tony_m

My bandmates (who've been in umpteen bands over the years) persuaded me (never played in public before) we were ready to have a crack at a local open mic a couple of weeks ago. Let's just say the first time turned into a bit of a train-wreck - all I could hear was myself, while the guitarist and the drummer (playing guitar on this occasion) were struggling to hear themselves never mind each other and we got lost several times over the course of two songs! Fast-forward a week, and we went back for another go. This time, we followed the 6P's rule (Proper Preparation Prevents P*ss-Poor Performance), and actually got together a couple of days beforehand to run through three songs until we had them down. We then rolled up to the open mic nice and early so the guitarist could set up his amp where he wanted it, rather than wherever was left once the house-band had set up, and also had a quick run-through before anybody else turned up. When we actually did our spot a couple of hours later, it went far better than the first time. For one thing, we could actually hear each other, also the drummer played drums on this occasion, which held everything together nicely and gave me summat to lock into. Just for the record, we did The Standells / The Inmates "Dirty Water" (re-written with local references of course... ), John Hammond / The Pirates "I Can Tell", and The Kinks "Muswell Hillbilly". Plan for next week is to do these again, plus The Byrds "So You Want To Be A Rock 'n' Roll Star" - can't wait! Best of luck, try to relax, and enjoy yourself - if you're like me, you'll be buzzing for hours afterwards!!!

Must be a bugger when your cable snags on your codpiece eh?

Simone Marie Butler (Primal Scream and Soho Radio DJ) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRu4htEgH6E

[quote name='karlfer' timestamp='1405973307' post='2507162'] Just an update a few months down the line, thought I'd do that as it was good in the first place to bounce off folk. I did spit the dummy, but with gigs booked I never really went away. With about 15 in the diary for BBGM for next year already, it became more obvious Troyen was going to be run concurrently, but the band I was in was going to be the bread and butter band. As time has gone on, the originals band that I was spitting about has now got 3 festivals for next year. They also have a Scottish Fest as a possibilty and also ones in Belgium and Holland. They have been asked to write 2 new numbers for a compilation CD, NWOBHM 30 years on. Their original bassist has told them he can not commit the time required. I was asked to join on Saturday night at our gig. They announced it on their Facebook page today. So basically, I am an embarrassed tart/brat. But a happy one . Thanks to all of you in my hour of bratish-ness. EDIT. Last night a second label asked them for some material for a compilation album. [/quote]

I remember going to see the late, great Willie Kent (and The Gents) playing their residency at Blue Chicago on Clark when I was over in the US (must have been 1994 I reckon). They played 45 minutes on, 15 minutes off, every hour from 9pm until 1am. What was interesting to me was how the audience "churned" through the night, with folks seemingly dropping in on their way home from work / out for the night, catching a set (and having a drink or two), before heading home / elsewhere. By the end of the night, the only person who'd been there all the time (apart from the bar-staff and musicians) was this rather tipsy Brit babbling to Willie about how great they'd been and why wasn't he using his beat-up old Precision (apparently it needed a new nut).

And more north-western bass-driven insanity - Super Fast Girlie Show... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6L-YbTKQZo http://www.youtube.com/user/SuperFastGirlieShow

Not a 2-piece, but definitely no guitars (four bassists and a singing drummer to be precise... oh, and a dancing pig), Preston's mighty Evil Blizzard. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYxncxvksX8

IIRC, Guy Lewis supplied a template covering both bass and treble side fitment with his custom thumb rests / tug bars. Unfortunately it looks like I've thrown all the ones I had away, but maybe he might be able to help you out (though of course you'd probably have to buy summat off him!). http://www.classicguitarboxes.com/thumb_rests.php

And once again, more great service from Dave. I emailed him on Thursday morning to ask if he could do me a right-angle to straight pedal interconnect cable, got a quote (plus useful info) back almost immediately, placed order Thursday lunchtime, package landed on the mat Friday morning. Simply superb!

8/10 courtesy of some inspired guesswork.

Just bought Liam's Behringer BDI21, a lovely straightforward transaction right from the first PM yesterday to the arrival of a neatly (and ingeniously) wrapped package this morning. Great communication, extremely rapid shipping, and even a partial refund on the postage - top gent, deal with confidence!

And let's not forget Triumph - hair, satin, flares, double-necks...

