leroydiamond

[quote name='joeystrange' timestamp='1469231042' post='3096911'] I think they do change the sound very slightly (it's not just like turning the volume down) but it's very easy to get used to. [/quote] Sure, they change the sound a little. But relative to the cheap and cheerful, foam, 'christmas tree' and other generic alternatives, they are pure Hi Fi

Just back from the Audiologist and after a thorough examination, he tells me that my ACS pro earplugs are doing a terrific job of protecting my hearing (or whats left of it). Cannot say enough about this product. They provide a very flat response, It is just as if the volume of the band is turned right the hell down. I hear everything really well without my ears taking a bashing. The tone of my rig is crystal clear, which is really important to me. These babies are an exact match for my ear canal so I know I have the best protection available and i can still enjoy performing. The best, and most valuable bit of kit I have ever purchased. Highly recommended, indeed a must have IMO

[quote name='Kev' timestamp='1469034887' post='3095278'] Thinking about it, on the rare occasion I have owned a bass with a pick guard covering controls, I tended to hold the guard down with my thumb as i pulled the cable out with my fingers. Never actually thought this would happen though. It certainly can't be normal! [/quote] Remember its a Fender and their quality control history is not the best.

Can anyone on here say how the Flea signature compares with the similarly spec'd Fender AV62 reissue?

[quote name='Billy Apple' timestamp='1467982249' post='3087790'] I have to say I thought they were over after Back In Black. Brian made a decent fist of it, but he never had the pipes Bon did. [/quote] Totally agree. Lost all interest in AC/DC when I heard Brian Johnson.

Lakland recommend orange oil on rosewood fingerboards

[quote name='Billy Apple' timestamp='1462384293' post='3042609'] When is the Adam Clayton sig model out? [/quote] !!

For me its the gruvgear duo strap.

Ian Gillan in his prime

[quote name='bassman7755' timestamp='1458376813' post='3007008'] Your using a puma though and thats just cheating. [/quote] The Puma is fine amp no doubt. I bought a cheap and cheerful Kustom KXB500 as back up. Well the Kustom is now my go to amp. Far and away the best class D I have used. Using it for 18 months now and not a sniff of GAS. Sadly no longer in production

[quote name='KevB' timestamp='1457887285' post='3002666'] When the Deep Purple Mk2 lineup reformed in the 80's and made 'Perfect Strangers', many fans see it as one of their strongest albums. [/quote] Unreal. I was just going to post these exact words. Great album.

[quote name='Gottastopbuyinggear' timestamp='1457446132' post='2998654'] I guess a follow on question is whether syringing is usually enough for this or whether something else like microsuction is likely to be needed? [/quote] I have had both syringing and micro suction done. The Micro suction was performed by a Consultant Ear, nose and throat specialist and cost 100 euro. More expensive that Syringing, but a better procedure IMO.

[quote name='Dan Dare' timestamp='1457446664' post='2998656'] Btw, the original post asked for stories. The best I saw was at a Burns night supper. I was playing in the ceili band. As is customary, a bagpiper had been booked. He had already done several jobs by the time he arrived - pipers normally play for 10-15 mins to pipe in the haggis or similar and move on - and had obviously been given a generous dram at each of them. He was incapable of speech, but could still walk and play so that was fine. He piped in the haggis, which was placed on a table on stage. The MC stepped up to read Burns's Ode to a Haggis, whilst our hero played, marching on the spot and marking time. Unfortunately, his inebriation, combined with the effort of blowing, caused a loss of control of his bowels. He was wearing his kilt in the traditional manner, so the resultant log dropped between his feet. As he was marking time, he stepped on it, slipped back and his foot flew up. The log broke into pieces and the bits flew into the audience. Members of the band narrowly avoided a coronary from the merriment. [/quote] Fantastic . I would willingly wear me suit, shirt and tie to witness such an event

Terrific bass line at a time when Whitesnake were at their best. They are a shadow now if what they were then

[quote name='ians' timestamp='1457380863' post='2998021'] Pity, and looks like the rock star looks have left him too. [/quote] He is 70

[quote name='bubinga5' timestamp='1457231778' post='2996608'] Im sure the Sire is great but its not Sadowsky NYC great surely. [/quote] No. My Sadowsky is a terrific bass. The attention to detail is second to none, the preamp just provides for a range of sweet spots and the notes are even all over the neck. Also if there are any issues, Roger Sadowsky is happy to deal directly with customers, just make a call and ask for Roger. If the Customer is not happy, Mr Sadowsky is not happy and he will put it right. The thing I liked about the Sire, was as soon as put my hands on the neck, it felt like home. I reckon it is the 7.25 radius that does it for me (probably as a result of playing old Fenders for many years). In my case the 12 inch radius on the Sadowsky is less preferable. I have not gigged the Sire but Mr. Berry gets a cracking tone.

