Jump to content
Why become a member? ×

Stub Mandrel

⭐Supporting Member⭐
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    10,700

  • Joined

  • Last visited

  • Days Won

    140

 Content Type 

Posts posted by Stub Mandrel

    Check Your Hercules Stands

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    3 minutes ago, Hellzero said:

    What's bothering me is the stickyness that should have disappeared with the new versions something like at least 5 years.

     

    These are indeed amongst the best stands made, but they had issues...

     

    This isn't the same sort of stickiness. It's a mechanical jamming, not the pladtic degrading - as far as I can tell.

    2026 Gear Abstinence Thread

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    11 hours ago, neepheid said:

     

    I'm not sure about this one.  It's certainly nowhere near the specified case of dragging one's other half round the guitar shops, trying a bunch of stuff then they buy it for you.  This is subtler than that.  Reuniting you with an old (bass) flame seems a little different to me.  I mean it was kinda pre-chosen, no?  Honestly, I'm in two minds about it. This is a very specific case of an accidental discovery, rather than a wilful and knowing enterprise of going out specifically to identify a bass for someone else to buy for you.  But on the other hand, it wasn't a total surprise, and there was some influence in the purchase.

     

    What say you, jury?

     

    Neeps... you're a lot more relaxed than previous adjudicators! 🤣

    Why weak wattage?

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    Some people are like that. I have a 'dual gauge' a bourdon gauge that can measure both pressure and vacuum. Very sensitive and out of Bourdon's own workshop. So rare I haven't been able to find any documentation or other examples. But it has both ink and embossed stamps that check out. My ex-wife bought it at a bootsale for me for £5 along with a bunch of other more modern bits.

     

    I got tracked down by a collector and asked to name my price.

     

    I won't sell it, I've actually found it useful on occasion and it looks nice.

    Check Your Hercules Stands

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    8 hours ago, Hellzero said:

    Is it an old one?

     

    Only 3 or 4 years old. Not used every gig. Still not right - it keeps jamming then coming free. It feels like something slips free and limits it to 2" of easy travel. I've worked out how to disassemble it so will take a look tomorrow. The clamp is fine it's the guide for the inner shaft. If broken I can perhaps 3D print a replacement or if something is moving maybe it can be glued or pinned in place.

    What song are you learning?

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    36 minutes ago, Marvin said:

    The next song to learn is Place Your Hands by Reef.

    I sat down for 30mins the other day, mainly listening to it. Bass part is quite interesting I'd say... considering I've got more than enough root only songs in our set.

     

    It's not a song I've ever liked, mainly due the vocal. I'm sure it'll sound OK when someone else sings it 🙂

     

    Great fun to groove along to.

    • Like 1

    Check Your Hercules Stands

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    I've had the 'prongs' disengage but have been able to sort them.

     

    On Sunday, packing up, my Hercules MS533B microphone stand was stiff. Managed to close it but it locked solid.

     

    Felt like something was wedged in the shaft as the clutch felt normal. 

     

    Got it moving with lots of WD40 into the bottom of the shaft, followed by lots of twisting. Will have to see how permanent this is.

     

    The problem appears to be with (what appears to be) a white metal guide block at the bottom of the inner telescoping shaft. Perhaps it 'picked' up on the steel? Is their a hiddrn sleeve that came adrift or jammed?

     

    Wary of complete disassembly... but how long will it keep working?

     

    Annoying as it's streets ahead of other types for utility.

    How was your gig last night?

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    Well that was bloody awesome.

    We got to the Earl Haig early, to find two big projector screens up for the rugby, but didn't affect us setting up.

     

    Used their (big) PA with our desk, spent a lot of time with everything miced up (me post-preamp DI'd). Sounded awesome but with the stage volume was comfortable with no earplugs.

     

    About 20- people stayed on from rugby and we had at least 120-, maybe 150 people in. It can feel a bit empty on a Sunday sometimes, even with a crowd, but not today. Lots of musicians and music lovers in, including my brother, some of my friends and members of two of my other bands.

