Monk Rocker

I recently bought a used one. Worked fine at practise for about a month, then after soundcheck at the first gig I used it at it trips the venue circuit breakers. Seems it's blowing fuses in the power lead (5amp), but not tripping the circuit breaker on the amp (4amps). I always turn the volume to zero and mute it before powering up or turning off. To say I'm pissed off is an understatement. Having to make a trip from Inverness to Aberdeen to take it back to R&B tomorrow:-(

Has anyone here ever owned a rackmounted Ampeg B5R? Had any problems with it?

The harmonies on Live After Death sound fine, but I think they sound far too cluttered on Flight 666. Me thinks that's Steve Harris just being polite!!!

I know all that, but I can't figure out quite why he's still there, or why he doesn't have the insight to leave? He's just spoiling the classic line up!!

I just can't seem to figure out why exactly Janick Gers is in Iron Maiden? Anyone able to shed any light on the matter?

It is a personal decision though. What's more important - ensuring your gear is secure, or watching a band on the same bill as you?

It is a personal decision though. What's more important - ensuring your gear is secure, or watching a band on the same bill as you? I make that decision everytime I do a gig.

Simple solution - either leave it in the car/van or take it home if you don't want to leave it.

I'm glad I read this thread! I'm having the exact same prob - I'll try the effects loop fix tonght:-)

Speak to your home contents insurer. As already said you can specify special items if they are worth over a certain amount. Make sure you keep hold of proof of purchase and take photos of the equipment. If you don't have proof of purchase you may be able to negotiate an "agreed value" for the gear. It's definately worth having it insured.

That's a good one Ross! Made me laugh!!!

We played for around 90mins last weekend and it was pretty damn brutal! It's our drummer and singer that feel the pain worst as our set is pretty relentless these days. Did you get a decent crowd through the door? You get a cut of the door on top of the guaranteed fee don't you?

We're there on the 26th of June, then Craig Charles on 24th July. Have you played yet?

1994 - 1997 General Zod A novelty rock covers band. Went downhill when we started to play Pavement covers. 1999 - 2001 Coriolis A metal band. Nobody really seemed to like us. 2001 - 2003 Subsistence People seemed to quite like us, but hardly anyone came to our gigs except our final gig which was a double funeral with Dos Dedos 2002 - 2004 Spinal Pap Spinal Tap "tribute" band. Did three shows and on the third one had pyros in the Lemon Tree. 2003 - 2005 Electric Tibet Don't really need to say much about this band. Unfortunately most of the members left Aberdeen, including myself. 2005 - present The Leonard Jones Potential The Leonard Jones Potential on MySpace Music - Free Streaming MP3s, Pictures & Music Downloads Inverness based eight piece funk band. Arguably the most successful band I've played in. After our first gig we got booked for the main stage at Belladrum, had lots of airplay including Craig Charles Funk and Soul Show, local and national press exposure. I'm basically going through my musical ambitions and ticking them off one by one with this band. We're getting a crowd of around 200-300 at our gigs in Inverness and when people who you've never seen before turn up knowing all the words to your songs it's pretty exciting!

I'd also reccomend the GT6B, but make sure it's got the instruction manual. The ME50B is also pretty good - much more simple, doesn't sound quite as good, but much easier to use.

One of my pals had on in the '80s. From what I can remember it was a fairly nice sounding, but budget guitar. I think it cost about the same as a Squire Bullet. I can't imagine it'll be worth much these days, but in it's day was a lot of guitar for it's money.

Right hand tecnique is so important to making a good bass player. I'd give a plus one for the floating thumb technique. I used to anchor my thumb until my bass teacher made me stop. Things went downhill initially, but long term it means you will be so much more nimble across the strings. The other thing I'd suggest is turning your amp up and play more softly - relax!! Economy of motion is important too. You'll probably be familiar with "The Spider" exercise from playing guitar? It works a treat on bass. I'd also recommend playing some music in a style you don't normally play to get you thinking like a bass player!! I hope that's some help:-)

Oh please God, no. Give me strength

I used to use an EBS Octabass. It was really good and most importantly tracked really fast!

A silent tuner is the best 60 any guitar player can spend. Lethal Dosage, anyone?!!! Write a setlist, rehearse and time your set, don't get pissed/stoned (esp the latter!!) before you play. You'll think you sound great, but you won't!! Never either start or finish with a cover unless you are in a tribute band. Be on time!!!

It is always a good idea to contact the venue/sound engineer BEFORE a gig to discuss arrangements. Make a stage plan and channel list to send to them so that when you arrive there is nothing unexpected on the venues behalf. If you need a particularly unusual monitor mix let them know before hand. These small things really help and you'll cone across as a band that looks like they know what you are doing. Not every band needs a soundcheck, but trying to play with a difficult monitor mix is next to impossible. There is a great thread in the articles section about gigging tips/soundchecks etc. It really is worth a read.

Playing over your allotted time is never good, but I find if your on after them it always goes down well with the promoter if you still finish on time. Shows your bands professionalism and will be more likely to get asked back if you get the night back on schedule. As for borrowing gear, I tend to allow people to use my amp if it's been prearranged, but never ever let anyone borrow an instrument. If a band can't bring their own then what are they even doing playing a gig? And I wish folk would realize that if a bass is solely DI'd then there is no need to adjust anything on the amp - it won't affect your front of house sound! I don't always listen to other bands on the same bill as there's often just too much to do - tuning guitars and warming up before going on, loading out after playing etc. If I catch the other bands it's a bonus, and I don't expect the other bands to stick around and listen to us either. If they do, again it's a bonus!!

I appreciate that you may be going for the ambient feel, but I was waiting in both tracks for something to grab my attention - I kept waiting for something to happen and it never did. I found myself wondering what some subtle hi-hats might sound like. I also thought you need some kind of hook somewhere in the tracks - indeed even the most ambient of tracks have a hook of some kind. It seems to me you've got the bones almost sorted, now time to start adding the flesh..... All opinions are subjective however8-)

Good luck with this, Scott. Hope it goes well. I'll keep an eye out for the date and may even come through to show some support if I can....

They sound like a poor man's Faster Pussycat. I particularly like the part when they say they are signed and then when you open the blog it says they are "in talks" and "about to sign a contract".