StingRayBoy42

I love that your socks match your stand!

Yes, but *apart* from the better hardware, better pickups and electronics, a better finish, a real rosewood fretboard with rolled edges and vintage tall frets, a bone nut, carbon fibre rods in the neck for increased stability, a more consistant weight, a sculpted neck heel, a fender deluxe hardcase with tools and an American auth certificate in a zip wallet, what have the Romans ever done for us? 😀 One really nice Bass for me. I agree they are tools that do a job, but they're tools like no other - I doubt any electrician has ever thought "God, I absolutely LOVE these wirecutters. I remember the day I bought them, I love the way the handles feel, I love the action of the blades, I love how neatly they cut wires, I love the way they look, they've been my constant companion and partner in crime for thirty years, they've made me a better wire cutter, they got me through some bad times, they've been with me on every important wire-cutting thing I've ever done, I get a childish thrill every time I take them out of the case, people often comment on what nice wirecutters they are, I love sharing pictures of them and talking about them on wirecutterschat, I'd be absolutely devestated if they got nicked and when I die, I'll bequeath them to Daisy (due to a drunken agreement with her Dad many years ago)"

YESTERDAY! Another 'two gigs in one day' Saturday, with different bands this time. First up was the Jones Jazz Orchestra at Church End Brewery somewhere near Nuneaton. Nice place, lovely half of Stout (Stout Coffin 4.5% ABV), decent crowd, very relaxed afternoon. We played a set of 1940s stuff, as we'd been rehearsing for a 1940s event that got cancelled (at an RAF museum in Cosford that shall remain nameless). First gig for the new guitarist who was ace and a new singer who looks about 16 but can really do the business. (He was on BGT with a D-Day themed act a few years ago apparently (presumably when he was about 14)). We played well, sounded good and had a laugh. The brewery owners loved it and said it was the best attended and most enjoyed event they've ever had, so we're looking forward to a return booking. Highlights were a fantastic uptempo Jeff Tyzik arrangement of 'In the Mood', the guitar countermelody in 'Mood Indigo', lovely Emily's vocals on 'Anything Goes' and of course, the Trombone solo in 'Sweet Georgia Brown'. Played the P w/DTFs (the upright is in need of repairs) -> amp board (Thumpinator -> VTDI) -> MB802. Then it was hotfoot to the Bescot stadium in Walsall for Azura (4 piece covers band) at the Midlands Football Awards. Everything was set up by the time I got there (devestated!) so it was a very quick set my stuff up and a 30 second soundcheck. Corporate type affair, dinner and awards with lots of waiting around for us. We had a dressing room, so we sat around and twiddled our thumbs for about three hours... they fed us, so that was nice. First set at 915 for about 45 minutes, not much crowd interaction... one table seemed to be enjoying it and we had fun. More waiting round, back on about 1030 for a brief half hour set to a half empty room. A few dancers up, which is always nice, I went for a wander in the last song - Lekato wireless XLR for IEMs and Subzero wireless bug seem to be doing the job. StingRay -> small board -> amp board -> MB802 Load out was a bit of a faff, we were on the first floor and the lift was tiny... all sorted, back home about 1 for an M&S cider (5.2% ABV?) and a fuss with the cat. Long day, but it's always good to be out playing and the evening do was a good payer, so... pretty happy all things considered.

That is odd... "If your interested in buying message me first before payment. This is for reasons I can't explain here, but I can separately to you (if your interested to know). " Suggests he's trying to dodge ebay fees maybe? If it is a scam, wouldn't he have tried to get some money out of you?

Sorry for your loss and that's a lovely way to pay tribute.

Alan very kindly sent me some microsuction tape that I asked BC about... free and wouldn't even let me pay postage. Top marks.

Yep, it has to be an OTG (On the go) lead. I use a generic one from Ebay.

I thought as much but always worth asking. Cheers folks

Don't think so... bit the bullet and ordered some.

Should I ask for a refund?

