wateroftyne

10pm and still here... so much AV kit to go in. As soon as the stage is clear we can get set up and do line checks ready for a 10am band call tomorrow... I'll sleep tonight.

We're in the Arena this evening. There's still a bit of hanging around before we can get on the stage, though...

Yes and Steely Dan. I'm at that age, y'know...

There's actually... *counts on fingers* Four pick songs this time,. Crikey!

Forgot to post these from yesterday...

Day three... we're starting to relax a bit. ha ha. One of the songs has a particularly complicated arrangement that we've had to pore over a bit, but apart from that we've been able to play through the rest of the set mostly without incident. Only one key change surprise, which I consider to be a lucky escape. Another day in the rehearsal hall, and then we're into the arena tomorrow night...

Hi everyone A couple of interesting old Fenders turned up at today's rehearsal. #1: A 1963 Jazz, all original apart from a refret. This was used to record the ceilidh set on Mark Knopfler's Local Hero OST, and used in the performance in the film. #2: A 1972-ish Musicmaster, formerly owned by Lindisfarne's Alan Hull. Both wonderful to play. It was nice to spend a bit of time with them.

Cracking on today.. I’ve been distracted by this ‘63 that’s landed. It’s not mine, but I’m allowed to play it...

Right... day one done. 9:30am-6pm. Knackered. We got a decent balance, ran about half the set, sorted a few endings, and ironed out a few bumps, and identified something we're all going to have to work on for tomorrow. Every time we run a tune, we can ask for monitor tweaks and they'll all be stored individually for each tune. That way, everything should be optimal for when we move into the arena. One weight off my mind is we've run the song which is the hardest work from a bass POV, and all the swotting paid off... it's going to be fine. Thank goodness. Tomorrow we'll be joined by our lovely backing vocalists, and the brass lads. Looking forward to it.

Yeah, I’ve been burning Leszek’s lug for a while now about that. Best way is to drop him a message 🙂

As flat as can be. Sounds mint 🙂

Some pics from early in day one... We (the core band, no vocals, BVs, for brass) have ran through a bit of the set, and so far so good.

Day one in the rehearsal house. I’ve done my prep.. I hope.

IME the real test of whether the bass has the issue is if it happens in the presence of the band. It could be fine in the living room, studio, etc.

Thank you. I have to say neither of the angled Maruszczyks I've owned have lacked resonance. I'm not aware of any breakages either.

IMO this is partly interaction between wood and body, and it’s something that can make or break a bass. I guess experimenting with the setup, heavier bridge etc. could help, but some basses just have a this as a baked-in weakness.

Right... I'm into the .last couple of days before rehearsals start. I can probably concentrate on technical stuff this weekend. There's 15 songs in total - that's more than in 2018 - and only one of which I knew already. With the prep I've done I'm confident I can go straight into the rehearsal and just play them. That said, I'd be surprised if all 15 songs end up in the show as they are; I'm not discounting the possibility of changed keys, arrangements, or... a song being dropped completely depending on how the rest of the show pans out. I just have to be prepared for anything. The backline is being loaded into the rehearsal room on Sunday. The core band is going through basic arrangements on Monday, and we'll be joined by the brass and b.vox from Tuesday. Well not be running through the songs with the actual singers until we shift to the Arena later in the week. Until then, it's guide vocals only. Gear-wise, nothing new for me: Limelight Precision w/flats Maruszczyk Jake P + Humbucker w/rounds (I bought two sets of DR Sunbeams specially, 'cos I had none in the house. ha ha) Handbox R-400 head (main) Maruszczyk (aka Handbox) Bass Tank head (backup) TKS S212 2x12 cab LR Baggs Venue DI (just to use as an inline tuner) Still time to tinker beforehand, though...

Eighteen hundrit pund? Wow.

How heavy is it? It looks like a boat anchor to me.

https://reverb.com/item/31895442-klipsch-mcm-msm-1900-loudspeaker-pa-system-altec-291-16b-leland-sklar-37951?fbclid=IwAR2fOPy-hCnK7VrV_TAm6YIAiUbMk0G16gBdsrqHF5dMqH_IBG-x7vPGI28#&gid=1&pid=1

Thanks, Pete! I've had some great offers to help via PM, and it's hugely appreciated. BC is awesome. I'm trying to sort it locally at the moment, but I might call on some of you if it comes to nowt. Thanks again 🙂

That’s bad crack. Fingers crossed that he’s awesome, and brings biscuits etc.

Just ran through the newest addition - it's nowhere near as complicated as I assumed. Phew. Just need the key confirmed now.

Just had another song dropped on me. ha ha. It's another belter, and another I've never played before. Headphones on. (By they way, I'm a non-reader (I KNOW) so I'm learning everything by ear. That's the plan, anyway.)