Staggering on

I really don't think that anyone actually needs a watch to tell the time while they are on stage performing. If you've done your pre-gig preparation properly then you'll know how long the set lasts and also how long each individual song is so that you can adjust as required to take account of any over-run. (quote) I've never been in a band where sets were designed to the minute and where every night the set is exactly the same.Guess you just ignore the audience and do your thing.Sounds like a boring job to me.

Pretty good price for an SLB I think.It would be a good price here in Canada.

The SLB200 can be had used at the price TheRev quotes but new is a lot more.You might find one on in the ads on this site.

I started with a Stagg and then switched to a Yamaha SLB200.Its neck is very similar to a DB and with the stock strings and the adjustable bridge it can be set up very well.I play in a jazz standards quartet and we play some blues and old rock 'n roll as well and it works great for me.It took me a while to get the sound I wanted but the volume and tone controls are VERY sensitive and some time spent fiddling with them is time well spent,many small adjustments can make a huge difference in the sound.Your amp settings will obviously have an impact too. I use my Laney RB5 for home practice and some gigs but usually plug directly into our Bose PA for most gigs,fantastic but expensive sound. They are on the high end of the price scale but are reliable and sound and feel great.After almost two years of using it I have no complaints and still love it.I am currently working on my arco technique and although I'm not very good at it I do find the SLB200 works well when bowed.

Live music in pubs and clubs is fast disappearing here in Canada too.Bands are being replaced by singles or duos with backing tracks(or not) and DJ's in venues that used to hire bands.Many functions such as wedding receptions are going the same route.As a quartet that plays mostly jazz standards we can fit in at receptions and dinners playing "wallpaper music"and we also play at a few venues as "the band" where we are the main attraction at a club or pub,but is tough to find work. After our gig last night I was watching late news on TV and heard that one of Toronto's most famous clubs Hugh's Room will be shutting down for a while to consider if they can continue as a live music club.Hugh's Room has featured big names as well as new talent for years and is one of the best known venues for live music in this country.Several other club owners were interviewed in the story and they are all wondering how long they can go on.One said that at least one generation has had no experience hearing live music in anything other than large halls and arenas or stadiums with various rock bands.Students,who for generations made up a large part of the pub clientele,can't afford the steep prices and the hassles of transportation so stay home to party and stream their music.For those of us "of a certain age" this seems to be odd but it is the way it is now and unlikely to change.Many of you will have noticed that younger crowds don't know how to respond to live entertainment of any sort(except large concerts) mostly because they have never seen live musicians or theatre. All this is awfully depressing but I guess it's the way it is going to be for a while.A far cry from when I was in bands that played six nights a week in pubs and clubs.Not good news for those of us that like playing for an audience and get a buzz out of gigging. Not sure what the future holds but we are hanging in for the present but I feel sorry for new bands trying to find a place to play.

Jackie Evancho will be singing at Trump's inauguration,could be interesting. She is quite well known over here in North America and is maturing into a great singer.There are lots of videos of her performances. Bob(in Canada)

[quote name='leschirons' timestamp='1483994995' post='3211864'] The reason people (myself included) post these things is usually, (whether a fan or not) that some of these people formed part of the soundtrack to their lives. I personally couldn't stand "Where do you go to my lovely" however, it was continuously on the radio and T.V in a certain period of my life and therefore, became part of the backdrop to it and yes, it does make us realise that we aren't immortal as we subconsciously think that those famous names we grew up with will always be there. It also gives some people the chance to reminisce a little if they want to. It's not really an unhealthy obsession with celebrity death, just another way of marking the passage through our own lives. [/quote] I agree,although I actually did like the song since I was in my guitar playing student folky phase at the time. I especially like the "passage of time" idea and marvel at the fact that I was a mere 23 year old when the song was a hit and so much has happened to me since, but I can still feel the energy and emotion that I felt way back then when I think of or hear that song.It takes me to an interesting time and place.And life goes on,and that's a good thing,it's not an obsession, it is just life. Bob

Sarstedt-big hit in Canada too.I don't think anyone could cover his music,certainly not "Where do you go to...".And that was in '69,where did the time go-he was 75. A special talent.

Love it!How do I join the group?