My TI Spirocores have started fraying (only had them twenty-odd years!) so it's time for a new set. The cheapest I've found is Thomann at £169, does anyone know anywhere cheaper? They're 4/4 medium gauge. Obviously I've had a google and these were the cheapest I could see, not a bad price tbf but worth asking before I pull the trigger. Cheers

SATURDAY! Two gigs in one day, both with Azura - 4 piece rock 'n' roll/indie/80s stuff. The drive to North Wales took us four hours (should have been less than two) due to a crash on the A53876 (?). The gig was an open day at a caravan park in Towyn (ultra glamorous and sexy, as you can imagine) outside under a gazebo to a load of people who literally could not have cared less. We played pretty well, considering the total lack of any response. The highlight was the stilt walkers and fire dancers who had a boogie along to our set. Thanks, ladies! Then pack down, back in the van, back to the midlands for a quick car swap and off to a pub in Halesowen where we got to do it all again to a slightly more appreciative audience... a few folk seemed to be enjoying it, including the woman who repeatedly told the singer (mid song) that we HAD to do some Kings of Leon, despite being told three times that we were going to. A couple of mates of the band were there and said it sounded grerat out front, a few dancers up by the end and we had a laugh so... yeah. Highlights were the drummer thrashing away at the back like he was on the pyramid stage and finding a still edible slice of Friday's pizza in my bag as we were packing up. I went fully wireless for the first time, Lekato wireless XLR for the IEMs and subzero bug for the Bass... they both played nicely together, so that was a win. Looking forward to the sort of gig where I can go for a wander on to the dance floor. Played the StingRay -> Small board -> Amp board (thumpinator and VTDI) -> MB 802. Back about half midnight for a bottle of Old Pa StingRayBoy's homebrew spiced christmas cider (6.2% ABV (approx)) Not the best gigs I've ever done, but it was more fun than not doing it and it's free money, right?

Fantastic boots!

So sorry for your loss @WalMan Much love to you and yours.

You're a scholar and a gentleman. PM'd you!

I think a few classic rock bands tuned down a semitone - makes it sound more girthsome and the strings bend easier. Also, on a few older recordings they might be in tune with each other but 'a bit' out of tune with a modern tuner - get a music player that can alter pitch to save you retuning between each song. I'm still using Winamp 2.8 which has a great plugin for just such occasions!

That skirt is so short, she could sit on a quid coin and tell you whether it was heads or tails.

'Lockdown in Bognor' sounds like a Half Man Half Biscuit lyric. Glad you had a good one!

Get a setlist and have a listen. As people have said, it'll probably range from simple to tricky and everything inbetween. I'd say go for it - learning stuff you don't normally play is a great way to get better, it's easy money (presuming the gigs are paid?), gigging is generally better than not gigging, being the first call dep in a gigging band is a good place to be, classic rock can be a lot of fun to play (especially if they're a nice bunch of guys) and you'll almost certainly find some stuff you'll end up liking. Keep us posted!

TODAY! Shirley Beer & Cider festival with the Cantina Band! Firrst band on, a one hour set at 3PM, Backline provided, sound engineer and everything - unusual for us. Backline was slightly less good than was mentioned in the contract, but it'd be a bit churlish to complain, right? Halfway through the setlist, we realised we still had about 40 minutes left to play so we had to chuck a few old faithfuls in. We played pretty well, Crowd seemed to enjoy it (from afar), it was all going great guns until the power went... it came back on eventually, minus monitors, so we did what we could for the last few songs. Played the Steling -> small board -> Hartke 410 (I was promised an Ampeg, dammit!) Pay wasn't great so they made it up with beer tokens, enjoyed a pint of Mavis Bumblethorpes (?) Perry (5.4% ABV) on stage, then once we'd finshed, I had a pint of Giddy Goat cider (6.8%), followed by a pint of Merrithorpe's blackout stout (8.75% ABV), then it was back to the cider for a pint of the Spazwhistle (?) 'Guvnor' (10.7% ABV), then I think I had a couple of pints of the Arthur Baslingtons 'Deep, dark pit of depression' (15.8% ABV), followed by a pint of Fotheringay's Self-loathing IPA (21.8% ABV), then it was back to the Cider bar for a couple of pints of Fighty McBastards 'Punchdrunk' Perry (27.9% ABV) which was delicious, before trying the Scrambleton's 'Regret' chocolate stout (39.875% ABV), then I decided to play it safe with a nice, refreshing pint of Samuel Bobbington's 'What in the name of God?'' (19.8456% ABV) before I really went for it with four pints of Asquith's 'Kidney Killer' (57.7% ABV). I was a teensy bit tipsy by this point, so decided to play it safe and stuck to the easy drinking, super quafffable Hampton's 'This is a terrible idea' Porter (157.8% ABV) for the final six pints. Apparently, I walked the 3.8 miles home.