Rosie C

Our carol gig last Friday - this is our biggest of the year, with maybe 120-130 people. That's me in the top hat. Sorry, I'm not playing bass, but that was covered admirably my friend and former bass teacher. It went very well, everyone is keen to have us back next year which may be tricky, but not impossible!

I was thinking along those lines, specifically, sandwich it between two pieces of 18mm ply, then drive my van onto it

I used to have electrician's tape on my bass, but it encouraged me to look rather than listen so I took it back off. That said there is a little burr in the neck wood just where the fourth 'fret' would be, for emergencies!

Our renaissance-rock plays probably our last ever gig tonight. It should be a good one - the last few times we've played the venue it's been sold out. After tonight we're moving away from the UK, and rather than start again from scratch we'll focus on studio recordings and have an online presence.

That's the way we're going - being in a niche, and moving soon, we decided to focus on a YouTube channel. But I'm just not good enough to sing and play mandolin (from memory), while moving around in a vaguely co-ordinated way and smiling at the camera. So we abandoned the video until we've recorded our songs in the studio.

I'm disposing of a 1960s tape recorder. Having realised that it is worth less than the genuine 1960s ECC83 valve that my Trace Elliot amp also uses, I'm going to nab that valve and dispose of the rest of the machine. So if any wants any of these valves, collect or cover the postage. The machine works so I assume they're all in more or less working condition. EF86 - audio pre-amp ECL82 - audio triode EZ80 - full wave rectifier

I bought a modern Hofner violin while recovering from a back injury - it had a good thumping bass sound and weighed so much less than a solid body bass. I wasn't so keen on its 'look' so sold it once I was recovered. Lately I bought a bass ukulele and that reminds be a bit of the Hofner.

Thomann maybe?

Oh, thanks for pointing that out! 😉 I'm singing it on Friday to a packed house and now I have to remember not to get it wrong. But not remember too hard or I definitely will!

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14kg? That's fantastic. I believe my current 15" cab is 37kg which is why it's just for my practice space. But a portable 15" would be interesting... We were just talking about winning the lottery last night and I said one of the 'life changing' things I'd do was hire a roadie with a van to arrange for my gear to be ready for me at every gig, bass tuned, etc. so I just have to turn up and walk on stage.

Yup! I can't lift it without getting someone to come and help, and I did it despite the blind testing that @Phil Starr organised at the SW bass bash, but I recently bought my first 15" and the sound is glorious. Of course (for me at least) how much that is a placebo effect because it looks so awesome, dominating the room from its corner, I don't know.

The oldest carol I know - we performed it last Saturday and we'll be doing it again on Friday! Anyway, here is Steeleye Span performing it: