The Expected Sunday Thread for August 3, 2025

I'm in a quandary. It seems no matter how late I show up on Sunday, I get to be the one to start the Sunday thread. I'm not sure if there's any value to it, but if one isn't started someone is always surprised there isn't one. Since I'm here, I might as well, eh?

This past week I performed a two number unplugged set at the club. I like the unplugged nights because that's how I practice. In a week I'm doing my "showcase" night, so I'm putting together a playlist. There's one number in particular I want to play. It's longer than fits the normal set time, so that will be my own personal showcase.

After church and lunch today, I'm going to my daughter's. My son-in-law is smoking some meat and they're having a birthday celebration for her mother, my ex. Yes, we get along nicely, so there's no tension or anxiety at all.

We finally got a break in the weather. Yesterday was glorious and I celebrated by walking 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) around the community golf course. As I type this at 6:50am, it's 57 degrees, on its way to 85. I can live with this kind of weather!

Stay safe, stay well my friends.

I might post more later, but currently getting ready for a sound check for a couple gigs. The Gretsch Country Gentleman got the nod. Almost brought the new LP I got, but levels and EQ are already set for the CG from Thursdays gig.

I got another hankering, for a Strat with a RW fretboard. Got it pretty much narrowed down. More investigation later today.

Heading to Boston to hear Prem Rawat speak today. Always a good time.
Starting the day by reviewing the 40 tunes I've learned for my first gig as a bass player.
I've been playing 4 to 5 hours a day, 5 days a week to get my head and hands around this.
It's going really well and I'm starting to learn all those little connecting lines between chords that make a bass player sound like a bass player!
The past 4 weeks have been a crash course in bass playing that would not have happened if I wasn't offered the gig. They don't know I'm really a guitar player in Bass Player Clothing, LOL. And I'm not going to tell them.

Was going to see Les Dudek Tuesday night but the gig was cancelled. He's been on a summer long run through the Northeast states and as far west as Chicago. Heading down to South Carolina now, then home to Florida.

Couple of good bicycle rides this week. Cool 50 miles. Not as active as I was last year. Pneumonia, flu, and brain stem surgery really set me back through the winter months. Trying to rally!

Great cooler weather coming along this week. It's a great time to be living in the Berkshires!

we had a break from the heat as well, not minding at all. Actually wore a jacket the last two nights. I don't ever remember having to wear one this early in August, it's usually the 2nd to 3rd week, some years not at all.

The electrician came this week and finished up the wiring for the basement bathroom. Monday construction reconvenes. He has other jobs he wants to get started on so I'm suspecting this will go quickly. I'm going to try to put in some sweat equity to save money. Barring any catastrophe, it'll be done before Labor Day.

I've been spending way too much time on Facebook, watching videos. I've seen more car chases in the last month than the previous 67 years, it seems. I may need an intervention.:biglaugh:

Just checkin? in

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by blackonblack

I might post more later, but currently getting ready for a sound check for a couple gigs. The Gretsch Country Gentleman got the nod. Almost brought the new LP I got, but levels and EQ are already set for the CG from Thursdays gig.

I got another hankering, for a Strat with a RW fretboard. Got it pretty much narrowed down. More investigation later today.

---

Me no understand.

If it's a sound check what are they checking if you can't change levels or EQ? Only the monitor mix?

Why not just let the guitar be itself? A CG is not going to sound like a LP no matter how many knobs you turn. Different scale length, hollow vs solid, different wood, different pickups, etc.

WTF?

Chuck

We had already set levels and EQs the previous day before a gig. For Sun we take 10 minutes to just start every song and make sure all is still good.

Yes, a CG is much different than a LP, that?s why I didn?t want to monopolize those 10 minutes in redoing everything because I decided on a different path at the last moment. It?s potentially a new monitor mix for 8 people as well as tweak the FOH for a 1000 person room.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by blackonblack

We had already set levels and EQs the previous day before a gig. For Sun we take 10 minutes to just start every song and make sure all is still good.

Yes, a CG is much different than a LP, that?s why I didn?t want to monopolize those 10 minutes in redoing everything because I decided on a different path at the last moment. It?s potentially a new monitor mix for 8 people as well as tweak the FOH for a 1000 person room.

---

Sounds sketchy to me. I'd just light her up and let sound deal with it. That's what you're paying them for. I mean, guitars DO have volume and tone controls, lol.

