bass line I would arrive at rehersal with would be very similar to the one the rest of the band had heard before from who ever put it down in ink, Thats without me ever hearing the song before! Its quite weird but very addictive to go from a few blobs on a page to playing something recognisable in only a few minutes. Theres still a never ending journey in front but its coming together a bit more each time I look at the books. Im up to Page 17 so far playing in time on the E and A string is all done, next section is D string notes followed by G string then D and G together (which is practically the same as E and A I have just done anyway). After that it becomes more theory based as all the notes will of been covered along with Crotchet, Quaver and Semi breve rhythyms. I guess once I have started that bit in more detail I will be back to Doddy to get some more guidance but for now I find going back to the start of the book playing Minims & Crotchets slowly right up to where I am now is taking less time and making more sense each time so I will carry on like this until I feel there is no point doing the first 20 pages again and again. There we are then just an update to keep the appetites going [/quote] Well done Pete. I am embarking on a similar journey, at the moment just learning to sight read chords (roots, roots & octive, roots, 3rds, roots thirds fifths and so on) and then improvise over it correctly... To help I have been doing my own lead sheets and deliberately not learning songs, going to rehearsals and playing cold so to speak. This has really helped me get up to speed so I can play a 35 song set with a few weeks notice for a covers band I am in. I do find the more you learn the more tempting it is to over play a song, especially dreary root note cover songs. Mind you at the last gig the rhythm guitarist got a bit of stage fright and didn't play quite a few songs at all.. meant there was all this acoustic space for me to fill! You mention in your notes a book or pages you are referring to... may I ask which book?

Hi all. I have just joined a new originals folk band. Most of these songs I had never heard before and [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=131987"]the guitarist doesn't know what he is playing[/url]. So this is what I have come up with after spending about 20 minutes max on each at our first rehearsal..! Sunday Papers: [url="http://soundcloud.com/richard-thurbin/sunday-papers"]http://soundcloud.com/richard-thurbin/sunday-papers[/url] Wings Above My Head: [url="http://soundcloud.com/richard-thurbin/wings-above-my-head"]http://soundcloud.com/richard-thurbin/wings-above-my-head[/url] Angels Of Us: [url="http://soundcloud.com/richard-thurbin/angels-of-us"]http://soundcloud.com/richard-thurbin/angels-of-us[/url] Drown In Me: [url="http://soundcloud.com/richard-thurbin/drown-in-me"]http://soundcloud.com/richard-thurbin/drown-in-me[/url] Electric: [url="http://soundcloud.com/richard-thurbin/electric"]http://soundcloud.com/richard-thurbin/electric[/url] Obviously they are riddled with errors and I they are as tight as a Amsterdam hooker... however I am still interested on thoughts about style, harmonies etc. It is my first time in a originals, first time learning completely by ear with no help... (do I need any more excuses?) This is the band: [url="http://www.blackdoghat.com"]Black Dog Hat[/url] Cheers, R.

Had 4 hours today with the songs and it was pretty hard going (we were at the Joint near Kings Cross if anyone knows it?). I now realise and echo some of Bilbo's comments about how much easier it would be playing to at least a chord chart or some dots. Managed to get down 7 songs in that time + run through some others I had learnt off a CD... so pleased with myself and I have definitely learnt something.

Thanks for the range of responses... I like the songs they play even though they are they are often simple with two chord songs. That may bore some people but I mainly joined the band for DB experience and learning to confidently improvise on stage with good intonation! Also, learning by ear 100% is only going to help me in the long run....

Hi all. Just joined a originals folk band with the intention of getting gig experience with the DB as well as creating my own bass lines around existing songs. It has been really fun so far and quite challenging. I usually learn songs by ear and if I am not quite sure then a quick check/confirmation with a tab confirms a chord/note/run. Also most songs are usually written in a key which can give you a clue as to the likely chord structure you are playing over. I then get busy, create a lead sheet and then play the song using the notes mostly. However with this folk band it has not been so easy! The main issue being that there is nothing but words written down and the guitarist has no idea what he is playing. I really mean, no idea what chord, note or key. This also means there is none of the usual structural clues around what is being played (no relying on minor 2nd etc) to rely on. It all has to be done by ear... He is quite happy to show me his fingers on the fret board so I guess I should probably try and learn some chord shapes as well! This is obviously practice, training and experience which is all good (I am meaning to moan if it comes across that way), however I am quite surprised. Is this normal? Is a guitarist who knows what they are playing a rare thing? As a side note, in the covers rock band I am in if there is a more complicated chord (Cadd9), they just ignore it and play a "POWER" chord or somthing... Again, is this to be expected? Not trying to put a downer on guitarists or anything, I just don't know how I could play the instrument if I didn't understand what I was playing and how it all fit together. It is different copying a cover, but originals I had somehow expected it to be different.

I agree. The manager doesn't sound very professional so god knows what the band is like. Also, see if you can ring up the other tribute band and speak to them. They may help you make your mind up very quickly!