JapanAxe

There should be plenty of transformers that will do the job as long as the chassis layout doesn’t dictate a particular form factor. Any chance you can unscrew the top or bottom panel and post some gut shots?

The transformer for the valves will have two secondaries:

A few mA at say 200-300V DC for the HT;

About 1A at 6.3V AC or 0.5A at 12.6V AC for the heaters.

It sounds like there is a fault whereby one of the secondaries is seeing a near-short. A tech should be able to detect this without burning out the transformer, by slowly raising the supply voltage via a variac and a dim bulb tester.

I hope you get this fixed but if not, don’t bin it without letting me make an offer on a spares-or-repair basis.

After a massive increase in gigs post-lockdowns I now find myself a tad under-employed. I am looking for a band doing reasonably well paid gigs within an hour from home (Swindon). I am happy to play in most styles - maybe not metal though. I can also sing harmony BVs.

My website: https://guitarist4hire.wixsite.com/graeme-scott

After a massive increase in gigs post-lockdowns I now find myself a tad under-employed. I am looking for a band doing reasonably well paid gigs within an hour from home (Swindon). I am happy to play in most styles - maybe not metal though. I can read dots if required, play guitar too, and sing harmony BVs.

My website: https://guitarist4hire.wixsite.com/graeme-scott

On 06/11/2022 at 15:42, Rich said:

Coincidentally, I just ordered a phaser pedal kit from Musikding and then informed Mrs Axe that she had bought me a birthday present. Both of us are happy with this arrangement.

Bargain bump!

Bullet Journal - helps me keep track of what I need to practice and by when, mainly based on when the gigs are. I also have things I work on longer-term e.g. the Motown James Jamerson book, and my own 'bass challenge' folder of songs I have not yet nailed.

On 04/11/2022 at 13:37, Sparky Mark said:

This should probably be in the Recycling forum.

D’oh, never saw that! Anyway, recycled now.

Mrs Axe and I have been having a good sort-out at home and this wonderful cardboard box could be yours for the low, low price of £1 £0 - but you'll have to be quick as we have booked a slot at the waste recycling centre for 11am this Sunday.

The box originally housed a Squier VM Jaguar bass, and its external dimensions are 125cm x 37cm x 10cm.

You can collect from me in Swindon, or from a secret location near Wrexham next Monday/Tuesday. If you would like me to put this by for handover within 7 days, drop me a PM.

Mahoosive reduction to £575 delivered (UK) or £550 collected. Sorry @Bass Culture!

Maybes an answer along the lines of ‘That’s not my bag, man’ would have annoyed them less.

On the slap thing, I slap and/or pop in only 3 songs in my entire extensive repertoire, and in my 22 years of bass playing I have only missed out on one gig opportunity through not being a proficient slapper. I kind of wish I could do it, but mainly I can’t be bothered. Plus I’m jealous obviously.

On 25/10/2022 at 22:24, stewblack said:

 … and a bloody great heavy thing I used to have would talk to you …

That’s no way to speak about the missus!

Lugging my bass rig is not a problem to me as I take one BF cab and usually a Class D head. I have started to prepare for the inevitable day when I get a ‘silent stage’ gig, in that I have an Origin Effects ‘64 pedal.

On skinny-string I still take one of two all-valve 1x12 combos. They sound glorious, and it would take a lot to convince me to use a modelling gadget into the PA.

Swindon has a lot of pub gigs going on. Whether the scene is healthy is another matter. There are a growing number of solo acts with backing tracks - boring, boring, boring.

8 hours ago, hiram.k.hackenbacker said:

 

…

 

The Reality Tour - what a way to go out!

 

I know it’s a bit self centered as it’s what we used to do, but if you’re going to do Bowie, do what he would have done at the end. Perform the songs to highest standard with the best people you can get and in the way he would have done it then. The songs themselves are the legacy, not the make-up and capes.

Well put.

We’re all about Bowie’s music and we play the Reality Tour versions of a lot of the songs in our repertoire - they are outstanding arrangements.

PMs responded to, amp still available.

14 hours ago, Dr.Dave said:

Here's a pic 

Remind me what band you're doing a tribute to...

8 minutes ago, Cat Burrito said:

 

I said from my experience. I was never in Rush! 

Given the number of bands you play in or have played in, I'd have bet money that you'd been in Rush at some point!

A-wop-boppa-loopa, a whop-bam-bump.

