King Tut

I'm learning an old Stray song called 'Our Song' from the 'Saturday Morning Pictures' album. We've got our third show this year coming up at The Stables in MK in November. Del wants to put 'Our Song' in the set. It's a nice slow rocker with a bit of a country rock feel to it and quite straightforward. We're all a bit rusty so will be having the first of three rehearsals tomorrow. It'll give me a chance to get to know my Peavey VB-2 a bit better. Really looking forward to it!

There's so many variables here. How many gigs you play, how good are the players, can you read, what's the material. To the OP, if you felt the need to rehearse lots and the others didn't, then you were in the wrong band and you did the right thing. I hope you find some like-minded people to hook up with a get a nice tight well rehearsed band together! 😁

Mate, I'm a semi pro doing small theaters, clubs and festivals. When I was pro.oted from the pub circuit I thought I'd have to step up from my Line 6 G30 but I have to say it's been brilliant - never let me down. Not sure if they're still available though.

I think he's holding back . . . . !

I've had my eye out for a iiA or a 3 for a while now. Think I'll knock that search on the head!

This! Although these days it's in the bus usually with a roadie driving. I'll be watching TV on a tablet or having a craic with the rest of the band!

Not at all mate. I've seen neither AP's version or the tribute band so can't comment. Just because I enjoyed them doesn't make them the best version. It all contributed to being a memorable and enjoyable day which was just what I needed after a particularly shite six or seven months earlier this year!

Ken Pustelneck's Groundhogs were playing before us. We toured with them just before lockdown and had an absolute blast. Made some great friends right there!

I do. I’ve only gigged it once so far so difficult to report back. Checked the pre amp valves and one of them was incorrect, there’s some info online about them. Looking forward to spending a bit of time with it!

I picked up a B Stock one of these during lockdown for (I think) £379!

Year of birth bass for me!

Please tell him to come say hello!

Here’s Stray at The Sonic Rock Solstice Festival - Time Machine. https://youtu.be/VebxPR9omqU

A bit of a ramble, but last Saturday we played at Alfold Rock and Blues Festival. We had a great slot at 8.05 pm - the last band before Martin Turner’s incarnation of Wishbone Ash. It was our second post lockdown gig, the previous being four or five weeks prior. Sadly we couldn’t rehearse - our drummer’s daughter had been isolating with Covid, then I had Norovirus, then the drummer had to go abroad for work for a week - so we blagged it! I’d been looking forward to gigging my lockdown acquired Peavey VB-2 for a second time but was uncomfortable because I’d not really got to know it at volume. Also I’m recovering from a screwed up back and although we have roadies, I still had to manoeuvre it into its case and get it to the door and was really worried about putting my back out again, so I decided to use my Bugera Veyron - the one with the valve pre. I’ve never seen Wishbone Ash before, but I have the Argus Album and it’s one of my top albums, love Martin’s bass on it and how much it contributes to the songs. Del had promised to introduce me to Martin, and true to his word, prior to our set, he introduced us and what a lovely bloke he is. We talked about his Rickenbacker which turned out to be a rare one with the extra fret. I asked why he changed to a Thunderbird. Apparently, the neck on the Rick got broken and he needed a bass desperately so he borrowed a Thunderbird from the bass player of Mott The Hoople. The Rick stayed at the record label offices from where it was stolen and he’s never seen it since! Anyway, we played our set and played a bit of a stonker. Big ups to the monitor engineer, he quietly asked each of us what we wanted in the monitors and set them (no sound check) and off we went - none of us had to ask for anything to be changed. My little Bugera? Well I think I got the best sound I’ve had yet with Stray, so if any one’s looking for a Peavey . . . . . No just kidding - I’m going to spend some more time with it yet! I really enjoyed Wishbone Ash. There were a couple of Jazz moment but it was lovely hearing most of the Argus album played live. And Martin’s tone? Wow - awesome. It looked like he was using an Ashdown ABM head through a couple of maybe 2x10 or 2x12 cabs - hard to see. Really solid sound. All in all it was a fabulous day. To top it off it was my final official day of employment before retiring from the railway after 42 years of service, so a fabulous way to bow out!!

I've had a few Thunders of various incarnations. Great basses but that short top horn always threw the ergonomics off for me when played on a strap. Felt like my left arm needed to be a couple of inches longer, so they always ended up getting moved on!

Fair play!

Great work. Maybe add Barefaced Big Baby to the list?

That's really sad. RIP MB1

I was a fan of a local Folk Rock band called ‘Out of the Wood’. The bass player had a pair of these, one fretted and one fretless. The fretted one had a plaque glued to it that said ‘Bass Machine’ (I think - mebbe from an amp?’. Mick, the bass player sadly passed away, I joined and took his place and the basses came to me so i used them in the band. When the band split, the basses went back to the band leader. He sold them through our local music shop - I was gutted he never offered them to me first - I’d have happily bought them! Anyway - if anyone knows their whereabouts - please let me know!