I am so lucky.I live in a very rural part of Ontario in Canada almost 5 hours north of Toronto.My nearest neighbours are over a quarter mile away and we live in an area of dense forest so sound does not travel very far.I can play my basses,guitar and banjo at any volume I please at any time of the day or night and no one will hear anything.I have also had wonderful late night/early morning binges of playing CDs or my old vinyl records at crazy loud volumes.Sometimes a loud party outside in the summer can be heard faintly but that is rare-I guess I live in a musician's dream location.On my visits to Canadian towns and cities and on the occasions when I have been in England I often wonder how people manage to play instruments in such crowded places and count my lucky stars that I found this place to live. I spent about half of my 70(gasp)years living in cities but the last 37 years out here in the country have been the best.On top of that it is cheap! Visitors welcome any time.

After two days of use the G10 transmitter began to work perfectly or not at all and the LED on it would flash green indicating an electronic(vs mechanical) problem but only with the EUB,it was OK with BG.I checked the Line 6 site and some forums and found that a few other people have had this problem-works great and then dies.Since I was planning to use it at gigs I need something that always works and that I don't need to worry about I returned it for a refund instead of a replacement.As I said in earlier posts,the convenience and sound were great but I don't feel I can trust it so it's back to the cable for my gig today and perhaps another foray into the wireless world in the future.From what I have read most people have no problems with the product but after my experience I don't have confidence in it. Too bad,it was great when it was working.

We don't often get the ideal 7' of space and were worried about it but even when it is set up only slightly behind us it is still great.Our last gig was in a very small place where we set up on the floor because there is no stage at all and we were lined up against a wall with the system practically in line with us and it worked.One of the nice things is that you don't need space for other speakers and monitors so the band can set up in very tight areas,maybe not ideal but it works and the sound is great,very clean and crisp and because the 24 speakers are set at different angles the sound fills the whole space in the room.I was a skeptic as I said earlier, but for a lot of groups this is a good way to go and I expect we will see a lot more of them as time goes on. Some musicians can't imagine using one of these odd looking things and it certainly lacks the visual impact of a stage full of gear but the sound is fantastic.We have been asked "where is your PA" more than once.It sort of reminds me of some headless basses and EUB's that don't look "right" but sound great.

I'll try to explain our system Phil.We are 4 piece(keyboard/vocal,sax/clarinet,drums,bass)that plays jazz standards in clubs,bars,halls and variety of indoor and outdoor venues with an audience ranging from a few dozen to over 300.We play receptions,private parties,dinners and even dances and sometimes are background "wallpaper music" and sometimes are a show or dance band. After struggling with a variety of PA's we decided to try the Bose L1 Model II(24 speakers) with the Bose ToneMatch(mixer) and a Bose bass module.It is not a cheap option but it works for us.We also use a small mixer so we can add other things to the Bose mixer.The ToneMatch has EQ for each input and my Yamaha SLB200 EUB has very sensitive bass and treble controls and that combination works well for me. When you set up the Bose system they suggest that it works best if you can place it about 7 feet behind the band and in that location it acts as a monitor as well as main speaker.That may sound kind of odd but it works well for us,amazing sound and the 24 speakers disperse the sound in a way that isn't too loud for us and is loud for the audience.We did a lot of research before we bought the system and I was very skeptical about the claims from Bose that it would be capable of handling an audience of up to 500 and be used as a monitor as well but it works for us.It is surprisingly powerful and loud. It doesn't take much space,is fast to set up and provides all the inputs and controls our band needs and has no other speakers to set up and no cables all over the stage.Some rock and country bands use one system for each player(there are videos) but we get by with just the one. It is a good system for a lot of bands that play in a lot of different sized venues and with the ToneMatch mixer is very versatile.I have not had the chance to try my new wireless system yet but will try it at a gig next week and based on how well it works with my little Laney combo(no comments please) I'm sure it will be fine. I am sure it would not be suitable for a lot of types of music and it doesn't look like "a real PA" but it is worth checking out for acoustic or semi-acoustic bands and a lot of jazz bands.

I got my G10 yesterday and tried it out at home and I love it. Small,easy to set up,great sound and silent when switching instruments-all the things I was looking for.I will try it at our gig next week and go straight into the PA .As a bonus I can spin my EUB...now that could be dangerous!

...or "bear" it...depending on what you "bare" the gig might get pretty interesting...