ThorpyFX Pulse Doppler - far and away the best phaser I have ever owned or played.

https://thorpyfx.com/products/pulse-doppler-analog-phaser-vibrato-trem

For a couple of years I was 'Keef Rockhard' in a Rolling Stones tribute, and I currently play with Bowie tribute Rebel Heroes, originally on bass but now on second guitar. I have also depped with tributes to Dire Straits and Slade (in two different bands, in case you were wondering!)

Do you have to be a fan of the original artist, or maybe you become one?

I am a lifelong Bowie nut so it is an absolute treat to be playing his songs in front of appreciative audiences. The singer is likewise Bowie obsessed, the other band members not so much. It definitely helps to have a deeper knowledge of the material and its various live versions.

I already loved the Rolling Stones but got to know and appreciate their material a lot better from learning to play it note-for-note.

How important is it to be visually/musically identical? How much latitude are you allowed?

Depends on the band's USP.

Our 'Bowie' doesn't look much like the man himself, we are more about faithfully reproducing the music. We generally play the songs as per the original studio recording, or choose a great live version to replicate. Bowie has had any number of backing musicians. There are Bowie tributes that do a wig and costume change for, say,  a Ziggy-era set and an 80s set. We don't, but we do dress for the stage.

In the Stones tribute, the singer was a convincing look-alike and we all adopted stage dress, make-up and wigs to look as much like our real-life counterparts as possible.

Do you ‘get into character’ or is it just a gig?

It's not 'just a gig' to me, it's the privileged position of being paid (usually) to play your favourite music. I'm told that it's evident that I'm in my happy place when I'm playing.

As 'Keef', yes, and I spent a lot of time learning his stage moves. I sometimes used to put a Jim Beam bottle containing apple juice on top of my amp and swig from it between numbers.

Does it feel musically limiting, or is it fulfilling your needs? (Maybe you have a side band?)

Not limiting at all. I do play in a few bands but even if I didn't I wouldn't consider it limiting. Bowie's music covers a huge range of styles and can be pretty challenging.

Do you have any qualms about tributes ‘stifling original music’?

No, tributes are a different market for a start.

Have you ever met or been seen by a member of the ‘originals’? What did they say?

Yes. Rebel Heroes played the Bowie Fan Convention in Liverpool earlier this year, and Spiders From Mars drummer Woody Woodmansey was a guest speaker. He saw our show and loved it so much that he came back stage to tell us so and spent 40 minutes chatting with us. I was beside myself with joy to meet the guy who played on four fantastic Bowie albums as well as touring with him.

What is the overriding thing being in a tribute act has taught you?

Music is deep and contains incredible detail. When you start listening in depth to recorded parts, you hear much more nuance than you get from a transcription/tab book.

Having done it once, would you do it again? If so, would the musical angle be very different?

In a heartbeat, but it would have to be the right artist. I was once asked if I wanted to try out for the bass position in a Pink Floyd tribute. I knew some of the band members already, I had seen the band and knew they were excellent, and I like a bit of Floyd - but I don't love the band. I'm happy with Dark Side of the Moon, Wish You Were Here, and maybe Animals, but I can't stand most of The Wall, so that was never going to work.

2 hours ago, JapanAxe said:

1. Understands the difference between ‘dynamics’ and ‘loud as possible ‘.

2. Keeps steady time.

3. Already has his kit in place and is setting up his cymbals when you arrive at the venue.

Also:

4. Doesn't lean a fully-loaded cymbal bag against the grille cloth of your speaker cab.

1. Understands the difference between ‘dynamics’ and ‘loud as possible ‘.

2. Keeps steady time.

3. Already has his kit in place and is setting up his cymbals when you arrive at the venue.

Rock’n’roll in a nice suburban pub. All went well until I was asked to sing a song the guitarist didn’t know. I had set up the singer’s spare guitar via a pedal into the PA, which gave a barely acceptable sound. But a combination of no bass, unfamiliar guitar, and out-of-tune 2nd guitar from the singer made for a performance I found excruciatingly embarrassing.

I won’t be doing that again!

Plenty here who own and play Dingwalls, myself included. I live in the ‘real world’ of gigs in pubs, clubs and hotels.

Mine is a PZ5 and I use it on any gigs where a 5-string is called for (and often when it’s not). For me that encompasses pop, rock, soul, and disco. It is basically a Precision at heart, with the tonal range that you would expect. I can’t speak to the preamp as mine is passive. The spread of scale length (32in high G to 35in low B) works well and improves string balance, and I have had no problems using standard long-scale (34in) string sets.

I have little interest in metal, clangy or otherwise. PRS guitars are also popular among metal players, but they are by no means ‘metal’ instruments, and neither are Dingwalls.