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Yesterday Electrik Soup played at The Hare & Hounds in Claygate, in a marquee in front of the pub (is it still a marquee if all the sides are open, or is it then a gazebo?). Gig was 4pm to 7pm on a lovely late summer day. It was the first gig that we've used all our own equipment (backline and PA). We had so much gear 😆 all used though. Great sound both on stage and FOH. All was going well until 4 songs before the break "something" happened to the guitarist's amp. Regular readers may remember my previous post in which his valve amp died. This time he had a SS back up so we took the break for him to sort things out. The first part of the second set was just acoustic guitar and vocals, then we did the remaining songs from the first set, and the remainder of the second set. The guitarist used his original amp and it was fine. He's still going to buy a new one. We had a few people come to see us, but the pub was busy all day so there was always an audience, albeit somewhat transitory. Lots of nice comments afterwards, someone even wanted to book us for a birthday party. Couldn't do the date though, unfortunately the drummer will be away. Shuker 3 -> Getaria wireless -> Hardwire polyphonic tuner -> Fender Rumble 500 combo. To the right of the bass combo is the offending guitar amp.

Just had a run of three pretty decent gigs with the Zep tribute. First up was a trip to the excellent Cluny in Newcastle week last Friday. The evening started off with a bit of unwanted drama, as the police had cordoned off the surrounding streets due to some guy threatening to throw himself a bridge overhead (fortunately they managed to talk him down a bit later). The place was packed (243 tickets sold) and the band played as well as we ever have, inspired by a great crowd (we even got a big cheer walking from the dressing room to the stage). This isn’t the first time we’ve packed this place out and the management have agreed to increase our fee for next year! Fast forward to Thursday night, and a long drive down to southwest London to play an Arts Centre in Carshalton. Another good crowd, although not nearly a boisterous as Newcastle, and another good performance. We were staying a few miles away in Reigate, in a rather dodgy hotel that wasn’t as salubrious as you might hope, but it had the advantage of being pretty cheap! Me, the singer and the guitarist were sharing a room and stayed up chatting until 2:00am with a third of a bottle of whisky and a few cans between us! A drive across to Essex and a gig in Chelmsford on Friday. When we got to the venue, I checked my phone to see a text from a couple of hours ago, offering me a dep for a blues festival next Saturday. Unfortunately, by the time I replied, they had got someone else! I always like the Chelmsford gig, but to be honest, I felt a bit flat by the time we went onstage. Perhaps not as good a performance as the previous two gigs, but still more than OK to keep a decent crowd happy. Me and the singer (who were in the same car) stayed in a much nicer hotel a thirty minutes’ drive away, while the others made the long drive home, something that I didn’t fancy at all. PS. The night before we set off, I noticed that the underside of the rear wing of my car was hanging loose. I couldn’t get it fixed in time, so I popped into Lidl just before it closed to get a big roll of gaffa tape that they had on offer in the ‘middle of Lidl’. I fixed it up as best I could in the car park, before setting off the next morning (we did a better job when we got down to London). I did find it amusing that I’m in my sixties, driving hundreds of miles to do a gig in a car held together by gaffa tape, just like I used to do in my twenties!

I like your icon/personal brand at the end

^ Not been the same since Brexit... there, said it...

Not me, but i lent them to the bass player in my other band (i play keys) for a gig. No issues. We use an XR18 and a 5GHZ router, but this never caused any interference. All other wireless gear is 2.4GHZ. We too was just using a passive P.

No problems with any orders, although my knob puller wasn't very good.

One last question. Have you used them for a live gig?

Happy - Keef / Stones

Waiting with baited breath 🤞

Might help if you tell us which model of Overwater you have. Also, things that I’ve had rattle in the past include tuner bushing, tuner gear, tuner ‘ear’ (the ones that have a little screw in the top to hold the ear to the shaft), truss rod cover, truss rod when loose, string through body ferrule, neck plate screws/neck plate. I’m sure I’ll probably come across more sources of rattles but that’s the first 47 years worth of bass ownership experience.

My gig tonight didn't involve me playing at all... However, I brought my PA and did sound and lights for a charity gig for our local LegClub (don't laugh, you might need 'em one day) by ex Jethro Tull keys Dee Palmer and Labour peer Stewart Wood, with support by a local Dobro and Beefheart Enthusiast... And due to rain and tiny gazebo (twas outside), didn't even get gear out of car till 1730, punters due to arrive at 1800. So no chance to set any levels, and all key sounds being completely different volumes meant lots of speculative fader-riding (had to put mixer behind the stage!). However, all sounded excellent, loads of Tull songs done and crowd happy, plus nearly £1000 raised.

That wood looks so good, do you think it could be without a pickguard? The screw holes do not look good on that mahogany body top.

Tonight BBC2, 10.50pm, Radio 2 in the Park, Def Leppard.

...my well considered choice. I tried online banking once and it didn't suit me. I don't agree to the Ts&Cs. I helped to develop home shopping with one of Tesco's risk sharing partners. This was pre-iPad using wireless Fujitsu Team Pads. We employed ethical hackers so I'm not ignorant by any means. I got through lockdown with no online transactions whatsoever. I don't feel restricted in the slightest. Internet dependency is something I just will not buy into. I had 'nuff trouble giving up smoking. And another thing! (heeheehee) - It worries me somewhat that all landlines are being dropped in favour of VOIP. Eggs, one basket, whoops... oh dear. Basschat is my window into social media and that's as far as that goes. I prefer wetware to hardware and software most days anyway. I love a good old rant, me.