taunton-hobbit

So, in the absence of a reply to my earlier post (#15) - I would suggest that you look for an early OrangeMatamp?

Interesting read - it's been a few years now (nearly 50), but if I'd had fifty people turn up for a band night, I think I'd have hung myself. I've employed little acts, Ben E King, Desmond Dekker, Fleetwood Mac, Jethro Tull....and many more..in a smallish back-end pub hall. By and large we at least broke even. I used to pay the pub, bouncers and 'the f***ing band'....every band night had 30x40 posters, professionally thrown up in London, and by muggins here, on the outskirts....(I was never 'too busy' - it was what I did) - I never asked or expected anyone on the team, and that included girlfriends, to work for nothing - I used to get a team of girls from the venue to work on Saturday afternoons to leaflet local shopping centres - I always went along, they got in free of charge. It was bloody hard work. We all had 'fun', but boy did we put some effort in...and, yes, I was working full-time for most of the journey.....

If we are to look at this from a punters perspective, it's really got to be Wizzard, followed straight on by a cranking version of Slade...then drop the gear & run (?)....

More interesting (to me, I've been on both sides) is the link in the article to the Bar owner perspective, well written and some good points that we all sometimes miss, I suspect.

^^^ - Totally sympathise, I've just bought yet another Orange Matamp that I don't need, & the guy says there's a 200 that might need a home (!) - my birthday comes up early next year......I'm going to land up in the hire business at this rate..........

Back in the day, I did the 'free stuff' route - a lot of it was great fun....I gigged for minimal expenses (or none) & learnt a lot along the way. I think what did it for me was gigging one Saturday evening for very nominal money & realising that the promoters had got around 400 people in at two quid a pop (this was in 1971), and were also running the bar....btw...... I WAS the 'main' act......... Sorry to be a cynic, but while I accept the point that not everyone is on the take..........etc etc

Blue & I are of similar age (ok, I'm older....) - interesting replies on this - I think a lot hinges on how much you all want to do this - I've done stuff/bought stuff that I didn't really need, but I kinda liked, and it's usually cost me (too much?) - it depends...just bought a 40year old OrangeMatamp100 at a lot of money, but I wanted it - it's the same thing[i]......[/i] Whatever your group decision, I wish you well...perhaps you'd be kind enough to update & let us know how this turned out?, ..........and that, at the end of the day is where it's to....

[color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]''another local band hosting and someone has to pay''[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]'I've got this great idea fellas - lets run a gig & stitch the support act for the ex's'[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]I may be being a trifle harsh, but probably not..............[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif] [/font][/color][color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif] [/font][/color]

It appears to be around 1984....Google is your friend here, there's a fair bit of stuff for you to go at. As to value? Who knows...depends on the market........

Give us an idea of (realistic) budget?

I've got an A4 flyer from the (old) Marquee advertising David Bowie & The Buzz.....Sunday afternoons, back in the day, the resident DJ was the late Earl Richmond & I filled the 'young & trendy' gap....(sigh).......

I have Mathias amps with Partridge Transformers, and one that is a Matamp 're-creation' using Sowter..... Hate to burst any bubbles, but they sound identical (& excellent)........

Jokes aside, I have an (overworked) amptech down here (Devon) who has designed a 400watter using valves and torodial trannies, so it can be done.....

I think I'm missing the point.........

Matamp have located some Minimat chassis up at Meltham (I've been there, it's easy to lose stuff in the mill)...nominal 5watt, might be worth an enquire?

Umm........Parcel Monkey?

Ambersil make polish/renovation spray-used it for years on the insides of pub fruit machines so that they looked presentable when we moved them from site to site...it's good, but as far as I can remember, any silicone car finish spray will do the same job, without the pleasant smell, but cheaper. Incidentally...they use WD40 on steel-hulled Lifeboats, it makes them look shiny.......... Edit- Its's been a few years...we used 'amberclens' (blue can)...& 'natsil' (brown can) Neither show up on Radiospares site...I would again suggest cheap car silicone spray, buffed to a shine after it dries.....

It does the job...I agree with the comments about gig dates, new pics (obv), and I would have liked the (optional) chance to hear the band in action (gigs are always better than rehearsal rooms imo)....keep tinkering.....it's up & running, so it's all good.

I ran sound system shows for years, and always had '2nd jocks' to work with. I never saw any of them away from gig related stuff - it worked fine. Work is work...home is home...

Wouldn't touch it with a barge-pole - it's way too much additional work for unspectacular money....I had a similar gripe with Mecca and THF back in the stone age....these large organisations seem to think that they are doing you a favour, whilst attempting to pay peanuts. I declined further work......

Salesmen the world over always have their 'buy it now' patter...it pays the rent (I know, I do it!).

[color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]"Sadly, for me, the sensible bands seem to have faded away and the loud ones are the guys that are still gigging."[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]If the 'loud' ones are still out there......? ?[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif](no comment needed)[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif] [/font][/color][color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif] [/font][/color]

At a guess, this is a preamp problem....if fiddling with your tone controls don't sort it, you need an amptech to contour your input signal until the problem is sorted......

The 'height' thing has got a bit lost in here....I have a couple of BF Dubsters and a pair of Mackie C200 for mid/top (active xover & Focusrite processing), through three Ormat 250 valves, or if I'm feeling idle, a Crown XLS2k (class D)...I wanted tall(ish) speakers & these do well. (yup, it's silly loud...I play reggae & soul, but not often, it's a bit much for a pub gig).......

Roberts are owned by Glen Dimplex, which are a million miles away from the original product...(Google it, it's a conglomerate gig). Interestingly (or not) this wonderous idea don't seem to be on their website (or on Fleabay).