uk_lefty

Would love to know your thoughts on the Autowah. I'm looking for one but funds are tighter than a duck's butt right now.

If you were left handed I'd offer, but I don't think you are?

The gig was great, and Jane Evans came down to take some snaps for us.

If you need a photographer to cover your band in the Herts/ Beds/ Cabs area Jane Evans is the absolute best. This is her first attempt at videoing a band (her photos are unrivalled at capturing the actual feel of the evening, far better than many others we have used). Please check it out, and consider contacting Jane if your band needs photography for an event: https://youtu.be/LcV25ZqSeCQ

It's not me. There's some bloke in the US trying to sell what he's saying are 60s Hofners on Reverb for nearly £100k. In the ads he talks about how Sir Paul blah blah blah as of he's trying to suggest they were once owned by the man himself without actually saying it. Maybe he's now butchering the pickups on one and putting the price up to $1m

I giggled my Jack Cassady on Saturday night as a "make or break" gig for it. I hadn't played it live for ages and though I love the look and the sound I just wasn't feeling like using it live.... Saturday night was bl00dy awesome and I got loads of people saying the bass sound was great and now I can't see me using anything else for the next month. When it comes to basses I like to change things around a bit to stop me getting bored of myself doing the same things over and over. I have one bass I'll never sell because it was my 18th birthday present (not just because I'd be lucky to get £100 for it) and some others that are "keepers" for now but as time moves on and circumstances change.... You never know!

The Desert Penguins at Georgefest! The band has played this venue for over ten years, this awesome festival feels like a family party but without the weird uncle and a punch up. We will be playing the indie guitar rock and rocking up pop songs for a short set to get everyone fired up for the headliners (who are excellent and have a great bassist). Tickets required from the venue, make a day of it! Not sure? Check us on Instagram @thedesertpenguins and Facebook.

The Desert Penguins come "home"! Our quarterly gig at the Horn playing the indie guitar rock and rocking up pop songs in the best venue in town. Not sure? Check us on Instagram @thedesertpenguins and Facebook.

This didn't go to plan... The venue insisted I use their bass stack last time, I didn't check and actually it's out of action. I also gave the singer a lift so didn't have room to bring my ABM rig just in case, so I chucked my SWR Working Pro 10 in the car. I ended up DI'ing off my preamp pedal and having the SWR for some sound behind me. It is not what you'd usually pair with this bass but it all worked out fine...

Absolutely fantastic!! Played the Crooked Crow Bar in Leighton Buzzard last night. Played there in February for the first time and loved it, a real mix of people in through the door who were all there to enjoy live music. We had been looking forward to this one and it didn't disappoint. Sound guy was superb, got us set up with no fuss and gave us possibly the best sound we've had, and he was dancing away making a show of the lighting too. For months now I've not really played my Jack Cassady bass. Its a lovely bass but I wasn't sure it fit. Well. EBS Microbass ii to the PA, SWR Working Pro on stage for monitoring and I had a blast. Got loads of compliments on the bass sound. Before the end of the second set the sweat was dripping off the ceiling. Can't wait to go back there.

The Desert Penguins will be at the Crooked Crow Bar! In an old Blockbuster video shop there is an awesome live music venue. We will be playing a mix of indie guitar driven rock and rock versions of pop songs from the year 2000 onwards. First chords struck at 21:00. Free entry.

I used to take my kit when watching my older brothers play (mens) hockey, just in case. I was about 9 when I started doing that. Then started getting games aged 11. Never thought about that from a musical point of view but might start taking my bass with me to gigs.

No unwanted noise on my ABM via DI but I will now blame it for bum notes saying it's a known issue.

Everyone needs to know at least something about running the PA... we have a new digital one and I feel bad leaving it to the drummer and guitarist, I'm ok with the old sliders but not perfect, I'd like to learn more. I'm the lights guy which is a far easier task!

I went ampless for my last gig. Space was small and I wanted to check out my "new" EBS Microbass ii pedal. Long story short, I'd prefer my ABM behind me any day of the week, given sufficient space and set up time. You just can't beat the depth of sound and yes, the "heft", an actual amp gives you. Just because you can do something with newer tech doesn't mean it's always better.

Nope, did manual search and didn't see it. Thanks.

Thanks Mick. I'm pretty much covered with a good preamp pedal and my Ashdown rig but I bought a nice SWR to scratch the gas itch and it makes a bit of a hiss noise and needs some re-covering done.

Used the EBS Microbass ii for the first time last night... Some valuable lessons learned! I had my amp in the car as a backup but we didn't have much space so I used the sub from the PA placed behind me. The drum kit is electronic so the sub really helps. During soundcheck I found that one side of the room got no bass, the other got tons. The bass was far too quiet too, a punter who I know plays guitar in a band also told me this after the first song. The EBS has an effects loop with all my other pedals in. I couldn't remember putting my tuner onto bypass mode rather than mute... because I hadn't! The EBS was mixed with loads of FX loop in so it was quiet because I was muting about 75% of the total output! I switched off the tuner and I nearly blew the windows out. Lesson learned for next time. Tone wise it just wasn't the same as using my Ashdown ABM rig. I need to get to know the EBS better and I was happy enough with the tone but wouldn't have just settled for that if I had my ABM there. Load in and out was far easier and stage space far better. Even if I had my amp I'd have been stood so close I wouldn't have heard it anyways. Next three gigs all have in house PA and soundman so the EBS experiments will continue!

To me, open mic means "anything goes". Just sounds like he was the end of a bell. An open mic I went to years back was awesome. Some bloke would tootle along with most acts on an alto sax. He didn't even ask permission, he just played, and he was good... Sounded a bit odd on our Eagles song though! Then there was a girl who plugged in a laptop for a backing track and sang Opera. Then the lad who made improvised electronic music using an old Nintendo Gameboy he'd reconfigured. That was more fun than two hours of soppy acoustic stuff.

Thanks Mick. I've had some unforeseen expenses recently so I'm not in a rush out of necessity....

Oh my!!!

I get the point, don't want to look like a "try hard" but I think things have moved on and now it's "cool" to be good at something/ try hard.... But only if the outcome is good. So in this case as long as the t-shirt doesn't look cr@p (again, a matter of personal taste) then I don't think it's as much of an issue as it would have been 20-25 yes ago when anyone trying or doing well was derided.

James Hetfield got interviewed about this. The other members and some fans got at him for it but whatever shirt he wore on stage got huge sales so it served his purpose.

I don't see what's uncool about it. If you're in a cheesy function band (and I'm not knocking cheesy function bands here!!) All wearing the same band t shirt is probably the way to go, nobody would think you're cool trend setters anyway. I don't have one, but if I did I'd wear a t shirt with my bands logo on it for gigs. We have a great logo. I am not cool anyway, not even in a so-not-cool-its-actually-cool way. I drive a Volvo estate. I have a mirror pickguard on my bass with the band logo on. Does this make me uncool?

Can anyone recommend someone who can do amp repairs in the Hertfordshire area, ideally not a big travel from St Albans? Thanks!