I can’t imagine how much a double bass string would hurt. Those strings are tough enough to begin with.
Was the rotating stage fun at least?
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
Welcome to TalkBass! Want to remove ads? Register an account and login to see fewer ads, and become a Supporting Member to remove almost all ads.
Comedy of Errors: a gig thread
- Thread starter Why Nautilus‽
- Start date
Was the rotating stage fun at least?
I didn't mean to hurt your feelings. Different interpretations of what it means to be "professional" I suppose.
While, yes, you were unprepared to troubleshoot the problems, it really sounded a lot like the story was about your general equipment failure.
Last edited:
I tried a Joyo wireless thing for my vocal mic. The battery started crapping out before the end of gigs, and that was the end of that. For bass, I invested more money than I wanted to spend on a Shure GLX-D system, and never regretted it.
Regarding the topic of gig disasters, I've had a couple outdoor gigs get truncated/shifted due to rain and lightning. Those gigs were what prompted me to go wireless, as I didn't want to be electrically connected to anything during possible power surges/lightning strikes.
On one gig, my wireless started getting intermittent and dirty. My part of the stage was right next to a wireless router. I don't remember if I moved my receiver or if I used a cord for that gig. But during the next gig, I got some of the same intermittent dirty transmission. I was on the other side of the stage at that point, so I immediately relocated near my receiver, just in case proximity was an issue. I also was careful to hold myself in a position where I wouldn't stress the transmitter cable. That got me through the gig. I immediately ordered new transmitter cables, and haven't had that problem since.
One time, I had just acquired a used bass via Craigs List, and I brought it to a low-key gig. That was the only bass I brought -- the new, untested bass. I'll never do that again. I couldn't get any sound out of it. Turns out, the volume knob was wired backward, or the pot was a lefthanded pot, or something. Full volume produced no sound, but zero volume produced all the sound, but I never thought to check the zero volume position on the volume knob during my troubleshooting.
Last edited:
Dunno about the Joyo but there's nothing wrong with Peavey guitar amps. I know several pros who use Squier guitars and amps. I've never been snobby about gear. If it works and sounds good, I could give 2 rats patooties what gear you own!
How about one coil of a DiMarzio P-bass pickup conking out, and no spare bass. Just the E and A strings were working…some of you can carry on about “no money above the fifth fret”, but that’s where I ended up often that night.
Most of the failures I have had have been catastrophic. There have been minor troubleshooting things (difficulty hearing myself, etc.) and then... like, a microburst that destroyed half our equipment, a leak in the roof soaking our gear, etc.
There was the time when a house drumkit had a kick drum that wouldn't stay still so I played the entire gig with my foot on the kick drum while playing bass.
There was the time when a house drumkit had a kick drum that wouldn't stay still so I played the entire gig with my foot on the kick drum while playing bass.
Last edited:
Good for you and all but he literally said there are parts of the amp that don't work.
In my world, being unreliable doesn't get you called back for gigs. Different definitions of "professional".
Last edited:
To be fair. The amp works fine.
In this instance there seemed to be an error. It was quickly corrected and didn’t affect the show.
My playing and equipment remained reliable despite my forgetfulness about some accessories. I will agree that the wireless cable didn’t work as intended. But I always planned a backup cable in case something did happen.
We performed all songs as intended, omitting only a transition between some songs.
The sound guy is a friend. There were no hurt feelings and we left the show with two more booked. Professional is delivering the show we were paid for, which we did.
This thread is intended to be lighthearted. Not a tear down of anything or anyone in particular.
Jazzdogg
Less barking, more wagging!
It was a horrible gig at a navy enlisted club. We were a funk band, playing EW&F, Tower of Power... after the first few songs the crowd demanded country...
similar to @Jazzdogg's experience: in the '80s = agent booked us (fusion jazz) at a formal frat party --- they wanted rock and disco/dance (of course!). the young lads were intoxicated and threatening and wanted to be 'tough' in front of their girlfriends. we escaped with our lives and a paycheck! 
Like Spinal Tap playing Jazz Odysseysimilar to @Jazzdogg's experience: in the '80s = agent booked us (fusion jazz) at a formal frat party --- they wanted rock and disco/dance (of course!). the young lads were intoxicated and threatening and wanted to be 'tough' in front of their girlfriends. we escaped with our lives and a paycheck!
We all know name brand amps all have problems as well. Did he classify himself as a 'professional'? I wouldn't be using an 'unreliable' amp or any gear if I called myself a professional. Having said that, I played with a pro guitar player and he'd always be fiddling with the jack. I'm guessing he didn't want to spend the money to get it fixed properly as he was barely getting by. Being a pro doesn't always mean you have a lot of money to spend. I also know and have played with may pros who use 'old' gear (Hartke, SWR, etc., janky gear). Let's get rid of the word 'professional'! We're all musicians and afford what we can afford.
