dmccombe7

Straight into PA then was my other question Daryl. ? Dave

Got a rehearsal booked for tomorrow afternoon 11am - 5pm with the Glam covers band to go over some new songs we fancy trying out. We'll also run thru some songs in the set that we feel need a polish up or that we haven't played for a while. We'll also discuss the usual band issues which this time around is how we manage the PA ie who controls the desk and do we go for PA hire at every gig rather than use our own. Most gigs are clubs varying from 80-200 people. Always look forward to a rehearsal. We only have them 3-4 times a year more so when things are slow. (less than 2 gigs a month) Dave

Saw them early on in 80's at my local pub venue. Was very impressed by them and all excellent musicians too. I preferred Fish era personally and even bought his first solo album last month. I also followed Pete in Transatlantic for a while mainly because i thought he brought a lot to the bands he's played in, but got a bit bored with them to be honest. Definitely a very under-rated bassist. Dave

Have you gone IEM Daryl. Can't see an amp there. Dave

Thanks Mike, its not something i need to do very often and always check the correct practice before adjusting the truss. Dave

I use feeler gauges on the 7th fret while using a capo on 1st fret and holding down 12th fret (i'd need to confirm the 12th fret as its been a while and might be where the neck meets the heel) Generally i just eyeball along the neck and make sure it has the slightest relief. Once happy with that i'll measure it and move onto the string height and intonation. I usually reference a set up guide i found on Fodera basses. Dave

I guess that's really how i do it, until i'm happy with a bass but being an engineer i like to measure the end result. That's probably why my VM4 is slightly lower than other basses. I adjusted it after changing to Elixir strings which have a little more tension and it just felt right and when measured it was 1.8mm no fret buzz. Some basses i've tried taking lower but i either get fret buzz or choking and when i reach that point i just bring it back a touch and then measure it. Its more a reference point in my head. Dave

Yep that's the Sandberg bug. It sneaks up on you and when it bites you get it big time. Just great basses. I've never had a bad sound using my VM4. Its why i tend to take it to every gig these days. It just never lets you down. Dave

Its weird but my VM4 arrived set up perfectly for me at 2mm altho i think it was done by Classic and Cool guitars. I think its down to 1.8mm at the moment. My MarloweDK which i had assumed would have a very low action arrived at 3mm at 12th fret. It was 2nd hand. When trying to set it up i had some major issues with the saddles bottomed out it was still high no matter what i did. I eventually had to shim the neck very slightly and its now around the 2mm at 12th fret too. I usually start at 2.5mm right away if its not there or lower and then slowly work my way down to 2mm. Anything less i tend to get some fret buzz when i play harder which is something i'm trying to remedy. Play lighter, save my fingers but 2mm is usually my target figure. The VM4 was tweaked a bit further by mistake and it was fine so i left it there. NB : i play fingerstyle. Dave

And all thanks to our Rob. Dave

Possibly people away on Easter hols causing less footfall in local bars. We use Google Calendar with each different 2nd band having a different colour for fast recognition. We all put in our various gigs / rehearsals or personal events that might prevent taking a booking. Only the band members have access to it. Works really well. If our singer gets a request for a booking he can quickly see at a glance what dates are available and book it. Dave

Standard British lacing i reckon. Dave

All in you've made quite a lot of changes to how you play these days Lozz. I've had a set of the Elixir steels on my Warwick Thumb for over 12 yrs now and they still sound ok. TBH i only play it in the house on rare occasions. My gigging basses will get approx 6mths to a year before i notice the tone rolling off. I need to try the steels on my VM4 to see if they sound any different. Dave

It all helps. My basses are set up to 2mm at 12th fret or just under. I guess if you use a pick you probably need it a bit higher than that. I'm not great with a pick. Have you tried lighter gauge strings @Lozz196 ? I'm using Elixir Nickels 45, 65, 80. 100 Dave

