Happy Jack

I found this post on the official Fender forum: [color=#333333]Many people would be interested to know Fender's sales figures across the product range but unfortunately that is what's known as "commercially sensitive information", and they haven't given out official numbers for decades, if ever.[/color] [color=#333333]However, it is well attested that the Strat outsells other models by a long way. I don't know how Telecaster sales compare to Gibson Les Pauls (the major commercial rival), but the Strat is miles ahead of both of them. That much the Company has been prepared to reveal in guitar magazine interviews and other such places over the years.[/color] [color=#333333]Still, there are some interesting stats to be had about the instrument industry. As we all know, Fender are the largest guitar manufacturer in the world, with Gibson in second position. And if Fender's Custom Shop were a free-standing company it would qualify as the sixth biggest global guitar maker in its own right. Which is quite something.[/color] [color=#333333]However, in the league of instrument makers as a whole, Fender are well back from the lead. Here are some thought-provoking figures:[/color] [url="http://www.musictrades.com/global.html"]http://www.musictrades.com/global.html[/url] [color=#333333]As we see, Fender are only in fifth place: Roland are twice as big as Fender and Yamaha are seven times larger. Clearly, the really fat money is in electronic music related gizmos. Shaping timber pays less.[/color]

It's perfectly normal to get a bit heavier as you get older ...

If you're running to a script and say the same things at the same point every gig, then throw the script away and just play the songs. If you're capable of chatting naturally and in context (different line of patter when playing to half a dozen punters sitting behind tables, or 50 drunks on the dancefloor) then just go with what's natural. All that said, one of the best (big) gigs I ever saw was Robert Palmer at the Hammersmith Odeon, maybe 1984-ish. Walked on, "Hello London", then three hours of almost non-stop music. The longest gap between songs can't have been more than 30 seconds ... they were launching into the intro of the next song while the crowd were still going bananas for the song they'd just finished.

[quote name='noelk27' timestamp='1392081842' post='2364552'] What does a dolphin need with frets? Or with a bass, for that matter! [/quote] Maybe it swopped it for its old bicycle?

How come you've seen my office?

Let's play 'See If You Can Spot A Single Original Part'. I'll go first. Erm ...

Aye, 'twas a gyrating-tottytastic night alright. Although someone had to tell me afterwards what "twerking" is ... And the evening started with the Manager saying "But you can't bring a [i][b]drumkit [/b][/i]in here!". Oh yes, and we received not one but [b]two [/b]requests for [i]Sweet Home Alabama[/i], both from ladies who weren't even born when the plane went down.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZNVF1F23oQ

Unlucky Fried Kitten.

[quote name='Diablo' timestamp='1391722921' post='2360707'] Right now, Sky Art 1 (Sky 129) is Gary Moore playing a 1 1/2 hour set of Jimi Hendrix blues stuff. [/quote] No it's not - I just checked.

Nothing wrong with saying hello to the town where you're playing: "Hey! Feltham! Good t'be hyah!". Or, as I learned from seeing Heavy Metal BeeGees band Tragedy, "Hey! London Town City!"

[quote name='Freddy Le Cragg' timestamp='1391681405' post='2359998'] I am the singer and the bassist, so I go bang in the middle. [/quote] But what happens after you've gone bang?

You're over the dozen and counting, so a quick word from the SouthEast BassBash collective experience ... try to have a 'quiet room' available if you can. With a handful of people it's not really an issue, but as the numbers mount the noise levels tend to increase exponentially (oh, alright, you know what I mean!). The room with the basses and rigs will quickly become aggressively loud and wearing on the ears, so people will need a chance to rest their ears, talk to each other normally, and have a cup of tea and a Danish pastry. Depending on prices, if you can also have one further room with a resident drummer (plus kit, natch) and a 6-string then people wanting to try basses in a band situation will have that option. Enjoy!

As ever, Bill, I am impressed at your generosity. And your patience.

[quote name='uncle psychosis' timestamp='1391617953' post='2359302'] Why not use the volume knob to balance it out? Have I missed something? [/quote] Hah! My experience is that rolling OFF a bit of volume also cuts the highs & mids. Maybe that's the reggae solution ...

[quote name='Low End Bee' timestamp='1391693190' post='2360237'] The people of Ballater will have to dig their hands in their sporrans. [/quote] Last time I tried that, he said he'd set his dogs on me ...

Depends.

Nah, I'd just blame the cancer-bearing Romanians and sue someone.

Fascinating. So if you mistreat a lithium battery to a sufficient extent, it is capable of behaving other than as intended? I wonder if the same is true of aerosol cans or bottles of home-brew beer. Now this Pope, catholic is he? Still, looking at the bright side, it doesn't appear that lithium batteries give you cancer, damage house prices, or encourage Romanians to come over here and sign up for our generous welfare provision.

[quote name='GreeneKing' timestamp='1391350468' post='2356056'] Interesting Rich. I've operated a few subs that are susceptable to depth charges. [/quote] Fixed it for you. We Dive At Dawn ...

Try taking advantage of the problem: http://littleguitarworks.com/torzal-natural-twist/

Every bass player should own a PA. It sort of goes with the territory ...

[quote name='waynepunkdude' timestamp='1391171022' post='2354026'] I assume the lack of valves and the weight. [/quote] [quote name='Roland Rock' timestamp='1391171196' post='2354029'] I think he means that it still has the weight of the AD, yet none of the benefits of big iron*. Lose/lose. [/quote] Both right, plus it has the really rather tinny look of the OBT which totally belies what a great-sounding amp it is. Worst of all though is that there doesn't actually seem to be a benefit involved here. I have an OBT because it sounds really very good given how lightweight it is. That makes it ideal for venues with access issues. I have a Matamp because the sound is so good that it justifies the weight. That makes it my first-choice amp. Where does the OB1 fit into this? The best it can hope for is sounding about as good as my Matamp (yeh, right), in which case I'll keep the Matamp thanks. Oh yes, and my Matamp cost less than that too.