Minininjarob

We are all just waiting to find out about the bookcase though. That’s the important information!

I would say it’s probably ok, leave it to dry out naturally in a warm room and it’ll be fine. Open it up and spray lots of electrical cleaner inside it and clean it thoroughly. Unless it’s been soaking for a while or was switched on when wet then it’ll be ok. I do know electronics.

Update! Despite still having flu symptoms as well as hot and cold flushes I managed to play ok in the church practice session yesterday. We did Salvation is Here and Mighty to Save. The reason for the practice was to try and get that particular band to try and think more about their arrangements and how to build a song. I was an “extra” bassist. Using the IEMs was surprisingly ok, I borrowed my wife’s Soundmagic headphones she uses as monitors (she is a backing soprano) and my bass sounded great. So many wires around though!! it was hard to play along when I didn’t have anyone singing - when you are listening to the original song it’s easier to know where you are going but apart from a few missed notes I think I did ok. When we did mighty to save we were all asked to play a solo sort of thing so I went full Mike Dirnt (respectfully and in keeping with the song) but I nodded to the drummer and he went for it as well. I was praised for communicating with him to go with me! Really enjoyed playing with the team and they said I did ok. The guy I’m in a separate band (just started not performed live yet) was there too trying out and he said I sounded great. No one else had any issues with what I did. It was so great and I got a glimpse of what it would be like to lead a whole congregation into worship - what a blessing it would be!! I did ask and we do get ambient sounds through the IEMs too which will help me loads. I was shaking like a leaf at some points - combination of nerves and illness, but overall it was wonderful. I must have been doing ok for someone who is self taught and only picked up a bass 14 months ago. Hopefully doing it again in a few weeks. I’ll keep you all posted.

That’s the point. I come from the very brand orientated world of cycling - MTB mostly - where the lore on where (and who) the products were made was very well ingrained. People rubbished Far Eastern made frames in particular. But after a while we found out that the manufacturers in the far East made exactly what you wanted to whatever quality you needed, as long as you were willing to pay for the quality. So really it’s the backup from the manufacturer that makes the difference, and value of the product in the first place. I don’t know how well Mesa look after their customers (and don’t just say “well no one ever gets and issue” - it’s happens with any product) but the value doesn’t seem great and the manufacturer is way over the ocean. Where are the authorised dealers and repair places that you can go and get these amps fixed under warranty? Maybe the extra cost is worth it, I don’t know, but I know for sure here in the UK a large chuck of the price goes to import taxes and VAT/transatlantic shipping costs which don’t have any bearing on the quality of the product. I think if I had that sort of money I’d take a short 3 mile drive to Matamp and see how they could fulfill my needs. But that’s just me.

I am bewildered as to why someone would pay extra for something made in the USA. It’s hardly a guarantee of quality.

Oooooooh that’s lovely.

One of our church members is a pro sound engineer and he does a course on how to use all the tech we have, he does a section on how to recognise when something is mixed well, and that album is one he uses as an example. Most people on the musicians team are novices and really appreciate his help. I tried to how to do the FOH desk but it’s way beyond me.

So you used their service, agreed to pay the fees, then when a problem occurred you couldn’t be bothered finding out how to sort it out and ran away from the problem and somehow it’s eBay’s fault? The exact same issue has happended to me 4 or 5 times and each time the fees have been waived instantly when I contacted them. But then I follow their rules, strange that.

It’s not about the kit though it’s the spirit behind it all. I went to a “church” (basically someone’s front room) where there was only 6 of us singing along to a CD and that was a great time of worship, I’ll always remember it.

FYI a little factoid from a church friend who helped set it all up (he works for the installation company) - the first song to be played through our PA was Rage Against the Machine - Bombtrack. Probably hasn’t been played since!! Great for testing I suppose.

Yeah I understand it’s nice stuff, we try to look after it well. We’ve done a lot of music stuff over the years (couple of CDs) so when the new building was built for us we went for a decent system. The auditorium does get hired out for big concerts so it’s probably paid for itself in some respects over the years. I remember we held the Big Church night in with Wickham/Rend Collective which was pretty cool. Just makes it more daunting for me!! But everyone has been super helpful and supportive. Been practising those 3 songs like crazy despite having flu so hopefully it’ll go ok.

