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No we can't! You definitely do NOT need more than 4 strings!

There's an interesting theory about young intelligence verses old intelligence, the former is a fluid, changeable and learning form and the latter is a crystallised, change resistant and learns slowly if at all. The theory posits that the longer you can remain in the fluid form by learning and challenging yourself, the better your mind and health will be in old age. Given the number of old musicians I know who are still inquisitive and keen to learn I think this is close to the truth.

Hopefully not, but sometimes it happens. Discussion from opposing viewpoints in good faith is not a bad thing, provided the arguments are engaged with honestly. We can agree to disagree about almost anything, given good faith, bigotry and more especially fascism does not operate in good faith.

Old people can't change their minds? My 85 year old mother, a lifelong unquestioning Tory voter, will never vote for them again after seeing the mess they've made of the county. Being old is no excuse, neither is being young or uneducated or poor or rich, Bigotry is born in ignorance and grows in darkness, it poisons young and old alike. Drag it into the light and kill it.

I grew up in a political household, grandad was leader of the council and charged debates at gatherings was the norm. Fall-outs were regular and (usually) temporary. My folks voted for Brexit. They voted against the interests of themselves, their children and their own grandchildren despite myriad warnings and bundles of evidence telling them that was the case. That’s not something that should be brushed off IMO. Mayhap i have unusual views on ‘family’ as I don’t buy this thing that ‘there’s nothing more important than family’ - it’s a mindless trope IMO

Ghoat (sic)

Ideally I'd like to try this out before buying. I hope they are not just for sale online. Anyone near Louth, Lincolnshire with one? I'd be prepared to travel to a guitar shop, if not too far, that has one.

I had a ATK405 about 15 years back. The 400-series were a bit different from the 300-series, and it wasn't just down to the extra pickup - they were a little downsized (the body and headstock were noticeably smaller), and the one I had was quite a reasonable weight. In terms of tone, it sounded great, and it recorded particularly well, and really benefitted from the presence of that neck pickup. They're missing a trick not offering the ATK electronics in any of their other basses - I know there was an Ergodyne model a while back that had the big ATK humbucker in it, but that's the only time they've done it. I think a BTB with the ATK405 pickups would be a monster instrument.

Where did that come from?!

Riffin' The Scotch — Billie Holiday

As long as people are polite and respectful there should be no problem. People have differences, they are flawed and nobody is perfect or invulnerable. Times change, people change, attitudes change. There really has to be tolerance, respect and forgiveness or it is going to get really ugly out there. One thing I would say about getting older is your world shrinks and things start to become more of a challenge than an opportunity. On the flip side I think people get more phlegmatic and possibly a little less certain about what is the right way to be. I certainly see more capacity for forgiveness in the older generation. There is a slight tendency towards absolutism creeping into the world now. Ideally I want to stay living in a city as I get older because being around many different cultures, ages, backgrounds, religions is a healthy and positive thing. It’s difficult to believe all of the fear mongers in the media and in power when you walk down the street and see most people are the same. They face the same challenges, breathe the same air, walk the same streets and go home to lives that have more similarities than differences to the home I go back to.

If this thread does not harm relationships between any number of basschatters, it'll be a miracle.

Very nicely put!

Also, if he's intending to vote in a party intent on dismantling much of what makes us great on the basis of having unquestioningly accepted a load of fear-mongering inaccuracies he's going to be called out on it. Because it's not about "differing opinions" - it's about cynical populism being used to serve the interests of the few rather than the many. And that's why it has to be talked about: if grandad thinks we're being overrun with imported paedophiles who are being handed Ipods as they enter their luxury hotels, surely he needs to be disabused of this. If he genuinely thinks people are inferior by accident of place of birth then he's having Christmas dinner elsewhere.

Can we just agree that punching downwards isn't a good thing?

I frequently visibly wince at large gatherings of the oldies. I suspect that you would explode. I have to remind myself that they grew up in a different time and place and even the most enlightened and educated amongst them use terms that are now outdated and not appropriate. They are not evil people though.

Whisky In The Jar - Thin Lizzy

Not everyone whose planning on voting Reform is a racist bigot, but all the racist bigots will likely vote Reform. I don't care if it is cuddly Uncle Albert, if he's a racist bigot who is incapable of changing his mind, he can f*ck off.

Really? Pretty much all of my family over 70 have views I don’t agree with. I certainly wouldn’t fall out with them because they are going to vote for Farrage. I think they are delusional buffoons living under the illusion life was better in the 1950s but I bear them no malice whatsoever.

This is a clear straw man argument and I think you play 4 string basses without ever questioning why.

But would you seriously fall out with family members for having different opinions? Oi Grandad you may be 87, an ex steelworker who saw action during the Suez Crisis but frankly your views on gender identity and pronouns are unacceptable?