Rosie C

3 hours ago, Geek99 said:

id love to try a db @Rosie C 

Then we shall make that happen!

16 hours ago, Count Bassy said:

Which Kawai digital was it?  My wife (a piano teacher) has a Kawai ES8 (one before the current model) and it sounds and feels great. Note quite like a real one, but very close. (She has a real one (Woodchester) as well)

It's a CS7. Technically I can't fault it - the action and sound is great. 

15 minutes ago, TrevorR said:

It’s clear from those vids that she’s actively MDing a live band, calling repeats and transitions, calling dynamics, controlling some sort of tech with those buttons to her left… all very impressive.  

The first time I watched the video, I wasn't sure what I was watching. But I read your description, watched again and I get it! Impressive, and an interesting way to make music. In a way, not so different to our church band, except we have no tech, and play standing around the MD's piano so we can hear his instructions but the congregation can't. 

2 hours ago, Stub Mandrel said:

Pair of side cutters.

 

That's the best mains detector. They make a flash, a bang and a cloud of smoke to let you know a cable is live. 

 

And develop a neat notch to provide a permanent record.

Been there! Mid 1990s, me and a friend were renovating a flat I'd bought, on evenings after work. It was winter so we'd left the mains on, confident that a particular wire was not live. 

11 minutes ago, Marky L said:

At least I wasn't using a screwdriver to stick in the earth socket 😆

The scientist in me wants to test how much electricity the pencil's graphite core will conduct!  😈

Infamy! Our worship band has had a little recognition - we've been invited to play at another church next week at a special diocese-wide service. I'm going to dust off my upright for the occasion  

1 hour ago, Happy Jack said:

Mine is about 20 cents below Ab, which is about as useless as it gets.

 

Interesting, mine is more of a pink noise. But I have hyperacusis too, so maybe not exactly tinnitus.

8 minutes ago, BigRedX said:

5. However it should be possible to get something serviceable for free. Here in the UK people can't even give away old upright pianos. 

This is also my experience. We gave our baby grand for free to a local school. The upright we had before that the guy who delivered the baby grand took it away for free 'as a favour'.

If I was buying a new upright now I'd probably start my search with a Yamaha B2. 

I've just sold my Kawai digital. I liked that it could do harpsichord, and I liked not having to heat the room or pay for tuning, but it lacked the soul of a 'real' piano.

2 hours ago, Chienmortbb said:

I hope this does not turn into a rant, but... here goes:

...

Interesting. I'd not realised the difference in flexibility. I must admit my main reason to buy orange lawnmower flex was it being hi-vis for teenage boys running amok at our community band break time... though I'm sure the pro cable comes in bright colours too. I always use Neutrik connectors though.

2 hours ago, knirirr said:

 

I tried that for a while, before the other eye also worsened. These days monocles only appear to be made in certain set diameters and gallery depths rather than made to fit the wearer; if those standard sizes are right for your eye then you should be fine. Otherwise, it is likely to fall out frequently and be uncomfortable to hold in pace.

I'd not realised that was significant, but you're right - although the place I'm planning to use seems to be one of the leading suppliers, there only 38mm and 40mm sizes. Not that I need it to read music, more to take a quick look at a set list, or remind myself of the opening bar of a tune. I'm in a 'border morris' side, so a monocle will work well with the rest of my outfit. 

10 minutes ago, Wombat said:

You can get varifocal contact lenses now too…

My optician suggested one eye short vision, one eye long vision, but I dismissed that out of hand as a crazy idea.  

As it happened, I failed the test for contacts - the callouses on my left hand fingers from bass-ing and mandolin-ing meant I couldn't feed the lens, and I couldnt' manage the "left lens in with the right hand" thing. So I wear glasses, though I am considering a monocle!

9 hours ago, Chienmortbb said:

As someone of a certain age, and having Bronchiectasis (think COPD but not self-inflicted) I am interested whether any of you do anything to stay fit enough for gigging?

I joined my local gym. Not something I EVER thought I'd do, but my doc gave me a choice of meds or NHS part-funded gym membership. The strange thing was after a few weeks I started to really enjoy it and missed it if I couldn't work out for a few days. Nothing too strenuous - treadmill, cycle machine, and some weights and there's big TVs to watch so the time goes quickly. My formal exercise goals include "carrying my bass amp"    

The NHS bit was quite important for me - I have a special coach who went through my medical history and designed a suitable programme and keeps tabs on my progress. 

18 hours ago, Stub Mandrel said:

In the days before Speakon, I used to make my own speaker leads using (orange) twin-core 13A mains cable.

Despite these days of Speakon, I still use orange twin-core mains cable to make my speaker cables, just I use Speakon plugs now  

A Boss CS-3 compression pedal. In good condition, with box and manual. Currently fitted with a Boss replacement base and velcro, but the original base is included.

Collect for free from Chepstow, or I can post to UK addresses.

Boss FV-50H high-impedance stereo volume pedal. In good condition, with original box and manual. It has velcro fitted on the underside. 

I can post to UK addresses, or you can collect from Chepstow.

From Boss:

The high-impedance FV-50H is designed to be connected before guitar effect units in the signal chain. 

The Minimum Volume knob lets users set minimum volume as desired. Convenient Tuner Out jack enables speedy tuning on stage. 

Shine a Little Love - Electric Light Orchestra

Invisible Man - Queen

My fretless jazz has a PF fretboard and I like it. When it arrived the wood did have a dry open texture feel to it. I applied a series of fine sand paper and waxed it and I'm very happy with the result.

3 x NA3MDF female XLR D-type pass-through Neutrik connectors

and

3 x NA3FDM male XLR D-type pass-through Neutrik connectors

Good condition, used only for a couple of weeks for a student project. 

All six, £25 inc. postage to UK addresses. I could split into smaller quantities if needed. 

22 minutes ago, Cato said:

 

Did he actually hear it?

 

I was gobsmacked the first time I heard the double bass noises coming out of a tiny uke bass.

 

Not sure what I thought I thought it was going to sound like, but certainly not that!

Indeed! Before I bought mine I didn’t believe it would sound as good as it does and hooked up with an old band mate to try his before I ordered.

No, the band leader hasn’t heard it yet but I’ll take it to the next service we do  😈

14 hours ago, Len_derby said:

It’s obviously got a very different visual presence to a traditional bass guitar or upright. But, so what? 

I mentioned the U-bass to the band leader in our church band and didn't sense any enthusiasm at all, yet it sounds awesome!   

I have the Kala 'striped ebony'. At the time it was the cheapest Kala model in Thomann's range, though they don't seem to list it anymore.

Not my photo, but it looks like this:

They weigh virtually nothing, but I'm happy to weigh mine for you. I've only had it about two weeks, but I love it. Somehow it defies the laws of physics - such a deep bass sound for such a small thing. I'm gigging it on Tuesday at a Morris dancing thing as a substitute for double bass while a leg injury heals.

EDIT: 2.6 lbs  

On 19/05/2025 at 12:39, Pea Turgh said:

Had to find a lookalike of my first amp.  Did its job I suppose!

 

I had one of those from about 2001 to 2022. It did its job. I donated it to a local music school and as far as I know it's still going.