casapete

We're going to see Yola in a couple of weeks, so good to know. I got the album, really good.

I agonized over what bass(es) to use for ages. Gibson G3 Grabber was a favourite of Kelly's in ELO, along with the Ovation and sometimes a Jazz. Unfortunately an accident leading to a shoulder injury stopped any thoughts straight away (Gibsons around 10lbs and Ovations even more!) so had to settle on my sunburst Precision Lyte. At around 7lbs it means I can do 2 hrs of playing without too much bother. I do confess to previously being seen in a 70's style velvet suit but fortunately now we go for the more recent Jeff Lynne's ELO look of black jacket / jeans with a grey T-shirt - thank god......😄

I play bass in The ELO Experience, doing mainly theatres around the UK. We often do Swansea Grand Theatre, last there in November 2018. Always a good gig for us.

We play Swansea fairly regularly, and was saddened to see Cranes has closed down. We always went there for a mooch round and bought stuff - great staff and nice vibe. Another victim of the internet according to local news. 🙁

One of mine has already been done - the house band in Chuck Berry's 'Hail Hail Rock n Roll' film. Guitar / MD - Keith Richards Piano - Johnnie Johnson Bass - Joey Spampinato Drums - Steve Jordan Organ - Chuck Leavell Sax - Bobby Keys A few choice guest vocalists as well (Eric Clapton, Robert Cray and Etta James)

I've played with a couple of keys guys like that. Can be very annoying, especially when they don't get the correct lines that you're playing and it ends up just wrong. Then when their big solo arrives, the left hand goes surprisingly static...

Think I feel a 'holiday' to S.Wales on the cards....

Didn't realised you'd bought something - pics would be much appreciated when it arrives. Cheers.

Good point! In my acoustic duo I tend to sit to the right of the guitarist for that reason. However, with some of the chords / inversions he can play it's not much use to me to be honest 🤣

LOL, me too! We do mainly theatres, and every now and then the black curtains at the side of the stage (legs I think they're known as in the theatre dahling) turn out to be solid, meaning if I catch my headstock on them it can be quite a jolt. Likewise trying to part them when walking offstage can be embarrassing too. 😄

I prefer stage left for the reasons you outline. I also prefer to not be next to the keyboard player, as we cover partly similar sonic ground and it can get a bit confusing! Not a problem if you’re using IEM’s I know..... Having said that, on some gigs it isn’t always possible to set the way you want, and we just get on with it. Can even be a refreshing change 😀

He did play some brass instruments in the studio, so maybe did live too? French horn on ‘Pictures of Lily’ ?

Looks ace, good job sir! 👏

Tease - c'mon then, let's have a look?!!

I currently use an MB800 for exactly that reason, into a BF Compact. A good combination and compromise between output and portability for me. I'd like to try the head with either another cab added on, or a BF 2x12 - Twin/Supertwin etc, but to be honest for me it would probably be overkill for most of my requirements. The benefit of having two small-ish cabs is great though - one for small gigs/rehearsals etc and then use two for bigger stuff.

I did a similar thing a few years ago with a USA Strat I bought for quite a good price - turned out to have a £200 set of Kinman pickups fitted, so happy days.

Not chambered, just a smaller body (Strat sized!) As you say, very thin neck / active EQ and also MIJ. I've got 3 of them, and the sunburst one I use for my main gig is a shade over 7lbs. Has enabled me to keep working long gigs after a stupid shoulder injury meant I had to stop using my Stingray, so has been a bit of a life saver for me. 🙂

I've seen them a few times - the bronzewounds seem good value but they only appear to do them in 40-95 gauge which is a bit on the light side for me. Anyone tried these? https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Rosetti-Acoustic-Bass-Guitar-Phosphor-Bronze-Strings-45-105-Gauge/223450045136?epid=655528662&hash=item3406a91ad0:g:fYkAAOSwkXhcjN62 I guess it's the same reason some people love Squiers - you may get close to the quality of a regular Fender for a lot less money. The thing is though, you'll never know until you try. 😉

Just been searching the net for the Laney N410, and reckon you must have got yours on a deal for £399? They seem to be only available now around the £700 mark, a lot nearer the Barefaced 410 at £959. Anyway, how are you getting on with it, and what amp are you using?

Me playing at York Barbican during my loud shirt phase....

Carlos Santana had an acoustic on a stand so he could do the same IIRC.

I was the same - been a fan since seeing TP & The Heartbreakers supporting Nils Lofgren at Leeds Uni c.1977. I didn't know he was ill in 2017, then found out he'd done the Hyde Park gig with a fractured hip amongst other problems and accidentally overdosed on prescription drugs. Only 66 years years old, another great taken too soon.

When you consider us musicians travel mainly in the evening, I guess the chances of being in accidents with drunk drivers must be greatly increased. Factor in the tiredness / poorer road visibility etc then it’s amazing we’re still here! Victims of road incidents I remember who were well known include Duane Allman, Marc Bolan, Cozy Powell and Clarence White. I was at working in a record store when Marc Bolan died in 1977 and can remember the massive outpouring of grief from customers for weeks after. Also T.Rex bassist Steve Currie died in a road accident just a few years later, so sad.

Deaths caused by flying incidents have always saddened me over the years. The nature of being a musician usually involves travelling and it seems such an irony to take away lives of those whose success depends on it. I'm too young to remember the Buddy Holly / Big Bopper tragedy but friends tell me it was a massive shock. However there are plenty more I do recall - as previously mentioned Lynyrd Skynyrd, Otis Redding, Jim Croce, John Denver and of course Stevie Ray Vaughan.

I'm with the many others in missing Elvis, John Lennon, Hendrix, Marvin Gaye , Prince and Bowie. Amy and Whitney (although some might say) were perhaps less surprising yet still saddened me greatly, and (as with the others mentioned) just way before their time. On a more personal level, the death of Chuck Berry hit me hard. Despite his advanced years, he was a key musician who got me into popular music. The same goes for Aretha and BB King. I also always find it sad when long established bands lose their players - Ian Mc Lagan and Ronnie Lane from the Small Faces / Faces, Rick Parfitt from Quo, Tom Petty, and Brian Jones from the Stones spring to mind. However, the mighty E Street band losing Danny Federici and the great Clarence Clemons made me realise I'd never see that classic line up again - probably the best band I've seen.