BCH

If you use IEM's & would like crowd feedback, I have added a shotgun mic which I have tested  & suitable...thx

Beyerdynamic MCE 86N 

RCF

Wonderful gig @ one of our fav' venues All Saints church Shillington Saxon), most of the village turn up! Also they provide a hot meal...gig heaven...ha

Played with The Towers last night @ Delapre Abbey Northampton...great fun

1 hour ago, scrumpymike said:

OK, so here's the moment we've all been waiting for - the unveiling of the 2022 menu 🙂  If this doesn't cater for your dietary requirements, just let me know by PM what you need!

 

Mrs Scrumpys menu Oct 22.docx 106 kB · 6 downloads

Only a week to go...have a great bash!!!!

10 hours ago, Staggering on said:

 

Funny how the term "acoustic" has changed over the years, not better or worse but definitely different.

When I started gigging  in the '60's on an acoustic guitar playing the folk music that was popular at the time an acoustic gig was playing guitars, banjoes and the odd double bass and if we were lucky there might be a microphone or two that we crowded around. That was common in clubs and coffee houses and even in big venues and when a guitar solo came up there was much moving around and raising up the guitar so it was close to the mic, you can see this in a lot of the old folk music videos from the '60's such as Peter, Paul and Mary.

The next step was more mics with dedicated mics for each instrument and maybe even one for each singer and the sound was actually the real acoustic sound of the vocals and instruments.

Then came the first pickups and now the sound of "acoustic" instruments through the amps and PA is a long way from the actual sound of the instrument and often a variety of effects and EQ are used to change the signal even more and of course it is LOUD. These days it seems even most buskers use some sort of amplification although a few play old school acoustic.

A few years ago various rock bands and singles (Clapton comes to mind) decided to do "acoustic" or "unplugged" shows and albums but of course they were definitely plugged in and that added to the image of a modern "acoustic" gig, a few acoustic instruments but probably an EB and maybe an electronic keyboard and of course pickups on anything acoustic. Some bluegrass, folk and country bands are probably the last truly acoustic bands around now.

Let's face it, using mics for instruments in almost any live situation is very tricky but if things work out a guitar sounds like a "real" guitar not a pimped up hot rodded guitar that sort of looks like an acoustic instrument with a wire coming out of it and sometimes controls mounted on it too. 

I have played with mics and pickups on guitar, mandolin, tenor banjo and double bass and I have to admit the good pickups we can get now are easy to work with can sound quite good but it doesn't sound like an acoustic instrument but that's the way it is now, many people have never heard a real acoustic guitar or bass without an elaborate sound system.

The worst part from my point of view is that when you see a great player the excellent guitar he is playing often sounds pretty much like any other guitar once it has a pickup and some electronic tweaking.

Not a rant, just an observation, and as I said above, I use pickups and love them but it's not really an "acoustic" show and calling it that just doesn't seem right. Of course I am part of this problem when I tell people I play acoustic double bass...with a pickup.🙄

 

Valid observation. I find anything bigger than a smallish (intermit) pub/room, you need to amplify and balance. We use small RCF M18 digital mixer to provide a FoH (with sound eng) & monitor mix to keep the stage low in vol for pitching etc & FoH low as required (this has the effect of more listening/ quieter audience) ...trying for Hi Fi quality /separation. The guitar is a nylon electric, bass Gillett electro acoustic +e' piano ...very happy with the controlled sound...great feedback from the audience (in the gig pic above, over 120) the other bands on with us were twice as loud...ha

Last Saturday with my acoustic band "Human Too" 

15 hours ago, bassist_lewis said:

Almost a year after paying my deposit it finally arrive this week. I was a bit nervous about having paid so much money for something I'd never played, but it's an amazing instrument. The construction is solid, the neck is a little chunkier than I'm used to, but it plays pretty easy after a few days. It balances perfectly seated and on the strap, and it sounds HUUUUGE!! The B string is massive!

The body is mahogany (I think) and the neck is roasted maple, which I asked to be left unpainted. I was going for a 70s Fender look.