[color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]All the best for a speedy recovery Mr Bass Doc.[/font][/color]

Wish we could actually get another full band practice sorted, but both the drummist and newly-recruited second guitard are bus drivers, working for the same company, on different shift-patterns. Talk about making life difficult for yourselves...

[quote name='redbandit599' timestamp='1398629239' post='2436030'] I was just thinking The Sparrow Hawks.. (have to split it to get the proper effect.) White Stillettos is good, but something of an urban myth. Besides, I always found Suffolk girls more accomodating ;-) Keep 'em coming. [/quote] We've gone for a bird-related name (The Golden Orioles) on account of the guitarist / singist being a keen bird-watcher, and the bird in question being a rather tuneful little b*gger - sadly this isn't really representative of our garagey-pop-rock thrashings, though we've only had a couple of rehearsals so far so hopefully may do the name justice yet. On the other hand, my spoonerising Other Half has already tagged us "The Olden Glory Holes", which to be fair is probably nearer the mark...

[quote name='karlfer' timestamp='1397078752' post='2420534'] So I chickened out until the end of rehearsal. I said to them they would need to get a new bassist but that I would work with my replacement as much as they needed until he/she were ready. I also said I would do all the gigs until somebody was ready. The Troyen guitarist asked, quite sharply for him, what my reasons were. Unusual for him, he really is a nice, gentle man. I mumbled I had my reasons. Rather empty inside at the moment, but to me, I needed to do it. Not fun, but there you go. Thank you to all you lot for the last week. The supporters and the ones who think I'm a tosser. For good and bad, you have all been the musical sanity in the vacuum between my lugs. Thanks all. [/quote] Sorry to hear that, Karl. I'm going to miss our little reunions in various bizarre pubs on the Fylde...

Shame, going to be away this weekend otherwise I'd have come along. Have a good 'un, and enjoy our beautiful town!!!

Hmm, never having been in such a situation myself (yet... ), I don't really know what to say, but did wonder what was going on when I saw Jeff's Brofest post on FB yesterday. I presumed it was just going to be a short-lived, amusing sideline for them - if it isn't, then it'll be interesting to see just how long their shiny new adventure goes on for. Nostalgia ain't what it used to be, there are very few NWOBHM bands I'd bother going to see if they re-formed, and they aren't one of 'em. In the meantime, chin up!!!

Nope, J ones are slightly slimmer than P ones... [url="http://www.axesrus.co.uk/Bass-Pickup-Covers-s/1931.htm"]http://www.axesrus.c...vers-s/1931.htm[/url] Not exactly a side by side comparison, but hopefully it'll give an idea of the difference!

[quote name='beely' timestamp='1394909684' post='2396634'] I hadn't thought about the pickup not being too good. That kind of takes the gloss off. I may stick with my original intention and go for a Mustang. [/quote] I replaced the original six-pole pickup on mine with a Seymour Duncan Hot Rails Strat pickup - this fits nicely inside the original pup cover so doesn't spoil the looks, and it turns the humble little Musicmaster into a completely different beast altogether. Have to confess that now I'm a good few years older / more mature / wiser (well, one out of three ain't bad... ) I wish I'd gone for a Cool or Vintage Rails so it wouldn't be quite so extreme, but hey...

[quote name='karlfer' timestamp='1395402675' post='2402044'] Lovely bass. Thanks for the vid Tony,enjoyed them. [/quote] Aye, they're not a bad wee combo Karl. Saw 'em at Bootleggers in Kendal last year, there's a vid of the encores here (though it might be best not letting Ady or Steve see it - they'll probably end up trying to swing their guitars round their necks and do themselves a mischief!)... [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwseYp27ENk"]https://www.youtube....h?v=OwseYp27ENk[/url] (with apologies to the OP for the slight hijack, but it's still vaguely on-topic as it does feature the same "DB Sig" )

Very nice! Have to confess I tend to think of the Silverburst as the "Dan Baird Signature" these days... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62PmGIpRhY8

To my mind the, erm, "basic" bridge is all part of the Musicmaster vibe / appeal. Personally I've never had an issue with the intonation on mine, nor with the similar style bridge on my '51 Re-issue Precision. Have to confess it's been a while since I fiddled with the intonation on either, but if memory serves just concentrate on getting the intonation as good as possible on the higher string of the two pairs (so A and G), and you should hopefully find the E and D also end up acceptably close.