CWB 20: Babes and Barbarians

[Mulebagger]

I love the tone, sound just like mine Only thing i don't like about mine, and notice on your too, is the lower notes (E string for me) always seem to sound mushier than the rest. I thought it was just my cheap bass. I wonder if i should tweak with my EQ some more now that i know it's not just me.

J, is that a 15 combo or 2x10? I played the 500 watt 2x10 when I was considering a combo to ship to NY for a gig rig there when I did some fly dates, but the power seemed to lose focus pretty quickly. Great lightweight concept though.

 

[DerTeufel]

I love the tone, sound just like mine Only thing i don't like about mine, and notice on your too, is the lower notes (E string for me) always seem to sound mushier than the rest. I thought it was just my cheap bass. I wonder if i should tweak with my EQ some more now that i know it's not just me.

Yeah,I noticed that, too. I can live with that, though. It's definitely not your bass.

 

[Thor]

Well, the Sat thing went ok. The front man seemed a little dour though, I think he was in divorce court last week and was having a tough night emotionally. He always stays clean and sober when he's fronting, so he sounded fine, and since he specifically asked me to do this for his sister's entertainment, I made sure he got my best effort.

Lost a really good cord last Wednesday at Billy Goode's in Newport that I had made by TB'er Exaltbass, and didn't notice it till I went over the gear Saturday. Arrggh. Silver soldered Neutrix, blue, one right angle jack. The same guys that were there Wed were supposed to have an open jam Sunday at 10PM - yawn - so I popped over there and they weren't there, there was a NJ fundraiser promoted by local celeb Mark Cutler. I recognized the sit-in guitarist, he spotted it back where the bass cabs usually sit. Five nights and no one stole it, I was pretty impressed.

Well, to get caught up, here we go...

Welp if well means feeding a hundred something people and running your butt off for 10 hours then yeah, things are just swell here ;D

If anyones ever seen John and Kate Plus 8 on TV, Kate is in the restaurant eating as I text this...yeah...I'm basically a chef to the stars now but its okay...I won't forget you little people ;-)

I have usually managed to change the channel when that drivel comes on. At least you got some work out of it? Did they tip anybody?

There is a good band playing 8 blocks from here. I've been painting and working on the house all day. I'm too lazy (tired) to get cleaned up and walk down there.

I'm such a loser.

They make pills to fix that, but I am too lazy to take them.

Brother, if you show up wearing FN's 4" stilletto heels I will buy all night...how am I going to get that image out of my head so I can sleep w/o nightmares?

West VA. Guy in stilletos. I better start working on my Ned Beattie imitation. SoooWeeee!

No shortage of neighborhood bars in Western PA.

Correct IME. What's with all the yellow and black decor though, ugly combo, ya know?

I dunno, it kinda interested me... although I"d like to see him walk in them, since there's no way i could walk in them.

I have smaller feet than you dahling so it's easier for me, but I would need lessons from TBird1958 to do it any justice. lol.

Practiced last night with my old friend Ron (guitar) and his daughter Allison (singer). Girl has some pipes. Nailed the Lisa Loeb song "Stay"; especially considering the little time she spent learning the song. Turns out her BF is a singer/songwriter type. He played some of his original material; I jumped in underneath him. He liked what I was doing so maybe a gig or two there for me. Regardless it was a great evening.

That's pretty awesome stuff!

Hope you have a lot more of that coming your way!

Checking in from Jersey, things have been busy along the Shore line while everyone tries to get back a tiny bit of whatever used to be normal. It's weird to be in an area that has been completely destroyed, then drive 2-3 miles inland and have everything look normal. Some of these folks have lost everything ... Their home, belongings, jobs, pets ... But their resilience is humbling and they are definitely in the recovery mode.

My trio did 11 "gigs" over two days in 9 recovery centers along Ocean and Monmouth Counties. We would play about 90 minutes, then pack up and head out to the next one. Mostly jazz standards, stuff that most folks could sing and dance to, along with some little kid songs from Sesame Street. It was wonderful to be able to share some music with these folks, especially in these smaller settings (most of the centers serviced a few hundred people at most).