A Vans guy that doesn't tie his laces makes you supercool and young at heart. I hate loose shoe laces. Dave

I'm 65 but what i found in last few yrs was that the harder i plucked with my right hand the harder i fretted with my left hand. These days i tend to play a bit lighter with my right hand and the left hand is almost just touching the frets. I try not to push the strings onto the fretboard but its difficult to achieve that during a live gig as my head goes into auto pilot. With age also comes thinning skin and i was getting piercing stabbing feelings on my fretting index finger and that has almost gone now too. It makes a reappearance if i've not been gigging for a couple of weeks to a month. When gigging a lot it never happens. Maybe just my skin hardening with more gigs i do. Dave

I was suffering hand cramps at one stage when doing 2.5-3hr sets and decided to follow the "experts" guidance and use the thumb on the back of the neck as much as possible and i very rarely get any probs now. I do occasionally get lost in the moment and forget but i soon get back to it. Also tried keeping my hand in the 1st finger 1st fret, 2nd finger 2nd fret kind of thing mainly when i'm playing around the 5th fret areas as i struggle to do it nearer the nut having small hands. Dave

Yep i could see that. In my social circle of musicians i'm a rarity that can read (not sight read level tho). When learning a new song i like to source every bit of info i can and then i'll write it out for myself. I've had some great fun with some of the ones you've posted Rob. I've tried the usual TAB sites but they are generally incorrect whereas yours are usually spot on. Dave

I'm not keen on changing a bass but i'd like to get a 2nd VM4 or TM4 and change the humbucker just to see how it sounds. I love the playability of my VM4. Dave

How do you find the SD Humbucker compared to the original Sandberg one. Dave

Private 60th party in Boness for BLOCKBUSTARZ last night. These events can be hit or miss as not everyone likes Glam Rock. 1st set was odd as we had dancers up on songs that don't usually trigger a dance spree but if it works then go with it. You generally know what songs will trigger the dancers but last night it was just odd. We've played this venue quite a few times now and many had seen the band before so maybe that had something to do with it. Sound on first set just wasn't quite right. 2nd set we all upped the volume a tad and WOW there it was our usual sound. For some stupid reason they arranged the tables with the kids all at one large round table in front of the band and across the dance floor from us. Kids struggle with band volumes and altho we were sympathetically playing at a lower volume i find it reduces the atmosphere a touch if a band is too quiet. The kids soon got used to it tho and were soon dancing with balloons on the floor in front of us. 2nd set was great fun and everyone enjoying themselves. We even threw in a new song Ziggy in 2nd set to see how it would work and as soon as we started we got quite a response with phones out and people watching us with a great applause at the end but no dancers so we moved straight onto Jean Genie that filled the floor again. (weird !) Anyways i decided to go with my Sandberg Marlowe for this one and all was going well until 2-3 songs from the end 1st set i noticed my volume dropped right off. No idea why but switched the comp off and bang the sound came straight back to normal. Comp was set to just a basic limiter to curb over-active fingers. Will need to look at that today altho i didn't really need the comp as 2nd set went perfectly without it so i may just ditch it. Mesa TT800 in Mesa SW210/115 cabs. Lots of appreciation at the end and over-hearing comments of "that band were fecking brilliant" certainly made us feel very pleased as we packed up our gear. Party boy was fair chuffed with the band too. We were offered tea / coffee or soft drinks thru the night and some folks even chapped the small dressing room door and asked if they could buy us a drink which was nice. We were told to help ourselves to the party buffet but we feel a bit odd doing that as we are already being paid a decent fee to be there. They even offered us a doggy back when we were packing up which again was nice. Home by 1:15am so not too bad. That's it for gigs in April. May things pick up a fair bit tho. Been asked about possible future bookings but that was probably just the booze talking but you never know. Dave

I'm always surprised how bands can fit in that particular venue. Great atmospheric pub tho. Dave

As my older brother keeps telling me "i don't eat unhealthy crisps, i eat potato snacks" Dave