From tonysounds@yahoo.com Wed May 30 12:42:28 2007
Subject:Re:Don't blame your  tools

To clarify, it isn’t the amount of gear you bring that counts, this is for sure. But I have seen many keyboardists literally come in with their keyboard, x stand, and backpack, set up in 5 minutes, sound like crap, not care, tear down and leave in 5 minutes. They treat the gig like it’s just a “job” and their only source of pride is how little time they have to spend at the gig. To each his own.

I pride myself on getting my stuff into the club in 2 or 3 trips, and setting it up in less than 15 minutes. Consistency is key, and as Dave recommended, I have a pedalboard with a harness, a wiring harness and an AC harness. It’s more “packages” but the set up time is minimized. I spent almost as much time putting my Invisible stand together as I do the rest of the rig. But the bottom line is I can hear myself, thus enjoy myself, thus play better….in theory anyway.

As far as that blues band, I can only wonder what their problem was, whether there was a cosmetic wiring issue (modules and cables just dangling everywhere), or if you set up in L shape (taking too much room), or just took too much time to set up, or they just don’t value the sonic contribution.

goffmac747@aol.com wrote: I once played with a blues band. Brought a VK8M, kawai controller, a yamaha P60, an Alesis nano piano and a peavey KB300. I was asked to bring less equipment.

In a message dated 5/30/2007 9:48:15 AM Eastern Daylight Time, tonysounds writes:

>Obviously money is an issue with a new baby, etc.
>
> But I never understood that concept of keyboard players showing up with as little gear as possible (look, I got in with one trip!), putting up with poor-to-none monitoring, being mixed out of the equation out front as well, and then walking out smiling cuz they got paid. (As if by showing up as late as possible and leaving as early as possible and carrying as little gear as possible, they have somehow made more money.)
>
>That is a jobber mentality that very rarely makes for good (or great) music.
>
> But to each his own.
> T
>
>jake92028 wrote:
> --- In CloneWheel@yahoogroups.com, "Denny" wrote:
>>
>> --- In CloneWheel@yahoogroups.com, "Bruce Wahler" wrote:
>>
>> > I know there is a popular mindset on this forum to keep searching
>> for the "perfect" clone, but let me give you my personal take. I
>> think that many list members spend WAY too much time and money
>hopping
>> between gear, never getting the sound that they want.
>
>------
>
>> I have to agree with this point for the most part, except for the
>part
>> about having an edge owning a real hammond.
>> I have an old CX-3 I picked up maybe a year and a half ago. I also
>> have an old Hammond CV from 1947 or 48, with a Leslie.
>
>> Cut to 25 years later, I'm doing mostly recording stuff, and the
>real
>> hammond stays in the basement studio. I get the bug to do some live
>> stuff, and remember the CX-3. I find one cheap, wishing I could get
>a
>> better clone, but it ain't in the budget. Well, I remembered it a
>heck
>> of a lot better than it was! The leslie sim isn't even barely there,
>> and the overdrive only works with a ton of drawbars pulled, etc. I
>> try it through the leslie, it sounds great, but I'm living by my new
>> motto, if I can't drag it in in one trip, it's too much. IF I had
>the
>> cash, I'd have one of the new CX's or a VK-8, but with a six month
>old
>> and mom staying home, that ain't gonna happen! SO after a year of
>> experimenting with various pedals and EQ settings, and going back to
>> listen to "It's A Jungle In THere" where Medeski uses it's big bro,
>> the BX-3 to reassure myself it can be done I've finally found a
>sound
>> I can use in the settings I'm doing live (Mostly blues jams and a
>> blues bros. tribute band) and make it in with the CX3 under one arm,
>> and a bag and keyboard stand in the other.
>
>-----
>
>You don't use an amplifier to play live? It's a shame to put the
>(barely?) useable sound of the described clone into a PA instead of
>making it sound as good as it can through 'your' own amp - oh yeah,
>one trip rule. From personal observation at open mics and blues jams,
>that's kind of a habit of keyboard 'bottom feeders' = "Here I am.
>Amplify me." (Ladies and Gentlemen: The Keyboard Player is in the
>House!) ..ha ha.. some things never change! :) Note* One of my
>favorite blues jams was called "The Bottom Feeders Blues Jam."
>
>I like to bring my own gear and make it sound better than an open mic
>or blues jam might expect - 2 trip rule - when these fun venues are
>up and running mid-week. Different strokes, blah blah.. Wj
>
>
>
>"The meek shall inherit nothing." -FZ
> www.myspace.com/pinkfreudchicago
> www.myspace.com/ynottnaro
>
>
>
>---------------------------------
>Be a PS3 game guru.
>Get your game face on with the latest PS3 news and previews at Yahoo! Games.
>
>[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>



"The meek shall inherit nothing." -FZ
www.myspace.com/pinkfreudchicago
www.myspace.com/ynottnaro



---------------------------------
Take the Internet to Go: Yahoo!Go puts the Internet in your pocket: mail, news, photos & more.

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]