 

Its chunky, because they added a spare sting ....stunning! thx for sharing 

17 hours ago, scrumpymike said:

 

Not many Vox Starstream owners on here (Obrienp and RichT are the ones I know) so this won't be of interest to many. Anyway, it works a treat and, while not cosmetically perfect, it's more than good enough for me. All easily reversible to leave the bass exactly as manufactured.

 

 

I've got the jacket to go with the trousers....ha

17 hours ago, wrinkleygit said:

Have a look at the TGi extreme range, in particular the classical and small acoustic guitar bags, they will need some extra padding to the sides, but length wise they are close to most shortscale basses.

 

The TGI range is excellent, Alan (ACG) uses them...I have the guitar case for a 26" scale bass & & the SS case for a 30.5' bass

On 17/09/2022 at 13:11, dmckee said:

Interesting. They also posted this one recently. Wonder if we might see this become standard. 

Now that looks the biz

11 hours ago, bassist_lewis said:

I just received my 30.5" scale Serek MW-2 5 string. It's an amazing instrument. Looks great, sounds great, feels great... even smells great! I can see it becoming my new workhouse, replacing the Callowhill I've used 90% of the time for the last 7 years. 

Pics please!

From last nights gig....reached the 7th fret ...lots of dust down there...ha

24 minutes ago, Johannes said:

Sometimes the local staff present dont know about the existence of the loop. I’ve seen it happen. 

I think your spot on...the theatre sound guy was not at the performance!

9 minutes ago, Woodinblack said:

My watch occasionally buzzes on stage telling me that there are unsafe volume levels, but it has never made any interference (and it has a cellular connection).  Had noise from something sitting next to a mixer.

 

If you say it was pre-pickup, does that mean turning the volume down on the instrument removed it?

 

I guess there had to be some large transmitting element nearby - wireless systems in the venue (like communications things) or local taxi area out of the back? Maybe even electricity substation, although with those fixed issues, I assume someone in the venue would have warned you about them.

Yes, if the guitarist turned the vol down it it reduced & disappeared. Its a theatre in a remote village no taxi's or sub stations...which puts on many productions 

But I think you are correct it has to be wireless / modem/ backstage comms etc...even though we were assured all was off! I will pursue...thx

2 hours ago, BCH said:

Gig at Sharnbrook Mill Theatre Bedfordshire. Fab venue, sound & nearly full.

 

HELP...We had an issue...any ideas???????????????

Our guitarist used a 70's strat & Tele the pickups, picked up a pulsing 4Khz signal, sounding like a cricket! We isolated mains, guitar, no hearing loop, or modem, phones, lights, wireless for iPad, no backline or monitors etc. I tried a passive p/u bass, same issue.

Anybody had this experience 

 

 

56 minutes ago, Woodinblack said:

Noone left a phone on top of an amplifier or something?

We have no amps/backline or monitors...digital desk to FoH powered cabs, all phones off!  The 4Khz was definitely pre pickup

HELP...We had an issue @ a theatre gig...any ideas???????????????

Our guitarist used a 70's strat & Tele the pickups, picked up a pulsing 4Khz signal, sounding like a cricket! We isolated mains, guitar, no hearing loop, or modem, phones, lights, wireless for iPad, no backline or monitors etc. I tried a passive p/u bass, same issue.

Anybody had this experience 

Gig at Sharnbrook Mill Theatre Bedfordshire. Fab venue, sound & nearly full.

HELP...We had an issue...any ideas???????????????

Our guitarist used a 70's strat & Tele the pickups, picked up a pulsing 4Khz signal, sounding like a cricket! We isolated mains, guitar, no hearing loop, or modem, phones, lights, wireless for iPad, no backline or monitors etc. I tried a passive p/u bass, same issue.

Anybody had this experience 

https://www.quilterlabs.com/index.php/product/bassliner-2x10w

SOLD

Music in the Embankment Meadow Bedford, 2 - 5pm...great weather, sound and big audience...wonderful

12 hours ago, Duarte said:

Always good to see some sterling love 

Did MM ever make a short scale USA Sterling?