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Go half way to a gig in Coventry (from Nottingham) when I suddenly released that I hadn't packed the case which amongst other things held the floppy disk for the MIDI files for our backing. We could have managed without the other stuff in the case, but without the MIDI files we had no synths, samples, or patch changes for the effects. We had to turn round and go back for it. Luckily the headlining band had taken so long to soundcheck we still managed to arrive before we needed to set up. After that I took two back-up disks in other cases that were less easy to forget. In my synth-pop band days in the 80s I was using a Korg MS20 semi-modular synth live. Each song had long intros that allowed me to patch the next sound. Even with cheat sheets, I would invariably get one lead in the wrong place at some point in the set which if I was lucky would result in silence when I started playing or if I was unlucky something loud and atonal while I frantically tried to work out which patch lead was in the wrong place. More recently two problems with my Helix and wireless set up. Luckily they occurred in rehearsals rather than at a gig so have the advantage that I now know to check for both. Firstly plugged the receiver into the Aux in instead of Guitar in. Proceeded to tune up and then couldn't work out why the sound wasn't being sent to the PA. That's when I discovered that the default settings allowed the tuner to be active on all inputs irrespective of whether they were connected to the output or not. The second one was when I got the transmitter and receiver the wrong way around and again had no sound. Receiver has now got some brightly coloured tape on it so I don't make that mistake again.

I’ve occasionally played with a brass section and it’s way cool. But as mentioned above many seem to be ‘different to us’. Ones I’ve played with ‘read’ so it has to go ‘exactly like that’. No ‘going round the chorus again’ (generally). And quite a lot of eye rolling and tutting with the way I play 😂.

I've been guilty of hearing about press releases (either on forums or on't'internet) featuring new instruments I've wanted to try, and duly travelled to a dealer to try them... where I'm usually disappointed, as they're badly set up examples, or have dead strings from other customers playing them. The worst one is when a serious player demos them on YouTube... like when Lars Lehmann demo'd the Music Man Classic Sabre all those years ago. I did buy one and it was a lovely instrument, but it sadly didn't work out for me live. I sacrificed one of my favorite basses ever to get it, too. 😢

Shut Up! - Black Eyed Peas

They need to US price $49 Europe £75. Over twice as much in today’s exchange rate.

I'm sure I played with that rig once, at a charity gig at the Reading International Solidarity Centre ( RISC ). I remember the Warwick amp and tuner in a flight case. I can't remember who we shared the bill with and I don't seem to have any photos. I do remember having to do a last minute change to our set list when we saw that the Bishop of Reading and several young children were in the audience.

Careless Whisper - George Michael

SM57s on instruments are great but 58s on vocals, not so much. Bought a warm audio wa19 and a vocalist friend of mine heard it in action and got rid of his beta. There's better alternatives to 58s these days. Edit; conversely, tried the WA in another band and the vocalist hated it. He said it was too clear and everybody could hear how bad he really was. We reverted back to the 58 to muddy up his vocal.

Scooping mids nuts over 39mm Just cos its old dont mean its vintage or rare Class d amps Sounding like a bag of wasps - see all other darkglass/dingwall posts lol Any bass over a grand from the far east every single "influencer"- either an over playing twit or a crap, no inbetween and piss off with your freebies! Silent stages / in ears - PAH! Cheap Knock off effects pedals (blatent knock off's) Downtuning to point you might as well not bother having a bassist Strong opinions

Anyone else tempted to buy something because they read about it on this thread? 😂

I agree. Excessive volume is a great way of hiding bad playing and every good guitarist I play with is quite capable of upping the intensity of what they're doing without turning up their amp.

I see that Khruangbin are playing tonight, I would have liked to see them I like some of their music, unfortunately I’m not around, is anyone lucky enough to be going

We have Canadians too @Staggering on posts regularly with scenic photos

And did they get your point or just think you were being over dramatic? I mean do you think it will actually have an effect and make them realise that there is a problem?

I’ve never been that excited about a violin bass - I hope you cleaned up

@Boodang - excellent. Agree with so much of this. Best laugh I've had today.

Came across a Hofner violin bass the other day in a shop. Have never played one before so gave it a go. I always thought they were crap (they still are!) but turns out they're a great slap machine (the salesman was horrified). Maybe could be Mark Kings next unexpected endorsement.

IME horn players are a mercurial bunch. I played in a band where one didn't arrive for a gig. When contacted, he brazenly stated a more lucrative gig had been offered to him the day before. They all tend to arrive 5 minutes before downbeat and leave 5 minutes after, offering no assistance with the PA into which the mic they proffered upon their arrival was plugged. I haven't played with a single player. I always thought the guy in George Thorogood's band looked really out of place.