Dayum! Between the PA and my bass gear, I have more than enough for my 73 y/o knees to schlep. Plus, for our 60s repertoire, clean is what I want.
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Thunderbird Club
- Thread starter TBird1958
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- club thunderbird
Yep.... I like my own amp and my own stage sound. No matter what gig. I don't depend on some sound tech to know what my basses should sound like. I always think it may be what he thinks it should sound like, and hell he could maybe really not have a clue. That is why I try to afford good gear that is adaptable for most any situation.I'm not a gear junkie in any way, bass, cable and the amp and I'm a happy kiddie. I do like my gear on stage where I can hear it, I find it quite odd having the big part of the sound coming from in front of me like we've had at our last couple of gigs. I think I'm classed as plenty old fashioned
- Mar 13, 2008
- 18,906
- 142,341
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist Mike Lull T Bass pickups, The Bass Shop, Seattle WA.
Please do be welcome here, show us a picture of your new Thunderbird! I'm happy to add you to the club!
There are different gear needs for different genres. You need less, I need more, that other person needs somewhere in between, that's what makes this place so interesting!
In my case, just my pedal board (with pedals) weighs 40lbs. When it's in its tour case, it weighs close to 70lbs. My head, in its rack case is 50lbs. My cab tips the scales at 115lbs. I play bass and guitar, not the recorder, I knew what I was getting into, gear-wise
As I've gotten 'more experienced', I just rely less on my own back and spread the love to others and return the favor in kind when they need help with their gear. Gone are the days of each of us each lugging our cabs on our backs while holding a big ole' tube head in one hand and an impossibly large and overweight hardshell case in the other 
Oh, yeah, I did all the big ole heavy stuff-and if a gig required it, I'd do it again. With the help of Ibuprophen and carts. Since I set up the PA, I get there b4 everyone else, otherwise we're getting in each other's way trying to run cables, etc.. We help each other on load out but it's every man for himself going in. Again, the reasons for light weight, simplified gear. No knocks on lots of effects, I just don't need them.There are different gear needs for different genres. You need less, I need more, that other person needs somewhere in between, that's what makes this place so interesting!
In my case, just my pedal board (with pedals) weighs 40lbs. When it's in its tour case, it weighs close to 70lbs. My head, in its rack case is 50lbs. My cab tips the scales at 115lbs. I play bass and guitar, not the recorder, I knew what I was getting into, gear-wise
I do too. Unfortunately, one never really knows what the FOH sounds like so it's like the sound man has the last say...kinda sucks
yeah but it's a time progression thing... purists adhere to an upright and snub electric players..in fact early adopters of the P bass where labeled as Fender players not Bass players on the credits. I totally agree with the nostalgic value of vintage gear but I believe that it's more of a luxury that guitarists can indulge in...
Totally agree. I bought my first GK 400RB in 82. It was the benchmark at the time. Unfortunately the first ones were somewhat unreliable due to Bob Gallien's misnomer that a Darlington configured ouptut stage was the way to go. In other words, although on paper the output Z was very low in real life, not the case. When mine went t1ts up I took it to GK (in Campbell CA at the time, now in Petaluma close to MESA) and had the pleasure of meeting Bob. Ironically, the replacement GK power board was very similar to the AB Systems power card I put in there as a hold me over band aid. I love the sound of GKs.
No offense taken! That's what I was saying, some need em, some don't
I have enough trouble not tripping over this(her normal "activity")View attachment 3099873
I hear ya. I keep Clay close by. This way I won’t damage HIM.
I only need them for a few tunes and don't take the board if I'm not using it.No offense taken! That's what I was saying, some need em, some don't
But it all relates to deskilling, we move on in any aspect of our lives when technology advances but then there is a drop off in people who had those skills whatever they were. Furniture for example, something I know a little about; most today is machine made, the art of making and fitting a quality drawer these days has all but gone, I see young furniture makers today who profess to be making quality furniture but the drawers are a complete joke, the amount that even use dovetails are few and far between and even then 90% of those are machine cut and even the best fitting drawer is a horrible fit. I honestly doubt if there are 20 furniture makers in the UK that can make and fit a drawer properly, another 30 years and it may well be none. Now that isn't really the fault of the crafts people but the buying public who have never even seen quality furniture let alone owned any or be prepared to buy it. It's exactly the same in music, everything has become disposable including musicians, Mr Fix is dead right in my book, we should all be fighting, kicking and screaming to preserve the skills we have and pass them on to the next generation to accept with enthusiasm
- Mar 13, 2008
- 18,906
- 142,341
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist Mike Lull T Bass pickups, The Bass Shop, Seattle WA.
I have enough trouble not tripping over this
Love those kitties!
But that's just it, the newer generation does not want to accept with enthusiasm. Electric guitar sales have been declining for years now. Totally agree with you on furniture. It has created a niche where folks with taste and funds will pay what the piece is worth. Most, couldn't care less.. I think we are talking apples and oranges though. The musical equipment I'm talking about is aimed at the working musician. It can be viewed as a tool. Some is good and expensive some cheaper and not as good. The trend is towards lighter and more powerful. Although a professional airline pilot may want to fly a Ford Trimotor in his leisure time, it is not the tool he uses at work..
There are lots of young bands about who actually play guitars
So if we all follow suite then guitar sales will drop further, amp sales will die off as we all start using house PA, drum kits will become a thing of the past and rock and roll will become that quaint old thing that they did in the olden days. Surely we as musicians (myself in the loosest sense) have a duty to fight to keep the skills needed to set up some amps in an old barn and make music because before long young bands won't be able to do even that without the help of a sound person. Personally I think it's something worth hanging onto
