Thunderbird Club

[JJR58]

Oh my, I saw what you did there. Nice.

 

[theFixer]

For sure - you do what makes sense. I played a small stage at an outdoor festival last month. We loaded all our stuff on a golf cart for a 10 minute ride from the parking lot. I'm glad I didn't bring my tube amp. This was my rig. 8 pound amp + 27 pound cabinet = 35 pounds and a line out to FOH.
View attachment 3100012

This was the rig on the next stage over. 2 x 80 pound amps + 2 x 140 pound cabinets = 440 pounds. I bet there was still a line out to the FOH.
View attachment 3100013

yeah... but the second one makes my ballz shake, just lookin' at it! I'm not even an Ampeg guy... but ya gotta give respect where it's due There are only 2 reasons I don't have a monstrosity like that. I can't afford it, and I can't haul it myself. If those issues didn't exist, I'd have that and more!

 

[theFixer]

My 27 year old son grew up knowing how to take care of vinyl records, how to dial a rotary telephone, and things like that. Mostly because I'm cranky and my wife lets me be technologically cranky. He's now a trumpet player, which is an obsolete way to make noise. If we had let him have a Gameboy back when he was a kid, instead of making him listen to Charles Mingus records, he would be highly paid video game designer and would be able to support us in the manner we would like to become accustomed to. Instead, he's making music for part of his living and driving his car as an Uber for the rest of it. We really blew it. Dammit.

Yer son's the trumpet player. I'd say he blew it...

 

[Dr_Feelgoood212]

View attachment 3100031
Six Fifteens in a 1969 Silvertone Rig
Or my real big rig... LOL
View attachment 3100032
Just hell to fit on a small stage. LOL

Just play on top of the rig.... no stage needed

 

[TBird1958]

Seems like it's a cat pic day. I submit for your perusal, Peter.
View attachment 3100006

Look at the choppers on that thing!

 

[PillO]

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

I can't believe no one has said anything about Christine's ill-fitting drawers...

Actually, I can't believe that Christine is telling us about the quality and fit of her drawers.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

I can't believe no one has said anything about Christine's ill-fitting drawers...

Actually, I can't believe that Christine is telling us about the quality and fit of her drawers.

Oh man....

 

[Count Bassie]

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

I am so on this page.

I got to work worth some people who could actually hand cut dovetails and fit 19 pieces of wood together properly. And they may be of the last generation to do so. I hope not... my skills are more limited, I know a few good carpenters and shop folk, a couple who are pretty young, so there is hope.

There are some young music cans out there too. The art of using your hands needs to not die.

 

[Engle]

Look at the choppers on that thing!

He is a biter!

 

[Engle]

I can't believe no one has said anything about Christine's ill-fitting drawers...

Actually, I can't believe that Christine is telling us about the quality and fit of her drawers.

Nicely done!

 

[MCF]

If all things were equal I know what I think I'd like. I loved the sound of my first Real amp-as I remember it. And I could get one for about $2.5K. And, because my hearing ain't what it used to be, I'd probly be disappointed and wanna go "tinkering", thus devaluing the amp. View attachment 3099343 (pic of one like my first amp) Edit: I've mentioned going to "Chicago" concerts. I like to see what amps the band(s)is using. Answer? none-all wireless direct

Saw Chicago in 1500 seat Fox Theatre in Bakersfield not too long before Sheff left. I was impressed with the sound, and told the guy at the board
as much on our way out. He just smiled and said thanks. He definitely knew what he was doing.

 

[Gaolee]

I find this to be true for me. When I started gigging again for the first time in many years, it very quickly became apparent things had moved pretty far from where I remembered.

I play in original bands (translation: no money, small crowds, hole in the wall clubs). That said, most of the clubs now provide backline of some kind. That was not the case when I was playing before. I can show up with my bass and amp (Orage OB-1 500) and usually have a speaker cab of some kind to use. Most are Ampeg or Hartke or no name. I may not love every aspect of them but they all work pretty well.

