Ed of H gigs; 2025

[edwardofhuncote]

What do you think of that Fishman Platinum?

Fishman makes really nice stuff. I noticed Ernie was using this and the Fishman 'Loudbox' amplifier for stage monitor. I'm not sure, but I think both this Platinum stompbox and his amp have DI outputs, so maybe it's just on his pedalboard for when he's not using the amp? It looks like a nice preamp... especially for acoustic instruments. I'm about to go down the rabbit-hole of revamping the pickup system on my upright bass, and eventually the preamp may become part of that adventure , but I kinda' hope what I already have will work with a new pickup without a lot of extra equipment needed. Back in the old days I had a rack-mounted stereo preamp that made it work pretty well. I have observed these days, working bass players travel pretty light, preferably just plug-up and play and let the FOH guys worry about that.

Here's what I'm thinking about... I put exactly this on my Dad's bass. https://gollihurmusic.com/realist-pickup-for-double-bass-original-and-wood-version/

https://gollihurmusic.com/realist-super-docking-station-preamp-active-tailpiece-mounted-volume-control-jack-mount/

Thank you for the report! I have a new, kind of amateur band, which thinks it wants to gig - I try to be realistic but sometimes - often? - it turns to pessimism! But I am trying to veer away from the negative and aspire for the positive. Hearing about your gig experiences is always a chance for enjoyment and reflection!

I'm lucky all around. I was thinking about it while breaking down and loading up the other night. I was broken after having to drop out of this outfit a couple years ago and hand off bass duties to the same guy I had replaced 7 years before. I just couldn't do the job, physically. The guys were setting up and loading my stuff out for me by the end, and even had to help me in the car a couple times. I couldn't stand it anymore. Another surgery happened, another long rehab, another year of hard work training my replacements and finally I got retired and spent some time getting in condition, and I'm finally fit enough to play again... I'm just glad to have several outlets for it, and at last... the time to do it.

The Harwell-Grice Band has been together for 20+ years. Josh and Gabe started playing together in college. There have been two mandolin players, two banjo players, four bass players, (though technically the original guy only played one show) and the two of them at the core of the band on guitars. I hadn't realized until the band reunion, no one had ever been fired. Several members have returned or played other instruments as guests. There are several regular subs that fill-in when someone is absent. It's probably the most stable, healthy, fun band I've ever played in. Like I said, just lucky. I know firsthand, it ain't like this in most bands.

[pauldo]

Congratulations Gregory.   

[David Houck]

Here's what I'm thinking about... I put exactly this on my Dad's bass. https://gollihurmusic.com/realist-pickup-for-double-bass-original-and-wood-version/

https://gollihurmusic.com/realist-super-docking-station-preamp-active-tailpiece-mounted-volume-control-jack-mount/

Looks good!

[edwardofhuncote]

Awful lotta' dust and cobwebs in my 2025 Gig Thread...

I just got home from Galax, Virginia... home of the the 89th Annual Old Fiddlers Convention https://www.oldfiddlersconvention.com/2025win.htm where our neo-oldtyme band New River Bound continued its streak of finishing in the top-ten, but never in the top-five. We think the worst we've ever done was 12th some years ago. This year landed us another 7th place ranking in some pretty tough competition. In front of two bands I personally felt were going to beat us. (hey, I'll take it) The main thing is that we played our absolute best both nights... two near-perfect performances. Our fiddler placed 3rd in his individual event and our guitar player won 2nd place in the mandolin contest. Also pretty respectable.

*here is the livestream from Saturday night. New River Bound is up at about 40:00 in, and our 'little sister' band the Wayfaring Whistlepigs are at 35:30 right before us.
https://www.youtube.com/live/i6GiY69A4EU?si=93P4yoa28a7KeOnS


The biggest obstacle this year was the terrible weather... we got rain almost every day. Which translates to mud, and lots of it in Galax, so the well-advised bring knee-high rubber boots and lotsa' dry socks.

In other music news; the Fireweed fellas have been on hiatus this Summer. The drummer is having a terrible bout with carpal tunnel syndrome in both hands, which is doubly bad for him because he is a surgeon on weekdays and alternate weekends. He's currently waiting for the surgery to fix him up, but holding drumsticks and playing is both painful and discouraging, so we have just called the jam night off until Fall.

Labor Day weekend, I will be filling-in on upright bass with the Wayfaring Whistlepigs for a Country Dance at our traditional end-of-Summer campground event. Always a good time getting waived into Gen-Z.

And finally, I have just been asked to sub-in on bass for a few dates this late-Summer/early-Fall with my old boys the Harwell-Grice Band. Looking forward to playing some music with the guys again.

[David Houck]

Which guitar did you take?

[edwardofhuncote]

Which guitar did you take?

😄 It was quite a heavy decision, as the space constraints allowed for only one guitar and one mandolin. After some agonizing I chose the Gibson J-35, as it's really good for that particular setting... I typically don't do a lot of flatpick exercise on that guitar, just big chord rhythm and bass runs for old time music. (which is mostly what happens around our camp, though we are a bit non-binary... we'll just play whatever makes us happy) I brought along the new-to-me 1912 Gibson F-2 mandolin as well. The bass spent the week on the roof of the Outlander when not in use, shielded by its case and an EZ-Up awning with walls. It never even got damp. My original plan was more concerned with keeping it out of the heat, which turned out to be a non-factor last week. It was actully quite chilly at night. (this is our 'family' Kay bass... it belonged to my Dad's cousin Buddy Yearwood who played it semi-professionally since new in 1951, then him, now me... gotta' take care of this one.) For posterity, it's a '51 Kay M-1B sold through Sears-Roebuck. It's my festival bass... it has synthetic gut strings, very thick tubby sound, very loud thump. My gig bass is strung with chromesteel flats and set up a bit different. I much prefer the old Kay at a Fiddlers Convention jam.

[KR]

Greg, looks like a fun festival. Seeing your open hatch and sleeping area --sleeping in the wild! Love those Bluegrass festivals; we head up to the Grass Valley Father's Day Festival every year for a week. My bass sounds good but is quiet, compared to some of the Kay's so I usually sit in on what's there and available.

[pauldo]

Digging the bass face on the New River Bound still photo. 😎

[Artgeckko]

Great chronicle of when a band is straight up fun and not head in your hands frustrating…
I have a group of guys that I like to jam out some tunes.  Been fun, not very serious, that is until my friend of 40 years (guitar player) said a given song didn’t fit the persona of the band.
Of course, I started laughing.  WHAT?!? Oh right, these discussions…was enjoying the laid back approach to old rock songs, been a long time since the clubbing days and the “what’s the direction of the band discussions”!
Enjoy it Greg.  You worked hard to get where you’re at, and seems like you found the proverbial pot of gold at the rainbow.
Some of those photos look like some great venues.  The acoustics must be awesome!
Keep em coming.  Enjoy the music!

[edwardofhuncote]

Last minute call to fill-in with HGB at the Franklin County Agricultural Fair yesterday evening. https://fcagfair.com/

After an evening thunderstorm rolled through and soaked everything down, our soundcrew pulled all the tarps up, we mopped our gear dry, Miss Franklin County introduced us and the show went on. Nobody even noticed the rainbow over the hill as the storm broke up.

It felt good playing with the fellas again... famous in a small town. Short video clip here somewhere. https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1135288275367461&id=100066588977628

[gearhed289]

That's great Greg! Nice Thursday night gig.