I've found that a lot of the benefit-type events being developed for the storm victims are trying to be massive, huge money generators. There is so much cost associated with promoting and running these shows that I wonder how much direct help it gives to the people really in need. But doing these little mini-shows we saw that people were able to get away from the grind of cleaning up/rebuilding, sit down for a few moments and sing, laugh a bit, maybe even dance at times. And these centers we visited are nothing fancy at all .... most are someone's personal home that, by sheer luck, didn't get destroyed and have now become the neighborhood gathering place for supplies, food and companionship.

And most surprising to us .... at 8 of the "gigs" they actually passed the hat (literally) to collect some money for the band, which just blew us away. Here are these folks with almost nothing left, digging deep for a few dollars as their way of saying thanks. And they wouldn't let us refuse the money, either, so we went to a local winery in central NJ and purchased 9 cases of nice wine which are being dropped off today, one at each location, for their make-shift Thanksgiving Day meals.

These folks are a real inspiration and we (the band) were humbled by their generosity, warm welcome and friendship. What we did, playing a few tunes for some folks, was absolutely nothing compared to how much these families have been through and how much strength they have to get their lives back together. It made us appreciate just how lucky we are ....

Well, I guess that blows my theory about how everyone in NJ is a jerk.

Ed, it's a pleasure to know folks like yourself. Keep up the good work. You've inspired me to do some random good today.

Ed, you are awesome.

I know the feelings you are describing. Years ago southern West Virginia suffered a huge flood disaster at Buffalo Creek, [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
We went down and spent the day helping people dig out of the mud and then gave a benefit concert. Talk about an appreciative audience! Gestures such as you describe help keep you humble and help to keep your priorities in proper order.

You get a major "atta boy", Ed.

+ a lot!

The world needs more of you.

His local 'bank' will be calling for 'deposits' for posterity if the word gets out.

You guys are going to make me cry if this keeps up. But real men do cry. It's ok. I cry when I run out of beer all the time.

Talk about a tease. I am home today and it is NBD day (Alembic Essence fretless 4). Working at my laptop when I hear a truck door slam. Opened my front door and watched the Fedex driver rummaging through his truck. He comes out empty handed and says, "I have to go back a get it. Will return this afternoon"

Did you forget the correct amount of 'squeeze' for the holiday deliveries?

 

[DerTeufel]

Jaame, I played my GK head through each of my two cabinets - an old JBL cabaret series 4625 115 cabinet and an el cheapo Seismic 210. The JBL cabinet has a better SPL rating (100 dB) and the Seismic cab is rated at 96 db. I actually preferred the sound of the amp through the 210 vs the single 15. That "mushiness" that was heard on the E string notes wasn't there. It sounded awesome, in fact. I'll get you some sound clips later on.

 

[DerTeufel]

Here ya go, Jaame and anyone else that may be interested. Recorded with a Zoom H1, my ipod through my mixer and the lows eq'd out and running through a single powered PA speaker. The GK eq is set flat and the volume set at 11 o'clock and going into a single 210 cabinet. The second song was to demonstrate the low B notes, and the snippet of the last song was to demonstrate how nasty (in a good way) that the little amp can get with my 'Ray.

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[JaamE]

J, is that a 15 combo or 2x10? I played the 500 watt 2x10 when I was considering a combo to ship to NY for a gig rig there when I did some fly dates, but the power seemed to lose focus pretty quickly. Great lightweight concept though.

It's the 15. I'm told that a tilt stand when playing out will help with my perception of the sound (all i heard when i played it out the first time was an indistinct rumble behind me until i moved a bit further from away from it). It sounded great on the FOH though. At home I'm usually listening through headphones, but they have a semi decent freq range (although now that i think of it, i should try my sons really good ones with it and see if i hear a difference)

 

[JaamE]

Here ya go, Jaame and anyone else that may be interested. Recorded with a Zoom H1, my ipod through my mixer and the lows eq'd out and running through a single powered PA speaker. The GK eq is set flat and the volume set at 11 o'clock and going into a single 210 cabinet. The second song was to demonstrate the low B notes, and the snippet of the last song was to demonstrate how nasty (in a good way) that the little amp can get with my 'Ray.

