Shaman
Well-known member
On reflection, I have done such a huge amount of music and done so much playing out this year - and I plan to do more as I work on retirement, in two groups and working with a recording artist. It's been awesome. I know it's not winter yet but today's gig (and tomorrow's gig!) just hit home with me today, because I was finally able to convince a personal friend to come and fill in for our band this weekend. He's an excellent player but is just simply unsure of himself. As I knew would happen, everyone in my band approves of him. He's filling in because our player of 14 years has got some health problems that will take him out for the rest of 2026 at a minimum.
So this year I have THREE new guitars, a new amplifier, new music cabinets and have put my front-of-house system in my workshop to good use. I detailed the FOH system last year and it remains great for working in the workshop or jamming / practicing music in a relatively isolated area of my property.
So, the new instruments first:
Gretsch Streamliner Jet Single Cut - a 30" short-scale, dual single-coil bass (beside my Warwick Corvette $$) at a gig:
Maruszczyk Headless Frog with Delano XTender pickups + Sonar 3/S preamp:
Dingwall NG3 Adam "Nolly" Edition - brand new this week - made in Canada:
And now my new gear:
Bergantino HP2 Forte Ultra amplifier (2000W @ 4 ohms, 1700W @ 2.67 ohms, 1200W @ 2 ohms, 1000W @ 8 ohms), 8lbs with Bluetooth switchpedal:
Two Mark Bass 58R 104 Energy cabinets (800W, 8 ohms for 1600W; 4 ohm load combined), 36lbs each - on Rockville angled stand in this venue:
My newer pedals and board: MXR Bass Synth (for 80s pop), Bass Clone Chorus (80s pop, colour for some songs), SansAmp Bass DI, Poly Shifter (soon traded):
My current practice setup, biamped to a 15" Behringer combo I've had for nearly 20 years and in front of the front of house setup that will be used tomorrow outdoors (which goes with Yorkville 1000W tops + 1600W 2x15" sub). This setup puts out 980W RMS per side + 1000W with the QSC KW181 sub. I'm using next to nothing from it, it's set to maybe 85db and the mixing board has - I kid you not - 55db of output left to go (actual output of 129db @ one meter). This may look like a crude setup but it really isn't, this setup is clear, defined and in an appropriate place.
Anyway, that's the biggest thing I've been up to in 2026.
I gigged my Dingwall for the first time today, which sounds GREAT in a mix but not nearly as powerful or amazing as my Maruszczyk does in isolation. It's bright and really packs a visual punch. To quote my singer today after I was gigging my new Dingwall with Golden Earring's "Radar Love," he said "Man, I wish I played bass guitar" over a hot mic. I don't really know what he meant, but take from that what you will.
Life is mostly good. Oh, and I've been out on the KTM this year about 5,000km including a week at Deal's Gap. Needs an oil change about 500km ago.
So this year I have THREE new guitars, a new amplifier, new music cabinets and have put my front-of-house system in my workshop to good use. I detailed the FOH system last year and it remains great for working in the workshop or jamming / practicing music in a relatively isolated area of my property.
So, the new instruments first:
Gretsch Streamliner Jet Single Cut - a 30" short-scale, dual single-coil bass (beside my Warwick Corvette $$) at a gig:
Maruszczyk Headless Frog with Delano XTender pickups + Sonar 3/S preamp:
Dingwall NG3 Adam "Nolly" Edition - brand new this week - made in Canada:
And now my new gear:
Bergantino HP2 Forte Ultra amplifier (2000W @ 4 ohms, 1700W @ 2.67 ohms, 1200W @ 2 ohms, 1000W @ 8 ohms), 8lbs with Bluetooth switchpedal:
Two Mark Bass 58R 104 Energy cabinets (800W, 8 ohms for 1600W; 4 ohm load combined), 36lbs each - on Rockville angled stand in this venue:
My newer pedals and board: MXR Bass Synth (for 80s pop), Bass Clone Chorus (80s pop, colour for some songs), SansAmp Bass DI, Poly Shifter (soon traded):
My current practice setup, biamped to a 15" Behringer combo I've had for nearly 20 years and in front of the front of house setup that will be used tomorrow outdoors (which goes with Yorkville 1000W tops + 1600W 2x15" sub). This setup puts out 980W RMS per side + 1000W with the QSC KW181 sub. I'm using next to nothing from it, it's set to maybe 85db and the mixing board has - I kid you not - 55db of output left to go (actual output of 129db @ one meter). This may look like a crude setup but it really isn't, this setup is clear, defined and in an appropriate place.
Anyway, that's the biggest thing I've been up to in 2026.
I gigged my Dingwall for the first time today, which sounds GREAT in a mix but not nearly as powerful or amazing as my Maruszczyk does in isolation. It's bright and really packs a visual punch. To quote my singer today after I was gigging my new Dingwall with Golden Earring's "Radar Love," he said "Man, I wish I played bass guitar" over a hot mic. I don't really know what he meant, but take from that what you will.
Life is mostly good. Oh, and I've been out on the KTM this year about 5,000km including a week at Deal's Gap. Needs an oil change about 500km ago.
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