Just found out what we have as far as IEMs go, it’s about 13 years old but still works great apparently. I think they are looking to get wireless IEMs for the whole stage as the wires are a bit crazy and look messy but that’ll be costly so we looking to fundraise for them. Don’t ask me about any more details as I don’t know what below means anyway!! “Digidesign profile mixrack controls monitors - full IEM is used on stage with Shure PSM600 hardwired packs and six channels of Sennheiser wireless IEM.”

We have to buy our own earpieces, we have been recommended KZ ones off Amazon which are pretty cheap, decent set for £20. The person who recommends them to me is a pro sound engineer who comes to our church and he said they stack up well to his £800 custom moulded ones he uses in his job. I don’t think it’s much to buy your own IEMS, they are the price of a set of strings. It was considered buying sets for the musicians but we have I think at least 50 people who would need them and no one wants to share a set - hygenie issues etc. Also people take them home by mistake etc, lose the tips. I think we have 4 or 5 room mics to feed back audience noise, that can be included in your personal mix as much as you want. We do have a digital monitor desk which is manned so it’s easy to get a good mix. Everyone is on IEM so there isn’t any competition between musicians. The only person who has an amp is the guitarist if they want one and that’s mic’ed up in a back room. I can get pics on Friday of what we use if anyone is interested.

Have to agree in some ways. Make it too complex and it just gets lost. We have a guy who has played in funk and soul bands for decades and he is a genius in the bass but a lot of what her plays doesn’t come out cos we have piano and brass and the mix is fairly subtle and not loud. But someone else just laying down a solid bass line then really digging in just a little faster when needed stands out really well. I am hoping this simplistic approach will suit me well. And having a P bass played with a pick might help too. 😂

I’ve not played live in front of people ever! After writing the songs out I’ve realised they are quite simple - especially compared to the music I normally play - but I will still try and keep it simple to start off with. Keep the timing right, get the right notes. I’ve been going to the church for 20 years so I know the feel of the songs but I also recently have been thinking about how I would play them and how I would fit around the musicians who will be playing with me. Not trying to show off (I don’t have the capability to do that!) just want to demonstrate “hey I imagine it like this”. I don’t know who I will be playing with and can’t guess as we have 4 seperate workshop bands so anyone could be there! But I know all their styles so hopefully I can look around and maybe have a quick idea on what to do. Going to be weird using IEMs for the first time with zero on stage monitoring but I am at least next to the drummer and able to see everyone else so hopefully that works out ok I will let you know how I do!!

I’m very nervous as I’m going for a rhythm section practice on Friday night for the very first time - never played in the church I go to, only been playing a year!! Been given the three songs we are going through, thankfully I think I can manage them ok. Salvation is here (one of our own church songs). Revelation Song Might to Save So I’ve never played in front of people (but I do have a band who are planning to one day) and I’ve never used IEMs before - our whole setup is IEMS, no monitors at all on stage. I am bricking it!! Going to do a lot of practice and try and think of my own way to play each song rather than just the basic root notes.

Wow that looks amazing. So cool. (not joking!)

I didn’t say which one I preferred. From the descriptions people have given and what I have tried so far I think I I’m going to stay away from the amps described as hifi. Sounds a bit lifeless to me.

Well from the (very helpful honestly) descriptions you have provided I think I’m gonna steer clear of the hifi sound and I know what I’m looking for now, thanks.

I have been looking at 400rb’s, my favourite bassist used one!

It’s not often a SVT rig looks a bit puny!!! The Marshall looks like it’s stealing the Ampegs lunch money.

Exactly. My first ever band has a promise of 2 places we can play. Neither of them have PA beyond a vocal mic (and we aren’t sure about that tbh) so we are going to be taking our amps to use!! IEMs no use when you have no PA and more importantly you can’t afford them. 😂

Which one of the older GK amps would you recommend? I see a lot of RB400s around similar. Love the GK sound in my MB112 combo and don’t mind an older heavier head.