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It was kind of decided for me. Increasing problems with my ears have meant Ive pretty much given up playing live. Even playing my cello without significant muting is difficult, tho it comes and goes. Seems yrs of loud music has basically destroyed them, and the weird thing is it creeps up on you without you even realising.

My Z7-5 was just over 9 lbs and Z3-5 under 9 lbs (I don't recall the exact weight right now)... so fingers crossed Edit: No, the Z7-5 was 8.0 lbs actually, I can't trust my memory 😄 BUt both are light.

Fender Vintera II. I didn't hate it, Precisions are things of beauty afterall! I just couldn't get on with the fatter early 60's neck profile.

I quit a very good covers band around retirement age, and bought a sports car. No gear to lug around any more but I kept the bass. Moved to another part of the country, renovated a house and sat around doing nothing. Then met a guitar player who suggested we try working as a duo as we both sing. It’s enough for me now.

Travelled far and wide yesterday (or at least half an hour away which is the furthest we have been in a while). Sports and social club but sadly very empty. Easy setup, even if it is a long jog with the stuff from the car, but we had been there before so I took a trolley. Really quite empty but for some reason seemed an OK gig. Still didn't feel great but got through it fine. Same equipment as yesterday, but I guess I was a bit more used to it and I dind't make many mistakes (apart from strangely moondance, just used to the 5) and the sound was a lot better, probably why I enjoyed it more. So there weren't many people but of the people there were, they danced, and they came up and thanked us, and we got a private party for january, so must have done ok! I actually did most of the gig with the XS-1 one octave up and 20% on, and it just gives more bite and an edge on the distortion - more a harmonic boost I guess.

A nice local club gig last night. We’ve just had our annual lay off so this was the first gig in 4 weeks so expected a few cobwebs needed to be blown away. A decent crowd, wasn’t expecting miracles as the club has a patchy attendance for gigs. Was knackered at the end of the night as I’d flown back from Tenerife and not got in till turned 2am….had a well deserved Isle of Jura and the first mince pie of the season when I got in after the gig. Normal MarkBass rig, EBMM shorty Stingray and silver Converse. https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1A1h4MPtZ5/?mibextid=UalRPS

So just to give all ye all an update. Its nearly a month since I shimmed the p bass with 2 strips of fine grade sandpaper and I can report that there are zero issues so far. Bass is playing absolutely beautifully across the full fretboard. No sign of ski jump anywhere down near the neck pocket . Everything still playing clean and clear. By the way I am by no means a tech savvy guy for repairing basses. I just read a lot of stuff online (especially here) and had exhausted every other option so I kinda knew I needed a shim. I am over the moon with how it turned out . Many many tthanks for all the comments and advice on this thread. Basschat is a great forum to be part of Derek

I only buy basses that I think I am going to like, but sometimes it turns out I was wrong!

Just bought a SansAmp Bass Driver DI from Andy. Smooth transaction, fast shipping. Recommended!

Every now and then you get a gig that completely defies logic. This was the “stage” area we were presented with last night. We were basically in a corner with a 1 metre (3ft 3”) partition in front of us with the main ‘audience’ watching through the window, and a small bunch of music lovers off to our right. Solution, one top pole mounted on a bin facing right and running at about half power, and one top facing through the window running flat out. The problems were compounded by ceiling beams and a low ceiling. Did we get a great sound - er no, did we get an acceptable sound at an acceptable level for what was a small’ish villiage pub, then yes. Sometimes life gives you lemons and you just have to get creative.

not surprised at all you're enjoying it! Viv makes some of the best basses in the UK. The real trick is being happy with just one! Interesting you mention the HPF. I have one on my Noble and I use it with all my basses except my Mullarkey. With the Serek and JMJ it does as you say, takes away the mud and makes it sit nicer in the mix. With my Mullarkey it made it took away too much low end, making it sounds thin. I wonder if the difference is in the basses, the HPFs or our ears?

Good idea!

I've had a Z3 for a while, and the pots are clearly where they managed to save some money. The centre detents that we're poor to begin with have all but disappeared now, so I'd like to replace them. So, what should I be looking out for - Brands, types, tips etc? Has anybody seen a wiring schematic for this model of preamp? EDIT : Sorry, meant to post in "Repairs and Technical" - could a mod please move?

Call me crazy but I only buy basses I actually like. 🤔 (Yes, even the ones I've bought without trying out first.)

Friday night was my first chance to gig my recently-acquired Wilcock Mullarkey and it delivered everything I had hoped for. Up there with the best in terms of quality and playability, it sits perfectly in our 4-piece mix running through my Ampeg SVT-7 Pro head and LFSys Monaco FR/FR cab, even managing to cut through the powerful lows that our guitarist's new Strat puts out. Can't believe my luck in finding this mint pre-owned example at Bass Direct in my preferred colour and reasonably priced at £1950 for a retail sale. Just by the bye, I'm finding that another important bit of kit in delivering 'heft with definition' is the Always On HPF I recently got from Broughton Audio in Canada. My amp delivers 600w into my 600w-rated cab and I got the HPF to protect the driver from potentially damaging low frequencies. Much to my surprise, this tiny box of tricks does as much for my tone-shaping as my bass and amp controls. I just set everything up as I always did ands then find the frequency floor that gives me the best sound. Shame they don't sell in Europe but luckily I was able to get mine via a contact living in Canada. I know this may seem a bit off topic but I have a feeling that an HPF is especially effective when applied to the signature tones of short-scale basses.

One of the bassists at Tuesday's open mic was playing a P (the rest were playing Js apart from me with a Pedulla series 2 fretless 6). After hearing that, I never ever want to have a P. Absolutely awful sound.

‘Lovely Day’ by Bill Withers. It’s on the set list for an upcoming charity gig.