Cat Burrito

I am due to play Sheffield in February with Case Hardin, but it's a bass guitar gig. We got roots album of the month in Q back in September but play Americana which may not be everyone's thing - certainly not the most exciting genre for bassists. I play upright in the Jimmy Sixes but we are unlikely to leave the south of England in the next year or so.

[quote name='Thunderbird' timestamp='1385672480' post='2291082'] Hope no one really thinks you are a bass with those F holes ......could make a terrible mess if some one decided to strum you lol [/quote] I hang around with a few rockabilly guys so the double slap is what I'll be looking to avoid

Nice, I've seen the original pic before. I have a cartoon cat playing upright bass, ripped from the El Toro Please Give Me Something: Roots of the Stray Cats album [url="http://www.raucousrecords.com/products/600px/roots-of-the-stray-cats-cd.jpg"]http://www.raucousrecords.com/products/600px/roots-of-the-stray-cats-cd.jpg[/url] and I'm booked in to get F holes on my shoulders this Thursday coming.

[quote name='Mog' timestamp='1385670621' post='2291045']@BurritoBass Have you tried the cabs with other heads (I never got on well with the Terror head)?[/quote] Nope, only with my head I'm afraid. I can't help but feel if you don't like the Terror head there is every chance the cab may not quite be to you tastes either... but I could be wrong.

[quote name='Phil Starr' timestamp='1385654512' post='2290746']But these cabs do sound OK if you like that old school sound, There's nothing actually wrong with them and you'll either like the sound or not. I quite like how they sound as it happens. [/quote] I agree although I think "OK" sells them short. I was most definitely seeking a vintage classic old school tone and this is what I have. In terms of wanting it to do anything else, not *my* thing. Certainly in terms of playing old rock 'n' roll, country, reggae etc, yep, definitely. Adding to the detail of my original post I wouldn't be comfortable commenting on anyone who tried to get a modern sound as it isn't something I've ever needed in any band I've played with. But I readily accept that there are players on here that this setup simply wouldn't work for what they do.

[quote name='Les' timestamp='1385653951' post='2290736']I'm absolutely sure this can be done well with a mic just as you say but not one that's set for vocals. I suppose we could just use another mic as whatever way we go it's going to need it's own channel if we're not using his vocal mic.[/quote] A condenser mic would do the trick. The banjo being closed back limits a few options as a lot of banjo pickups are easier to install for open back banjo. We lost our banjo / mandolin player last year and the general view of the band is that we don't miss the banjo. It really was a constant source of headache. The pickup phase our guy went through was a horrific mess of gaffa tape and wires, with feedback being a constant problem. I suppose it also depends on if you an acoustic act or a rock band. We're a quiet band but do have an electric guitar and a drummer so tended to fair much better in stripped back settings. I also played banjo myself in previous bands and it was like playing russian roulette with soundmen!

[quote name='Les' timestamp='1385638502' post='2290465']I foolishly thought just dropping his vocal mic down to the banjo would do the job but I was wronger than a wrong thing in the wrong place at the wrong time. [/quote] Just seen this bit - guess that blows my theory out the water... but it has worked for us in many bands.

Having played around the Americana circuit for 10yrs I can assure you the banjo is the one instrument that is least likely to get lost in the mix. Dropping a mic down nearer the instrument will most likely suffice and mean the player can hear it in the monitors. We found banjo pickups to be almost universally fraught with disaster.

[quote name='Mog' timestamp='1385633808' post='2290385']Has anyone been using one of these for a few months/years? [/quote] Can I buck the trend by being the first person to comment who has actually been using one for years? And the less popular SP210 too. I'd have preferred the SP212 but finances dictated otherwise at the time. I'm certainly not disputing other opinions but sometimes trying a rig in a shop or borrowing kit from the headline band doesn't always give as full a picture. Prior to this my rig was an Ampeg 1x15 cab with a 1978 Bassman head. I now exclusively use the Orange cab and it is the only cab I've owned in over 3 years. Given my previous rig it is unsurprising the weight wasn't an issue I'd picked up on. Mine is also flight cased so the weight really can't bother me. The reality for me is it is all I need. I tend to play in a range of venues from Art Centres to pubs and in small / medium pubs with vocal only PAs it really holds up well. In the larger venues it is standard to mic up the bass so again, no issues. I get more comments about my sound now than at any other time and I've been playing 25yrs. So plenty loud enough. I use mine in a 5 piece Americana band mostly with a Fender bass and a 3 piece Rockabilly band with my upright bass. I'm fickle and do like the look of those Ampeg Portaflex rigs but the fact that this one has been a staple part of my sound / gear over years says quite a lot, I reckon. And for the record I use a Terror head with my SP210. Oh, and my Americana band was offered an endorsement deal with Orange but we turned it down as I was happy with the rig as was. The deal was they loaned us bigger and better amps on tour for free. It made sense to stay with what was.

Getting a bit heated in places - remember people have differing opinions and experiences. Keep it civil.

It doesn't spoil my day either although I always prefer the option to not have the stripe so it could be added should the mood take me. The mood probably wouldn't take me, to be fair.

[quote name='RhysP' timestamp='1385330383' post='2287105'] Does she want you to use Dobly as well? [/quote] Beat me to it

I've closed this as it seems to be more about personal insults rather than actual topic.

[quote name='cameltoe' timestamp='1385237939' post='2286053']I love the look of the Vox Pathfinder 10, [s]and the Hi-watt B20[/s], but have no experience of trying either. Volume levels aren't so important, as it will mainly be used for solo practice, but I may need to take it to the occasional acoustic living room rehearsal (no drummer). [/quote] Allow me to chime in; I have the Vox Pathfinder 10 & not only have I used it live once (!) & in the studio but my band rehearse around mine regularly with the drummer tapping along on a guitar case. Really nice fat decent old school tone & volume wise it holds out. Plus it looks the cats PJs so I now just leave it on show. I think I got mine Xmas 2010 and it was a solid investment.

[quote name='BurritoBass' timestamp='1385317867' post='2286833'] I can only agree with all these gripes. Yous knot rong [/quote] Or is it you's?

I can only agree with all these gripes. Yous knot rong

Now #977 - we're in the top 1000

I think it's worth checking venues beforehand. It happens, even when bands do a push through their own social media etc. At least he paid. In my younger days we were forever getting ripped off by underhand landlords changing the rules if they weren't happy with the turnout. I'm older and wiser now.

Our team is now nationally #1001. Get in! I wonder if that is good?

I think it varies room to room. Also sometimes we arrange things for a live setting so we maybe don't hear things as well but it allows rehearsing for the harder pub gigs.

[attachment=149022:22Mova.jpg] The Wing Commander

[quote name='Mykesbass' timestamp='1385200125' post='2285478'] £821 - great work team. May have to do some trimming on mine, noticed it has gone very wonky!! Looks like I need to wear my glasses when I shave in future [/quote] We've done well. I took mine down from a "Half Mexican" last night to a "Wing Commander". I've decided to finish the last day with the pencil thin "Spiv" just to keep my interest going.

I'm afraid I can't be bothered to click on the link on the grounds that I'm probably not his key demographic. It doesn't sound like it'll be my loss but if it is, hey ho!

They really are very expensive. My advice would be go to your local shop and pick up a few ranging medium to heavy gauge and see which one you get one with. It'll cost you a LOT less and you can work out which thickness suits you (it is down to taste and there is no right or wrong) and then buy some more of those. It'll still work out cheaper.

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1384780682' post='2280572'] .... the M25's closed between J7 and J10. [/quote] This and any variation around it!