All Activity

First gig for 6 months, first gig as a 5 piece and only our 3rd in total for TTFC - a 30th birthday party at The Lescar in Sheffield. Cool place, great acoustics and staff. Went ampless with my Fender jazz 5 into a HX stomp - easy peasy. The birthday girl was the bass player in a previous band with our keys, sax and singer. So the crowd was made up of lots of their mates, a proper home fixture. We played well, I was happy with my end, my improved discipline in practising and staying focused onstage is starting to pay off. Recorded the whole thing, I'll post some stuff once it's all edited down. Birthday girl got up on bass for a couple of times, so I got the chance to listen to my own band and take a few pics. A great room for photography too. We've already got more gigs coming in, very gratifying after an extended period spinning the project up and getting the set sorted.

I see them like Yamaha basses. But particularly fashionable or desirable but rock solid build quality, great sound and quite quirky looking.

I bet you could be persuaded with something purple, sparkly and with three pickups!

Okay, the situation is that about sixteen years ago I bought a Korg Pandora for silent practise at home. Looking back, it was the best £90 I ever spent iny life. The amp models ect sounded shockingly good and we're excellent for home recording. The unit was easy to use and I had year after year of sterling service from it. Unfortunately, even though it still works (just) it's absolutely knackered. I need a suitable replacement. Recommendations and suggestions gratefully received. I should mentionI bought a Boss Katana Go, but it's not as convenient as I thought it might be despite Bluetooth connectivity because if you plug it into a bass with an input jack at the bottom it's both inaccessible and awkward. Also, the quality of the amp models is nowhere near as good as my old Korg Pandora. I asked the question of AI and it came up with the Line 6 Pod Express Bass, and that does seem to fit the bill, unless someone can tell me why not.

I think so, and have used a fair number of boutique and production basses.Decent if old-school preamp, lovely thin neck, lightweight, and those amazing super ferrite pickups.

I'm too old and decrepit to gig anymore but always fancied getting my hands on an Indonesian 5 string Cirrus (Yep, still looking - anyone got one they don't want anymore ?). The Dyna bass has always intrigued me. Are they a bit under rated ?

Tennessee Williams — The Residents

I’ve been gigging a 5 string DynaBass from 1986. Except for a bit of neck dive, it’s an excellent instrument. I used to see quite a few Peaveys in the States, rarely here. Anybody own and/or gig with one?

Well the Picato trademark is still owned by Strings and Things Ltd, so no new owner per se. There seems to be a re-brand in progress with the tag line "Musicians Strings Since 1953", with no British or "Made in UK" branding (at least from what I can see - could be wrong!) The Strings and Things site shows packs of strings with both new and old branding, so maybe it's just that they haven't updated some of the old brand collateral yet, or there is plenty of British made NOS they have yet to shift.

I've never actually seen a band use a tip jar here. Dave

That's a great idea. Might stop people tripping over them. 👍 Dave

My main band plays for charity in the sense that the fee the band charges goes mostly to a chosen charity or charities (we get a say at the start of the year) with the balance going to the upkeep of the village hall in which we rehearse for free and to fund band purchases such as PA, travel etc. Almost all of our gigs are private functions for which we are booked and charge a fee. Occasionally we will lower or waive the fee if the gig is itself a charity event. A few years ago we took a gig for an alleged charity weekend for which we were recompensed with a token for half a pint of cider. Afterwards it appeared to have been more of a promotional festival for a local business. I explained to the band that if asked, I wouldn't be doing it again. Indeed, the band were asked the following year and I didn't play, although some others did. The band have since decided not to do it again. I'm not averse in principle to playing charity gigs for which I end up out of pocket. As someone has said above, it's like a donation and that's fine. But just like cash donations there's a limit to what I can afford and so lengthy travel, unusual expenses or other less definable elements will play a big part in my decision of whether or not to play. And, of course, the charity cause will also have an influence. In previous bands I have played paid and unpaid charity gigs. Usually it was at the request of one band member as a favour for a particular cause. In one case we played for exposure (in fairness the organising venue didn't try to persuade us with the line but we recognised the opportunity) and we did get another paid gig from it. In other cases, while not looking for it we have taken bookings at or following charity gigs which have more than covered any expenses.

No serial on neck plate, so at least that part is later 1976 or beyond. Given the pots are from 11th week of 1977, then the bass is later than that. But all this assumes the parts are from the same bass, which is difficult to know. I would probably be pricing the bits individually for that reason.

As the owner of a 77 Leftie, it all looks kosher, except the pick up and control cavity look like they've been routed for different pickups/controls.

Bills bills bills - Destiny's Child

Good man.