casapete

Only use a Sansamp Bass Driver as a DI so it goes on the floor, hidden under some lighting where our violinist can’t stand on it. 😆

Did our first show of 2022 last night at Hull New Theatre. Always our best/favourite gig so we were doubtful as to how things would be. Anyway, had around 1000 people turn up, and despite not playing or being able to rehearse for nearly 2 months due to illness in the band, things went just fine. (Pics taken by our sound tech Rik and audience members.)

Saw Dr Feelgood a couple of times in the 70’s, great band. John Sparks (Sparko) was a superb bassist, very cool and understated but really good solid player. He must be getting on a bit now for doing roofing work though!

Kingston upon Hull and surrounding area has produced some great talent - some home grown and some based here for a while. These include : Mick Ronson, Trevor Bolder, Woody Woodmansey - The Spiders from Mars John Cambridge - a good friend of mine who played drums with David Bowie pre Spiders, and introduced Mick Ronson to Bowie. Everything but the Girl The Housemartins The Beautiful South Kingmaker Red Guitars ( recently reformed) The Watersons Throbbing Gristle ( Genesis P.Orridge and Cosey Fanni Tutti) Roland Gift ( of The Fine Young Cannibals ) The Rats - legendary local band who featured many great musicians including Mick Ronson. Lene Lovich Sade - some of the band members. Also David Whitfield , Joe Longthorne and Ronnie Hilton.

Did my gig at a seaside hotel, depping with friends. Was supposed to be a DJ on with us to fill in the gaps in our sets and do the midnight shenanigans, but they never materialised so guess what? Yup, we played marathon sets as well as doing the countdown to 12 o clock etc, then the usual daft tunes afterwards. Police had cordoned off the street outside the hotel too, so carried my gear afterwards to my car parked strategically not outside the hotel but away from all the passing revellers. Got in at around 3am, bed around 4am. Nearly lost my voice today, but on the up side I got paid, yay! My regular band hasn't worked for nearly 8 weeks now, so some work was most welcome though, especially as just found out that 2 members have tested positive which means at least 2 gigs this coming week have to be cancelled, again! Anyway, Happy New Year! 😄

My NYE gig still on at the moment, as well as a gig at the same venue on the night before. Although I do have some doubts about whether it’s a good idea, if Xmas was anything to go by it won’t be very busy, meaning I can easily social distance with no problems. Like some others on here, this is my living and with January in the balance I feel I have to fulfil the bookings.

Yup, Peavey central. The band had an endorsement deal in the late 70’s IIRC. Ray Sawyer ( guy with the eyepatch) sadly died a couple of years ago. Think the band still tour with Dennis Locorriere back fronting them.

Great band / performance / song! The line ‘when you’re in love with a beautiful woman, it’s hard...’ was always delivered with a grin - remember them doing it on TOTP. When they played in Hull a few years ago, after soundchecking the band had their instruments stolen. They put it out on social media requesting some replacements and did the gig using the borrowed stuff.

When I first joined a band who did a lot of jazz and swing stuff, I remember we did ‘Walk between raindrops’ from the 1982 Donald Fagen album ‘The Nightfly’. Although only fairly short, the song is great to practice walking lines with, and I learned a lot from playing it.

I got a uke bass a few years ago. Tried a few, and for the money thought the Countryman was the best, certainly not a great deal of difference with the Kala I tried which was maybe £300 more. Going for solid woods etc seems a bit unnecessary in such an instrument, where the electrics are the key part. I’ve used it on gigs and it’s been fine, straight into the PA. Took a bit of getting used to scalewise and rubbery strings etc, but sounds great and the portability factor is a big selling point for me. At the moment my work doesn’t require it but will hang onto it for future gigs.

That B&G bass looks fantastic, and if it’s anywhere near as good as their guitars it will be amazing. For me GAS 2022 isn’t even a thing. 2021 has been such a dreadful year for my finances that I can’t possibly justify spending on gear that may not be earning it’s keep. Fortunately I’m not desperately needing anything, but if my gigs start to return to some state of normality I’d like to investigate changing some amplification. Had a hankering after something Aguilar / Barefaced maybe, or possibly even a bigger Fender Rumble as I’ve recently been using my 100w combo on small gigs and loved it.

If we’re still allowed I’ll be gigging in a seaside hotel, playing various sorts of stuff for any guests that have managed to get there. If circumstances change then it will be an evening in watching Jools Holland and whatever else is on TV. Obviously I’m holding out for option 1.

Yup, quite possibly! Guess he can't win either way now.

