Norris

I've just ordered a few more from custom lynx, including an orange one to make sure it stays at home for practice this time, instead of drifting its way into my gigging gear!

It's quite easy to fit a vintage tone switch if you can use a soldering iron. Mine didn't have one either. https://www.rickysounds.co.uk/product/vintage-tone-selector-kit/

I think most people who have been gigging for a while have played to the one man + dog at some point (one spent the evening reading a newspaper!). My personal worst was a wedding where we played to the bride, groom, maid of honour and 3 or 4 other people they managed to drag along after an hour of phoning around. We didn't ask the details but can only assume it wasn't a popular joining of families. You can't take things personally. You can only do so much. You can't always predict the situation at the time you book the gig. All you can do is make sure it's on people's horizon (create Facebook events a month beforehand, followed by a photo post a day or two in advance as a reminder). Some venues are great at plugging what's on, and are usually successful. Other venues just don't seem to have a clue and expect a crowd to materialise on the night with no notice. Then there's also random factors - weather, sports events. Oh, and one of our USPs is that we DON'T do Dakota, Brightside, Oasis, etc. We're 70s "dad rock" and proud of it 😂 And wear shorts when it's hot 😜

Level 42 a week on Monday. They have been fantastic the last couple of times I've seen them, playing as well as ever and having a lot of fun

Our guitarist really has a gift for banter. Usually he's talking utter rubbish but you just go with it because the audience finds it hilarious. Don't be precious as you're there to entertain, but then try to keep the banter pretty harmless too and you won't upset anyone.

Quite an old skool club isn't it? Lots of people wanting to chat, but not many dancers. Nice enough place though and great painted back wall. The cheese and onion cobs are not too bad either.

I was pleasantly surprised. I chuckled quite a lot. If you were in two minds but haven't gone yet don't hang about. Our local Vue cinema are showing it for the last time tonight. We went to a local independent cinema to watch - much nicer place, sound wasn't deafening and they showed it at a much more sociable time. Anyway it might not be long on the big screen going by the very small audience

Yesterday afternoon at the "Piv" in Nuneaton. It's our only gig this month due to the guitarist being off touring elsewhere. The Piv is a great social club that belongs to the allotment society, and has survived by having regular entertainment. As we were leaving our early evening gig in the lounge, people were arriving for ballroom dancing in the big room and others were setting up a poker night in the conservatory. I should really have taken some photos while the lights were on, but was a bit out of sorts after the guitarist's Mesa Boogie combo released the magic smoke! We think it might have been a dodgy socket it was plugged into - duly "sorted" by sticking some gaffer tape over it 😂. Anyway he luckily had the foresight to carry a spare amp with - and what a fabulous little amp it was. Switchable output up to 50W and sounded great plugged into the Mesa speakers I did ask him why he was still lugging the big heavy combo around! (The tablets are Vocalzones btw) The afterthought photo just about showing my Rumble and Stingish bass... Oh and you can also see my new Gravity lighting stands - the black ones. I've been wearing shorts since the spring but went back to jeans, which felt strange. Footwear were black DMs to match the rest of the garb

1979 was actually the best year in the 80s for music! So many great songs that year

I fitted a Retrovibe Stinger '77 preamp in mine and it sounds great with the original pickup. So much better than the indistinct mush of the original preamp. I really must get around to shimming the pots with a couple of washers - the knobs sit too proud at the moment

I bought an effects pedal from Simon. It arrived exactly as described after a very smooth transaction. Great communication too. Thanks Simon!

What a guy!

OMG! My drummer has never seen the first one! I'm going to have to lie down in a darkened room until I come to terms with that revelation Edit: I've offered him the loan of my special edition BluRay

This 100% There are very few physical guitar shops left. If you live near one, you're lucky. The alternative is just taking a punt and moving it on if it doesn't suit. As long as it hasn't cost a huge amount of money it's no great loss or disappointment. Cort make nice, budget guitars.

I will be watching it, probably next week. I just hope I'm not too disappointed, but I'm prepared to be delighted.

No.

... Oh sorry boutique

I don't know whether to laugh or cry. I'll settle for a like 😂

What has worked for me for 40 years is to simply not think about it. Make sure you have learnt the songs and practiced at home. Then eventually the time will come - then just do it. Just make sure you have a pee beforehand.

That would be an ecumenical matter

All it took was a change of preamp... Sterling Sub5 with Retrovibe Stinger

My lights have lasted for ages. However I've just had to order the third pair of stands for them! Hopefully the Gravity stands will last a bit longer. I was hoping to get some lightweight aluminium stands but they won't extend high enough for lights, so I had to have taller steel ones - should be more stable anyway. I'll let you know how they go. Anyone got any opinions on Gravity stands? My guitarist bought a mic stand recently and that seems quite good quality. I'll stick with my K&M though - it's standing up well (geddit?! 😁) to regular gigging.

I've had my lead for quite some time now and it's done a lot of gigs... and the jacks are still gold 😁

That sounds like it. I did turn it off