phil.c60

Not sure if this is in his book - just got it for Christmas and haven't read it yet (I know, I know) but my guitarist's favourite tale (and it may or may not be true) is when a youthful Bruce and his band were engaged to play as Chuck Berry's backing band for a gig. A slightly nervous Bruce went up to Chuck and said "Good evening Mr. Berry, My name is Bruce Springsteen and me and my band are your backing band tonight. Could you give me some idea of what we're going to play?" Dear old Chuck looked him straight in the eye and said "Tonight, son, we're going to play some Chuck Berry songs" and stalked off.

I really like the look of the ASAT bass, and a blue semi hollow body four string was for sale on here a while back, left handed too, so I went and had a look. Really nice guy selling it, really nice thing, loved it, but as soon as you let go of the neck and moved slightly, the neck headed for the floor. Rather put me off. And yes, that was with a wide strap - I took mine with me. Never had my hands on a solid body four string so I don't know if they have the same tendency but I would have thought a five string might well be the same? Some guy in the US was even making a strap bracket that mounted on the neck bolts to move the top strap button nearer the 12th fret but it did look rather ugly! On reflection, I still wish I'd bought it though, and I am seriously considering an L2000. Probably USA if I can find a decent 2nd hand lefty, or can I be persuaded to just order a Tribute..........?

If the 20's are too extreme, just call ACS and get some lower inserts. 15's maybe. Around £45.

I keep on fancying a G&L L2000. Really would like a USA one, has to be a lefty, can't seem to find one in the UK but may bite the bullet and buy a Tribute. Don't need it, quite happy with my P Bass Hot Rod. Not sure why I want it, but I just do.

This comes up quite a lot! Put "In Praise Of ACS Pro Plugs" in the forum search and be prepared for a long read!

Are the Hendersons coming?

Instant Karma?

I meant Scalpy, really - his one sounds just as ugly to me!

When I saw this thread I though you'd been at one of my gigs, Addict! [quote name='scalpy' timestamp='1481719634' post='3194497'] I have the equivalent Hondo guitar, a tele! Finished to look like Prince's, baby puke yellow, rubbish animal print scratch guard and a very pointy headstock. Yet can't part with it either! [/quote] Why no picture? Come on, you know you want to....

That explains it. I have sen a couple of bands use these, and I must say they seem to get a very good sound from it. Haven't seen a band with everyone through it: the last one I saw had vocals only and I don't think they had the bass module: the bass player was using Phil Jones stuff - a 4x8 combo and 4x8 extension cab, which sounded great and looked good too. Then just last week I saw a guy do an acoustic set on a Sunday afternoon with something very similar. They are becoming quite popular despite the price. If your gigs pay well, I think you should be prepared to invest some money. We're a bit dinosaur as far as PA goes: we've got a Yamaha EMX512sc and a pair of EV 12" speakers. Very light class D amp/mixer. We've used it for two years and never had a problem with it but we are a blues (ish!) band and we're not volume monsters. Except the harmonica player who uses a Fender Bassman, as I said earlier. Sorry Rob! Only kidding! I'm using a LM3 and a Barefaced Compact - light, small and plenty loud enough for me. Guitar player has a nice little Two-Rock amp. The only thing I think we would struggle with is getting 7' of space behind the band at most of the places we play! We're normally squeezed in a corner of a small pub. Sounds like a great system though and very professional. I'm sure your G10 will be the last piece of the puzzle.

I've got a Sansamp VT bass for use like that in an emergency, , but I can see how being wireless and through the PA could be really good. Do you run subs etc. then? And how will you eq your eub? Or get the tone you like? I'm not at all suggesting you can't I'm just curious as to how!

[quote name='Nicko' timestamp='1481637317' post='3193905'] We have tried several methods. All band members retain a veto, as we all agree theres plenty of songs we can all want to play rather than have one or other of us not wanting to play something - it doesn't need to be done in a childish way. We tried the survey method, but to be honest we just ended up with loads of songs that no one really liked, its just they didn't object to them. We are now working on whoever suggests the song basically has to sell it to the rest of the band, along the lines of: will people know the song will it fit wit the setlist does it interest us as a band [/quote] Very well put. It's pretty much how we work.

Some and some. Mostly we all agree, but occasionally if it's a song that only one person is not keen on they swallow. There are a couple in our set list that I'm either a bit fed up with or never really liked, and it's the same for the harmonica player. Unfortunately they're not the same songs! Final say really goes to the guitarist/singer as he has to front them. We are chucking in a couple of Stones numbers for NYE which we would not normally play, and I did put my foot down about "Brown Sugar" as I really don't like it and there's plenty of others. I got my way with that one. I think the guitarist only suggested it because he's a bit lazy and already knew it!

