bovinehost
Administrator
Or: Cowpilot Goes To Paris
So we had this rehearsal dinner gig - glamorous, ain't it? (This is why I never become overly impressed with myself.) And it was in Paris, Texas. I knew in advance that it was outdoors and that conditions were not ideal, so I really argued with myself about bringing that fancy new bass. In the end, I couldn't help myself; I brought the 20th and my old standby, the Sapphire Black HH Bongo 5, because it's been through a zillion outdoor gigs and never complains.
I figured I'd just use the Bongo and feel better about not exposing the 20th to the elements, but once I got there, I had to at least trot it out, didn't I?
What a place. Behind us, goats. Around us, Texas Longhorns. Roosters roamed freely. Two dogs that were older than Satan and just as attractive. But don't get me wrong - it was a very cool place, a true Texas deal and we had a bunkhouse to hang in when not playing, complete with a stereo with BR-549 CDs. And a mounted Cape Buffalo head, which I don't think are that common in Texas, but anyway.
The "stage" was dirt. Dirt, underneath a wooden structure which at first rained roaches when Andy engaged the kick drum. Woo-hoo!
Screw it. I set up the Markbass rig and got the SR5 out to show our guitar player, Chris. He was impresssed. So it was out of the case....I went ahead and plugged it in to do the sound check (and shake the roaches loose) and then it sounded so good, I decided to use it for the first set. Just the first set. Then I'd get the Bongo out, right?
Wrong.
My GOD, what a noise it makes. We ran through some Cowpilot standards and after the first tune, I knew it was not going back in the case.
After things got cranking, we got louder (of course) and people were dancing and I was sweating all over the poor bass, but there was no way I was going to switch it out.
It got a complete workout. At one point, we invited the hot chicks up to sing "Another Brick In The Wall" (we play it as kind of a country tune which then morphs into "Istanbul', if you can imagine that), and I found six or eight young girls pressing me back into the drums....well, that really has nothing to do with the bass, I guess.
Which performed beyond expectations.
I've had some really great SR5s and one - Heinz - was so comfortable that I couldn't imagine feeling that 'at home' with any other SR5. I think I'm already as comfortable with the 20th as I was with Heinz. Or, okay, it's close, anyway.
I'm glad I chose the single H config. It's perfect for what I want, for what I do. I can see using the Dargie HH SR5 for fun and just to have those options, but the single H SR5 is just.....perfect.
Across the fretboard, up and down, every note sounded gorgeous.
Except for the Birthday Bash in November, this was the first real test of the Markbass rig, too. I expected - really - to miss, a little bit, the power and grit of my old-school Sunn/Ampeg setup. Nope. There are so many bass/rig combinations that will deliver, I know that, but I have to say that it's hard to beat the SR5/Markbass punch. I have no complaints and the guys in the band, who are extremely accustomed to the Bongo/Sunn/Ampeg setup would tell you, I think, that we gave up nothing with the change.
Plus, load in and load out was a freakin' BREEZE.
Afterwards, with all the dirt and grit and dust (and roaches), I broke out the Wonder Wipes for all the Cowpilot lads.
I realize that photos would compliment this post, but I FORGOT MY CAMERA and Paris is two hours from home. There were some photos taken, and if any of them surface, I'll share.
If you're undecided about the 20th SR5, if you're a Bongoloid like me, STOP FOOLING AROUND, at least if you're thinking about whether or not you need/want a 20th.
I think the 30th SR4s are the best Stingray ever built.
I'm now firmly convinced that the 20th SR5s are the best Stingray 5s ever built.
I'm beat. I drove two hours back to Dallas in the rain to post this, and I'm sure my bass still needs some cleaning, but I couldn't go to bed without telling you guys how really hot these basses are.
Cheers!
Jack
So we had this rehearsal dinner gig - glamorous, ain't it? (This is why I never become overly impressed with myself.) And it was in Paris, Texas. I knew in advance that it was outdoors and that conditions were not ideal, so I really argued with myself about bringing that fancy new bass. In the end, I couldn't help myself; I brought the 20th and my old standby, the Sapphire Black HH Bongo 5, because it's been through a zillion outdoor gigs and never complains.
I figured I'd just use the Bongo and feel better about not exposing the 20th to the elements, but once I got there, I had to at least trot it out, didn't I?
What a place. Behind us, goats. Around us, Texas Longhorns. Roosters roamed freely. Two dogs that were older than Satan and just as attractive. But don't get me wrong - it was a very cool place, a true Texas deal and we had a bunkhouse to hang in when not playing, complete with a stereo with BR-549 CDs. And a mounted Cape Buffalo head, which I don't think are that common in Texas, but anyway.
The "stage" was dirt. Dirt, underneath a wooden structure which at first rained roaches when Andy engaged the kick drum. Woo-hoo!
Screw it. I set up the Markbass rig and got the SR5 out to show our guitar player, Chris. He was impresssed. So it was out of the case....I went ahead and plugged it in to do the sound check (and shake the roaches loose) and then it sounded so good, I decided to use it for the first set. Just the first set. Then I'd get the Bongo out, right?
Wrong.
My GOD, what a noise it makes. We ran through some Cowpilot standards and after the first tune, I knew it was not going back in the case.
After things got cranking, we got louder (of course) and people were dancing and I was sweating all over the poor bass, but there was no way I was going to switch it out.
It got a complete workout. At one point, we invited the hot chicks up to sing "Another Brick In The Wall" (we play it as kind of a country tune which then morphs into "Istanbul', if you can imagine that), and I found six or eight young girls pressing me back into the drums....well, that really has nothing to do with the bass, I guess.
Which performed beyond expectations.
I've had some really great SR5s and one - Heinz - was so comfortable that I couldn't imagine feeling that 'at home' with any other SR5. I think I'm already as comfortable with the 20th as I was with Heinz. Or, okay, it's close, anyway.
I'm glad I chose the single H config. It's perfect for what I want, for what I do. I can see using the Dargie HH SR5 for fun and just to have those options, but the single H SR5 is just.....perfect.
Across the fretboard, up and down, every note sounded gorgeous.
Except for the Birthday Bash in November, this was the first real test of the Markbass rig, too. I expected - really - to miss, a little bit, the power and grit of my old-school Sunn/Ampeg setup. Nope. There are so many bass/rig combinations that will deliver, I know that, but I have to say that it's hard to beat the SR5/Markbass punch. I have no complaints and the guys in the band, who are extremely accustomed to the Bongo/Sunn/Ampeg setup would tell you, I think, that we gave up nothing with the change.
Plus, load in and load out was a freakin' BREEZE.
Afterwards, with all the dirt and grit and dust (and roaches), I broke out the Wonder Wipes for all the Cowpilot lads.
I realize that photos would compliment this post, but I FORGOT MY CAMERA and Paris is two hours from home. There were some photos taken, and if any of them surface, I'll share.
If you're undecided about the 20th SR5, if you're a Bongoloid like me, STOP FOOLING AROUND, at least if you're thinking about whether or not you need/want a 20th.
I think the 30th SR4s are the best Stingray ever built.
I'm now firmly convinced that the 20th SR5s are the best Stingray 5s ever built.
I'm beat. I drove two hours back to Dallas in the rain to post this, and I'm sure my bass still needs some cleaning, but I couldn't go to bed without telling you guys how really hot these basses are.
Cheers!
Jack
