casapete

I admire your wanting to cover the cab, but must admit I’d go for an easier / cheaper option - paint it with Tuff Cab using a roller for the best finish. Hardwearing and easy to keep it looking tidy.

I’ve used an Barefaced Compact for years now. 1x15 / 450 watts 8 ohm cab, sounds great with all the heads I’ve used it with. Prior to getting it I’d used 4x10’s for a long time ( still do for some gigs ) but haven’t found the Compact lacking in any of the gigs it’s been on. Personally I wouldn’t worry about the 4 ohm thing, as cab design / speaker efficiency etc are probably more important variables. Plenty of people on here who can explain the science!

Gig #2 for me this Jubilee weekend with my acoustic duo. This one on Sunday afternoon was a lovely do in a village on the Yorkshire Wolds. Originally planned to be an outside event, it had to be moved inside due to the lousy weather. Felt really sorry for the organizers as they'd applied to have a street closed off specially. We set up in the hall, and were second on the bill to a lady doing face painting! As much tea/coffee and cake as we could manage as it was a BYO booze event, and they hadn't let us know! We just asked for requests from the off, and (as has been mentioned on BC many times before) were surprised by the range of requests, and how few of the older folk wanted 'old' old stuff, preferring 60's and 70's choices. We managed to play every one, including 'I don't want to miss a thing' by Aerosmith, ( which was suitably adjusted to a lower key, as it was a sitting down gig!). Again, used my Ibanez electro acoustic straight into our Yamaha / Bose PA. Very echo heavy venue, so had to keep things under control to avoid it getting too boomy. A lovely audience, dancing and singing along from the outset, and quite a few business cards requested so a job well done.

The tune probably went off to join ‘What a wonderful world’ following Celeste’s annihilation of it......🤣

For me, it’s playing in a band that is totally into supporting the song. When all the band are locked in, with nobody bothered about standing out and trying to impress anyone by overplaying. In my case this occurs most often when backing a great singer.

Played an afternoon gig yesterday with my acoustic duo at a private party with a Jubilee theme in a village next to mine. Arrived at the impressive house to find we’d been allocated a covered area, but due to the doubtful weather forecast it was decided we’d be better playing indoors. This was a massive swimming pool / leisure area, with the predictable echo laden sound. As the weather was on and off, we set up by some bi-fold doors so we could face either inside or outside! First set was sunny so we played to the guests outside, and the sound was great using just a Yamaha mixer amp and two pairs of Bose 802’s. I used my little Ibanez acoustic bass and it sounded just how I wanted. Of course, wind and rain meant that by the second set we turned the PA round and played in the pool area, and the sound suffered. Still, had them up dancing, played all of their requests and gave out loads of business cards so a result. Also got very well fed and watered too, and home by 6pm! Got another one today at a village hall on the Yorkshire wolds and it’s raining already.....🙁

Agreed, he was pretty dire. And ‘Sweet Caroline’ FFS? He couldn’t reach the lower notes, and missed most of the rest.

I’ve had 6 or 7 Stingrays over the years, starting with a late 70’s pre EB job. Always loved them, the eq being the main attraction for me as well as the perfectly postioned pickup. Also the consistent high build quality, never seen a bad one. Unfortunately I haven’t been able to find one light enough for me to play now, and sold my last one recently. ☹️

Would have been so much better as an instrumental . Barely one note sung in tune, and not in a key where she could convey the melody properly either.

Think I spotted the ace Ian Thomas on drums.

My band played a gig on the Isle of Man this week. The original booking was for 2020 but as Covid put paid to that it finally got rearranged for May 22. It also happened to be TT fortnight so was extremely busy on the ferries, despite it being qualifying week. We got to see some of the racing, an amazing spectacle with bikes hitting over 140mph onthe streets of Douglas that normally have a 30 limit! ( Unfortunately just before we left a Welsh rider Mark Purslow lost his life in a crash, something that apparently happens all too regularly. ) We were playing in the Villa marina, a grand old theatre on the seafront in Douglas. Big flown JBL PA sounded fine at soundcheck but with nearly 1000 punters in later it did seem to change. Anyway, we did one 90 minute set (unusual for us) and went down well with the crowd singing along with most of the songs. The gig was in aid of a local cancer charity so we were pleased they raised some funds from it. Good fun going to a new place for us, a very scenic island with friendly locals, good food, and the weather was superb too.

