Gear Heaven

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=90 BGCOLOR="#006699" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="00b285a1erlcgo.png"> <div> <B>The Vice-Bishops' </B><B> </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#33FFFF" FACE="Comic Sans MS" ><B>blues band</B></FONT><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Arial" ><B>     |</B></FONT><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" ><B>     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The ViceBishops "><U><B>home</B></U></A></FONT></div> <div> <A HREF="blues_band.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Meet the Band"><U>Meet the Band</U></A>   |   <A HREF="blues_band7.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Check out the music"><U>Check out the music</U></A>   |   Gear Heaven   |   <A HREF="blues_band10.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Gigs Wot Gigs?"><U>Gigs  - Wot Gigs?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="blues_band11.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Related Links"><U>Related Links</U></A>   |   <A HREF="blues_band12.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Bishop Mail"><U>Bishop Mail</U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#FFCC66" TEXT="#080000" background="009d2c00dkelyh.png"> <div> <B>Gear Gallery!</B></div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="0279be80.jpg" border=0 width="155" height="232" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> Pod's 335 & Les Paul</div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="0289dd90.jpg" border=0 width="157" height="217" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> Dave's ES345 & Blues DeVille with extension speaker beneath.</div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="0299ae60.jpg" border=0 width="154" height="230" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> Dave Blants venerable Jazz Bass and Peavey/Marshall rig</div> <div> <IMG SRC="02690d70.jpg" border=0 width="144" height="215" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Drums are boring unless they're being played - so here's Freddy in action!</div> </td> <td valign="top" height=390 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <I>Gear Heaven</I></div> <div> <B>The Vice Bishops Gear....</B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> The Vice Bishops have acquired a variety of equipment over the years with an emphasis on quality vintage equipment (they don't make them like they used to) , some of the more interesting gear is noted below:-</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Pod Malkin - Guitar </B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> Pod's set up comprises a Gibson ES 335 played through a Vox AC 30 showing "some signs of wear and tear"  (valve amp afficionados have been known to weep at this neglect) . Both date from the early 60s.</div> <div> A recent addition to this is an Epiphone Les Paul which is equipped with Seymour Duncan pickups. The AC 30 is occasionally backed up by a Marshall Combo for added volume. Pod currently uses an Alesis Midiverb but no other effects.  Pod uses standard 9 gauge strings (mainly changed when broken!)</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Dave Faulkner - Guitar/Vocals</B></div> <bR> <div> Dave's set up comprises a Gibson ES345 played through a Fender Blues DeVille. The ES345 is an early 60s model and the Blues DeVille is around 7 years old. A BOSS CE5 chorus pedal is the only effect Dave uses. Dave also occasionally uses a home built 1x12 extension cab with a Peavey Black Widow speaker which matches the Blues DeVille cosmetically and adds a bit of extra depth and volume. Dave uses a 9,11,13 gauge for the E,B & G strings and more or less standard gauges on the bottom end (slightly heavier bottom for preference). The Blues DeVille has seen some minor changes - initially re-valved with Sovtek 12AX7WBs and JAN Philips 6L6s the main pre-amp valve has been substituted with a Sovtek 5751which is lower gain and takes some bite out of the sound. The original Fender 6L6s are now back in use in the power amp section.</div> <div> Microphone of choice is a Beyer Opus69 through a Peavey PA.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Dave Blant - Bass Guitar/backing vocals</B></div> <bR> <div> Dave uses a venerable Fender Jazz Bass through a Peavey Valve top and a Marshall 1x15 cabinet - lately acquiring the classic "much gigged" look sported by Pod's AC30.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Fred Hopwood - Drums</B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> Fred uses a variety of kits including  kits by Gretsch & Premier plus a recently acquired  vintage Carlton Kit which is now becoming his mainstay. In addition to standard "sticks" Fred also uses the unique "Goz Rods" for that indefinable sound somewhere between brush and stick (don't ask!)</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>