Stub Mandrel

Fun pics from Saturday's gig (where I seem to have picked up a dose of Covid!) https://www.facebook.com/albums/7338482506175580/

Guitarist I know in a young indie band. They got a grant to record an EP that got picked up by the BBC. The got £1,800 for about a month's worth if being on rotation, that covered over half the recording cost, plus they got a decent PRS payment. Five lads aren't going to live off that level of income but you can see the potential if you have a hit.

The first one makes Noddy Holder £250,000 every Christmas!

It's a matter of proportion. The small size and shape means big holes will allow the wiring to 'stick out' and pick up hum, but smaller holes won't matter. Remember 2mm holes in the grid behind the window of a microwave stop signals in th GHz band. Taxi radios... haven't heard one of those break through since the 80s!

Back at the Earl Haig last night with Bluesfire. Front bar for the first time. Got there at 7:15 and it was already busy, thought there must be a band in the concert room... no! Probably just the xmas effect 🤣 Packed in a lot of stuff with lights etc. Sound was great but we had a couple of tech issues... nearly did an instrumental of Susie Q but the mic got sorted half way through. These put me a bit off kilter, and guitarist was tired so I felt we were not up to the standard of our last couple of gigs. But audience was happy, lots of people telling us how much they enjoyed it. Young Alex's other band have just had their layest single on heavy rotation by the BBC (The Rogues) so big things ahead for him, we hope. Icing on the cake, woke up to see this amazing pic by Barry Morris who feeds my rock star delusions.

I used mine to play a song live once.

Cheapskate here. 8" HH which is actually really good. Two 15" '600 watt' fun generation speakers [to be fair Thomann list as being 240W rms]. Nothing special but seem to be fine as vocal only speakers for rehearsal/small gigs. For bigger gigs they will be used as monitors. Don't particularly recommend them but if you are on a very tight budget, they do a job.

Couldn't afford Fender. Knew Hohners were well made. Got this.

So many nice goodies. Slightlt taumatised by seeing basses with stickers on the scratchplate though... Not much this year, mostly just pa stuff, tuners and leads. But I did get this and I guess it would win for me in most years...

You dont even need to worry about small gaps. The wavelength of 50Hz electromagnetic interference is 4000km which is slightly larger than the average bass...

Just one.. no benefit from a thicker layer.

I'm doing a dep in January. It's on the list but agreed I'm not going to do it. Much as I'd like to, it would take as much effort as learning all the other unfamiliar songs on their list. Not worth it for a single gig.

Now I want a Unicorn even more.

I think mpst people don't want a audience while they are concentrating.

I've been rock climbing and stood at the top of cliffs and mountains without a qualm. Put me on a ladder or balcony... 😱

He's playing again but two 'flailing ribs' are still csusing some pain.

He fell off a stable roof onto a concrete slab and his elbow got pushed into his ribcage. Ick.

Saw Arthur perform it twice in the last two months. He's still awesome.

I saw that gig on tv too, very good.

First time it took a couple of months. Second time I put a post on FB and the guy who sang for my brother's first band 35 years ago got in touch the next day! Then we had to wait three weeks as one of our guitarists is recovering from ten broken ribs.

Not a gig... but we had a rehearsal last night to try out a new singer for new band Benricks Rock. Went really well... most significantly we got through loads of songs and all enjoyed it. Sadly won't rehearse again until new year but first gig lined up for 2 March.

Thrres huge variation in how acoustic basses sound. Thst must be impressive just to condider using it with drums unamplified. I got an acoustic-only tanglewood, which by definition had to have a decent inherent volume. I fitted a cheap piezo system which is a bit harsh and may get upgraded, although some nylon tapewounds tamed it.

Well it should get you more gigs than "Ribs and Balls" 🤣

Allex Harvey reference?

Saw local reggae band Palm Tree 🌴 Antics featuring our own @choob.squeemer. Always a great evening with these guys. Getting a delightful tone from his CESys cab sat atop a Vanderkley. first time I've seen one in the wild rather than at a bass bash.