rushbo

Cheeky, honest, funny and absolutely clear. Beautifully done.

"I must admit to having reservations about the usefulness of this device"

(cries)

Birmingham "Musical Exchanges" store, June 1986. I'd just joined a very REM-y trio and was desperate for a Rickenbacker bass. I sold my custard yellow BC Rich Warlock, saved up my meager wages and I had £350 - then the going rate for second hand Ricky - burning a hole in my pocket. There were three or four hanging up in the shop, including my dream bass - a black 4001 with chequered binding. I played it. I hated it. I played all the others and hated them, too. I tried so hard to justify buying one, but I just couldn't. I could have cried. On my way out, I spotted an Ibanez 850 Roadstar in burgundy. I played it and fell in love. That bass was my number one gigging instrument for nearly twenty years. The Rickys I could have bought that day would be worth about £2000 now, I guess, but that Ibanez gave me so much pleasure and was so reliable that I don't mind too much. I love the look and sound of a fired up Rickenbacker bass, but they're just not for me.

I too, have fallen under the curse of the five-string bass... I've tried three times now, with three lovely instruments - a gorgeous. entry level Attitude, a Spector and a lovely Squier P Bass. They all sounded great, looked very cool and were all playable instruments - although the Spector weighed about as much as aircraft carrier... I just didn't get on with them. The 'B' string, for the most part, was a glorified thumb rest and I found myself playing the occasional low 'D' just because I could, rather than because it suited the song. They weren't really expensive mistakes as I managed to get what I paid for them back - and every time I see a bassist with one, I have a bit of a wobble, until I remind myself of all the packaging involved in sending a five-string bass through the post, when I inevitably sell the damn thing.

I've been a 10cc fan since the mid seventies and I still go and see them whenever they play in the Midlands, in spite of Graham Gouldman being the only member who survives from the "classic" lineup. Two of the touring band (Rick Fenn and Paul Burgess) have played with Gouldman for forty-odd years and they do a fantastic job of keeping the music of the band alive. As long as no-one turns up to the show expecting to see Eric Stewart, Lol Creme or Kevin Godley (and you'd need to be a pretty fly-by-night fan to not know they weren't in the band by now), then there's no harm done. An old band of mine supported Dr Feelgood on a number of occasions over the last few years. I can't remember anyone getting irate over the lack of Lee Brilleaux et al. They're probably the ultimate "Triggers Broom", UK band. As bands get older and members leave (or die...), we can't expect them to carry on with the same lineups. I was really hoping that when Kiss announced their retirement, that they would just announce replacements for Stanley and Simmons and carry on as a sort of franchise, as everyone's favourite Puerto-Rican boy band Menudo have done. As long as no potential ticket buyers are actively deceived and they know what and who to expect, I can't see a problem.

When I played with a Pub/Club band, I lugged around a bag full of spares for everything practically - mics, XLR leads, speaker leads etc. Nearly all of it got used at one time or another. Now I'm playing in slightly larger venues which provide the PA equipment, my load is considerably lighter. I have a medium sized sports holdall which carries: 2 x Hercules folding stands Mains extension lead Mains 4 way power strip Spare leads 4 x IEC leads - two long and two short Spare strings (bass and guitar) Notepad and marker pen (for the numpties who forget their set lists...) Power breaker plug (used if the electrics of the place look suspect!) Basic tool bag - actually a small wash bag, with screwdrivers, pliers, electrical tape etc A small pencil case with odds and ends in - paracetamol, band aids, disposable ear plugs, drum key, batteries, a patch lead etc Small clip on light (useful if you're using cheat sheets) Speakon lead Spare 9V PSU Clip on tuner The inevitable roll of gaffa tape If something hasn't been used in last few months, it gets moved out. It may be one extra thing to carry, but it's been a lifesaver on loads of occasions.

Thanks. Now I have gigbag envy.

I always take a spare bass to every gig. The last time I had to use one was about three years ago when the strap button came away from the body of the instrument. 30 seconds later, I was playing again. I’d never be without one.

Here’s my well thought out opinion. After giving this some careful consideration, I have decided: I don’t mind, really.

I've read all the other threads on the Smooth Hound and latency crops up all the time. Maybe it's because there's very little other wireless/digital gear used in my band, but I have never noticed any delay. In a fit of paranoia I've asked sound engineers, band members and punters and no-one has ever spotted any latency. YMMV as they say on the internet.

