funkgod Posted October 26, 2011 Share Posted October 26, 2011 Thought it might be a good idea to have a tips section as i am sure all of us will have at least one we could all use. ok, to get the ball rolling, im going to give mine i have been using for years now and is very handy regarding leads. i hire and do the band pa and i got sick of trying to find what lead goes where in the spaghetti. Cure.. next time you or the kids throw away felt tip pens take out the refill and slice the pen into 7mm (ish) rings put a slit down the edge, these then you can wrap around either ends of leads ( not all the same colour ! HA) hay presto, no more wondering what that is in the multicore box. you can even group your leads, example, brass section yellow rings 1ring on one, two on the other, 3 on another EASY your welcome Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4 candles Posted October 26, 2011 Share Posted October 26, 2011 measure twice, cut once! this can be applied to a whole lot more than just cutting wood Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4 candles Posted October 26, 2011 Share Posted October 26, 2011 never chase women or busses, again, another pearl of wisdom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arthurhenry Posted October 26, 2011 Share Posted October 26, 2011 Buckle rash: No need to cover the back of your bass with gaffa tape. No need to tuck a beer towel into your trousers. Simply move your belt buckle one loop to the side. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vsmith1 Posted October 27, 2011 Share Posted October 27, 2011 Leads and sockets: to help my mainly ignorant band members help with the PA set up, I got some little coloured stickers - the sort from office suppliers - stuck the colours on the plus and sockets then it is largely saying red to red, etc. Thankfully you cannot plug a jack into an XLR and vice versa. Also I use velcro cable ties in various colours to signify which leads are mine and then to tie them up. Now I only have to teach them about coiling leads! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delberthot Posted October 27, 2011 Share Posted October 27, 2011 Keep out of the black and in the red, nothing in this game for two in a bed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickH Posted October 27, 2011 Share Posted October 27, 2011 Keep both eyes on the prize but one hand on your wallet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delberthot Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 many a mickel makes a muckle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RockfordStone Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 always carry a spare bass, i found out the hard way what happens if you only have one on you 3 hours from your home and it breaks pre show Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
funkgod Posted October 28, 2011 Author Share Posted October 28, 2011 SPARES ahh yes. i always have in my bag, Spare.... strings lead battery and the the biggy,,,,,,,,, FUSES for plug and amp oh my fave,,, you buy cheap, you buy twice.......( only about 90% right) and my best advice to all.... Buy and use a circuit breaker best £8 you can spend. you gear might be good but the wiring in some venues is HORRENDOUS. Like this one..... http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/RCD-Power-Circuit-Breaker-Socket-Plug-Safety-Switch-/140334475536?pt=UK_DIY_Material_Electrical_Fittings_MJ&hash=item20ac962910 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Vader Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 SAVE money on expensive London hotels by sneaking into one of the empty tents outside St. Paul's (thank you twop twips) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crez5150 Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 Never ever Bloody anything ever! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grassie Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 Never tie your shoelace in a revolving door. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Booooooom Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 Don't smoke in bed and never eat yellow snow! Spare leads are an absolute must and I label all my cables with a bit of blue insulation tape (or sometimes paint) at both ends of all cables so I can see if some other bugger is trying to nick them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charic Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 Remember your towel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thisnameistaken Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 There's a guy who knows where his towel is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lfalex v1.1 Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 [quote name='crez5150' timestamp='1319795870' post='1418619'] Never ever Bloody anything ever! [/quote] Unless I'm misunderstanding, this needs another verb? Otherwise, I reckon most of us can see the de-merits of getting blood in/on instruments/equipment/audiences (especiallyif it's your own) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delberthot Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 A serious one from me this time. If you have a penchant for going through basses like me or even if not, get yourself down to Wilkinsons or a cheap shop of some kind and pickup yourself up a set of allen keys. I picked up a set of metric and imperial in edinburgh for about £3. That will save you having to ask what one you need as you already have it and it just a matter of a couple of minutes finding the right one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyfisher Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 [quote name='vsmith1' timestamp='1319707567' post='1417405'] Leads and sockets: to help my mainly ignorant band members help with the PA set up, I got some little coloured stickers - the sort from office suppliers - stuck the colours on the plus and sockets then it is largely saying red to red, etc. Thankfully you cannot plug a jack into an XLR and vice versa. Also I use velcro cable ties in various colours to signify which leads are mine and then to tie them up. Now I only have to teach them about coiling leads! [/quote] Good luck with that - I've tried but have given up. Watching people in the two bands I play with pulling out piles of knotted cable spaghetti from their carrier bags is now a source of wry amusement rather than angst. A particular favourite seems to be winding a cable into a big loop and then tying it into a knot to prevent it uncoiling! Plugging into amps on full volume is another common trait. I also used to be astonished at the mind process that could result in a 1/4-inch jack just being plugged into any suitable socket without any idea if it was the right one but, having tried and failed to teach people the error of their ways, now I just smile my inner smile and realised that old cliche about the bass player being the only one in a band with any technical nous to be true. Anyway, all my cables are clearly labelled and everyone knows to leave them well alone! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul S Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 Could someone please explain the right way to coil leads? I try to pack them away nicely but when I unravel them the knot gremlin has always visited. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Booooooom Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 [quote name='Paul S' timestamp='1319802475' post='1418744'] Could someone please explain the right way to coil leads? I try to pack them away nicely but when I unravel them the knot gremlin has always visited. [/quote] summat like [url="http://www.planetwaves.com/PWMediaDetail.Page?ActiveID=2945&MediaId=673"]this[/url] - if you get your coil size right, you'll end up with the jacks close together. Bind them there (I use velcro) and they won't interfere with other cables in your bag/case. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul S Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 Brilliant. I have been doing, variously, all the wrong ones! Simple when you have it explained - thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KingBollock Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 [quote name='Booooooom' timestamp='1319803265' post='1418761'] summat like [url="http://www.planetwaves.com/PWMediaDetail.Page?ActiveID=2945&MediaId=673"]this[/url] - if you get your coil size right, you'll end up with the jacks close together. Bind them there (I use velcro) and they won't interfere with other cables in your bag/case. [/quote] Blimey! I've spent the last 20 odd years doing it the third wrong way. I was actually taught that way by a professional guitarist and instrument lead maker. The alternative loops way does make sense though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon. Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 Likewise, I spent years coiling my cables the 3rd wrong way - having been taught by a pro sound engineer! Although it does keep them in better nick than the first two methods, it does result eventually in kinking in the cable. It wasn't until I started a new job a couple of years ago, doing a lot of off-shore engineering work, that I was shown the correct method. We refer to it as 'French coiling' for some reason, but it works on the heavy duty sub-sea cables we use, and works equally well on guitar & mic leads. Another method, which is good for heavier duty cable (like multi-core runs not on a reel), is to lay the cable out on the floor in a figure-8 pattern, and build it up as you go. It's easy to spot and kinks or twists and take them out as you go. I've cables in my gig bag that get used regularly and are 15 years old, which work fine. No guitarist I've ever worked with has had a lead older than 18 months... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vsmith1 Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 Another one: I bought myself a Brother tape label printing machine - I put my name on my (bigger) stuff, but on PSUs (Wall-warts) I put a label telling me what it is used with; there are so many and often not even made by the maker of the device they power, that it is not easy to remember what goes with which. Not convinced that my name label would deter any light-fingered oik, but helps me get my stuff from my bandmates. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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