This sounds like a brilliant concept, would be right up my street.

Agreed Lozz, also appearing was Jessie J and then Becky Hill next week. It’s an interesting place to visit, especially with the TT events. Went to watch some of the qualifying stuff last night and it’s absolutely insane! Bikes flying down streets (that normally have a 30mph limit) doing 130mph plus.

We’re in the Isle of Man doing a gig tonight in Douglas, but have been here since Monday. Just along from the theatre we are playing there’s an open air stage running gigs, Big Stage @ 1886. Primal Scream were playing on Monday, and then last night we caught Ed Force One, a local tribute to Iron Maiden. Not my kind of thing but they played great and were quite authentic (according to our guitarist who like IM). Very few people attending though, despite being free and also week 1 of the TT racing event so a lot of people around. Tonight we’re up against Rag n Bone Man who I’d like to have seen, and later in the week there is James Bay, Madness, Nike Rodgers and Chic and The Darkness.

Another +1 for the HD206’s . Great quality especially for the price.

Jimmy Webb at The Stables in Milton Keynes tonight, a perfect venue for him. A stunning evening with the award winning songwriter, just him and a grand piano. Some wonderful songs interspersed with amusing stories of how they came about, so interesting to get an insight into such a prolific storyteller. Support act was Ashley Campbell (Glen’s daughter) and Thor Jensen. Both accomplished guitar players and some lovely harmonies too. A great evening. Jimmy is touring the UK now, highly recommended.

Telecasters , with humbuckers! (Not that there’s anything wrong with a standard Tele - solo on ‘Stairway’ etc.....)

When I was in a function band, I detested 'Chelsea Dagger' . Didn't like the song or even worse the crowd reaction. Football chant type rowdy pis*ed up singalongs are one of my worst nightmares.

Same here Chris. When we first got married in the 80's I had a day job and also gigged 2 or 3 evenings every week. Without that income it would have been much harder for us, and doing so meant my wife could look after my daughter at home for the first five years before she started school. When I went pro my goal was to gig until I paid off the mortgage. Didn't see me getting divorced though, so stuck with gigging to pay off the next one! ( Still playing as my only source of income, and eventually paid off the 2nd mortgage ). Things change in life all the time, and I've just rolled with the punches. I was never a big fan of the 9 to 5 / corporate thing, and not a day goes by when I don't think how fortunate I've been in having a job which I still love.

True dat. Sure I'm not alone in remembering buying strings in paper packets, which were often far from factory fresh. The more recent practice of strings being sold in sealed plastic packs has meant the shelf life is much longer. D'Addario have a Vapor Corrosion Inhibitor' in their packaging, whatever that is, as well as a recycle program for strings.

Haven't heard this in ages either. Remember seeing them do it on the OGWT early/mid 70's, ace tune. Quite funky and different sections which make it more, err....interesting. (P.S. drum solo warning around 2.25...)

What about this bit of late 60's MOR - fabulous!!

I love an instrumental, especially those with great brass. This is the first one I thought of.

I suffered from arthritis in my right hand a while ago - I play fingerstyle. I'm useless with a standard guitar plectrum ( on bass as well as guitar!) but found these which are great. Made by Ozark, they are specifically designed for bass use, longer than a guitar pick with a stepped design. Much easier to keep hold of, and saw me through until my fingers became useable.

My spare bass gets taken out of it’s case every 6 months or so, and actually gets gigged even less frequently. It’s had the same set of D’Addarios on it ( rounds) for a few years, and I can’t remember if they were new when I put them on. Strings do seem to last a long time without regular human contact. 😆