I've had one since April 2016. Loads of rehearsals and gigs (pubs and clubs to festivals in front of 5000+ punters) and my Smooth Hound has coped with it all admirably. Build quality has never been an issue for me - a few people have commented that the battery door seems a little flimsy, but mine shows no signs of falling off any time soon. Never had a drop out and latency is negligible. I've never noticed any delay. I run mine into a Zoom B3 and then into my Genz Benz rig and performance and sound quality has been flawless. I did have an issue with noise (due to the set up of my minimal rig) which Chris at Smooth Hound HQ sorted for me quickly and with courtesy. He even made me a YouTube video on how to reconnect it. Really easy to use - mine is attached to my strap by an elasticated hair tie (!) but there are way more sophisticated doohickeys available. I've used a couple of other systems at its price point at the SH wins hands down. The only minor gripe is that it's centre positive, which means you'll need an inverter if you're running it off a standard 9V supply. As my board is so small, I use the dedicated PSU, so it's not an issue for me. Full disclosure - the only other wireless user in the band is the singer with his wireless mic. I love mine and I recommend it highly.

Smooth Hound here, too. Rock solid reliable and brilliant customer service.

I agreed with pretty much everything he said. Find a guitar you like and play it however you like. Just play it.

At the risk of parroting what lots of others have said, I’ve used Grolsch grommets for the last 15 years with no problems ever. Although I don’t throw the bass around, I’m pretty mobile for an old fart, and never once have I had the strap come away. I bought 100 in a bag from eBay maybe 10 years ago - all my basses and guitars have a pair on as do the instruments of most of my band mates. You may raise an eyebrow about trusting the safety of your beloved (and expensive) bass to a bit of rubber that isn’t designed for that job, but in my experience, they’re perfect. I fitted strap locks to a bass of mine many years ago and they were nothing but trouble. That was my experience then- hopefully they’re better made now. Oh, a quick heads up- I had a couple of the Fender bottle top strap locks and after a couple of years, they started to get stiff and brittle. The Grolsch versions just go on forever!

Worth a peep here:

You've made my day. I've never seen that before. There are a few bits of footage of HL playing live in London, but I never thought for a minute they would have actually made a video. Thank you...

A brilliant band from New York called Hugo Largo. A bit arty...not everyone’s cup of tea, but they made two stunning albums in the eighties.

Fortunately, I've never had an amp go bang at a gig, but my elderly and up to then. bombproof Peavey TNT combo, inexplicably packed up at a rehearsal a few years ago. I've always got some kind of DI with me, in the form of Behringer BDI 21 pedal, my Zoom B3 or the DI on the combo, so I'm confident I'd be able to finish a gig if disaster struck. I'd be a little nervous without a backup.

I saw the Stones earlier this year. It was a great combination of the kind of enormous venue that I hate with a band who I thought should have retired thirty years ago. They were incredible. A superb setlist with just enough hits for the casual fans and just enough deep cuts for the purists. Jagger can still sing (and move like he still owns the stage) and the band played brilliantly. I was blown away. Having seen a few "heritage acts" in the last few years (including Mott The Hoople and Neil Young) 'phone in lacklustre shows, I was expecting the worst. But the Stones delivered. I guess it depends on the artist - I've not seen Sir Cliff recently, but as long as he can still do it and people enjoy what he does, then more power to his (tennis) elbow. 10cc are still on the road and are still worth seeing, in spite of a rather "triggers broom" approach to band members. Bill Nelson's rare live shows are still stunning. Not quite in that bracket, but I saw The Posies and Colin Moulding of XTC play two of the best shows I have seen for ages recently and they have been playing since the 70's and 80's.

Yes. This.

TC +I featuring the incredible Colin Moulding in Swindon on Sunday night for me. Absolutely superb - Moulding still plays like an Alt-Rock McCartney and Terry Chambers still whacks the kit with gusto and aplomb. The rest of the band ain't too shabby, neither.

Those cardboard covers are ace. I saw some on T*lkb*ss a year or two and they looked like they do the job. The only drawback is that you cant fold them down and at a pub gig with limited space, it could be a bit of an issue.