martthebass

We do a couple each year. One is for a friend of the band who lost close family to cancer and we donate our services FOC as all ticket sales go to the respective cancer charities. We also do a mental health charity sponsored event, these are done on a budget so we ask for expenses.

I think, in the first place, it’s important to have sufficient skill and experience to perform at the correct level. If you’re crap the punter and venue will be quick to let you know. Assuming you’ve got the goods, then having the professionalism to communicate well with venues, market and promote the gigs is a major selling point. Lastly, simple things like turning up on time to gigs, being affable with the staff/organisers, talking with the punters before and after the performance consolidates a good impression and helps secure future bookings.

Great first gig of the year for me last night. New venue for us, The lion at Cas Vegas (Castleford), a well known music venue in these parts. Known as a bit of a rockers venue so booking a glam band was a bit of a punt, however it was banging with a full house and happy smiling punters. Booked back in October and already looking forward to it.

Is that an ultralight Lionel? Ive had 4 Lionels, alder bodied and they’ve been remarkably consistent at 3.3-3.4Kg.

Quite a few have gone down the tried and tested Rega route, visually (other than the RP8 type) these are little changed since the 1970s. I replaced my much prettier Systemdek with the RP3 nad the sonic improvement was significant. It comes down to what the priorities of the user are, and how deep the pockets.

With £1500 in my pocket I'd probably take one of the HiFiHub Linn decks as they look to have been well serviced and would hopefully come with warranty/backup. I'm still using my Rega RP3 bought new in 2003 and I don't think my hearing would do justice to a Linn these days. I do get a hankering for a good condition Michell Syncro on occasion though.

I used to play the original TT line on fretless with my old band; it's a lovely bassline. I don't currently own a fretless (not much call for one with my current band) but it doesn't seem the same playing on a fretted even with lots of chorus.

I've had 3 soft aged reliced Lionels (still have one). I got one from Thomann and it was a B stock.....I did ask about condition before purchase and was told it was just a return with no 'extra' damage. When I received it the back was well chewed up with belt marks and as I had a comparison bass that showed this wasn't standard I returned it. There are some differences between relics, they don't seem to be done to a template (like the JMJ Mustang), my white one had some minor belt grooves on the back and generally more wear than the gold one I still have. My gold one does have some factory scratches, the most significant one is pictured which isn't as bad as the one on yours but is getting there.

The The weight of my EBMM shorty is 7lb 5oz vs 8lb 8oz on the Sterling shorty that it replaced

Last gig of 2025 went to a large WMC, nice and local too! It was a ticket job and fully sold out, we had reservations as flu is still rife but we were happy to see a rammed club full of enthusiastic punters. 3 sets instead of our normal 2 and the obligatory Auld Langs Ayne, we were knackered at the end but it was a cracking night. That’s it for us Glam Lads until the 10th of Jan when we hit the Lion in Cas Vegas. A happy new year to all youse in the BC gigging fraternity.

We’re not spring chickens Daryl. We only do 1 per week now and limit it to 36 gigs per year.

Never say never Daryl, I was playing post-punk stuff before joining a Glam band. Joined as a dep for 6 weeks - still here 9 years later

That shorty TT has me twitching……

The last gig before XMas at the Hilltop club in Dronfield for Glam Viva! last night. This is a great club and was packed to the rafters with enthusiastic dancers. I said on here last week that the silly season gigs can be a bit hit and miss but fortunately this was a hit. Booked back for next NYE with the promise of a mid year gig also. Next Saturday we’re back to pub land, a nice venue we played mid year in Worksop….they’ve asked for some XMas songs so maybe Xmas isnt over band wise just yet.

Not sure how doable that would be as the string spacing is the same as the long scale, they are both 19mm at the pup. I think the Sterling version looks a bit cluttered due to it using the same bridge as the full size and the full size control plate but this is fixed to a certain extent with the use of the Ray special bridge in the ebmm version.