That's were I was originally going to go, but I decided to take home the one I originally brought to the dance. The CG did a great job. I have some gigs in a couple weeks where the LP can get its stage debut. Next week is all bass gigs.
No need to rush things.

Also trying to understand how you set levels on a Thursday gig and then need them for a 1000 seater on Sunday. I'd assume the 1000 seater has it's own sound system and that you don't do a complete sound and lights setup and then teardown for a church service. Something's not adding up.

What am I missing?

All the same venue. Same sound and lights. No load in/out except for your gear if desired (on that side of the venue I just bring my instrument and IEMs as I used the house gear for both guitar and bass). No planned sound light usage between Thursday and Sunday. We are largely a silent stage, (there are acoustic drums miced behind a shield). We are all on IEMs. Unfortunately (for me), the board controls each monitor mix for each person. (I prefer when I can control my own mix as in previous venues). So we build the mix for each person by stacking. (Introduce a new instrument and then go through each person to set the mix for it).

Sunday run through is just a quick check to make sure no gremlins got into anything. That side of the venue seats 1000. We have 1 Thursday and 2 Sunday performances. So basically we set everything on Thursday, then perform. Sunday is just a check before 2 performances. We are close to fire code limits each service. So this past week was in front 1000x3.

Does that help Chuck? Let me know if you still have Qs.

Even though I said ciao, I am back. Why? Because no matter how few of the group there are now, I realized that I do enjoy your company, cyber as it is.

I was never mad. Just had that feeling, like Laker seems to have from time to time, that nobody cares whether I post or not.

Truth is, I've been on the forum for 17 years, and it became a part of my concerns. "I cayn't quit yew" (BrokeStrat Mountain)

Since my last posting, I fell in love with a 335 that I now play and worship; my hands are worse with arthritis; I'm engaged to a woman I'm pretty sure is the most compatible partner I've had; I'm going to become a grandfather--a boy, due in late September; and I just got a candy apple red Strat that looks a lot like the one I foolishly sold years ago; I've gone back to work for the college, this time, not as English faculty, but as the director or our correctional education initiative. More money than journalism, for sure. It's been a long journey back. Six years since I quit at the college. Now I'm back and enjoying what I do.


So like me or dislike me, I obviously like you all enough to try to quit the group but come back to the forum. Best regards to all.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ch willie

Even though I said ciao, I am back. Why? Because no matter how few of the group there are now, I realized that I do enjoy your company, cyber as it is.

I was never mad. Just had that feeling, like Laker seems to have from time to time, that nobody cares whether I post or not.

Truth is, I've been on the forum for 17 years, and it became a part of my concerns. "I cayn't quit yew" (BrokeStrat Mountain)

Since my last posting, I fell in love with a 335 that I now play and worship; my hands are worse with arthritis; I'm engaged to a woman I'm pretty sure is the most compatible partner I've had; I'm going to become a grandfather--a boy, due in late September; and I just got a candy apple red Strat that looks a lot like the one I foolishly sold years ago; I've gone back to work for the college, this time, not as English faculty, but as the director or our correctional education initiative. More money than journalism, for sure. It's been a long journey back. Six years since I quit at the college. Now I'm back and enjoying what I do.


So like me or dislike me, I obviously like you all enough to try to quit the group but come back to the forum. Best regards to all.

---

Welcome home!

Welcome back, Bill! As they say, we may be small but we're really crazy!

Thanks, guys.

It's good to "walk" amongst yerz again.

My playing has gotten worse because of an arthritis flare up, but I don't care. I can play badly for 20 minutes and enjoy it.

Cool! I have the opportunity to play badly for 24 minutes next week. My first-ever "showcase" performance.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by OldStrummer

Cool! I have the opportunity to play badly for 24 minutes next week. My first-ever "showcase" performance.

---

I remember when you first came to TFF and started playing the occasional bit with others. You were nervous but excited. Now look at you--showcase! You've worked hard for this, and congrats. Hope you and your audience have a great time.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ch willie

I remember when you first came to TFF and started playing the occasional bit with others. You were nervous but excited. Now look at you--showcase! You've worked hard for this, and congrats. Hope you and your audience have a great time.

---

Thanks, Bill. I'm still not a perfect player, but I'm a lot more comfortable now, and people have remarked on how much more relaxed I seem. I'm looking forward to this because I don't have to worry about a clock. At least until right at the end!