The Combo Club

[Giffro]

Yes things are certainly bad in your neck of the woods. Homes lost in SA as 30 new fires burn amid catastrophic conditions

Look after yourself

Cheers Bazza
Things look pretty dire around the Sydney area still. Terrible start to summer with at least 3 months to go..we still get quite hot SA days in March..Thanks to all overseas members for their best wishes regarding fires here in my state of SA and the bad fires in NSW around Sydney.
I know there were some Q'land fires not long ago Bazza..they all out now I hope.

 

[EatS1stBassist]

Stay safe Giffro!

 

[Giffro]

Stay safe Giffro!

Thanks EatS1st Bass Man. Its cooler weather here today but more heat to come next week. Stocking up on beer for the wife's fridge loll

 

[EatS1stBassist]

Thanks EatS1st Bass Man. Its cooler weather here today but more heat to come next week. Stocking up on beer for the wife's fridge loll

Good my friend!!

 

[GwenOnBass]

A friend of mine who mainly just played at home for her own enjoyment, has recently joined a reggae band and is looking for a bass rig. She has asked me to help her find a lightweight rig that she can carry herself that will be able to deliver the bottom end and volume on backline only reggae gigs. She has a budget of £500. I can find her a new amp and used cab within her budget but her preference is for a single unit for convenience. Any suggestions.

A used Markbass with its VLE would do the trick nicely for those good dub tones.

 

[JPDsma]

And much of the Rumble combo line is in her price range. My 200c w/ 1-15” comes in at 15.6 kg and runs~ $4-500 USD or ~3-400 GBP

 

[SoulReflection]

Safe here now after the bushfires have been mainly contained, yet some are still active. We came close with fires burning just north of us. The Adelaide hills was the worst as the huge fires there were less than 40 minutes from the centre of Adelaide City. 1 million people live here in Adelaide and surrounding suburbs. It was a very dangerous situation and areas still have power turned off as infrastructure has been damaged by fire. Few pics below don't really show the actual devastation that was caused..they may give some sort of an idea. Love the saved koalas pic sheltering in a wildlife carer's home. Only 2 known deaths so far but lots of flora and wildlife lost. THANKS TO ALL WHO WISHED US TO STAY SAFE.
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Happy to hear this, Giff! Having gone through similar, it's nice to know the worst is behind you.

 

[Doctor Intrepid]

That says it all. Thanks for the input Doc.

No problem. Hold in there and take care of yourselves. There is no way in which this is normal. All you can do is be strive to be strong, be cautious and play bass! I wish I had more wisdom than that, but I don't. It is a personal thing.

 

[Giffro]

No problem. Hold in there and take care of yourselves. There is no way in which this is normal. All you can do is be strive to be strong, be cautious and play bass! I wish I had more wisdom than that, but I don't. It is a personal thing.

I'm always cautious playing bass Doc..lol
Seriously, thank you for the best wishes.

 

[Giffro]

My nightly before-bed thoughts. So our singing guitarist/music teacher and I decided to go over tunes after school on the stage for 1) to tighten a few parts down, and 2) to relax and enjoy ourselves playing music. Today was our half-day caroling field trip and it was quite memorable. Let me tell you the tale...

After lunch in town and minutes before we were to head to our final retirement residence, we found ourselves with extra time and decided to do a flash mob, of sorts, by stopping off at my mom's house and singing a few songs to her. She lives on a busy street a block away from our high school, but the holiday spirit took hold of us so off we went. The three pics below show you the results. My ma cried her eyes out because she was so touched. A life-long worker in the educational field, she enjoyed a yellow bus double-parked outside her house with sixty fifth-graders jumping out to sing to her. Best feeling I've had so far this holiday.

Tomorrow, we're playing holiday favorites with 400 of our best friends singing at the top of their lungs as I've mentioned. Jordan told me this afternoon that playing along with the kids means a tug of war with tempo. She said they'll push it to the maximum threshold. She added that she'll start a song slower than usual, they'll push it way up through their exuberance, and then it's a battle the rest of the way to find a compromise. Sounds like fun.

Once again, we're using side-fill monitors and it is truly glorious. My Rumble 100 truly never sounded better today; fat but still with decent definition, woody as woody can be within Iowa law, and generally a pleasant tone to mix in with other instruments. I seriously question whether I need another bass amp as long as there's proper PA support. I even thought it'd be a hoot to bring out the VOX combo amp and roll the dice with (especially since Doc has stiffed me!). Even my buddy said it's been a pleasure playing the last week or two because she's now admitting it's the first time she's actually heard me playing the songs with her. Very nice.

