FinnDave

That thread title made me run downstairs to check it was still there! I wouldn't change a thing, ABM 500 into a Barefaced Super Twin. No FX.

We had Crossroads on the set list anyway, but it brought a lump to my throat to play it. We announced it as a being in his memory, but most of the audience hadn't heard the news.

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1414310303' post='2587989'] IME most musical blunder on stage, unless they are total train wrecks, go completely un-noticed by the vast majority of the audience. [/quote] So true, though it seems hard to believe when you are in the middle of it. Last night we had a gig in Swindon and were keen to make a good impression as the promoter has control of a lot of the placed there and it is the nearest major town. Our guitarist, whether from nerves as he lives round the corner from the venue and was playing in front of his mates, or overdoing his pre-gig 'loosening up' drink, completely forgot the intros to 4 songs. On one he started playing, then stopped and I had to show him the opening lines on my bass. Once up and running, he payed well, just had trouble getting started! Yet no one off the stage seemed to notice.

Very sad news, such a great musician.

I've stepped back off the edge a stage at least twice, the last time was earlier this year and I dropped nearly 2 feet into the space between the stage and a pool table. Our drummer was most impressed as apparently I didn't miss a single note. Didn't do my back a lot of good, though!.

I set mine up according to the instructions from Fender that came with it, I've tried varying it but find that suits me best.

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1413895128' post='2583214'] I dunno Dave, the Gandalf look is timeless, imo... [/quote]

For regular pub gigs, we tend not to bother changing after setting up, though our singer often dresses up a bit even for those. For festivals and larger venues (big pubs!) we make a bit more of an effort. [attachment=174388:Dave Flying Pig.jpg] But obviously not much of an effort!

[quote name='wateroftyne' timestamp='1413812037' post='2582163'] And you are to be applauded. I like stuff to look pretty - it's in my nature. [/quote] A good friend of mine is of the same opinion, he changed the rear tyre on his Harley for a different brand long before it was worn simply because the other one looked better. To me, the cab is simply a tool, it's just a black box that sits at the back of the stage and makes me sound better than I am.

[quote name='wateroftyne' timestamp='1413809451' post='2582111'] For an 800 quid cab? I'd want it to look like it cost 800 quid, for a start. [/quote] Leave the price tag on? Seriously, does it need to look like it cost 800 quid to impress people, or to help you in justifying the outlay to yourself? I'm not having a go, but I never even considered the appearance of my Super Twin when I bought it (and still don't). Sound, weight and being able to fit in the boot of my Astra with the amp next to it were and are the only considerations for me.

Are people really this concerned about the appearance of a speaker cabinet? It is a piece of equipment that in use will be hidden in the dark behind the player where no one in the audience is likely to notice it. I have done about 60 gigs with my Super Twin and it still looks as (good/bad/ugly, delete according to taste) it did the day I bought it (no dings or scratches) despite being carried in and out of the house, the boot of the car, and various difficult to access pubs. I carry it by using one of the side handles, it weighs slightly less than the ABM500 I use with it. The top handle is obviously there to pull it along on the castors. I have yet to hit myself in the shins, shines or any other part of the anatomy with the cab.

[quote name='LukeFRC' timestamp='1413581420' post='2579945'] sshhh you lets not let great tone get in the way of our community picking holes in something: I mean apart from the tone, the volume, the portability, the low end response, and so on... what have barefaced ever done for us? [/quote] The roads?

I preferred the old days when Fenders were made in America and everything else that looked like a Jazz bass or Precision was a cope, and cost no more than 25% of the real thing.

+another one for OBBM, bought two leads a week or so ago, arrived very quickly, high quality, expect to be using them for some years.

I've used my Ashdown EB180-12 combo on a few gigs, it did OK against two guitars, harmonica and a hard hitting drummer. I paid £90 for mine, plenty around on E Bay, etc.

[quote name='Fuzzbass2000' timestamp='1413371598' post='2577564'] Guy at Ashdown is great. Always helpful, and quick to reply. [/quote] My experience confirms this, great company. I now have two ABM 500 heads as I like them so much!

[quote name='CamdenRob' timestamp='1413289158' post='2576727'] It's a bit like using the house rig, if you don't like whats provided then take your own. I used to have a wonderful gig toilet made by a well known british manufacturer... it was lightweight with a nice sliver cloth cover but I got rid of it when the handles fell off.... [/quote] I refuse to believe such nonsense, everyone knows that barearsed toilets are totally without flaws.

Some of the places we play allocate us one or two free drinks, some buy us whatever we want all night, but the best this year was the pub that gave us free drinks and made us pizza and chips!

[quote name='flyfisher' timestamp='1413197418' post='2575635'] As for the 'should have carried a spare' sentiment, where does that stop? Spare bass, spare amp, spare cab? Let's face it, if gear is looked after and checked before a gig, how likely is it to actually fail? [/quote] I always take a spare bass, after a recent problem with an amp also have been taking a spare amp. No room in my car for a spare cab, so if that fails, I have a DI box in my gig bag and can plug into the PA. I also have spare leads, including spare speaker leads, spare mains connectors, tools etc in my bag. At most of our gigs we are the only band playing, so we need to be self sufficient.

My bass is personal to me and I do not let other people play it. No exceptions. There is no excuse for not bringing a back-up to a gig, I play a US Fender P and always have a cheap Squier P with me at all gigs, just in case.

Just back from a gig on Marlborough, booked at last minute due to another band cancelling. Much better gig for me than the night before as I could hear everyone else properly, but the singer preferred the previous gig as she couldn't hear herself through our monitors tonight. Seemed to go down well with the audience, which is the main thing.

Slightly odd gig for us, playing to a ticket-paying seated audience as support for an excellent guitarist/singer (Matt Woosley). Despite a good and professionally managed PA I could hear very little of our guitar or vocals and was not happy with my performance, but we went down well and have been assured of further gigs there. Got a text from a promoter as we left the stage asking us if we could gig tonight as well, so bad memories will soon be exorcised.

Can't think of anything I'd like us to do that we don't, but of the ones we do, Janis J's 'Move Over' is a favourite. https://thewirebirdswithjennyhaan.bandcamp.com/track/move-over

[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1412784764' post='2572034'] Surely you mean Gerald the Mole ... [/quote] No. he's a mouse and hasn't got a house I don't know why I call him Gerald.

Call it Gerald, like the mouse.