wateroftyne

Cheers! So far, so good. Yesterday was just the core band. Today we were joined by our BV ladies, and tomorrow the brass lads will be joining us. We're having to do all the rehearsals without lead vox as out guests won't be arriving until later in the week so there's always that worry that we'll need to change keys. Hopefully not... Bass-wise, I'm sticking to the two J's. They're doing everything I need. As for guests -as ever, it's top secret but I can say that Matty Healy from The 1975 will be making an appearance...

Hey gang.. Some of the longer-term members here might remember that I play in the house band at Sunday for Sammy, a huge music & comedy show that - until 2020 - happened every couple of years at Newcastle Arena. We've had some amazing guests over the years... Mark Knopfler, Brian Johnson, Trevor Horn, The Auf Wiedersehen Pet cast, Johnny Vegas, etc. But then COVID happened. And then nothing... until now! After 18 months of planning by an amazing team, it all happens again next Sunday. Two shows in one day, with a huge cast, it's a massive logistical challenge. I've been working on the songs in my own time for the last few months, and rehearsals start in earnest tomorrow. In the meantime, the crew loaded in to the rehearsal space today, and we (the core band) popped along in the afternoon to set up and do line checks. Here's some photos - more tomorrow! Two J's at the moment - both with flats. I might switch one for a P. FOH is set up in one of the dressing rooms. Monitors. My drummer pal. Guitar village. My hangout.

I don’t think I can ever watch that show again after they murdered that old Jazz bass.

Hello and welcome!

Quite.. it's strange to see some of the other takes on this this thread.

I’m just pleased the bass has been found. I’m sure if Fender take umbrage re: the replica thing, they’ll let Mark know, and he’ll react accordingly: In the meantime… let people enjoy their nice basses, eh?

I've emailed Wellers, FWIW.

Nice one! My God, that bass is pretty.

Gary at Sylva is absolutely awesome. Dave Wilson (always my #1 choice, but he's focusing on refins etc. at the moment) recommended him, and I can totally see why.

It breaks my heart that I never got to see him live.

I may get some moulded tips for the Plunges at some point. I'd always welcome a bit more attentuation.

All fair comments... re: fit - I use large Comply tips. I've got big 'ol ear canals, and they're just the job. Sound-wise.. it's such a personal thing, isn't it? To me, the lows don't sound boosted or flubby - just nice and tight, with lots of natural definition in the mids, and smooth top. One of the problems with IEM stuff is the inability to try before you buy... it's all a bit of a lottery, isn't it?

I used my Plunge Audio Dynamics for the first time yesterday.... A bit of background: I use my existing IEMs occasionally, mainly under protest. They're KZ ZS10s, but they always sound brittle, fizzy and uninspiring to me, so I stick with my ACS attenuators and a monitor whenever I can. That setup is a bit of a clart on for the band and our engineer, so I promised myself I’d finally make the leap. I did some research (not easy, given the sheer volume of ChiFi IEMs out there muddying the waters) and also looked at more expensive options like ACS. In the end, I landed on the Plunge Dynamics. Handmade in Canada, they’re not custom moulds, but they still offer 15dB of attenuation. There’s also a pricier, non-ported stage version that provides even more isolation, but they Dynamics seemed to suit my needs. They're a single dynamic driver rather than a complex array of dynamics and armatures like most IEMS. I was hoping that would translate into a warmer, more natural sound, and I was right... they’re a genuine revelation. As soon as I put them in, I could tell they're night-and-day compared to the KZs. They're so immersive, with a real sense of air and warmth, without feeling isolated. The bass is round and dynamic. I went through soundcheck and the gig without giving them a second thought. They’re beautifully made and packaged, with high-quality accessories, and they arrived from Canada in just a few days. If you’re in the market for new IEMs, they’re definitely worth a look...

That's bloody lovely. Shocking behaviour by Parcelforce. I hope it surfaces soon.