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Indeed yes, usually only as far as the next atom. Hence me saying "on an atomic level". So the wire or whatever will still have the same amount of overall atoms in, even after many years of (undisturbed) service. The heat cycles are indeed the most likely culprit for loosening screws as you say.

AIUI the electrons only travel a short way, then knock an electron out of the atom they're joining, which then moves on in its turn. So there isn't a huge migration of electrons into and out of the wire. The cells in our body are a bit different, as it's actually cells replicating and old cells dying that causes the renewal. Given how small electrons are, it's more likely that it's repeated thermal expansion and contraction, plus vibration, that eventually causes a screw to loosen. And of course there's always the chance that whoever did it up didn't do it up tightly enough.

Thank you. Despite the bargain I'll pass then. I had some short scale Cobalts and I didn't get on with them at all. Just felt really weird under my fingers!

My parent's house that they lived in from 1968 to 1980 had every single type of socket distributed throughout the rooms. Often it would provide challenging if you wanted to move an electrical appliance to a different room as it may not have the correct type of socket in the room and if it did it might be on the opposite wall to where you wanted to plug your device in. My bedroom had 15, 13 and 5amp sockets on different walls as well as a hard-wired connection to an electric radiator, and later another hardwire connection to the storage heater (on a different wall). I was well used to changing plugs on my electrical appliances before I was 10.

Hmm, fast wind 6-7 months... shortly after my last post we decided to put our house up for sale and make preparations to move to Ireland so the poor old synth has sat in a corner unloved until this week. I'm nearly at the end of recording my first album and in the last couple of days I've been using the synth a fair bit - soundscapes, jazz piano, drone notes, all kinds of things. Mrs C at the drum pads: For a retired computer programmer this is so much fun!

I had a rehearsal on bass yesterday and put it on for a few of the older songs. I was surprised at how well it sounded in the mix. Even the band noticed more vintage thump, and that’s with a pick. Wish they came in different colours though. I keep losing it amongst all the other back gear i have.

That's interesting. I didn't know about that development of the wiring regs and use of sprung fittings. Screws in junction boxes were used for many decades and I'm sure most have never been touched or inspected since. Maybe it is settlement of the conductor particularly if stranded or vibration over long periods of time that causes loosening. As I said in a previous comment in this topic, loose or missing screws in rewireable plugs is one of the most common things I pick up on when PAT testing. Usually the continuity is still good and visual inspection is needed!

Have a look in Repairs and Technical -

From the EB website: Pino Palladino Signature Smoothie Flats Bass Strings are engineered for a smooth, effortless playing experience. Precision-polished for an ultra-smooth feel, these premium flatwound strings glide easily under your fingers. Wound with a cobalt alloy ribbon, they deliver a deep, rich tone that perfectly blends vintage warmth with modern flexibility. I think means that they are the same wrap construction as the normal Cobalts, as the description of these reads: Featuring a SuperBright Cobalt ribbon wrap, Cobalt underwraps and optimal hex-core to wrap ratio, Although no mention of the under wrap on the PP set.

When I think of what electrical current is on an atomic level, i.e. electrons jumping/being passed from one atom to another, it makes me think of the idea that all the cells in our bodies are renewed from time to time, therefore we literally arent the same people we were 7 years ago ( I think it was 7 years). So, whenever I'm looking at an old piece of cable, it occurs that it may not be the same as it was when it was put in years ago. With electrons moving, maybe that would explain why I encounter as an electrician, loose screws in electrical fittings so often. And it's a fact that we are not allowed to use junction boxes that utilise screws in places that are/will become inaccessable, under a wooden floor that is being tiled over for example, instead we must use accessories that have sprung fittings for the cables.

Part of the full PAT test includes visual inspection of the plug, flex and body of the item. Personally I wouldn't recommend the tongue test (maybe fun to watch!), although that does work well for PP3 batteries! I do quite a bit of PAT testing of band gear and this is a common fault along with loose screws in rewirable plugs! I also would suggest that everyone should regularly visually inspect all their gear every time they use it.

At a couple of gigs recently I've had someone coming up to me and saying how they "like my tone". I have to say that I don't try and achieve a "certain tone", and often it is probably the sound man who has made me sound how I sound. Come to think of it, it may have been the same guy each time and he may have just been trying to chat me up...!

I can't believe no one has mentioned Andy Rourke yet. I was watching a video clip of the Smiths live, playing Barbarism Begins at Home and Johnny Marr set his guitar down so that he and Morrissey could dance to Andy's bass line.

"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic" I'm OK with technology but genuine musicians still seem like magicians to me. We had a keyboard player in one band who was classically trained. We'd finished our reherasal and were talking about female vocals and Pink Floyd's Great Gig In The Sky came up; which she'd never heard of. We played an MP3 to her once over the PA and she played it back, both hands, pretty much perfectly whilst our singer did the vocals. I know that 'it's just scales' but to see a human doing something like that in real time seems like magic.

Did we find out if they are a Cobalt type or another type of flat?

I got the confidence to jam during covid. I would put on Planet Rock and try and play along to every song. Not aiming for perfectionn just in tune, in time and try to get the right feel.