There are now more bands on a bill and the shows end earlier due to noise restrictions. Philadelphia has had a huge re-poplution over the last 10+ years and clubs that were in the middle of nowhere are now all surround by residential housing. Having 4 bands bring ALL of there gear makes small spaces more like music stores than clubs and not in a good way!

Parking is always an issue and paying to park is not always an option. This usually means some amount of walking to and from. My whole "rig" bass included is about 100lbs. The head is in a soft case with pockets and a shoulder strap. The speaker cab (TecAmp 2x12) weighs 44lbs. I can carry the whole thing a couple of blocks if need be. Ask me how I know.....It all fits in an '06 Honda Accord with no issues.

It helps to simplify playing live, which is most of the fun in a band and that makes doing it, happen more often. I know why people love big, old amps. I do too. I just don't want carry lots of stuff and get too caught up in a "princess and the pea" type scenario about my "tone".

IME, people react more to my playing and my energy level/commitment to the music than my amp. That is where my head is at at this point in my life (I'm 50). When I was 20, my "gear" was much more a part of my identity than it is now. Like its been said already, things change and its OK to change to whatever level you feel you need to to keep going.

To simplify, we are bass players. If we make the best butt in the crowd move, everyone wins. If we don't, everyone loses and the human species fails to reproduce. All else doesn't matter. Usually, the owner of the best butt in the crowd has absolutely no idea what a bass guitar is or why we play something with four strings instead of six. I do a lot of jumping around and moving, which is why wireless is so useful.

But, I like my Acoustic stack anyway. I schlep it for me when I'm not playing drums and schlepping those. Drum hardware is heavy as fvck, BTW.

 

[Gaolee]

Oh my, I saw what you did there. Nice.

Fats did it long before I ever did. He's the man for all times.

 

[Gaolee]

Yer son's the trumpet player. I'd say he blew it...

And is still doing so.

 

[MCF]

Are you mad??? Read the whole thread? 90% of it is about cars or meatballs, just ask away, it will give us something new to talk about

Warmest welcome and pictures are always welcome

Everyone here is pretty easygoing. You don’t get any “Have you tried the search feature on here” flack like in other threads.

 

[PillO]

Everyone here is pretty easygoing. You don’t get any “Have you tried the search feature on here” flack like in other threads.

That's because it's all in one thread. That makes everything pretty easy to find.

 

[GonePlaid]

Saw Chicago in 1500 seat Fox Theatre in Bakersfield not too long before Sheff left. I was impressed with the sound, and told the guy at the board
as much on our way out. He just smiled and said thanks. He definitely knew what he was doing.

At the concerts in WPB, it was "off". I dunno if it was the same-or house-soundman, but it just wasn't right. Tampa and Atlanta were Much better.

 

[MCF]

Meh, four broken toes already.....

View attachment 3099864

That Cataldo would look nice with your birds.

 

[MCF]

One thing to think about is demographics. How many guitars have been made, how many guitar player are there, and do guitars wear out? The answer is a whole lot of guitars, plenty of guitarists, but guitars don't wear out so the market is awash in used gear of all ages and qualities. I think there are plenty of young people playing all kinds of instruments, not just synths and loopers. They play everything from trombones to Peruvian flutes, just like every other generation. Plus, they are a big demographic, but their buying power is restrained by housing costs and student loans. They will play guitars and buy guitars. They just won't buy guitars until they can afford it.

 

[GonePlaid]

To simplify, we are bass players. If we make the best butt in the crowd move, everyone wins. If we don't, everyone loses and the human species fails to reproduce. All else doesn't matter. Usually, the owner of the best butt in the crowd has absolutely no idea what a bass guitar is or why we play something with four strings instead of six. I do a lot of jumping around and moving, which is why wireless is so useful.

But, I like my Acoustic stack anyway. I schlep it for me when I'm not playing drums and schlepping those. Drum hardware is heavy as fvck, BTW.

Our drummer drives a BMW convertible. Can't fit a trap case so carries everything by hand-minimum 5 trips. I have a van and a folding cart. Even with the PA, 4 trips.