     

    First half, mostly straight classic rock, so no dancing but rapturous reception. Brief beak, then second half, still rocky but some more danceable stuff, so dancing from about 1/3rd through. You'll get the gist if I say our encores were War Pigs and Alive, and the song that got the most comment was Devil Woman.

    Afterwards, people were queing up to shake hands and say how much they enjoyed it. We did get (very gently) told off for going 20 minutes past curfew   😁

    Baz was taking photos, so I expect some awesome shots in due course.
     

     

     

     

    Jer1.thumb.jpg.85a5bde513051ca79ae4bcc3867e0a48.jpg

    • Like 20

    How was your gig last night?

    in General Discussion

    Posted · Edited by Stub Mandrel

    I'm actually nervous about today's gig!

     

    Had a freaky lucid dream last night... woke up and remembered it in detail:

     

    Parked up in a shabby demolished building type car park off an unusual street I hadn't seen before. Walked to nearby venue.

     

    Wandered into my brother's gig (today) as they were settng up. Big empty bar, try were out on  the floor instead of in a 'stage area'.

     

    Chris (bassist) was playing noodly guitar so I joined in on bass. Worked out they were playing Grapevine,  but in C#. Oddly I remember in detail that I was fingering Eb... but I was convinced the key was C#.

     

    Then looked at my watch. The face was scrolling images and web pages about tanks - my internet history? Suddenly I remembered I should be at my own gig for 3pm (actually 4) for 6pm start and it was 5pm. Rushed to front bar. Found the bag I keep my swimming stuff in(?) Took a while to find my jacket, hidden under another coat on a hatstand (like my metal one, but wooden) positioned on or through the bench seat in the bay window.

     

    Got phone from my jacket pocket. Discovered the stuff on my watch was actually loads of phone notifications. Discovered continuous flow of messages from the band taking the piss out of me being late after telling them to be early.

     

    Headed out, rang band said 5pm I will be tere in twenty minutes and set up in ten...

     

    In street passed a traffic warden in hi-vis taking notes. In car park (I hadn't bought a ticket) noticed all signs were so old and faded there was no way thry were valid and nowhere to buy a ticket.

     

    Panicked and ran back to car, found only very old house keys in my hand (a memory of finding some in a drawer a few days ago?)

     

    Got  in car but couldn't start it... handcrwaching in passenger window offering me keys. Turned out to be evil woman trying to steal car or the old keys or even kill me. Couldn't understand what she was on about. Fought her off by biting her finger then repeatedly pressing the up button for the electric window to trap her arm. Started reversing backwards, dragging her along as I tried to escape.

     

    Traumatised, I woke up and focused on committing everything to memory.

     

     

     

    I hope the actual gig is not quite as eventful. 

    • Like 2
    • Haha 10

    New BassChat 8"Cab design

    in Amps and Cabs

    Posted

    OK, it's an aquarium hood, but I've not long cut all the pieces out of 8mm ply.

    Got fed up with the slowness with the saw dragging and remembered the trick my dad taught me when I was a pre-pubescent teenager. I rubbed candle wax on the saw.

     

    I roughly tripled the rate of progress. Kicked myself for not bothering earlier, 'it's only thin ply'. A waxed rip saw is faster than a jigsaw and not too far off a circular saw - and you can see what you are doing well enough to follow a straight line.

    • Like 2
    • Thanks 1

    What are you listening to right now?

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    3 minutes ago, dmccombe7 said:

    Is that the actual set list for a gig Neil ? 

    The rockier songs at the start are the ones i would normally finish a set. 

    Some nice songs in there and a few that i wasn't expecting like Psycho Killer

    Dave

     

    Two sets plus songs for encores/spare I think. I remember learning all of them although it was rare the have more than a badly recorded tape! We used to take turns having the Dire Straits song book.

    • Like 2
    • Haha 1
×
×
  • Create New...