I've had two minor gig mishaps:
1) I had a strap break. I had a spare on a different bass and switched it over.
2) I had a wireless unit and the way the cable from the bass to the transmitter on my strap was hooked up, it was pulling out of the wireless unbeknownst to me. I finally figured out and the show went on.
Not me, but my guitarist in a previous band. As we were setting up for a show, the house PA and mains were set just in front of the sate. The side the guitarist was on had a bar next to it and as one of the patrons went by, they nudged the front main tripod and it want tumbling over (a 15"), narrowly missing my guitar player as he was crouched down adjusting his pedals, but sending his tube amp head off the top of his cab and to the door while also knocking his guitar to the ground. The tube amp casing was crooked and his guitar has a massive gouge in it. His amp still worked and we managed to play the three set show, but it crapped out on the last tune.
It turns out that whoever setup the PA didn't extend the tripod legs for the speakers wide enough and just a slight touch sent the main to ground. It was an accident waiting to happen and it did. My guitarist was rattled for the whole show. He was inches away from a potential significant injury.
The bar paid for his amp replacement as guitar repair.
1) I had a strap break. I had a spare on a different bass and switched it over.
2) I had a wireless unit and the way the cable from the bass to the transmitter on my strap was hooked up, it was pulling out of the wireless unbeknownst to me. I finally figured out and the show went on.
Not me, but my guitarist in a previous band. As we were setting up for a show, the house PA and mains were set just in front of the sate. The side the guitarist was on had a bar next to it and as one of the patrons went by, they nudged the front main tripod and it want tumbling over (a 15"), narrowly missing my guitar player as he was crouched down adjusting his pedals, but sending his tube amp head off the top of his cab and to the door while also knocking his guitar to the ground. The tube amp casing was crooked and his guitar has a massive gouge in it. His amp still worked and we managed to play the three set show, but it crapped out on the last tune.
It turns out that whoever setup the PA didn't extend the tripod legs for the speakers wide enough and just a slight touch sent the main to ground. It was an accident waiting to happen and it did. My guitarist was rattled for the whole show. He was inches away from a potential significant injury.
The bar paid for his amp replacement as guitar repair.
Wow! At least the venue made good. That’s an incredible cost if it were fully busted.
For #2 above, I’m grateful for locking input jacks these days. Even if they’re annoying general.
I've had amps blow up at least 3 times over the past 30+ years. Sheet happens.
Not gear related, but....
Had a jealous boyfriend rush the stage to tell me to stop checking out his girlfriend... had to tell him I wasn't looking at her... I was looking at the good looking one behind her.
Had a jealous boyfriend rush the stage to tell me to stop checking out his girlfriend... had to tell him I wasn't looking at her... I was looking at the good looking one behind her.
I wanted to add, back in 1977, one of my first gigs.....we had a synth programmed for our intro (something Cat Synth, can't remember)....anyway we are ready to start the show and some dummy unplugged the synth. Plug it back in and we had to delay the intro 5 minutes while the dang thing rebooted!
one time I was rehearsing with my covers band in the early 1990's and my amp kept on cutting in and out.... the drummer stopped mid song and said "Hey - there's smoke coming out of your bass amp"! The amp had died... it was a NZ made Rockit 120 combo. I went out and bought a peavey combo a few weeks later
Same band we were playing a gig and my bass kept on cutting in and out..... I turned to look at my amp to see if there was any smoke and luckily there wasn't, but discovered it was my lead - did I have a spare? nope.
Guitarist had a spare lead, but it was incredibly short and I had to stand right next to my amp and not move from that spot for the entire gig
I now have more than 1 spare lead.
in my last band we got to a gig, set up ok, plug everything in and turn bass amp on (Ashdown EVO 900).... no sound
tried swapping speaker leads, tried a different speaker output on the amp, swapped my bass cable over.... but nothing... still no sound
Drummer offers to go back to his place and get his 100 watt bass head.... then guitarist comes over to have a look and said the meter on my amp is not moving when I play.... he traces my bass lead.... to find I had plugged my bass into the headphone socket!!!
Same band we were playing a gig and my bass kept on cutting in and out..... I turned to look at my amp to see if there was any smoke and luckily there wasn't, but discovered it was my lead - did I have a spare? nope.
Guitarist had a spare lead, but it was incredibly short and I had to stand right next to my amp and not move from that spot for the entire gig
I now have more than 1 spare lead.
in my last band we got to a gig, set up ok, plug everything in and turn bass amp on (Ashdown EVO 900).... no sound
tried swapping speaker leads, tried a different speaker output on the amp, swapped my bass cable over.... but nothing... still no sound
Drummer offers to go back to his place and get his 100 watt bass head.... then guitarist comes over to have a look and said the meter on my amp is not moving when I play.... he traces my bass lead.... to find I had plugged my bass into the headphone socket!!!
I’ve always found Peavey gear to be reliable. Loud, heavy and reliable.