I'm gonna try and get either a video of a song or possibly a recording with my portable recorder. If it doesn't come out well I'll forget it, but if you can actually hear and make out the instruments I may post or mail it off to anyone interested. Bueller? Bueller?

That's it for now. Off to Dreamland and prep for the final school day of 2019. I'm cautiously excited...

Talk at ya this weekend. Hey, what happened to my $1,000,000,000 bonus offer for bringing in a new member or two? It's been a while since we've added anyone to the Golden Roster. Get busy, elves!

Great story Mike and beautiful pictures too of you and Mom iagtrplyr, plus the 60 Mike Bass Player protege's.

 

[biguglyman]

Hey fellow comboers. Sorry i haven't been here for a bit. Been trying to give birth to a kidney stone. He arrived yesterday and his name is Oliver...lol Feeling better now.

And isn't it nice when family members come home for the holidays? My son has been using this to practice some bass (he has my precision) and for his keys.

 

[iagtrplyr]

Great story Mike and beautiful pictures too of you and Mom iagtrplyr, plus the 60 Mike Bass Player protege's.

Truer words were never written, thank you Giff. It’ll one those memories that I’ll keep with me forever. As far as the 60 little protégés, my friends tell me that’s their scariest nightmare...more who think like me!

Have a brew in the shanty for us today. I already says cheers to you at our local watering hole after school yesterday. Think of it as a postgame celebration.

BTW, while I didn’t record anything into my Tascam, a couple of people did record songs of yesterday and posted at least one on Facebook. I’ll check it out and paste the link.

The verdict was quite positive from the audience, if you can believe Kindergarteners who love their music teacher anyway. Talk is they’d like us back for 2020...

 

[iagtrplyr]

Hey fellow comboers. Sorry i haven't been here for a bit. Been trying to give birth to a kidney stone. He arrived yesterday and his name is Oliver...lol Feeling better now.

And isn't it nice when family members come home for the holidays? My son has been using this to practice some bass (he has my precision) and for his keys.

View attachment 3639082

Ah, everyone loves to come home for the holidays...both combos and kidney stones.

Wish Oliver a happy one for us, Bigs!

 

[Giffro]

Hey fellow comboers. Sorry i haven't been here for a bit. Been trying to give birth to a kidney stone. He arrived yesterday and his name is Oliver...lol Feeling better now.

And isn't it nice when family members come home for the holidays? My son has been using this to practice some bass (he has my precision) and for his keys.

View attachment 3639082

Wooo Biggie (I could call you BigUglyMan..but thought better of it loll)..glad your kidney stone came out in the end..so to speak..my ex wife had one of those and i'd never seen anyone in so much pain before. Hope you are feeling better. Have fun with your family over the holidays.

 

[EatS1stBassist]

Hey fellow comboers. Sorry i haven't been here for a bit. Been trying to give birth to a kidney stone. He arrived yesterday and his name is Oliver...lol Feeling better now.

And isn't it nice when family members come home for the holidays? My son has been using this to practice some bass (he has my precision) and for his keys.

View attachment 3639082

So sorry that’s a tough one. Kidney stones are the worst. I went through that myself. I hope you and Ollie are doing ok. Happy Holidays Mate!!

 

[Giffro]

Most SA areas now only on Watch and Act if any fires break out again, although most are out now. Friday was a real stinker as we say here..lol 46C degrees luckily didnt quite make it..hit approx 44C though and not a good day for bushfires. The day took 2 lives and many homes here in SA.
There are still bushfires rampant in NSW north and south of Sydney and in the famous Blue Mountains region of NSW..many homes and property lost and a couple of young firefighters died when a tree came down and the firetruck crashed into it and rolled. Both guys had young families. Very sad day for NSW firefighters. Those guys over there are now being supported by American and Canadian Firefighters. Thanks so much to all you guys for loaning us your men to help, and for the great support The Combo Club and The Rumble Club has shown to us here during a very dangerous and trying time with these killer fires.

