ocarolan
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Post by ocarolan on Jan 25, 2016 16:27:05 GMT
Will be playing a dramatically less good good version of this one and several others of a Scottish persuasion for an audience singalong tonight at a Burns Supper in a neighbouring village. Not sure what connection Mr Burns had with Somerset, but I'll be playing guitar/mandolin along with Glyn Nuffsed (bass), and chums Kathy (fiddle) and Brenda (keyboard) who conned us into it with promises of free food and whisky. Trouble is, I'm driving. Keith
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Andy P
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Post by Andy P on Jan 25, 2016 17:16:31 GMT
Mrs B and I are doing that one for the Burns supper at our local tonight. Here's the full set-list:
Flower of Scotland Ye Banks and Braes The Skye Boat Song Scotland the Brave/Donald Where's Yours Troosers?/The Bonny Banks o'Loch Lomond My Love is Like a Red Red Rose I Belong to Glasgow Will Ye Go Lassie Go I'm Gonna Be (500 miles) Auld Lang Syne
As we couldn't be further from Burns country whilst still in the UK, we think we'll get away with it (Mrs B does have some Scottish blood). I'm looking forward to using the Acus amp for the first time in anger - it sounded awesome at the soundcheck at lunchtime.
Driving won't be an issue as we can walk to the pub in 17 seconds (more like 17 minutes on the way back).
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Andy P
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Post by Andy P on Jan 25, 2016 19:18:06 GMT
Will be playing a dramatically less good good version of this one WHAT? I've only just noticed - where's the personal pronoun??!!! No self-respecting COG, especially an alumnus of the magnificent educational institution which we both attended, should be succumbing to this hideous trend Mr Smith (...or was it Mr Jones?) would be appalled. Get a grip Keith. While I'm feeling suitably outraged, have you noticed how people on the radio and TV have ceased to use the words "very", "many", "really" etc in the singular? Every adjective has to be given added emphasis by being preceded by "very very", "many many", "really really" etc. The other morning on the Today programme I heard "very very very". It's a good job I'm a pragmatist
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Riverman
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Post by Riverman on Jan 25, 2016 22:26:35 GMT
It's a good job I'm a pragmatist It really really is. A very very good job.
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Andy P
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Post by Andy P on Jan 26, 2016 0:34:12 GMT
Well that was fun! It really really was. Especially when the free Glenlivets kicked in
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ocarolan
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Post by ocarolan on Jan 26, 2016 1:15:02 GMT
Andy P - You obviously had a much better evening than I did, Andy! Glyn and I began to set up in perishing cold small village hall. Before even plugging anything in, the hall electrics died as the lady in the kitchen had overloaded the power supply by plugging in too many extra cooking devices/boiling thingies etc. We sorted it for her and reached a compromise of electrical gadgets she could use without tripping the circuit breaker. We had just finished setting up, and the other two musicians had turned up when, still with over an hour to go before actual kick off punters start arriving (at least half an hour before the published doors open time) and began generally milling about getting in the way and making a lot of noise. Soundcheck therefore not easy and with an indeterminate result. Then there was still a long wait until the event really started, during which time we discovered that the whisky on offer was barely worthy of the name. Didn't bother me too much as I was driving, but Glyn began to wish he was the driver. Interminable readings of poems by Somerset folk in dreadful Scottish accents(why?!) made for an even longer delay before we got fed - and unsurprisingly the food, though tasty enough, was pretty cold. When coffee had been served we were encouraged to play - some choons and some music for community singing of a drunkenly good natured kind. We played pretty excruciatingly, though it was still well received as the punters were either determined to have fun, or they were p*ssed, or very forgiving or totally lacking in musical taste, or a combination of any/all of these things. Some impromptu "Scottish dancing" by some of the punters was our main source of amusement, but thankfully our set was soon over and it was time for the inevitable raffle, during which we started to pack up. Mrs Glyn and Mrs O C had come too, and set off back together well before we had finished packing/loading up. Glyn and I drove back when we could, both reckoning it to have been the worst evening in quite a while. The best thing was getting back home to find that Mrs O C had already poured a large Glenlivet for me! Rant over. How did the Acus work out then Andy? Keith
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Post by andy3sheds on Jan 26, 2016 1:30:30 GMT
Burns neet food offal and oesophagus Don't see the attraction
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ocarolan
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Post by ocarolan on Jan 26, 2016 11:31:01 GMT
Burns neet food offal and oesophagus Don't see the attraction Quite like haggis actually, but can't abide turnip/swede. But sausage mash and peas were on offer as an alternative! Sausages could have been good had they been hot; or totally cold would have been good too; but they were lukewarm..... Have been to several Burns Suppers before and quite enjoyed them. Last night was a notable exception! Keith
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Post by Andy P on Jan 26, 2016 14:23:49 GMT