The harmonica player and I run our band, really. He does Facebook, I do website, we both check out new places to play and book gigs (we run an online google calendar for this with everyone's "not available" dates) he does posters, I do demo's from gig recordings with my Zoom. I usually record rehearsals and transpose them fro Audacity to mp3s for the new songs we've worked up then email them so everyone knows the arrangement for next time. He looks after the PA and keeps hold of the mixer, 15" speakers and leads, but we mostly use a pair of 12" these days which I bring as they're mine. I am also the general gig dogsbody who is expected to know how we get in, and out, and where to park, and what time we're on etc. You get the picture. Whoever got the gig deals with the money so it's either him or me. We all come up with ideas for new material, but the singer/guitarist/front man bloke has the final say for obvious reasons. I't usually pretty harmonious - we seem to get an instant feeling if a song is right for us and know pretty quickly if it isn't. I've just started rehearsing with a general covers band, and for that I'm learning their set list and just show up at rehearsals having learnt some more songs than I knew last time! Early days with them, aiming for a first outing beginning of March.

[quote name='arthurhenry' timestamp='1481460642' post='3192405'] Sounds like you have drilled through the render only. Make sure you drill into the brick/block next time and that the plugs are pushed into this. [/quote] For a brief moment, as it's Christmas, I thought this said "drilled through the reindeer".

What he said. The screws are far too short.

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1481217473' post='3190703'] Korg Pitch Black since 2008. However, for me it was useless at outdoor gigs on sunny days.And I'm noticing the tracking on the E string is getting a little "dicey" Blue [/quote] Same for me. I've used one for years and it's great indoors but on outdoor stages I just can't see it. I don't like clip on ones either, not because I'm as purist about design as you are, Blue, but I just don't like the look of it hanging off the headstock! I've got one of those little plastic Korg tuners and that's fine for outside as it's hand held so I can see it. Fortunately my P-bass never seems to go out of tune at a gig unless I clout it (which has happened!).

I try and speak to the bass player afterwards or at half time, but don't usually ask them if they're on here. Don't know why, it just hadn't occurred to me to do so. If we don't make the effort to tell bass players that they are appreciated, no one will! PS :And I have met some very nice people too!

Absolutely heaving pub in Arundel, candlelight festival on during the evening so the High St (where the pub is) was shut. Arundel is usually a real pain as far as parking goes, but we had passes for entry to the High St for unloading etc. and as the event was pretty much over security chap said we could just leave our cars there. Easiest time parking ever. We played well, the crowd were really enthusiastic (drunk?) - we even had people dancing on tables at one point! Highlight of the evening for me was a very nice young lady called Hannah who came and gyrated in front of me while her friend recorded it on her 'phone after we had sung Happy Birthday for her. Hot, sweaty, full, a couple of free pints and a reasonable payer. What more could you want. a great night. And of course we have been rebooked for next year.

Harmonica player brought his last night with the comment "it's for guitars, really but it works with mics too". Took about 30 seconds for him to set it up, it worked perfectly all night with no sign of signal compression or change in the normal sound/tone from his Bassman. He really liked not having a trailing cable (which he has been known to tread on occasionally with predictable results) and had to show off by playing from the audience whilst watching the rest of us. My overall impression was very good. If I routinely played in places where I would otherwise use a very long lead I'd give it a go, but as most places I'm squeezed in right in front of my cab I don't really need it. However for some of the festival gigs we've done it would have been jolly handy.

Well, the harmonica player in my band has bought one this week and tested it thoroughly at home. He reports no latency that he can detect and range in excess of the claimed 30'. Although as he's never more than 10 feet from his amp why that matters is a bit beyond me...... He's planning on giving it a go at this Saturdays gig - The Red Lion in Arundel if anyone's about - so I'll let you know how it goes.

I've never pulled my LM3 off the top of my Compact. Perhaps I don't get jiggy with it sufficiently while I'm playing.I'm more Wymanesque I suppose. I find I can carry Compact, LM3 in it's padded case, bass in it's gig bag and a guitar stand in one go with no issues. That's great for rehearsals, and for gigs there's an additional box anyway with Sansamp, spare leads, extension leads,gaffa, shoes (those that have seen me will know, those that haven't, pics are available....) and my trusty Zoom recorder. LM3 goes in here too, as does the gutar stand so one cab, one box and one bass. Can't think a combo would make it any simpler, really as I'd still have to take all the other stuff plus bits of the PA too......

Yes you certainly can. The inserts pop out of the moulds with the assistance of the little plastic cleaning tool that comes with them. You have to be able to remove them, because you should wash the moulds in warm soapy water occasionally and you must not get water in the inserts. (or a gentle tease with a cocktail stick as I lost the plastic tool at a gig some time ago). Do be careful though, because they are quite small and do literally "pop" out. First time I did it I spent five minutes on my hands and knees under the kitchen table! Fortunately I found the one I dropped. I have considered getting some even lower ones for watching gigs, and some higher ones for when my wife snores! FinnDave beat me to it!

[quote name='LiamPodmore' timestamp='1479901490' post='3180105'] I did the whole thing through my local Boots branch. They do the impressions then deal with the rest for you, [/quote] Yep - you just make an appointment at Boots for a hearing test and tell them it's because you want some ACS plugs, they check your hearing and your ear canals, take the moulds and you pay there and then. Everything is included in the price. A couple of weeks later they pop through your letter box. If you decide, like I did, that you need different attenuation ( I dropped from 17's to 15's)you can send them back within a month and they'll swap the inserts FOC. Mine were back in three days. I've had them three years and never play or rehearse without them. They also keep your moulds on file, so if you need another pair you can just order them using your original customer number. Great service, great product. Buy some.