DaytonaRik

I'm still all-in - just been spending my money on new cycle bits instead!!!

I'm with you BS not afraid to admit it. I always listen to the bass in the song...not just the bass itself. I'd rather listen to an AC/DC track with Cliff thudding away root notes that fit the song rather than a load of pretentious fret-womble of the bass kind demonstrating just how technically amazing an individual may be. I can admire their ability but it leaves me cold

Just the three for me - 2013 Gibson Thunderbird as my main bass, an Epi Thunderbird Classic Pro IV as a backup/drop D and a Bass Collection B310 for around the house. I do have a 4th (Cort headless Flying Vee) in bits so it doesn't count!

Have to agree with that - I've always had great gigs there

Sadly I'm not up to Mr Murray's standards - I tend to keep it simple through the verse but run around the chorus section as per a few of the later recordings. Cheers fella - went back to them this year after a few years with a Limelight P...love the T'bird 😍

Cracking gig at The Old Wine Vaults in Eastwood, Nottingham. It's a new venture being run by the former staff/owners of the popular/well know music venue The Greyhound in the Beeston area of the city which was forced to close it's doors due to a 200% increase it rates by the council. Great little venue, smaller stage than it's predecessor but the venue has a lot going for it and I wish them every success. A few new tracks crept into the set, notably Republica's "Ready To Go" which went down an absolute storm - I have to admit that I'm preferring the variety and flexibility of a true cover band rather than a tribute act. A few pics for you all

Female fronted rock cover band Retribution play at The Old Wine Vaults in Eastwood, Nottingham on Friday 19th October. A new venue out of the ashes of the former Greyhound owners/staff, they're really hoping to make this venue their new home and a great new live music venue for Nottingham. 8:30 start

It's new old stock as the s/n dates it as April 2016. The new Vintage Pro ones do indeed have chrome hardware and a bridge/tailpiece rather than the 3-point bridge fitted to mine. The model is still in the Epi stable but a lot of places are out of stock.

The T'bird body is not very deep hence the light weight. At the thickest, the thru neck section is approx 4cm deep with the body 'wings' being approx 3cm deep. Both my Gibson and Epi come in at 8.8lbs

So a nice new and shiny Epi T'Bird landed on the doorstep to join the Gibson yesterday and very pleased with it I am too! I'd expected some subtle differences, obviously, but what I hadn't expected was there to be so much similarity between the two. I was dreading a look alike without it sounding anything like but I have to say that within a few minutes of plugging in those fears were blown away - there is a very authentic T'bird snarl from those USA pickups - a very Duff-esque "You Could Be Mine" tone - growly, snarly and with a edge. I've been A/B 'ing it most of the afternoon and the Epi is definitely brighter although I expect that this is due to a large part in fresh lighter strings. It would be a good idea to continue the comparison is a few days when I restring the Gibson. The build quality is very good - no flaws/blemishes - with a very neat and tidy control cavity. The truss rod is free moving (the neck needed a minor tweak but nothing of any great seriousness) and the bridge dropping a couple of mm but that was about it. Despite the blurb saying a 7 piece neck I can definitely count 9 laminates as per the Gibson? The vintage sunburst definitely has more of a paduk red to it and is very pleasant on the eye - makes a nice contrast to the true vintage sunburst of the Gibson. A worthy spare and one I'm not going to dread having to reach for in the event of a string break or failure. Anyway - as per the rules, pics or it never happened.

I think the key word there is myself so therefore excludes gifts - especially milestone birthdays

I tried the EPi Vintage Pro today as I'm in the market for a spare to my Gibson T'bird but I'm trying to keep expenditure to a minimum. Whilst the tone is certainly comparable to my 2013 USA model It does feel a bit 'overweight' by comparisson with the body being thicker thicker and the neck is definitely on the chunkier side. Not uncomfortable or unplayed but, well, not a Gibson super skinny neck. Right now I'm in two minds but I suspect the wish for a spare that looks/sounds close to the main gigging bass will win out

I'm originally a guitarist but I was a very early adopter of IEMs (excluding the pro guys) and it just made sense to me - a mix wherever you go inside an earplug that prevents hearing damage...what's not to like? With modern options such as Helix, BIAS-FX, Kempers etc I just can't see a need for backline! Our drummer does like to hear a bit of bass next to him though hence me not ditching everything and just going DI Cheers @Lozz196 - i think that if we're going to use backline then it's a sensible setup. Both guitarists now use Victory heads that can run around 7w. At a gig one even said "I'm swamping the FOH mix, I'll turn down!" As long as there is a suitable monitor source then backline is just a way of delivering sound to the FOH system. I wish more musicians understood that simple principle - the louder you are as an individual the more problems you cause for everyone else and the less control the engineer/unfortunate band member who runs the desk has over things...as a band your volume in any venue is only as quiet as the loudest on-stage performer.

You have a very enlightened guitarist. I think getting ours onto IEMs and away from hearing their backline would help massively.

The current gigging band has the right approach - minimal backline and the understanding that it is there to get the sound into the PA, not fight to hear over it. Each band member has their own dedicated monitor mix - either a wedge or IEMS (I agree that getting a guitarist to go to IEM is like trying to herd cats/plat fog etc) and understand that the PA does the work, the monitors let you "fill in the gaps' re what you can't hear on stage and consequently rehearsals and gig are a joy. Backline is completely stripped down - both guitarists use a couple of 1x12 cabs, I'm only taking a single 2x10 cab and could probably just DI into the PA if I'm completely honest. I went to see a former band play and the drummer (who is not shy with the kick drum) could barely be heard above the backline/vocal only PA . I suppose that some get it, some don't?

I'm in as it only includes bass gear, not new VST plugins (although Slate Audio's Everything bundle has taken care of that particular problem!) , PA gear etc 😉 I guess I'm really lucky - my gear buying habits are pretty low already as I'm not a pedalboard, very happy with my current Thunderbird/Ashdown setup and will hopefully be adding a spare T'bird to the fold this side of the predicted cutoff date. I'm proud to be an Abstainer!

Got roped into playing a couple of Lizzy tracks with the band at a friend's 60th birthday bash and...don't tell anyone...actually enjoyed it! The band were brilliant and it was so easy to step up and front a bunch of excellent musicians. The guitarist and drummer also play in another rock band playing large clubs/theatres and I've been asked to audition for the vacant bass player slot in a few weeks...watch this space

Oooooofffffff!

Nita Strauss (Ibanez endorsee and member of Alice Cooper's band) was once a member of The Iron Maidens

You sir, are pretty much the font of all IEM knowledge and everyone who has ever asked your advice (including myself) are always in your debt. I'm just a weekend warrior and the A3's suit my needs and budget accordingly. It doesn't, however, stop me dreaming does it! 😉

I think they turned mine around in 8 days so be prepared for a surprise. The online order progress tool is great but annoying at the same time!

Meanwhile - us mortals with the A3s dream of such goodies! Nice score though 😎👍

A bit different for us - we're all playing in other projects but with exception of one track the material we rehearsed is unique to this band. It's a great feeling when you've been apart for a while and it's as if you all rehearsed together the day before.

We rehearsed yesterday - first time in approx 4-5 weeks due to other commitments, holidays, work etc...it was as if we'd never stopped rehearsing. I guess that's when the long hours we've all put in pay dividends.