StingRayBoy42

TONIGHT! The Cantina Band at the wedding of Lewis (?) and Gemma (?) at a posh hotel somewhere near Nuneaton. The happy couple had seen our subtle blend of extremely loud rock covers and slapdash half-arsedery at a gig a few months ago and liked the cut of our jib for some reason, so they booked us to play their wedding. We mainly play Motorhead, AC/DC, Sex Pistols, Buzzcocks, Clash, Ramones, Sabbath type stuff, so obviously they thought "This is the perfect band to make our special day truly memorable". Arrival at 5:30, load in to a tiny marquee filled with very well turned out wedding guests, elderly relatives and infants sliding across the small dancefloor. This... could be a weird gig, lads. Quick setup, soundcheck resulted in lots of bemused/disgusted looks before a quick pint and band conflab (many variations on "We're going to go down like a broken escalator/turd in a lift/Pork pie at Passover") and then we were on. Three songs into the first set, half the people had left. I can't say I blame them. One table seemed to be quite enjoying it (including Uncle Knobhead (there's one at every wedding)) so that was something. A few hardy souls braved the dancefloor for a couple of the less overtly offensive numbers, and at the groom's request we'd learned a McFly song (!) for the bride (Five colours in her hair (that's the name of the song, not... the bride only had one colour in her hair. Two, max) which is good fun to play and more complicated than you'd think) so we got her to join in with the singing on that, which went down well (especially with Uncle Knobhead, he loved it) and dispelled some of the air of "WTF?" . First set done, we stepped out for a vape while they cut the cake and had their first dance (not counting five colours in her hair (the song)). Second set kicked off with Highway to Hell, and suddenly they were all loving it. Packed dancefloor, everyone singing along and having a whale of a time! The second set has a few more well known/not as deliberately obtuse rock numbers in, so it went down really well. I took to the dancefloor for Sex on Fire, and had a boogie with Uncle Knobhead and the mother of the bride, which was an absolute hoot. The singer was recovering from a chest infection, so he was really struggling by this point... I helped him out on Jonny B Goode, then attempted to give him a hand on Proud Mary, before realising I don't actually know any of the words (apart from "Left a good job in the city" and "rolling") so it became a comedy number. Played the Sterling ->small board -> sansamp -> MB 121. All done, loads of people said they'd really enjoyed it (some of them even aked for our card(!)), couple of onion bhajis from the buffet, photo of the bride on the drums and the groom on Bass, pack down while the DJ played the sort of music you'd actually *want* to hear at a wedding, well paid, home about 11:15 for last nights chicken curry & dahl and a pint of old father StingRayBoy's homebrew cider (ABV unknown). Actually a pretty good gig, considering how bad we thought it was going to be.

Nice work! Basses sound great, lovely playing and you've nailed all the intricate little bits. 10/10 no notes.

Just out of interest, are your Spectors shielded?

I once stated a gig on completely the wrong song... should have been E up to B (clean), I started on drop Eb to D with lots of distortion... 🤮🤮🤮 Shall we make sure we have setlists?

What you need is a Hipshot!

Cobra make some fairly decent cheap bags https://www.terralec.co.uk/136-cobra/flight_cases__bags/12502_0b.html https://www.ebay.co.uk/str/terralec

G4M got back to me, they reckon: "Unfortunately the power going through active pickups would most likely cause interference with the transmitter." So make of that what you will.

I've emailled them to ask, I'll report back when they reply

The subzero guitar bug I have definitely works fine with all of my active Basses (EBMM StingRay 4, EBMM StingRay 5 and EBMM Sterling 4). It looks exactly like the one I linked to, I bought it used from BC. The G4M site does say they don't work with active pickups, I've no idea why - the only thing I can think of is *maybe* they used to use a stereo jack? For some reason? Which *might* cause issues with a stereo jack socket? Which some (?) active Basses use? Or maybe some active pickups have a really hot signal? Which it doesn't like? This is just an uneducated guess! Mine works with my Ernie Ball Basses, YMMV!

Get in among them for Dancing Queen, they'll love it!

Subzero is Gear4music's own brand stuff, it's probably the same innards as the Joyo, Lekato, Xvive, Thomann own-brand and all the other cheapo versions. I got a Lekato wireless XLR (about £70) for my IEMs and it's been great (so far, touch wood), a few folk on here use their wireless guitar bugs and rate them, an IRL friend uses one and likes it and forty quid seems like it's worth a punt. Get a wireless XLR *AND* the guitar bug and go full wireless - wandering on to the dancefloor at a gig is a great laugh.

I know you've bought one, but if anyone else is interested... I use the Subzero guitar bug https://www.gear4music.com/Guitar-and-Bass/SubZero-Pocket-Guitar-Bug-Digital-Wireless-System/33F7 It works with my active Basses (MM StingRays and Sterling), it's 5.8GHz so hopefully no interference, 4 switchable channels (with different coloured lights!), USB charging, worked a treat at many gigs and rehearsals, highly reccomended.

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?