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Topic: Playing in the grass |
Jon Light (deceased)
From:
Saugerties, NY
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Posted 26 Jul 2004 10:14 am |
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I'm playing an outdoor park gig tomorrow evening. It just came to my attention that there may be no stand. If fact there except for a sound system, there may be no nothing. I'm totally not pleased to be setting up in the grass. Two questions:
---Are there any electrical issues with my volume pedal--should I bring something to put it on, between it and the bare ground? If so, what?
---Are there larger electrical issues with my amp? It is a three prong corded Fender Deluxe Reverb. Is this a dangerous scenario? |
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John Kavanagh
From:
Kentville, Nova Scotia, Canada * R.I.P.
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Posted 26 Jul 2004 10:21 am
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| It might be a problem if the grass was damp. If it was me, and the drive wasn't too far, I'd put a sheet of plywood on the roof rack and set up on that. And tell the drummer to get his own damn' plywood. |
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seldomfed
From:
Colorado
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Posted 26 Jul 2004 10:23 am
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Jon, I've done this more than once 
#1 - get it yourself, or get them to provide at least a 4x8 sheet of plywood!!!!! Else you'll be in big trouble - you'll sink! Your pedals won't work.
---Are there any electrical issues with my volume pedal--
get the plywood!
---Are there larger electrical issues with my amp?
Biggest issue is make sure you are all coming off one circuit for amps and PA if possible, and/or check the wiring to make sure grounds are correct with your circuit tester (little ones aval. at radio shack or any hardware store).
Just played on plywood at a 4th of july gig in a park, in the rain, under a tent. Played on an old door once at a wedding on a ranch, under a tent, in a thunder storm  I lived.
chris |
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Lawrence Lupkin
From:
Brooklyn, New York, USA
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CrowBear Schmitt
From:
Ariege, - PairO'knees, - France
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Posted 26 Jul 2004 12:36 pm
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| Get something to isolate you from the earth and do make sure that the electrics have a proper ground [This message was edited by CrowBear Schmitt on 26 July 2004 at 01:36 PM.] |
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Richard Sinkler
From:
aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana
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Posted 26 Jul 2004 12:54 pm
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| Seeing as how you don't really need the full 4x8 plywood to set up on, have the lumber yard cut the plywood so you have enough room to set up on and have the extra piece to get the amp out of the grass. I have done this in the past. |
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Mark Herrick
From:
Bakersfield, CA
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HowardR
From:
N.Y.C.-Fire Island-Asheville
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Posted 26 Jul 2004 5:18 pm
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| after the gig, check yourself for ticks.... |
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Jon Light (deceased)
From:
Saugerties, NY
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Posted 27 Jul 2004 11:58 am
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Yeah, Howard, I learned that one from Hanks.
Thanks to all of you for your input. looks like weather will render this a moot point for now. Being billed as a 'rain or shine' event, we will instead be playing inside at the Fort Tryon Jewish Center. I'm hoping to have a good time but if not I will at least have a nagilla. |
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Charles French
From:
Ms.
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Posted 27 Jul 2004 12:36 pm
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| Speaking of plywood. A small piece of plywood under an amp will do wonders for your tone if your playing in one of those carpeted lounges. |
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CrowBear Schmitt
From:
Ariege, - PairO'knees, - France
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Jon Light (deceased)
From:
Saugerties, NY
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Posted 27 Jul 2004 6:07 pm
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Hey, how 'bout that, CB---it was located on Ft Washington, right around 183rd. I hadn't expected it to be a Synagogue--thought it was just a community center. We set up in the sanctuary right in front of the pulpit. The torahs got themselves rattled tonight.
I must say, the Carter into my SF Deluxe Reverb with my latest mod on it--a mid pot mounted in the ext. speaker hole--sounded, well, I guess heavenly. Really sweet. In the torrential downpour, some people actually came out and were warmly appreciative so all's swell that ends swell.
Glad we don't have too many drinking & cheating songs. Would have felt slightly out of place. I'm sure the worshippers have the drinking and cheating thing covered. But they probably don't want to hear songs about it. |
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Mark van Allen
From:
Watkinsville, Ga. USA
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Posted 27 Jul 2004 6:52 pm
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Howard might have thought he was kidding... a couple years back I played a big outdoor wedding/mini festival with Blueground Undergrass, outside under some nice trees. As we were packing up I noticed a tick on my pant leg down by my foot. We all checked each other over really well, found one or two more, and headed for home. Three days later, my wife an I were up in bed smooching, and she says "eeww- what is this in your ear?"
I have to stay in the basement now... maybe I should have tried plywood...
------------------
Stop by the Steel Store at: www.markvanallen.com
[This message was edited by Mark van Allen on 27 July 2004 at 07:53 PM.] |
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Stephen Gambrell
From:
Over there
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Posted 28 Jul 2004 2:46 am
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Outdoor gigs---ya gotta love 'em! As a bluegrasser, I've played more outdoor gigs than a lot of folks, and they're almost always, well, not fun, unless you laugh easily.
Aiken, S.C., is home to a lot of rich horse people, and we played a BBQ thing, outdoors, must've been twenty years ago. There were all kinds of "free-range" animals, chickens, turkeys, guineas, the first Shar-Pei I'd ever seen in my life...
Anyway, these moneyed-up folk had set the serving table under some trees, with low-hanging limbs. About dark, the chickens and guineas began to roost---IN THE LOW-HANGING BRANCHES!!!
I heard one woman, in that chain-smoking-whiskey-swilling-rich-beyond-the-bass-player's-dreams voice, scream,"WE'VE GOTTA MOVE THESE TABLES!!!THESE BIRDS ARE
SH@%$&TING ON OUR FOOD!!!"
Ya gotta love show business. |
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Pete Burak
From:
Portland, OR USA
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Posted 28 Jul 2004 8:25 am
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I found two Office Chair Mats at a garage sale for 2-bucks each.
I thought this would be a good score for both home use on carpet, and grass gigs, so I grabbed them both.
As you can see, the steel goes on the the wide part, and the steel seat fits perfectly on the insert part.
I found this pic: http://www.everythingofficefurniture.com/chmaofchmat.html |
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HowardR
From:
N.Y.C.-Fire Island-Asheville
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Posted 28 Jul 2004 8:37 am
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very clever, Shecky Light,......but playing on the eve of Tisubov? A pox on your lox!!! |
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Lawrence Lupkin
From:
Brooklyn, New York, USA
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Posted 28 Jul 2004 9:52 am
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| Did they check to see if you had a tone bar-mitzvah? |
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Jon Light (deceased)
From:
Saugerties, NY
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Posted 28 Jul 2004 4:24 pm
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Wow. That explains a lot. Those bozos at Home Depot didn't include the set of instructions with that sheet of plywood and I've been trying EVERYTHING I can think of to figure out how fold the darned thing.
Lawrence--I won't dignify that with an acknowledgement. Damn, I just did. Doh!
A good body of info here if the situation comes up again. But I'll do like Homer if I'm out playing in the great outdoors and a storm (preferably electrical) comes up----grab a piece of galvinized something or other and run under the tallest tree for cover. |
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