You're being deliberately provocative Keith I shall not respond Anyway, I'm sorry to hear that you had such a poor night. Your description of the punters "milling about" hit exactly the right note. They can be so bloody irritating the way they assemble in doorways as you're trying to hump gear in or out, look irritated after your third "Excuse me!", then immediately re-group once you're through, all set to bar your way again half a minute later. I find that a sharply delivered blow to the kneecap with the amplifier works wonders. Cheap whiskey and lukewarm sausages sounds pretty dire. At least you got to eat - I could only salivate longingly as the aroma of glutenated haggis wafted through the room. I love hate to gloat, but I have to report that our own evening was terrific. We were billed at the foot of the menu as "A selection of Scottish songs by Andy and Helen Pay" - sort of like an alternative to the cheese and biscuits . There were 28 diners in a fairly small restaurant and by the time we started they were well oiled and most receptive, proceeding to sing along with all the sing-along stuff and listen attentively to the quieter songs. By the way did you do Red Red Rose in DADGAD? We based ours on the Eva Cassidy version. I never thought in my wildest nightmares I would ever be blasting out the Proclaimers' classic but by de-tuning the 6th to D and whacking the bass up I had a real driving beat going. They were all answering my da-da-la-da's with their own da-da-la-da's at the tops of their voices. Auld Lang Syne was pretty emotional as we were thinking about our own departure from these parts in the near future. The Acus was just ace. I'd hardly tried it before and it was only a few days ago that I rigged everything up: guitar > Orchid pre-amp > mixer > amp. I found that no matter how I fiddled with the various EQs, the resulting tone was too thin and trebley. It was far better without the mixer. To get round the fact that but the flippin' pre-amp has an XLR output and I was already using the two XLR inputs on the amp for the mics, I ordered an XLR/6mm socket cable. You can imagine my dismay on Saturday when I realised that I'd ordered the wrong XLR gender. The Lowden with its K&K passive pick-up isn't great straight into the amp but the Breedlove (L.R. Baggs Element Active VTC) sounded just wonderful. There was a noted local musician there (I was a bit nervous when I saw him) but he was full of generous praise afterwards and thought the overall sound was spot-on. I wonder if we'll be able to get away it in Scotland?
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ocarolan
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Post by ocarolan on Jan 26, 2016 16:14:43 GMT
... I think I may well have caught a shin or two with a speaker, Andy, but not deliberately...honest! Red Rose - our effort last night was based around the needs of the keyboard and fiddle players - ie pretty straightforward and with me just adding simple chords in standard tuning. (I do a solo guitar version of it in standard tuning too which is a bit nicer, but only just, and certainly not ideal for last night!) My only deviation from standard tuning was mandolin in GDAD for a slightly droney version Scotland the Brave. Great to hear that the Acus was a success, as, obviously were you and Helen. Actually, you could bill your duo as Cheese and Biscuits for future after meal gigs.... Keith
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Post by Andy P on Jan 26, 2016 21:46:03 GMT
Actually, you could bill your duo as Cheese and Biscuits for future after meal gigs.... Keith That's a big improvement on our former name (don't ask!).
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Post by Andy P on Feb 1, 2016 12:34:23 GMT
was only a few days ago that I rigged everything up: guitar > Orchid pre-amp > mixer > amp. I found that no matter how I fiddled with the various EQs, the resulting tone was too thin and trebley. It was far better without the mixer. To get round the fact that but the flippin' pre-amp has an XLR output and I was already using the two XLR inputs on the amp for the mics, I ordered an XLR/6mm socket cable. You can imagine my dismay on Saturday when I realised that I'd ordered the wrong XLR gender. More dismay: I ordered the correct XLR/6mm jack cable but there's no phantom power for the pre-amp So if looks like I can't use the Lowden (effectively) plus two mics. I do wish I'd bought the Headland pre-amp instead of the Orchid
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ocarolan
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Post by ocarolan on Feb 1, 2016 12:41:15 GMT
You'll only get phantom power down an XLRM/XLRF lead. To backtrack a bit though, it really must be possible to get a good sound through Orchid via your mixer and then amp - I do that with my Orchid into Soundcraft mixer into AER combo or house PA - works well with any of my instruments, all K&K equipped. Must be something amiss somewhere, though don't know quite what.
What is your mixer, and what ins and outs did you try?
Keith
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Post by Andy P on Feb 1, 2016 13:02:06 GMT
Thanks Keith. I'll have another go and report back.
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Post by Andy P on Feb 1, 2016 16:34:00 GMT
Right I've had a fiddle and can report that I was talking b******s as usual. As you suspected Keith, I can get pretty much the same quality via the mixer as without. The trouble is of course that this quality is not what I would hope for. There's no doubt that the L R Baggs Element Active VTC in the Breedlove direct into the amp performs considerably better than the K&K in the Lowden via the Orchid. Would you ever consider just micing the guitar for live performances?
This ACUS is a 60watt amp and I can get plenty of volume and decent enough tone without the pre-amp, certainly enough for the venues that we do so I've decided to sell the Orchid.
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