Stub Mandrel

I'd enjoy being in a tribute to Gong or Soft Machine (early stuff only). 😁

Off to the New Foresters soon. Going to take the Thunder 1 I got from @stewblack of this parish. Just had a quick warm up and it is ridiculously gnarly, the hottest p-bass pickups I have ever come across. Cafind a pic, so here's a gratuitous one of my brother with his Thunder 1A many years ago.

I was listening to Ten Years After at Reading 83 (I was there) and realised how much I owe to Leo Lyons, back when I was learning I used to play along to Watt and Ssssh back to back. Leo was/is a serious jazz player, listen to Undead. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Undead_(Ten_Years_After_album)

I used to use leads made up from two-core 13A mains lead (repurposed from a lawnmower). They are all still working 30+ years on! Now I use speakon I'm happy to accept what comes as part of decent quality pre wired leads.

Great thing about an SM58 is that if you move on to more specialised recording gear, you still have a vocal mike that will last a lifetime and you can use on any stage in the world without being criticised, with the added bonus that it will serve in almost any other role. The advantage over the SM57 is the rubber capsule suspension which reduces handling noise and will also help if recording at home where you may have to deal with things like less than solid floors or stands. Not many other mikes offer such flexibility.

Circa 1990, the band I was in practiced in a large room set up as rehearsal space by a band we knew. In one corner was what looked to be an odd-shaped, ancient and unloved bass coated in a thick layer of nicotine and with utterly dead strings. I paid £80 for it in in instalments. It was only about four or five years old! Now my precious Fender Performer which I gigged solidly for several years in the '90s and have since only gigged a handful of times. But definitely the easiest bass to play I have ever tried.

What I like about blues rock is the freedom to improvise within a structure. There's always new things to learn as well. Having a 'set of rules' isn't always limiting. One of my favourite live songs we do a long playout in Em where anying goes, sometimes Alex and I do simultaneous finger tapping 😁

Not ticketed, but aside from festivals our biggest crowds have been pay at the door events rather than free ones.

It's not really weedy, it's just that P and J pickups require different gain settings to perform at their best.

If you really want to own one, they are still available new. Vox are even selling them via Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Vox-Starstream-1H-Guitar-Humbucker/dp/B08N9Q27SX?source=ps-sl-shoppingads-lpcontext&ref_=fplfs&psc=1&smid=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE (I now feel dirty for pimping these things...)

Not at all!

Must have been quite emotional Pete, always gobsmacked and a bit envious to see the glorious venues and crowds you've been playing to!

I would have feigned ignorance and split it evenly.

Next Sunday.

Sight reading Sir Duke! respect!

Went to a private 'birthday party open mic' last night. Good idea for a party, my btother is planning something similar for his 60th. Some friends debuted their new band with a few songs. I got asked to back a few people. A fun, mellow night.

That was the AVII precision through the Orange Terror and GRBass at212 slim. 😁

Does this break some sort of record for longest time to sort a problem...?

I had a brother who died very young, from leukaemia. He loved 'Garold Glitter'. I'll never forgive the bastard for betraying that memory.

The Bush in Cwmbran, pretty compact but wonderful pub. Had a real blast. Sound was very boomyn asked sound to turn down my bottom end and he replied I have can you turn yours down and I said I have! Stone flag floor and stone wall behind rear ported cab... I had to repair my finger with superglue after slicing the tip on Wednesday. Three layers lasted the night. My playing was a bit scatty on a couple of songs and the night seemed to suit sticking in some frills and whistles 😁 noone seemed to mind and we had a few musos in so that was ok. Alex was trying out his new Gretsch Electromatic for the first time. I barely appear in the short vid below, but it gives an idea. https://www.facebook.com/story.php?id=100024370338008&story_fbid=1613621292793533

The youngsters need to be in bed early.

The basic shape is ugh... but then add two stumpy little feet...

We do simple man 😁