The exercises in Jack's video are a good warm up and are part of my daily morning regime and are a big help in keeping me in shape and playing and gigging on BG and EUB at 70.Go for it!

Great idea! Now I might have to try the same thing with my EUB,it will make it harder to play though.Thanks for the pics and inspiration.

Planet Waves wee tiny one that hides on the headstock of EB and another one on the tailpiece of my EUB.Unobtrusive,light and easy to use.I can also use them on my guitar,banjo and mandolin.Bright enough to read in all situations and small enough that they are hardly noticeable to anyone else.I love them.

Thanks for the input Phil.I have ordered one of these gizmos and will let BC know how it works for me.I would have liked to have had it at last night's gig where we were packed into a tiny area with cables everywhere.

Thanks Cuzzie,I will be trying one out in the next couple of days.

Thinking about a wireless set up for my Yamaha SLB200 EUB and my Yamaha RBX 750A bass guitar and the Line 6 G10 seems simple and reasonably priced.Their site says it works with "most" passive and active pickups although some instruments with certain wiring may need an adaptor.It can also be switched between instruments quickly and silently and is compact and needs no cables to a transmitter,just plug in the jack/transmitter which is rechargeable. I will definitely try it on my instruments before I actually buy it but would like any feedback from anyone who has used one.Both my Yamahas have active pickups.

Slightly off topic but has anyone tried the Line 6 G10 on an EUB?I use BG and EUB and the G10 has a transmitter that plugs directly into the instrument so there are no cables or separate transmitters.It is easy to switch between instruments and the reviews I've read are positive.I wonder if this might be a good alternative to cables for me.Both my instruments are active but the Line 6 info says that should be no problem for their G30 but I wonder about the G10-I guess I could ask them couldn't I.Comments or suggestions? Edit.Just read a review that says the G10 does not work with active pickups but hadn't seen that anywhere else. Edit.The Line 6 site claims the G10 will work with active pickups.I should have checked that before posting...

[quote name='obbm' timestamp='1480373006' post='3183927'] Paragraph headed Attention [url="http://www.neutrik.co.uk/en-uk/plugs-jacks/silentplug/np2rx-au-silent"]http://www.neutrik.c...np2rx-au-silent[/url] [/quote] Thanks-I didn't read far enough down the page.I did mention the problem with this cable in another thread a while back but hadn't seen that info.Buyer beware,all switched plugs are not the same,read the fine print or ask the maker.

[quote name='obbm' timestamp='1480370180' post='3183870'] Neutrik say on their web site that Silent jacks are not recommended for active instruments. This is because the ring connection in the jack is used to power the onboard pre-amp. As you insert the jack the pre-amp is powered and is charging its capacitors at the same time as the muting comes off resulting in noise through the amp. [/quote] Unfortunately the person in the shop that sold me the cable(for over $40.00Canadian) did not know this.Before I ordered the Planet Waves cable I emailed them and they assured me their plug works with active and silent and silent pickups and it does but I have also had issues with the jack coming loose in the combination socket (XLR and standard)of the Bose PA we use and it does not fit tightly in my amp.I solved the PA problem by going to a DI box and then XLR into the PA-problem solved for now but I guess I should change the amp end jack to simplify things.I just looked at the Neutrik site and couldn't find the information you refer to above-is it well hidden or am I missing something. edit-I did notice that unplugging the Neutrik was silent but when plugging in it made some noise but with my practice amp at home it wasn't very loud . At the first gig using the PA it was very noticeable and annoying to say the least.Live and learn.

I use a Planet Waves cable(switched) so I can change from BG to EUB silently and it works great but the jack does not fit tightly in the Bose PA we use.The socket on the Bose is a combination XLR and standard and I have had the plug come out of the socket.I now use the same cable but put it through a DI box and use the XLR cable from the box to go to the Bose-problem solved.I had tried a Neutrik silent plug cable but it does not work properly with active pickups which are on both of my instruments.The Planet Waves cable works with passive or active systems.I don't know if my Neutrik jack is faulty but it didn't work for me-the cable was new when I bought it so it should have been OK.I tried the Planet Waves cable in my amp and it does not fit as tightly as other standard jacks-who would have guessed.Maybe I should change the amp end of the cable.