Stub Mandrel

Gear: Sire P10/ Fender AVII 1960 P ---> Lekato WM80 ---> main effects were SpectraComp on Captain East, Joyo XVI (for Uprising), Mojo Mojo, 80s Ibanex Chorus, LPF ---> Orange Bass Terror ---> GR Bass AT121 slim.

Well that was bloody awesome. We got to the Earl Haig early, to find two big projector screens up for the rugby, but didn't affect us setting up. Used their (big) PA with our desk, spent a lot of time with everything miced up (me post-preamp DI'd). Sounded awesome but with the stage volume was comfortable with no earplugs. About 20- people stayed on from rugby and we had at least 120-, maybe 150 people in. It can feel a bit empty on a Sunday sometimes, even with a crowd, but not today. Lots of musicians and music lovers in, including my brother, some of my friends and members of two of my other bands. First half, mostly straight classic rock, so no dancing but rapturous reception. Brief beak, then second half, still rocky but some more danceable stuff, so dancing from about 1/3rd through. You'll get the gist if I say our encores were War Pigs and Alive, and the song that got the most comment was Devil Woman. Afterwards, people were queing up to shake hands and say how much they enjoyed it. We did get (very gently) told off for going 20 minutes past curfew 😁 Baz was taking photos, so I expect some awesome shots in due course. Devil Woman.mp4

Like a curved rubik's snake of cyan and magenta that starts small and expands until it disappears outside my field of vision..

I'm actually nervous about today's gig! Had a freaky lucid dream last night... woke up and remembered it in detail: Parked up in a shabby demolished building type car park off an unusual street I hadn't seen before. Walked to nearby venue. Wandered into my brother's gig (today) as they were settng up. Big empty bar, try were out on the floor instead of in a 'stage area'. Chris (bassist) was playing noodly guitar so I joined in on bass. Worked out they were playing Grapevine, but in C#. Oddly I remember in detail that I was fingering Eb... but I was convinced the key was C#. Then looked at my watch. The face was scrolling images and web pages about tanks - my internet history? Suddenly I remembered I should be at my own gig for 3pm (actually 4) for 6pm start and it was 5pm. Rushed to front bar. Found the bag I keep my swimming stuff in(?) Took a while to find my jacket, hidden under another coat on a hatstand (like my metal one, but wooden) positioned on or through the bench seat in the bay window. Got phone from my jacket pocket. Discovered the stuff on my watch was actually loads of phone notifications. Discovered continuous flow of messages from the band taking the piss out of me being late after telling them to be early. Headed out, rang band said 5pm I will be tere in twenty minutes and set up in ten... In street passed a traffic warden in hi-vis taking notes. In car park (I hadn't bought a ticket) noticed all signs were so old and faded there was no way thry were valid and nowhere to buy a ticket. Panicked and ran back to car, found only very old house keys in my hand (a memory of finding some in a drawer a few days ago?) Got in car but couldn't start it... handcrwaching in passenger window offering me keys. Turned out to be evil woman trying to steal car or the old keys or even kill me. Couldn't understand what she was on about. Fought her off by biting her finger then repeatedly pressing the up button for the electric window to trap her arm. Started reversing backwards, dragging her along as I tried to escape. Traumatised, I woke up and focused on committing everything to memory. I hope the actual gig is not quite as eventful.

The best leopardskin look since Bet Lynch...

I've been having a fair few of late, no headaches (for me), but they really leave me feeling meh in a sort of unspecified way.

OK, it's an aquarium hood, but I've not long cut all the pieces out of 8mm ply. Got fed up with the slowness with the saw dragging and remembered the trick my dad taught me when I was a pre-pubescent teenager. I rubbed candle wax on the saw. I roughly tripled the rate of progress. Kicked myself for not bothering earlier, 'it's only thin ply'. A waxed rip saw is faster than a jigsaw and not too far off a circular saw - and you can see what you are doing well enough to follow a straight line.

Ah, those were the days ... my mate's 4kW PA was capable of levelling buildings.

Duh! I meant that on first reading I thought he sang it at the OM.

I musread that and wondered why, if you insisted on singing songs from Oliver, you didn't choose Food Glorious Food?

Two sets plus songs for encores/spare I think. I remember learning all of them although it was rare the have more than a badly recorded tape! We used to take turns having the Dire Straits song book.

In 1986 it was 20 years old the equivalent of, say, a 2006 Fender. It's now 60 years old, that does make a difference.

The first band I was in, about 86-88, - Drastic Action - the BL was obsessed by Dire Steaits although he thought he was Guitar George... do we did several Dire Straits covers with no lead guitar! Testament to how good the songs are of themselves. As well as Sultans we did Six Blade Knife, wild west end and Down to the Waterline.

Remembering back to the 80s/90s when I used to have to push everything to get an adequate sound, I enjoy having plenty more power than I need so I never have to worry and know my rig is well away from its limit.

What was the year you bought it?

Originals rehearsal tonight. One new song refined considerably, with some nice dynamics including an Iron Maiden style gallop. We worked out some neat stops too. Also tidied up our re-interpretation of a song from the original album. Didn't originally have bass but came up with a 'classically inspired' bassline to bring along that's a sort of counterpoint melody. Very chuffed with myself. Plus added a little bass trill in the chorus that made the lead guitarist and drummer smile.

Pleased to report my last two rehearsals were at very civilised levels. No ear protection needed. Inuse Alpines for gigs, waiting for my ACS moulds to arrive... quite excited!

As always good design and honest specifications trump all else.

My Orange Terror is rated 500W. The power consumption is given as 650W. This is unusual (although @agedhorse explained that most amps typically quote a value based on an assumed duty cycle). I also respect Vox; they understate their amp power. The AC30 is comparable to a Marshall 100W. My Vox Valvestate 20 is a 30W amp.

I got 3/32" dots cut from high strength vinyl on a Cricut machine. Very durable... the ones on the 'busy' parts of the neck last a long time.

Isn't voltage headroom more important, as when it counts is driving transients into largely inductive loads?

Do you believe in fairies and a flat earth? 😁

In practice a 4 ohm cab means you turn down a little and get a bit more headroom.

That can be virtually nothing or the difference between acceptable and unbearable, depending on the amp!