casapete

I’m playing with blues band The Alligators this coming Saturday 21st at The Sellwood Arms in Aldbrough on the East Yorkshire coast. We start at 9pm.

Barefaced cabs are the most likely answer to your predicament. However, whichever brand you end up with then having two light 1x10 or 1x12 cabs makes the most sense for you. No point in carrying more weight in one go than the 10kg limit you specified. For example the BF 2x10 cabs start at 13 kg, whereas the very capable Super Mini and Super Compact 1x12 models are 8.5kgs and 10kgs respectively. You may be able to use just one depending on your gigs. Also the even lighter One10 range start at 7kgs, but am guessing you’d probably need two of these.

Cheers Dave - it’s mainly smoke and mirrors though! My guitarist buddy is truly amazing - he can play anything from 30’s swing/jazz to heavy rock and everything in between and does lead vocals too, all to a very high standard. I just keep the bottom end nailed down and sing harmonies wherever I think appropriate- ‘Don’t fear the reaper’ was interesting, especially without laughing! The audience love us having a go at some stuff that is challenging - if we manage it then great, if we don’t then they laugh along with us. The main thing is to be creative with song keys - for example we did ‘Maggie May’ in ‘A’, ( with the guitar capoed up to play in a D shape) as my mate’s vocal range is nowhere near Rod Stewart’s!

Be good to see you Mart, our next gig there is Sunday 13th October - we play from around 5pm to approx 8pm. It’s a great pub! Sorry I missed your band again at Withernsea this weekend - I was just up the coast in Scarborough so couldn’t make it. Will hopefully get to see you soon though.

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But is it? Waiting online for tickets originally advertised at £135 to find they’ve risen to a massive £355 or more by the time they got to the front of the queue can’t be right, even if it’s still technically supply and demand. Imagine seeing a bass advertised for say £500, then going to the shop to find they are now £1200 because a few more people have bought one too.

We returned to our favourite gig at The Sun Inn Beverley with our acoustic duo ‘Milestone’. Just for a change I thought I’d try using an electric bass instead of an electro acoustic, and was very pleased with the results. Took along my Precision-a-like ( no name replica with Japanese Fender pickup) into my Rumble 100 combo with a touch of level into the PA too via the DI on the amp. Sounded massive, with a few regulars commenting on it. As usual we took requests for the whole 3 sets, and did some great tunes - ‘Don’t fear the reaper’ ‘Whole lotta Rosie’ and ‘Stayin alive’ ( yes really!) amongst many others. The pub was rammed, and we did a couple of encores too. Next gig there is October 13th, so can’t wait! ( Pic below shows we have finally made it into the pub’s ‘window of fame’. ) 😆

To be fair, I thought the weakest vocalist was the first guy on, in the red jacket ( sorry, didn’t catch his name) - sounded a bit too musical theatre for me, and as you say a bit pitchy. The others were good to amazing, especially the lady who sang at the Northern Soul Orchestrated Prom last year. The backing vocalists were okay, but had one or two moments where it sounded like one of them was actually singing some wrong notes. Overall though, I really enjoyed it and just love hearing a big band / orchestra doing such great stuff.

Played on the same bill as them in the 80’s, very cabaret!

Just started watching it - band sound fabulous to me, not sure about the singers though? Just wondering who is in the bass chair? Nailed the Chic stuff on a Stingray, now using a Squier Precision. Trombonist was excellent on ‘I’m coming out’ too, and the drummer is absolutely spot on. Shame that both some lead and backing vocals sound a bit off.

Played at a pub in Scarborough last night with The Alligators. The Tap and Spile is an old pub with two rooms, neither that large but probably around 30 or 40 punters in each. Set up at the end of the lounge with our small PA which was more than adequate. Unusually 3 sets is what they wanted so we obliged, playing around 30 to 40 mins per set. Used my passive P-Lyte into the wonderful Rumble 500 which is my ‘go to’ set up with this band. I’m still new to the band so a few missed turnarounds etc but definitely getting better each gig. We’ve even talked of organising my first rehearsal soon! Finished around 11.30, 50 mile drive on deserted country roads so home around 1pm.

Now there’s a question - which would you rather go to see, Eurovision final or Oasis. Only one way to sort it out - FIGHT!!!!

Absolute daylight robbery. I’m guessing they would argue it’s the same as flights and hotels where demand determines how high the prices go, but why should that be the case? Ticket prices should be set, as the sellers must already know/ expect what the demand is - if not, why try to lure people in to buy at a lower price only to raise them when they try to purchase? I’m also really disappointed that the artists concerned seem to think this business model is fair to their fans - and I’m looking at you Mr Springsteen - I had expected better. 🤨

Tonight at 8.25pm on BBC2 - Disco at the Proms. Should be good, thank goodness for iPlayer as I’m gigging tonight. 😊

In my last band ( playing mainly theatres) I hardly ever needed to touch my amp’s settings from gig to gig. GK1001RB into a GK Neo 410 cab sounded pretty much how I wanted it to sound with no faffing. I think it’s a luxury to be able to have your bass sound in the PA though - this means you don’t have to compromise on your onstage eq to suit the room / band / audience! I’ve recently found a new solution though - it’s the ‘Vintage’ button on my Fender Rumble 500. Once engaged it makes my bass sound exactly how I like it, job done. It’s not usually through the PA, but does fit the 3 piece blues band I’m currently playing with really well. For years I’ve worked with musicians who disappear down various rabbit holes looking for ‘their’ sound, and it has to be said it’s been mainly guitarists! That’s not to say I haven’t been interested in changing my set up, but never got into pedals apart from a Sansamp used for DI duties. For me it’s just finding that magic combination of bass and amplifier and enjoying it.

Nice work! I love a bargain buy that comes right, and also love a Jet Star. I had one of the cheaper versions ( 34 inch scale, bolt on neck, Precision type PU etc) but always fancied one like yours and there don’t seem to be many around. Enjoy!

I’m at The Tap and Spile in Scarborough this Saturday, August 31st with ‘The Alligators’ blues band. Rather low budget promo below, conveniently missing my bass playing predecessor!

Although not a huge fan, I understand the media interest of a reunion. Probably THE defining band of the 90’s for so many people, some good tunes and also notorious squabbles that kept them a fascination for fans and press alike. Despite Noel’s expensive divorce, I still wouldn’t have thought either of the brothers were exactly ‘needing’ the dosh from a tour, but have no doubt been swayed by the numbers involved to decide to give it a go. Interesting that they’ve said there won’t be any TV / film coverage to make attending even more essential for the fans. Heaven knows what the ticket prices will be like, but whatever they are I’m sure they’ll sell out immediately and become the ‘must have’ items of 2025.

Wow, every day’s a school day!

It was recorded for Motown and released on their West Coast based label MoWest, on the album ‘Chameleon’. The band were actually signed to Motown from 1972 for a couple of years. I’m listening to a lot of Northern soul at the moment, and’The Night’ is one of those songs I can just listen to over and over - a brilliant song / performance with that ace bass line.

Well spotted! My guitarist mate loves old Peavey combos, and think this was a Bandit - it sounded great. The steel player uses a Peavey Session 500, which was the industry standard for steelies for a long time. 250 very clean watts into a 15 inch Black Widow, bombproof construction. Weighs over 80lbs though, so he brings it in himself! ( though maybe not for much longer).