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Last Wednesday was my first rehearsal with the covers band I joined recently. They've been busy gigging for over 15 years and are keen to get me integrated. We went to Firebird Studios in Bristol, which I think is top notch. It's very well appointed. We got through 20 songs and other than a couple of bits where they deviate from the original recordings, I felt that we were pretty much giggable. A great bunch that have really welcomed me and gave me free reign to run the rehearsal as I wanted. They feel that as I'm new to the band but definitely not new to bands, that the best way was for me to drive the bus. I started us off with some easier songs to get warmed up then did what I considered to be the ones that might have needed some detailed attention and then went on to some of the more fun ones to play so that we would end on a high. Other than having to restart one song because I inadvertently trod on my FX power supply and disconnected it, everything went smoothly. We're back in this week doing the rest of the set and running through a few that are new to them too, so I'm really looking forward to us all being in the same boat from that respect rather than me playing catch up. Recording the rehearsal seemed to be a new concept and got a few questions. I explained that I intended to build a library of play-along tracks for home practise that will be better than using the original artist recordings. I also mentioned that it's just good practice for any band to record and listen back to gigs and rehearsals as QA/QC. I use a Zoom H2n and then slice up the file in Logic and use the generic mastering. It's pretty good and more than fit for purpose.

The guitarist just messaged with another gig for the book. He didn't really fancy it so slapped an extra 50% on what we normally charge, and they went for it without hesitation - sweet! A fat wedge always helps the night pass quicker 😂

Constable. Smiley Culture

Acoustic gig Friday night. Guys, I'm not good with Legion Halls. I haven't played one in awhile. In the past they've always reminded me of an Assistant Living Facility or what we use to call Old Folks Home. OMG, and it's a 7-9 show. Daryl

Die, Die My Dali - Metallica

Yes, that's it. I played in a band with a chap that owned one and he had a Fender Strat sprayed to match. He'd play the first set with the Fender and then switch to the Bender later on. I think as many as 10 audience members noticed the switch over the years.

https://jadfreeraudio.com/product/luce-transformer-based-tube-di/

They don't want to make him soggy, he'll take an age to burn.

The difficult second album did for them.

It was a very ruff night.

Saturday we were at Wilnecote WMC, which is now the home (literally) of Sub Zero. I don't know why, but I seemed constantly mentally off balance when setting up the PA and my rig. Finally got it all together. Took the Poseidon out again today, having restrung it with Elites 40-125. Also started using the Zoom MS-70CDR+ instead of the MS-60B+, as I've mentioned in the open mics thread, as there's more choruses and a better pitch shifter on the 70 than the 60 which means I can pitch shift Sweet Child O' Mine instead of playing it a fret down (I play it with the other band and on open mic nights in D, so playing it in C♯ is going to cause confusion at some point). I think we played pretty well although there were a couple of minor fluffs, and the side dots on the Esh are very small and on a stage without much light from above it's easy to miss your positioning which meant my quota of bum notes was a little higher than normal. Audience was fairly sparse (January and February tends to be) and we didn't get any dancers. Our singer has got a pitch shifter for his guitar which means that the change into Sweet Child O' Mine, our last song, is a lot smoother as he used to have to change guitar for a downtuned one just for that song (the guitarist has a Variax so can pitch shift on the guitar). Gear - Esh Poseidon V -> M-Vave wireless -> Zoom MS-70CDR+ -> Tecamp Puma 900 -> GR Bass AT212. Footwear remains Caravelle memory foam trainers.

@walshy I keep checking your website for info on the Nobelium, What's the price for them?

It's a reasonably pricy option but I've used Fender's deluxe USA stubby bridge to good effect on an older American Fender bass. Has the grooves to limit saddle slip and the saddles are multi grooved to help with string spacing/alignment. Plus it looks original on a Fender without changing the basic aesthetic. Does top load and string through as well. It's a three screw fixing. It's a very neat lo-bling style bridge. I might add it didn't really sound any different from the original Fender style bridge. Feels more solid if anything.

The audition went well. Blasted through seven of the ten songs. The usual botche and getting lost once or twice. But generally a positive vibe from the band. They're auditioning one more bass player next week, so a ten day wait for a decision.... Good bunch of guys as well.

Well I do fancy one but I have just received the Nobelium from The Rev over in Australia with the new addition of a Jensen DI and I think its better than the Noble, and I have had a few of them. It may be the best Preamp DI I have had to date. Pic attached. The silver is the new V1 ( bought for a mate of mine ) and the gold is the one with the Jensen. It is simply magnificent. I would love to hear what you think of the new Luce when it lands though still.

Would that be the Bender Distortocaster? There was one in a shop in Shrewsbury in the 1990's for years; I wish I'd been able to afford it.

"Super awesome" and "wicked" are like nails on a blackboard for me.