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Oh nice, now i have low B envy!!! Dang you DT!!
Actually i probably can't tell much on this netbook with the postage-stamp sized "sound card" So I'll give it a listen at work tomorrow with the same gear i listened to the first one. But even though it's hard for me to compare when it's a different song i think i hear what you mean. I probably need to keep playing with the EQ, i tend to not fiddle with knobs much.

I used to (way back when) know the dance that went with that last song though

 

[DerTeufel]

Oh nice, now i have low B envy!!! Dang you DT!!
Actually i probably can't tell much on this netbook with the postage-stamp sized "sound card" So I'll give it a listen at work tomorrow with the same gear i listened to the first one. But even though it's hard for me to compare when it's a different song i think i hear what you mean. I probably need to keep playing with the EQ, i tend to not fiddle with knobs much.

I used to (way back when) know the dance that went with that last song though

I loooooove playing 5'ers.

Listening to it via headphones or good speakers is a must, imo. I've noticed that small changes to the GK's eq yielded big changes.

I highly suggest getting the speaker closer to your ears for stage monitoring. Something as simple as a 2x4 works wonders if you're standing 5-6 feet away.

 

[etoncrow]

Hey ya'll, going south today to visit my folks and gather with my sisters for Thanksgiving; so, in case I do not have another opportunity, ya'll have a wonderful Thanksgiving, be safe and be truly thankful.

 

[DerTeufel]

Hey ya'll, going south today to visit my folks and gather with my sisters for Thanksgiving; so, in case I do not have another opportunity, ya'll have a wonderful Thanksgiving, be safe and be truly thankful.

Have a great weekend, Crow. Have yourself a happy Thanksgiving!

 

[Mulebagger]

It's the 15. I'm told that a tilt stand when playing out will help with my perception of the sound (all i heard when i played it out the first time was an indistinct rumble behind me until i moved a bit further from away from it). It sounded great on the FOH though.

If you aren't using your cabinet to carry the venue, I'd sit it on top of a stool or chair to get it closer to ear level. I've found that when I tilt a cabinet, I have more trouble hearing it because the sweet spot is much smaller, meaning I cant change my proximity to the cabinet as much because I'm moving off axis when I step away from the cabinet. Picture the sound as a light source. when you raise the cabinet and keep it vertical, you are still fully in the beam of light, but with more or less intensity. With it on the floor and tilted, you are walking in and out of the beam of light or catching the edge as you walk away.

The GK combos are nice units. Especially for a practice or solo gig. Super light and a great sound within their comfortable power range. Go rock that thang girl!

 

[Mulebagger]

Recording update: it comes in 3's

Last night the restaurant where our drummer works flooded from a city water main break. The place will close for a month or so, and may permanently. He is essentially out of a job.

Yesterday I picked up a new handle for my slider door of my mojovan that i broke off by applying too much mule to it. I took the inside of my door apart and was outside my van sliding the door to get out a screw that fell... then I heard, click, click... not a robber, but the door ratcheting closed on my left fingers. I called out for some assistance, but being a good energy conscious homeowner, I've insulated my garage into a my fingers are stuck yell proof chamber. I looked around the garage as I felt my fingers going numb and managed to grab a piece of oak trim. After about 3 minutes and a couple of pops from my fingers going into unnatural positions, I was able to free them. Not my first time having fingers come out of joint, although it always hurts like it's the first time. I made my inner child cry, but i was able to realign them Advil, and ice. They hurt but I'm ready to play.

My older daughter is off today so she was tagging along to see us record. Well, until she complained that her insides were like razorblades as we were parking at the diner to meet the band. I rushed back home to avoid the Jackson Pollack-ing of my dash and upholstery. Now she is sleeping.

Recording delayed till this evening, but we will rock this sucker out later.

Wishing you all the most wonderful of Thanksgivings. Love, Laugh, and be Thankful... that's what I'll be doing.

