FinnDave

I haven't 'tried' listening to Yes since the mid-70s. I'd like to be able to say that the music doesn't move me, but it does. I move rapidly to get as far away as possible from it. Too clever by more than half, I just don't derive any pleasure from listening to them. To save time retyping this in the parallel Genesis thread, the same applies there. Obviously, they have many followers, but I suspect I am wired differently to them and do not respond well to their music. 'Orses for courses.

I never could get those cylindrical foam earplugs to work at all - maybe I have weird ears!

I have photos of me playing dating back over the last 8 or 9 years in which I always look bored stiff - simply because I was trying not to loosen the earplugs!

I struggled with my ACS plugs for years - every time I moved a muscle in my face one or both would move and let the noise in. I finally stopped using them and bought £20 industrial ear protector 'headphones' from (I Think) Screwfix - lets me hear exactly what the rest of the band is doing but saves my ears from cymbal crashes and loud guitar (I mostly play in a three piece blues-rock band, so volume goes with the territory). They're also much easier to take off for a chat during the breaks and have never moved while playing. Easier to sleep after a gig without my ears ringing as well.

That makes sense - I have 5 Fender basses - both the Jazzes and one Precision are MiM and were bought new, the other two Precisions are US Standards and were bought second hand.

I had organised a gig with Franklin's Tower at a local pub last night, but it was called off two days before hand as a band member tested positive for covid after spending last weekend at WOMAD. I offered the pub The Wirebirds as a substitute, but our drummer is on holiday, so the guitarist's son stepped in (he's played with us many times) - there were a few puzzled Dead Heads in the audience, but everyone enjoyed an evening of blues rock. Franklin's Tower now rescheduled for the end of the month.

Zender - Jamiroquai - never heard of him/her/it Myung - Dream Theater - as above Levin - just about everybody! Most famous probably for Peter Gabriel or King Crimson These I know from the 70s Commerford - Rage Against the Machine - never heard of him/her/it

Not one of those names mean anything to me. I think I have heard of Tony Levin, probably here on Basschat, but I have no idea what he plays or who he plays with. The others have completely passed me by.

Just got back from a Franklin's Tower gig in Oxford. Took my MiM Precision in case the heat got to one of my US Standards. Used my Sansamp to DI straight into the venue's desk, which worked well. The roads and parking in Oxford are terrible these days (mind you, they were pretty awful back in the 60s) so needed to travel light. Venue was the bar at the Bullingdon, not a bad place for small gigs.

It's my favourite bar in Witney - often pop in there on a Friday afternoon while waiting for my wife to finish work. I've played there quite a few times, previously only inside, which doesn't work too well as it's a small place. The owner is a drummer, and on past gigs there has drummed for us. Last night he was delighted to be asked to sit in for a couple of numbers.

Just had a phone call from our guitarist about last night's gig - he wanted to tell me how good my bass sounded! I had planned to take an ABM combo, but as it was still quite hot, decided to use my Orange Little Bass Thing and Super Compact. He was raving about the tone, and several people at the gig complimented it as well. Must be doing something right, at last!

Just got back from playing a gig in Witney (about 5 miles from home). Gig was playing outside a small real ale bar in the town centre, and was the first time out for the Wirebirds as a three piece. Quite a few local musicians there, several of whom sat in with us on some songs. Decent crowd there, most of whom stayed until the end. We got paid 50% more than agreed, so everyone was happy, especially our drummer playing his first gig with us. Very satisfying evening, my wife kindly offered to drive me there and collect me afterwards, so I was able to take advantage of the free beer as well. Tomorrow, I am playing music of the Grateful Dead with Franklin's Tower in Oxford.

Looks more Tidepool than LPB to my eyes, but that could just be the light when the pic was taken. Lovely guitar whichever colour it is!

Not really a gig, but one of bands was invited to a Grateful Dead themed jam at a rather fine location on the other side of Oxford. Wonderful views across to the Chilterns some miles away. It was basically a group of people who regularly jam together in London, plus two of us from Franklin's Tower. We joined them to play four songs - I replaced their bass player and my band mate brought the number of guitarists on stage to five, plus keyboards, bass, and drums. Unfortunately, I was squeezed in behind the keyboard player, the drummer and three (!) rhythm guitarists and could make out what anyone was playing, it was just wall of noise. Sounded fine out front, but the stage monitoring was not able to compete with the backline - there were times when it seemed as though at least two people were playing a different song to the rest of us, or at least a different section. Nice guys, but they need to get the PA sorted. It was a good day out with a bandmate, spoilt by having to play!

That brings back some memories! I recovered mine (not too well) and changed the knobs…left the frontplate with the original Selmer harp logo and a red and white mushroom. I'd love to know what happened to it.

Or when you wait around for three hours, patiently nipping out to feed the parking meter, then as you are to start playing are told there's no time left.

Well, that's how I convinced myself to have two of everything, but they've all ended up with flats on anyway!

That'll be where I've heard the name before, I knew it rang a bell.

Surely no one could be that dumb? I thought it was about Pat Reeves.

I didn't know about the new valve head - but I am happy with the sound from my 20 year old ABM combos - finally got the tone I have had in my head for years. Precision bass, flat wound strings and an ABM. If only I knew years ago how effective that simple set up could be!

Thanks, Dave - I think it is mostly the bass combo as the person filming was on my side of the stage, though that also put them near one side of the PA. The sound crew took a DI feed from my amp and also mic'd up the cab. There is an audio recording from further back in the marquee which sounds quite similar in terms of bass tone and overall balance. I love the tone of my Ashdown combos - so much so I now have three of the backbreaking beasts! First time that band has played to a Deadhead audience, and it really brought out the best in all of us - that and the decent monitoring which meant we could hear each other properly - a rare treat!

Just received a video of part of our set at the Playing on the Farm festival near Cirencester last weekend - celebrating 50 years since the Grateful Dead released their live in Europe 72 album. This song was the second or third in our two hour slot. I played my recently acquired 2010 Precision Standard through my Ashdown ABM 500 2x10 combo. Sounded just how I've always wanted to sound! https://fb.watch/e5hohORpye/