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1457238512' post='2996616'] Wedding business has always been good for bands. However,even this piece of action has been hit. DJs [/quote] Not on my side of the pond. over here a wedding is not a wedding without a live band. When the band finishes up it is becoming more the norm for the band leader to provide a DJ set., so the DJ's are getting frozen out (happy days) [quote name='blue' timestamp='1457240490' post='2996620'] Dan, I think some of the hate and complaints come from those that never quite caught on or life circumstances prevent them from getting into the money making side of their skill. Or those that live in areas where the business is not there.And there are some that will only play genres where there's no business to be had. I can only think those not in it for money are not out there playing 4 hour bar gigs 3 times a week hauling lights and PA for free. Just a little personal history. I'm not sure how I made it through working in the corporate insurance industry for 30 years. I was never much good at it and I hated the work. I was ashamed of it. Now, I have a life. I love it when someone ask what I do for a living. I can proudly say; "I play bass guitar and sing in a rock & roll band." Blue [/quote] I guess I have been lucky in that my chosen career has and continues to be rewarding in many ways. They guys I play with are lifelong friends that are like family and mean a lot to me, though we insist on getting well paid for the gigs we do. A gig with those guys ticks so many boxes for me But where is the hate on this thread Blue? ( other than my reservations regarding formal attire ). We are all bass players who do what we do for a variety of reasons and so be it. It is normal that one mans meat can be another mans poison.

[quote name='therealting' timestamp='1457228923' post='2996601'] I have a Metro… I have to admit this video has me wondering whether I really need it [/quote] I need the NYC because my shoulder is screwed so only light weight basses for me. The neck on the Sire is fantastic IMO, and in my case preferable to my Sadowsky.

[quote name='MacDaddy' timestamp='1457200841' post='2996330'] Absolutely, but assuming something does not work because it is inexpensive is erroneous. [/quote] Well even if these generic plugs worked in terms of hearing protection (and in my case they most certainly did not), they simply would not work for me in terms of the quality of attenuation on offer. This is the real bonus of using ACS customs. As jazzyvee says, the attenuation is consistent across the audio spectrum and that's a must for me in terms of performance. The difference is night and day compared with the cheap and cheerful variety IMO. Another real plus is that you can use different levels of attenuation for different applications with ACS customs. All the guys in my band use Custom plugs. None of us will be going back to the cheaper offerings anytime soon. They simply would not 'work' for us

[quote name='therealting' timestamp='1457192008' post='2996212'] Says something about how affordable instruments have come on when you see a Sire and a PRS SE onstage with David Sanborn. [/quote] Yep. i use an NYC Sadowsky, but my brothers Sire really works. Truly great bass

[quote name='Dan Dare' timestamp='1457189881' post='2996185'] I enjoy function gigs - doing a job this eve. Can't fathom the comments here about "sh*t music", "hate wearing a tie/clean shoes", etc. It's good money (sometimes very good - a damn sight more than some poor buggers earn for half a week of graft) for playing music. Even if you don't like the songs, you can look at it as paid practice/rehearsal time - keeping the fingers in trim. As others say, I've played with some great musicians in nice places and been well paid over the years. What's not to like? Beats shovelling sh*t any day of the week. A certain amount of snobbery in some posts here, I feel. Well that's OK. More well paid functions for yours truly if others don't want them [/quote] Keep your shirt (and tie on) . If it works for you then great. Some of my best mates are in the function/wedding scene. It pays well and puts food on the table, so happy days. Not my thing and that's not being a snob

ACS custom. Whether you consider them expensive is another question, but it depends how much you value your health. For me, they are the best value piece of kit I have ever purchased no question. The alternative are the cheap and cheerful generic plugs. I put my faith in them until I developed tinnitus. When I showed my audiologist what I had been using for ear protection, he chucked them in the bin. He explained to me that the size of the ear canal can vary considerably, so a 'one size fits all' approach is risky at best. Hence my investment in ACS custom plugs.

[quote name='EmmettC' timestamp='1457170904' post='2995928'] I only did a bit of function/wedding stuff when I was still living in Ireland, and wedding bands there are certainly a lot cheesier than in Scotland. I still have to wear a shirt and tie, but there's a lot less Enrique Iglesias and Garth Brooks, maybe I've been unlucky with what I saw in Ireland, but my sister's wedding band a few months ago were the cheesiest thing I've ever seen, great musicians, but awful songs. [/quote] +1. I was at a function a couple of years back. Terrific food,company and great craic. Then the band started up and I just had to toddle off to bed it was that bad IMO. It was scary to discover how much those guys got paid, really scary.

I just cannot wear a suit, shirt and tie, pure and simple. Hence I have spent my years playing bass in rock bars, clubs and bikers festivals. Have been doing a Saturday night residency for 10 years now. Always a full house, good cash in hand and get to play a ton of tracks that i love playing. A saturday night residency rules me out of the wedding/function scene, but I am not bothered. We have agreed to play a wedding next month, but the bride and groom have signed up to our set list, so no there will not be any waltzes. And we will be wearing t-shirt and jeans. Been working on' hot for teacher' this week, so fingers crossed we will nail it tonight.