Derrick

 

[DerTeufel]

If you aren't using your cabinet to carry the venue, I'd sit it on top of a stool or chair to get it closer to ear level. I've found that when I tilt a cabinet, I have more trouble hearing it because the sweet spot is much smaller, meaning I cant change my proximity to the cabinet as much because I'm moving off axis when I step away from the cabinet. Picture the sound as a light source. when you raise the cabinet and keep it vertical, you are still fully in the beam of light, but with more or less intensity. With it on the floor and tilted, you are walking in and out of the beam of light or catching the edge as you walk away.

The GK combos are nice units. Especially for a practice or solo gig. Super light and a great sound within their comfortable power range. Go rock that thang girl!

Setting it on top of another cabinet works too.

Depending on the size of the venue, I wouldn't have any hesitation about using my MB200 and a 210. It would be more than enough at the place I have been playing. Big halls or large outdoor venues, however, is a different story. I'm seriously considering buying a second 210 cabinet.

 

[DerTeufel]

Recording update: it comes in 3's

Last night the restaurant where our drummer works flooded from a city water main break. The place will close for a month or so, and may permanently. He is essentially out of a job.

Yesterday I picked up a new handle for my slider door of my mojovan that i broke off by applying too much mule to it. I took the inside of my door apart and was outside my van sliding the door to get out a screw that fell... then I heard, click, click... not a robber, but the door ratcheting closed on my left fingers. I called out for some assistance, but being a good energy conscious homeowner, I've insulated my garage into a my fingers are stuck yell proof chamber. I looked around the garage as I felt my fingers going numb and managed to grab a piece of oak trim. After about 3 minutes and a couple of pops from my fingers going into unnatural positions, I was able to free them. Not my first time having fingers come out of joint, although it always hurts like it's the first time. I made my inner child cry, but i was able to realign them Advil, and ice. They hurt but I'm ready to play.

My older daughter is off today so she was tagging along to see us record. Well, until she complained that her insides were like razorblades as we were parking at the diner to meet the band. I rushed back home to avoid the Jackson Pollack-ing of my dash and upholstery. Now she is sleeping.

Recording delayed till this evening, but we will rock this sucker out later.

Wishing you all the most wonderful of Thanksgivings. Love, Laugh, and be Thankful... that's what I'll be doing.

Derrick

I hope your drummer can retain his job and/or finds another job quickly.

YOUCH!!! I've closed stuff on my fingers before..if there is any one thing that will cause me go into a violent rage, it is pain to my fingers. If I had gone through what you did, I would have avoided that van for a day or so.

Looking forward to hearing your recordings.

 

[Ed Goode]

Recording update: it comes in 3's

Last night the restaurant where our drummer works flooded from a city water main break. The place will close for a month or so, and may permanently. He is essentially out of a job.

Yesterday I picked up a new handle for my slider door of my mojovan that i broke off by applying too much mule to it. I took the inside of my door apart and was outside my van sliding the door to get out a screw that fell... then I heard, click, click... not a robber, but the door ratcheting closed on my left fingers. I called out for some assistance, but being a good energy conscious homeowner, I've insulated my garage into a my fingers are stuck yell proof chamber. I looked around the garage as I felt my fingers going numb and managed to grab a piece of oak trim. After about 3 minutes and a couple of pops from my fingers going into unnatural positions, I was able to free them. Not my first time having fingers come out of joint, although it always hurts like it's the first time. I made my inner child cry, but i was able to realign them Advil, and ice. They hurt but I'm ready to play.

My older daughter is off today so she was tagging along to see us record. Well, until she complained that her insides were like razorblades as we were parking at the diner to meet the band. I rushed back home to avoid the Jackson Pollack-ing of my dash and upholstery. Now she is sleeping.

Recording delayed till this evening, but we will rock this sucker out later.

Wishing you all the most wonderful of Thanksgivings. Love, Laugh, and be Thankful... that's what I'll be doing.

Derrick

And people think a musicians life is glamorous

Hang tough .....

 

[Mulebagger]

Setting it on top of another cabinet works too.

Depending on the size of the venue, I wouldn't have any hesitation about using my MB200 and a 210. It would be more than enough at the place I have been playing. Big halls or large outdoor venues, however, is a different story. I'm seriously considering buying a second 210 cabinet.

I hope your drummer can retain his job and/or finds another job quickly.

