The Shadowers' Saviour of Shadowmania 2010: AMANDA HAMBIDGE

[MeBHank]

In the story of Peter Pan, it is stated that if someone says "I do not believe in fairies", somewhere there is a fairy that falls down dead.

I believe the same is true for guitar equipment at Bruce's event at Lakeside. In the build up to the the gig, if anyone breathes the word "Shadowmania", a vital-to-the-show Vox amplifier or Meazzi echo expires. Both Phil and Colin have had problems that had to be sorted on the day by technicians who were called in at the last minute. Thankfully, I had a few days to get my own gear issues sorted.

First of all, with less than two weeks to go before Shadowmania, one of my guitars developed a serious fault that needed sorting. Less-than-ideal timing, not least because my usual guitar tech had just left the country on a well-earned holiday. All other techs I'd employed before had been at the recommendation of fellow guitarists, but none of them were local. That meant finding a stranger to trust with my prized "Yuriy" Strat. I must admit to feeling a certain amount of trepidation, but there was no other choice.

While my Strat was in "hospital", I had to rehearse with the Shadowers. Four tunes into the first run-through of our set (on 9th September), my Meazzi echo seemed to give up the ghost. Cue a mild case of hysteria. A few minutes later, I had proven to myself (by cleaning the heads and changing the tape) that the problem was certainly a faulty electrical component. I made a call to our very own Amanda Hambidge. Amanda agreed to drop everything and meet me that evening to collect the echo. After less than twenty-four hours of being without my "Baby" (my nickname for the Meazzi), I had the news I had been waiting for: it was back to full health and would be waiting for me at our rehearsal venue that Sunday, just three days after the problem had manifested itself.

Fast-forward a further five days, and we all arrived at Lakeside, the Shadowers conspicuously being the "new boys" of the event (in fact, I was more nervous than when I'd done it first time round with the Foot Tappers). I had finally been reunited with my Strat which, thankfully, had been well cared for and was playing better than it had in months. Amanda had brought her superb home-made Vox AC15 clone for me as a back-up. Those in attendance may have also seen, underneath my own echo, a second Meazzi (which Amanda had altered slightly so that it was closer to mine in circuit and therefore sound), which was present in case mine broke down or failed during the set. She was also on hand all day to help us shift our equipment on and off stage, which saved time and so eased stress levels.

I was conscious of not waffling too much on stage between tunes, but in so doing I neglected to thank Amanda for all her help, which was an unforgivable oversight. Amanda, the Shadowers are in your debt, and not for the first time. Thank you.

Lastly, on behalf of all the band, I must thank everyone who has commented publicly or privately on the Shadowers' set at Lakeside. We've been inundated with compliments. Thank you all.

Cheers...

J

PS: One last thank you must be made to the Hankies who attended, for making me the first "Malcolm" in the history of Shadowmania. But thank you for not throwing beer mats. Maybe next time.

[David Martin]

Well said Justin... and well played Amanda...

[Geoff Alderton LH]

Hi all.
I have to say Justin your set at Shadomania was superb with the sound being exceptional. Well done.
With the ocasional problems you seem to have with the Meazzi have you thought of using a more reliable modern valve tape echo,like the ESE 4or 6?
Regards Geoff.

[Amanda]

Geoff,
wash your mouth out with soap!

For Justin I think it is a Meazzi or nothing!

Actually the problem that occurred with Justin's Meazzi
was a cracked valve, which could have happened with any
valve tape echo.

I've said many times before that if old gear is maintained
regularly then it should be as reliable as new gear.

Taking a good look at it and checking it through including valve
testing it is in remarkably good shape for its age!

Justin, Bev's echo last night sounded superb, it's now been "Justinised".

Helping out with gear changes at Shadowmania gave me a better appreciation
of all the hard work Bruce puts in to the event.

[Geoff Alderton LH]

Hi Amanda. I do prefer tooth paste, not the sort of thing a lady would say. Why would I want to use soap?
I take it it's Meazzi or nothing then. Technology and new materials go in the bin then Amanda.
Regards Geoff.

[Amanda]

Hi Geoff,

One Lady used to say that to us kids, my Mom, if we used bad words!!
And also my Dad did, it was an effective deterrent!

It was one of those remarks that was very "tongue in cheek!" and was not meant to
offend in anyway hence the wink at the end, if it did I am awfully sorry!

As for throwing modern gear in the bin, no way, there are some great echo simulators
and modern amps out there.

Meazzi wise - I would like one as a "project" and as a "Collectable" but as for using one every day
too much fiddling is involved, and maintenance like tape head cleaning etc. This is one of the things that Dick
Denney made reference to regarding Hank's Vox echo!

The main echo I use for myself at home is a Magicstomp with EFTP and it gives me the sounds I want
not that I use it very much.

As for my amp being at Shadowmania, I would have taken it anyway, and I offered the Meazzi after consulting with
it's owner, as a spare - I was confident that Justin's would work perfectly on the day as did his amp.

Regards

Amanda

[Geoff Alderton LH]

Hi Amanda. No problem no offence taken.
Keep up the good work with the amps and the echo's
Regards Geoff.