US fire crews join marathon fire efforts in NSW

"At least 21 specialist firefighters from the United States have arrived in New South Wales to join marathon efforts to contain bushfires burning across the state. The group will be deployed to various fire locations on Monday and will join firefighters from Canada who have been working around the clock to provide support to Australian crews and volunteers. The US crew will work closely to help contain blazes and back burn in preparation for another dangerous day on Tuesday."
Invalid Link Removed

Canadian firefighters volunteer to help battle Australian bushfires over Christmas

"Canadian firefighters will leave freezing conditions in their homeland to help fight bushfires in Australia, giving up Christmas with their families to do so.
Firefighters from provinces across Canada have volunteered to give up Christmas with their families and fly to Australia to help with the bushfire crisis.
The crack team has answered Australia's call for help during what's expected to be a dangerous bushfire season.
Australian officials submitted an official request to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre, based in Winnipeg, on Friday and on the weekend, dozens of experienced firefighters from provinces across Canada volunteered to give up Christmas with their families and fly to Australia."
Canadian firefighters volunteer to help battle Australian bushfires over Christmas

 

[iagtrplyr]

Most SA areas now only on Watch and Act if any fires break out again, although most are out now. Friday was a real stinker as we say here..lol 46C degrees luckily didnt quite make it..hit approx 44C though and not a good day for bushfires. The day took 2 lives and many homes here in SA.
There are still bushfires rampant in NSW north and south of Sydney and in the famous Blue Mountains region of NSW..many homes and property lost and a couple of young firefighters died when a tree came down and the firetruck crashed into it and rolled. Both guys had young families. Very sad day for NSW firefighters. Those guys over there are now being supported by American and Canadian Firefighters. Thanks so much to all you guys for loaning us your men to help, and for the great support The Combo Club and The Rumble Club has shown to us here during a very dangerous and trying time with these killer fires.

US fire crews join marathon fire efforts in NSW

"At least 21 specialist firefighters from the United States have arrived in New South Wales to join marathon efforts to contain bushfires burning across the state. The group will be deployed to various fire locations on Monday and will join firefighters from Canada who have been working around the clock to provide support to Australian crews and volunteers. The US crew will work closely to help contain blazes and back burn in preparation for another dangerous day on Tuesday."
Invalid Link Removed

Canadian firefighters volunteer to help battle Australian bushfires over Christmas

"Canadian firefighters will leave freezing conditions in their homeland to help fight bushfires in Australia, giving up Christmas with their families to do so.
Firefighters from provinces across Canada have volunteered to give up Christmas with their families and fly to Australia to help with the bushfire crisis.
The crack team has answered Australia's call for help during what's expected to be a dangerous bushfire season.
Australian officials submitted an official request to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre, based in Winnipeg, on Friday and on the weekend, dozens of experienced firefighters from provinces across Canada volunteered to give up Christmas with their families and fly to Australia."
Canadian firefighters volunteer to help battle Australian bushfires over Christmas

Informative article, thanks for posting it. We just watched a news segment about the Australian fires and it mentioned your prime minister was a climate change skeptic, but is now reconsidering his/her stand. BTW, the prime minister was in Hawaii on vacation.

The CC has never mixed politics in their scribes, but as a science teacher I have to ask your PM, “What took you so long?” (Please don’t remind me about our own leader’s stance on the environment)

 

[Giffro]

Informative article, thanks for posting it. We just watched a news segment about the Australian fires and it mentioned your prime minister was a climate change skeptic, but is now reconsidering his/her stand. BTW, the prime minister was in Hawaii on vacation.

The CC has never mixed politics in their scribes, but as a science teacher I have to ask your PM, “What took you so long?” (Please don’t remind me about our own leader’s stance on the environment)

And btw Mike..The PM is in huge trouble with the general population for going on a Hawaii holiday when firefighters are dying in his home state of NSW...maybe a 1 term for him possibly. He flew back because of the fallout over his poorly timed vacation.

 

[iagtrplyr]

And btw Mike..The PM is in huge trouble with the general population for going on a Hawaii holiday when firefighters are dying in his home state of NSW...maybe a 1 term for him possibly. He flew back because of the fallout over his poorly timed vacation.

Cheers, Giff!

 

[Doctor Intrepid]

Most SA areas now only on Watch and Act if any fires break out again, although most are out now. Friday was a real stinker as we say here..lol 46C degrees luckily didnt quite make it..hit approx 44C though and not a good day for bushfires. The day took 2 lives and many homes here in SA.
There are still bushfires rampant in NSW north and south of Sydney and in the famous Blue Mountains region of NSW..many homes and property lost and a couple of young firefighters died when

And btw Mike..The PM is in huge trouble with the general population for going on a Hawaii holiday when firefighters are dying in his home state of NSW...maybe a 1 term for him possibly. He flew back because of the fallout over his poorly timed vacation.

Yeah, as a political scientist I have to say that is imprudent on his part. As an ethics teacher I'd say deplorable!