YOUCH!!! I've closed stuff on my fingers before..if there is any one thing that will cause me go into a violent rage, it is pain to my fingers. If I had gone through what you did, I would have avoided that van for a day or so.

Looking forward to hearing your recordings.

Thanks brother. Yeah, afterwards I sat in my practice room for a little bit to let the hulk stay subdued inside

Im usually protective of my hands when I work. But after all the years of construction, you have mishaps where you catch a finger, or flip it back till it touches the back of your hand etc. Makes me feel a bit nauseous looking at them all unhinged but they are doing fine today, besides hurting.

I agree, adding a cab would be best for getting the combo up higher and for overall volume. I prefer not to lift my cabs off the ground, but if I was going through FOH, my combo is basically functioning as my monitor.

Over the years I've had some combos that I've really enjoyed:

SWR workingman 12
SWR Baby Blue II
Mesa Walkabout Scout 12
Mesa Walkabout Scout 15
GK MB150
Markbass cmp 121
Markbass cmp 102
A slew of Peavey TNTs and Minx combos

Out of all of them my favorites were the SWR BabyBlue and the Mesa Scout 12. Every one of them sounded pretty good, but the problem always is volume and the ability to keep it's composure when pushed.

Now days I use my BagEnd S15X-D and the TH500 as a killer little combo. I can easily hang with a drummer and it nets out at around 50 lbs. I'd really like to get an Aguilar SL12 that comes in at 25 lbs, but I'll have to save for something like that.

One time i played a street festival and brought my mesa 6x10 and my SWR SM900. I wanted to have a great sound for the gig. The guy going on before me had a little Peavey 15, but his sound through the mains was great! When I got up there the sound guy kept telling me to turn down and he barely put me through the mains. I ended up sounding like crap on the street. Granted, my drummer was loud so I needed some horsepower. However, lesson learned! Only bring what I need for the stage when we have PA reinforcement. And who doesn't like a little PA to help shake your booty.

 

[Mulebagger]

Ed, one look at me and no one would ever associate glamour with music again

Have a great holiday and keep up the inspiring work out there.

 

[DerTeufel]

I try to take great care while at work to protect my digits. I've abused them enough..belt sander accident, drill press accident..and multiple interactions with hammers of various weights. Yesterday I was helping a co-worker with tires and pinched the heck out of one of my fingers with the wheel weight pliers. They went for a short flight.

I am bored silly at work.

 

[BassGen]

Holy moly MB! That's gotta hurt!

One of my son's friends was visiting us and his Mum and brother came to pick him up. They had a Venture that had a power sliding door. Younger brother was taking his seat in the 3rd row and I guess had his hand in the door jamb as the power door closed. It latched and because his fingers were jamming the door tight it would not unlatch. I finally had to crawl in the opposite side with two wrecking bars and was able to relieve the pressure from the door enough for him to get his hand out. Oh I felt bad for that kid but he was all right in the end. Hope you heal up well too!

 

[Mulebagger]

Holy moly MB! That's gotta hurt!

One of my son's friends was visiting us and his Mum and brother came to pick him up. They had a Venture that had a power sliding door. Younger brother was taking his seat in the 3rd row and I guess had his hand in the door jamb as the power door closed. It latched and because his fingers were jamming the door tight it would not unlatch. I finally had to crawl in the opposite side with two wrecking bars and was able to relieve the pressure from the door enough for him to get his hand out. Oh I felt bad for that kid but he was all right in the end. Hope you heal up well too!

Oh man BG, that poor kid. It breaks my heart to see kids hurt like that! I heard those clicks and I knew I was in trouble, well mostly because I was replacing my missing outside latch, so I had no way to open the door. Thankfully, the piece of oak gave me enough leverage to get my hand out. The sound and numbness of my fingers popping made me want to wretch, but i was glad at least that they weren't severed in some way. It took an hour to get the door open. ( only a few minutes to get my hand out ). I snapped a pic of my hand about an hour after performing some garage chiropractics. Believe it or not, my biggest frustration was thinking that I wouldn't be able to record in the morning because my car had the door half latched. Thank goodness my brain isn't too complex

I learned a number of years ago if you've worked 14 hours... take a break from the nail gun