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Many years ago our rock covers band used to play at the Rose and Crown in the village of Somersham in Cambridgeshire, Dave Greenfield lived in the big house opposite, right in the centre of the village, on two occasions he was in the pub watching us play, both times he stayed until we finished and had a chat with us while we were packing away, nice chap, passed away too early.

Apols - I missed this extra query and presume you're talking about the positioning panel pins. Yes - on a fretless it will often be just the ones at the nut. But you must have something in place that will prevent the heel end sliding sideways too - to be honest, on ebony I would usually use panel pins there too and then fill the holes with ebony dust mixed with a touch of clear epoxy. However, to avoid risking that, something like the spool clamps I show in one of the pics above (in that instance at the nut end) - or a couple of side packers and a normal clamp. The board will float on the glue and you have to stop it skewing as you tighten the main clamps.

A pairing of lightweight and planetary methinks.

Fender Rumble combo. The 800 watt 210 can be picked up around £600. It weighs 13kg, and it sounds good. Bizarrely the 800 is lighter than the 500 version.

As above, go Ashdown.

MS-60B / MS-70 CDR are the previous generation and just have a ‘Ba Octaver’ https://zoomcorp.com/media/documents/E_MS-60B_FX-list_v2.pdfhttps://zoomcorp.com/media/documents/E_MS-60B_FX-list_v2.pdf The MS-60B+ has a new ‘Bass Analog Octaver’ model that sounds like an OC-2 (which might just be my favourite ever Octaver): https://zoomcorp.com/media/documents/E_MS-60Bplus_FX-list.pdf There’s another ‘Bass Octaver’ one that sounds more subtle like an EBS Octabass. They’re both in the MS-70CDR+ too! https://zoomcorp.com/media/documents/E_MS-70CDRplus_FX-list.pdf

My sweet Lord. George Harrison

I used to have a Barnes & Mullins account when I was into Peavey equipment and they held quite a lot of genuine Peavey parts in the UK(and still do). However lack of use meant my account was lapsed. They seemed less interested in non trade accounts last I contacted them( a while ago). I would agree though that parts for "foreign" manufacturers equipment seem more difficult to source in the UK nowadays and I suspect a lot of that is to do with the level of UK support available within the contracts awarded to certain amp repair centres for certain brands of bass gear. Also, changing out whole modules or entire main boards is probably easier and more cost effective than faulting to component level, and in some cases its probably cheaper buying a complete new unit if it's out of warranty. Just recently I tried to get what I thought a fairly obvious consumable ( A compression horn diaphragm for a hartke tweeter ). Hartke USA were very helpful and quick to respond with correct part numbers etc however their UK support had just wound up the contract to deal with Hartke who didn't seem to realise this. When referred to their new UK support team, they were pretty much hopeless, despite Hartke USA being in on the email chain. Conversely, I needed a specific part for a twenty eight year old Ashdown amp repair. It was available, and they posted it to me next day! Go Ashdown! 🙂

Good quality lightweight kit. I have three GR active cabs for various scenarios. AT 210-800 ACT AT Cube 112-350 ACT NF 110-350 ACT Helix Stadium XL or another pedalboard. I'm happy for the time being 🙂

Um, Um, Um, Um, Um, Um — Major Lance

After a break of about ten years or so from playing bass I have now picked it up again and am in the very early stages of forming a new covers band. I imagine things have maybe changed a bit since I last gigged i.e. lighter and more powerful gear..... so which secondhand combos or head/cab units can you suggest for small and medium sized pubs ? I have no idea at this stage what the proposed PA system is going to be, also I won't start looking seriously for a bass amp for some time. I last had a Trace Elliott stack but it was very heavy to lug about and now that I'm older, lighter and smaller gear would be appreciated !! I play a Hofner violin bass so am not looking for any particular sound, nor am I bothered about expensive brand names....as long as it is reliable enough and loud enough for gigging. Any thoughts appreciated.

I think the Japanese concept of 'Kodawari' the relentless pursuit of a perfecting a craft - right down to very small details kind of fits doing piano grades...or certainly more so than my somewhat punk attitude to playing Bass! My lessons mostly consist of the teacher telling me to slow down, focus on one small section, perfect the small details, repeat, and repeat again! He has suggested I could possibly pass Grade 3 in June, or at a bit less of a rush to do it in November, so that keeps me on track for roughly a grade a year. So I'd better embrace the process for a lot of hours yet and get all 'Kodawari' on it!

I've got the Fender Pure Vintage '74's on a Fender AVRI '74 Jazz and they are indeed the business.

Love the pairing with the compact, lightweight cab!

The Ric one is the BT5. I think the BT1 has the same base plate but a wider post.