King Tut

4 Ohms. 2KW of what kind of watts is the question? It’s not 2KW RMS but it’s loud enough to gig with - easily - and then some!

I took these pickups out of a CIJ fender Jazz some years ago and they've been sitting in the draw. I recently installed them in a bass and they actually sound pretty fruity. So much so, I'm not convinced they were original to the bass as the bass was an export version and I thought the pickups were a weak spot of those basses. Interesting that one has the wires enclosed in a shield where the other doesn't. Also interesting that I have to 'reverse' the colours to be wired correctly. Anyone recognise them? I only really want to know as I'll be putting them up for sale once I've worked out what they're worth!

Well I wouldn’t use it for a proper overdrive sound but it does have that nice warm valvey break up if you have the gain so the pre is just clipping. To be fair I could probably get a tone I’m happier with, with the Peavey if I spent some time with it but the weight means it just stays at home

I struggle to call myself professional as my main income definitely doesn’t come from music. On Saturday we’re flying out to Finland to play on a rock Cruise to Sweden, we’re on just before Michael Schenker. Back line is obviously supplied but I’ll be taking my Ibanez TMB30 (short scale) and Zoom B1 Four X. I rehearsed with the Ibanez last night and to be honest I’ve no problem at all gigging with it. I’ve replaced the pickups with SD QP’s and put a high mass bridge on it, but could easily have gigged it bog standard. I normally use a Zoom B3n for gigs, only because it’s a bit easier to switch between patches, but the B four has the same sounds and with a bit of careful programming does the same job. When I’m gigging in the UK I normally use a Bugera Veyron 1001T head. I’ve got the choice of that, an Ashdown, several Traces, a Peavey all valve job,a GK and a Markbass. The Bugera knocks ‘em all out of the water, I’d say for an amp it’s Budget price. I must admit, bass wise, I normally gig in the UK with something a bit classier, but the Ibanez usually comes out as my spare. If it gets lost in the baggage system at Heathrow I’m not gonna be having nightmares over a lost Rickenbacker!!

I saw progress ‘Lifesigns’ a few months ago. They’ve got Jon Poole on bass. He was using a couple of Squiers and made them sound rather good. Could we all stop talking about Thunderbirds please? You’re triggering my GAS!

Thanks Fella! Come say hi if you do!

First gig with the new Verity (Argent) Bromham (Stray) band yesterday at The Colne Festival in the Municipal Theatre. Well organised apart from road access to the venue - “no you can’t drive down here straight to the venue, you’ll have to wind your way through that warren of backstreets where there’s hardly anywhere to park”! Once in organisation was great, sound guys knew their stuff and there was an SVT Pro and 8x10. I elected to use my own head (Bugera) with the house cab. We did a set of Classic Rock Covers - not really stuff I would’ve picked but the crowd loved it nonetheless. We were then entertained outside by a 16 year old lad chucking up into a biffa bin and a classy young lady being arrested by the feds for lamping someone. And this was at half five in the afternoon - dread to think what it’s like at chucking out time!. The day was ended with a visit to the best chippy in town and a long drive home. Oh yeah, had a dressing room visit from a chap who delivered a guitar to John Verity, turned out to be Trev Wilkinson of Wilkinson Pickups. For those who are into watches he was wearing a Daytona that he managed to get new from an AD who’s a mate of his, lucky git. He’s a smashing bloke by the way, really friendly!

I used to use a little behringer powered 10 inch pa speaker. Good enough for vocals. I used it for years and it got loads of abuse and was still going strong when I flogged it. I tried the Mike stand one but the sound wasn’t as good and it made my mic stand unstable.

Play every gig like it’s Wembley Stadium. We have a right laugh on stage and we all look like we’re enjoying ourselves. We’re entertainers and we like to entertain! I think eye contact with the audience is important too. Acknowledge someone, even just a wink or a nod, and they’ll remember you. I usually take some ibuprofen before I go on though to help with the knees and back!!!

I’ve got a passive Bubinga version. I love it but don’t gig it much. The top horn is maybe a couple of frets shorter than a fender and that pushes the neck out to the left. Not enough to make it uncomfortable like a thumb bass but enough to throw my orientation out if I’m not concentrating.

'I Believe It' from Saturday night at The Golden Age Festival in Liege. For once, a sound engineer who doesn't pull all the top out and swamp the sound with deep bass. This is the Sire V9 I recently withdrew from sale on here - glad I did!

Seems like I developed Superpowers at A New Day festival on Friday!

Quick postscript to this one - played at The Golden Age Festival yesterday in Liege. Used the same bass and fx through the house rig which was an SVT CL snd 8x10. I way preferred the sound I had the night before with the Bugera and Schroeder. Go figure!

Played ‘A New Day’ festival. Had a great slot as the penultimate band squeezed in between Jethro Tull and Ten Years After. I was using a new (to me) Schroeder 2 x 12 cab (1212L). It’s a tiny thing that I bought off here a couple of weeks ago. One of the drivers is angled off to the side. Was also the first gig for my Sire V9 which I’ve just withdrawn from sale. We’re travelling to a festival in Liege today and I didn’t want to risk my Rik at customs! Anyway, the Schroeder, driven by my Bugera 1001T absolutely blew me (and band mates) away. Incredibly loud and seems to defy the laws of physics, Nice n punchy too! overall, the sound was impeccable. We played a blinder and the crowd responded in spades. I think the Sire is gonna get some more exposure too. Really handy being able to tweak the tone from the bass rather than the amp and absolutely zero neck dive. Nice looker too! Happy colin!

I’ll be gigging mine in a couple of hours at the New Day festival. Been stuck on the bloody M25 for ages!

There’s three tubes in there iirc

What’s a tube roll?