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Cruise ship gig woes

#5
A line conditioner would be another solution. Not bad idea to have one for every gig. Club power is often dirty because of all the equipment they use:
Coolers, freezers, mixers, lighted signs, heating systems, etc.
I learned this the hard way in the early days of SS (circa 1966). We had just purchased 3 Standel Super Imperials. The club had a large bank of pin ball machines (line spike generators) and the heating system on the same circuit with the stage. We blew all 3 amps. Have you ever heard the sound an amp makes when you put B+ through the voice coil of 2 JBL 15" speakers?
 
#7
DWBass said:
I think I'll be fine with an older non Class-D amp. The guitarist used an older Roland Jazz Chorus and had no issues.
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Ya' think? Note I was describing a failure in 1966. There were no class D amps in 1966. Granted, power sections are better than then, but dirty power can kill any amp. It would be worth the investment.
As a side note, I never got to do a cruise ship. We were booked for one once, but something happened and it was canceled. I was disappointed. Always thought it would be a really fun gig.
 
#9
Gravedigger Dav said:
Ya' think? Note I was describing a failure in 1966. There were no class D amps in 1966. Granted, power sections are better than then, but dirty power can kill any amp. It would be worth the investment.
As a side note, I never got to do a cruise ship. We were booked for one once, but something happened and it was canceled. I was disappointed. Always thought it would be a really fun gig.
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I hear what you're saying but I'm really not looking to drag a bunch of equipment onto a ship for a 2 hour gig. Especially an old ship with no elevator. Had to carry my cab up a flight of stairs not to mention help the drummer with his stuff and also the PA. This was an isolated gig though. Don't see another in the foreseeable future. I was subbing. I'll find me a nice older Carvin or another cheap amp and use that on such gigs. I'm guessing the power was fluctuating below/higher the rated minimum/max for my GK.
 
#11
I own a Shuttle 6.2. Years ago when I was using the 6.0, I played a gig where the amp kept going into protect mode. I checked our Furnam and noticed we were only getting about 90-95v of power. I played the gig thru the PA that night.
Afterwards, I contacted the awesome guys at Genz-Benz. Their engineer told me Class D modules do not do well with low voltage situations. Their amps were designed to go into protect mode in low voltage situations to protect the amp.
Strange the cruise ship wouldn't be able to provide proper voltage.
 
#13
Gravedigger Dav said:
Oh, when you said cruise ship, I imagined a regular cruise line ship, not a tied to the pier rust bucket.
Yeah, I wouldn't expose my stuff to that, either.
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Well it's not exactly that. This is a major attraction (The Spirit Of Norfolk) in my area. The ship goes out 2 times a day for 2-3 hours. Occasionally they have a midnight cruise. But it is an older ship. Basically a floating buffet style restaurant with entertainment. Each deck usually has a band and a DJ.
 
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#14
DWBass said:
Well it's not exactly that. This is a major attraction (The Spirit Of Norfolk) in my area. The ship goes out 2 times a day for 2-3 hours. Occasionally they have a midnight cruise. But it is an older ship. Basically a floating buffet style restaurant with entertainment. Each deck usually has a band and a DJ.
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Okay, sorry, I didn't quite understand, I guess.
Haven't been in the Norfolk area in a lot of years. Used to play the Jolly Roger, the Wing Ding, and some bar I can't remember the name of in the mid/late 60s. Doubt any of them are there now. Then in the early 70s, played all over the Tidewater area with a 6 piece party/show band, George and the Diminished Fifth.
 
#16
DWBass said:
Well it's not exactly that. This is a major attraction (The Spirit Of Norfolk) in my area. The ship goes out 2 times a day for 2-3 hours. Occasionally they have a midnight cruise. But it is an older ship. Basically a floating buffet style restaurant with entertainment. Each deck usually has a band and a DJ.
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My brother lives in the Tidewater area; but, I have not been there in many years. Is The Cave still open in Virginia Beach? Back in the 70s, the wait staff used to dress in prehistoric Flintstone type clothes.
 
#17
DWBass said:
Well it's not exactly that. This is a major attraction (The Spirit Of Norfolk) in my area. The ship goes out 2 times a day for 2-3 hours. Occasionally they have a midnight cruise. But it is an older ship. Basically a floating buffet style restaurant with entertainment. Each deck usually has a band and a DJ.
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Yeah...the same company also operates vessels here in SoCal for short harbor cruises. I never played on one but had our 10 year HS reunion on one in Newport Beach harbor.
At first I thought you were talking about a Hugh 800 feet long cruise ships too. With that said they should not have a problem generating clean power.
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#20
DWBass said:
Were you using a Class D amp? The guitarist used a Roland Chorus and had no issues.
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I've used tube Ampegs, old and busted Hartkes & Peaveys, GKs and Eden...all over the map. I even used an AudioSource vocal monitor at one time.

Now that I think twice about it, perhaps it wasn't dirty power during your situation. Mysterious. Hope it didn't mess up your rig permanently.
 

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