Recent statement from the EC camp updating stuff, just for anyone who may be interested. GERMAN BOOTLEG CASE: STATEMENT Published // 22.DEC.21 Given the widespread and often misleading press reports about a recent bootleg case involving a woman in Germany, the following provides clarification to set the record straight. Germany is one of several countries where sales of unauthorized and usually poor-quality illegal bootleg CDs are rife, which harms both the industry and purchasers of inferior product. Over a period of more than 10 years the German lawyers appointed by Eric Clapton, and a significant number of other well-known artists and record companies, have successfully pursued thousands of bootleg cases under routine copyright procedures. It is not the intention to target individuals selling isolated CDs from their own collection, but rather the active bootleggers manufacturing unauthorised copies for sale. In the case of an individual selling unauthorised items from a personal collection, if following receipt of a “cease and desist” letter the offending items are withdrawn, any costs would be minimal, or might be waived. Eric Clapton’s lawyers and management team (rather than Eric personally) identifies if an item offered for sale is illegal, and a declaration confirming that is signed, but thereafter Eric Clapton is not involved in any individual cases, and 95% of the cases are resolved before going to Court. This case could have been disposed of quickly at minimal cost, but unfortunately in response to the German lawyers’ first standard letter, the individual’s reply included the line (translation): “feel free to file a lawsuit if you insist on the demands”. This triggered the next step in the standard legal procedures, and the Court then made the initial injunction order. If the individual had complied with the initial letter the costs would have been minimal. Had she explained at the outset the full facts in a simple phone call or letter to the lawyers, any claim might, have been waived, and costs avoided. However, the individual appointed a lawyer who appealed the injunction decision. The Judge encouraged the individual to withdraw the appeal to save costs, but she proceeded. The appeal failed and she was ordered to pay the costs of the Court and all of the parties. However, when the full facts of this particular case came to light and it was clear the individual is not the type of person Eric Clapton, or his record company, wish to target, Eric Clapton decided not to take any further action and does not intend to collect the costs awarded to him by the Court. Also, he hopes the individual will not herself incur any further costs. Eric Clapton Management 22nd December 2021

Me too Chris. My regular gigging bass is a Fender Precision Lyte, a PJ small bodied thing with a very slim neck and weighing less than 7lbs. Great for long gigs and easy on my old hands. Last Saturday I took my 63 P-bass to a gig and played it all night with no problems. The neck isn’t massively chunky but the change in profile didn’t bother me at all, and made me realise what a great instrument it is. (Of course this doesn’t help the OP with his needs I’m afraid, just sayin....)

My main band lost 10 gigs in October and November due to illness. I got offered some gigs in December playing at a hotel and took them to partly offset my loss of income, and am crossing everything that I get to do at least some of them! Would normally leave my gear at venues like this but will be taking it home every night now in case of any lockdowns. Hoping I’ll be able to do the 23rd, 24th and Boxing Day as a worst case scenario, with the loss of NYE being the biggest financial hit. ☹️

I thoroughly recommend the G4M foam cases. They do a shaped one as well, and have had mine for years with no problems. Lightweight but offering excellent protection too, only case I use for all my gigs. At £49.99 they really are a no brainer.

One of the best bass things I’ve ever bought has been a Gear4Music foam case. A kind of cross between a gig bag and a hard case, with all the advantages of each. Had mine for years & done hundreds of gigs and it still looks and works brilliantly - the only bass case I’ve used in ages. Superb protection yet light as a light thing. Actually bought a spare which has never left the house. When I bought them I think they were £39.99 which is ridiculous for such a great bit of kit. Just checked and they’re now £49.99, which although a 25% increase is still a good deal IMO.

I depped with some friends in their rock band last night at a pub in Beverley. The guitarist/ keys player and the drummer have been friends for nearly 50 years now, and it’s always great to sit in with them. Usual stuff - mainly dad rock with a bit of Slade at the end. Crowd loved it, and the gig made even more enjoyable by some people in fancy dress. I used my 63 P.bass into GKMB800 and Gen 1 BF Compact cab, and had forgotten how good a Precision sounds in these sort of situations ( or any other TBH). Hopefully not my last gig this month!

Absolutely. I saw the band around the same time at Leicester Granby Hall and they were really good. Think Rod was trying to recreate the Faces vibe he'd been used to, so got Jim Cregan in along with Gary Grainger and Billy Peek on guitar. ( Saw Jim Cregan with his band Cregan & Company a while back, doing mainly Rod stuff - really entertaining if you get chance to catch them.) As you say, Rod's vocals were so much better in those days. I always knew his voice wouldn't age well, and having seen him on Graham Norton's show a couple of weeks ago I couldn't believe how it had changed so much. The current single he performed was pretty dreadful too, I'm sad to say. Also saw this in the news today - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-59707192 😮

On BBC4 now ( and also iPlayer) there is The Rod Stewart band recorded live for an OGWTest special in 1976. Featuring the late Phil Chen on bass duties too.

Me too - been a fan for a long time, but his comments over the last couple of years have sadly made me think differently. I do wonder if he’s seriously lost the plot, along with Van Morrison.

I’m the same. Have taken on some gigs at a hotel in December including NYE, and crossing everything that they don’t get cancelled as haven’t been working much at all for a good few weeks. Some of our band’s theatre dates starting in January (some being rescheduled for maybe the 3rd time) are possibly looking doubtful, again. Customer confidence will only stretch so far I think, and it’s getting harder each day to remain optimistic about what will happen next.

I’d like to, and as quickly as I can. 😣

Sorry to hear about your health issues Tom. I broke my shoulder a few years ago and carried on earning a living by using a Roland D10 to play bass in my function band. Did this for a few months with no problems, but obviously keyboard knowledge enabled it to work. Have you tried a bass uke? The playability and different string tension from a regular bass may just be okay for you to manage, and in the right setting they can sound ace. Never tried one with a Trace combo but would imagine it could work well! Mine is a Countryman, cost £149 and is a great little thing, Tried it up against a Kala but didn’t think there was much difference in quality for around £300 more. If you wanted to borrow mine to see how you’d get on, I’d be happy to let you give it a try as am currently not using it. All the best, Pete.