Giving Back

[Kaiser Bill]

Every two weeks a core group of musicians get together to raise money for our local food bank. I have been involved in this for over two years. We never know who is going to show up to sit in. It is a true test of one's musical ability. We play rock, standards, blues, jazz, and country. Its just our way of giving back to our community. We have a great time and raise money for those less fortunate than ourselves. I believe to date well over $30,000 has been raised. Its free to the public. They only ask you donate what you can. Either a money contribution or a non-perishable food item. Gibson instruments have always been a big part of this.

 

[kidblast]

Nice work Mr Kaiser..

 

I always jump at a chance to do work this. It's been a while - but it's something I wont say "no" to..

 

Hey nice LPCD btw.

[Kaiser Bill]

Thanks kid... I never had good luck with this double cut until I changed amps. Last night it sounded really nice for once. I usually use a Hot Rod Deville. Last night I went with the Genz-Benz AC150. I'm still trying to get an answer out of them as to what the RMS rating is. No way is it 150 watts.

[kidblast]

yea man, those HR Deville amps seem to be a on or off sort of item.

 

I've got the HR Deville 4x10. (I do prefer the 10s to 12s with these amps) has VERY nice clean sound, but definitely a bit of a gnarly gain stage. I can get mine passable by just dialing in sparse amount of gain, (maybe 10 or 11 o'clock) Then at least when you select "more gain", still useable (sorta). If you crank that gain for the 1st stage (anything past 1 o'clock), then hit the "more gain"... wow -- you can hurt someone with that tone.

 

The solution for me was a tonebone classic and a burn unit (both overdrive pedals) to front end the Deville and hang out in the clean channel 85% of the time and use those for the grit and drive.

 

Heard great things about the Genz-Benz amps, never had a chance to try one. One of my pals had one and he spoke highly of it, but he wound up selling it before I could try it out. (he changes out his gear like I change socks)

[ZenKen]

All I can say is You Rock Bill. You and your mates.

[BobF_]

kidblast - (apologies to Bill for whacking his thread)

 

I've always loved the 4x10 DeVille clean, but never owned one. Right now I'm down to a PA and an Acoustisonic Jr. with an RP1000.

 

I really like the RP, but I've been wanting to pick up a clean tube amp to run it through. I like through the AS Jr better than the PA b/c

it seems more natural to have the guitar sound coming out of a box instead of booming out of the PA, but the AS Jr is SS, of course.

With the AS Jr I feed the RP into the return and leave the amp/cab modeling enabled. It really does sound great, but not enough juice.

 

I'm thinking of picking up a 4x10 DeVille for awesome clean tone, but how does it handle other effects? I know you said you use OD

pedals, but have you tried anything else with it?

[Tim Plains]

The world needs more people like you.

[milod]

All kidding aside here...

 

I think with a bit of forethought doing benefits is a good thing whether one plays full time, is a weekend warrior or, as with me, can't plan on very much during the year.

 

Basically I'll do 3-6 benefits a year or thereabouts for stuff I give money to anyway. No time with my work schedule to play any sort of regular gigs, but this keeps my hands into the game while it helps (I hope) some good causes.

 

Full timers and weekend warriors have to be a bit careful so they're not "benefitted" out of business, but it's still good PR regardless of any true "good feelings" one may have toward a given "cause."

 

Overall though, I think if you can do a decent "show," you're also helping live music in general. It's around less and less regardless of the age group. Making the music more real and more fun at a benefit helps live music in general. It's almost a subliminal thing where, I may not like your 1940s style of music, but when they show some of my new 1950s stuff at a local venue, I'll go in hopes it's half as much fun.

 

Good deal, folks.

 

m

[matonanjin]

Kaiser Bill,

 

Great cause and you are to be commended for your and your friends efforts. And, I suspect, you have some fun!

[retrorod]

Good job, my man

I surely did enjoy the pics...

[PingPongBob]

If there were more Kaiser Bills in the world, it would be a better world!!!

[joshatatlasstands]

very cool, wish everyone could give back like this.

[Kaiser Bill]

Thanks so very much to each and every one. I will pass your message along to the other "Boys in the Band".

[kidblast]

kidblast - (apologies to Bill for whacking his thread)

I'm thinking of picking up a 4x10 DeVille for awesome clean tone, but how does it handle other effects? I know you said you use OD

pedals, but have you tried anything else with it?

 

I'll often run a compressor in front of everything + a Line6 DL4 and MM4 either in the FX loop or inline.

if it wasn't for the sub-par gain channel tones, it'd be one of the better amps out there. It's a b***ch to move tho..

And now,, Back to Bill's thread!

[Kaiser Bill]

Kid...not to worry... I should have prefaced my comment by saying that this venue is a little smaller than your average living room. In a situation like that a HR DeVille is waaay too much amp for the room. In a normal club situation I absolutely love my HRD, but for this gig the smaller the better because of available space. As it is we are packed in like sardines. I used to use my '84 Super Champ until the keyboard and bass players brought in some very powerful separate component rigs. Then the gloves had to come off.