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Musical Exchanges in Birmingjam was the first guitar shop I ever went into as a teenager in the 80s. Might be rose tinted memories, but no guitar shop I've been into since has come close to the sheer eclectisism and variety of new and used stock that Musical Exchanges had in those days. It was a genuine Aladdins cave.

Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots, Part 1 - Flaming Lips

Hodges & Johnson in Southend.

@kiat Anthony from Macari's now owns the music shop in Haywards Heath, very close to the station.

The HH shop is a very poor substitute for the Macaris you and I recall. I brought one of their own brand Craftsman J bass copies in the mid 70s and later took my youngest son there for a Lag acoustic guitar in the late 90s. And my old boss worked there in the 60s selling coloursound pedals. A wonderful place.

I did exactly what was suggested with ordinary hard wood dowels about six weeks ago. Used a decent wood glue on a MIM Jazz neck. Left it to dry properly (24 hours) and re drilled it to fit a different body. No issues whatsoever. I'm going to do another neck in a few weeks and will do the same again. I've no concerns about the strength at all. Rob

Thanks. All the advise is appreciated. After a little more time fooling with the the ABM I did notice the compressor does choke the volume/signal. Having the input cranked all the way and blending in the valve helps that a good bit. I can see where if someone had the input at 10:00 how it would really suck the sound out of it. I've got a old compressor I used to have in place, but I'm nor wanted something else in the signal path and may just not use the one in the ABM. I liked my tone with some of it, but it's not a must have. I seem to notice that the compressor clamped down before the signal got to the the point of moving the needle. More movement with no comp. I'll have to spend more time with it, but it may involve the comp being left off. But I am finding I can get the needle to do more moving now, and more than I was noticing when I didn't have time to be looking at the head at rehearsal or live.

Hah, you old farts! See you in 10 years and 4 months

Well damn, I've just plugged the holes in a neck with ordinary dowels. I've clearly screwed it up then. 🙄

Bruce Millers in Aberdeen - where I bought my first bass. Closed 2011.

Double Feature - The Orwells

My Phase 2 HiFlier , was quite surprised by this one.

Science Fiction - Divinyls

GAK and PMT 🥲

Talk Talk “Have You Heard The News?” bonus take on the main bass figure

Rig of choice for a live studio recording session last night.

I just answered here the 3 bass question (first, most practical, most "you") thread and it got me thinking about where I saw and bought my first bass. It was Macaris on Charing Cross Road in London in about 1980. I lived in a flat but was starving, no job, no money and had to sell my beautiful tenor sax* I'd previously spent half a year saving for, effectively making it difficult to fulfil my dreams of becoming a full-time musician. The owner of Macaris apologised that he could only offer me £300 for it, as he could see I was upset, so he said he'd let me have a bass, amp and lead for £100, at cost he said. A Westone Thunder 1A black and a Traynor Bloc80b (which miraculously has followed me over 20 home moves later). Although an unhappy time, it did start me on the road to being a bass player, which I think, by sheer luck, suits my character better. I went back later (in the early 80s still) to get my first and only pedal, a new Boss Chorus. On a recent trip to London I looked out for Macaris and was sad to see the shop gone, replaced with a horrendous building devoid of character. Denmark Street has held out, but the old rehearsal rooms seem to have gone. But a quick browse online today and it turns out Macaris improbably moved to Haywards Heath, which means I'll give them a visit one if these days. * Conn Connqueror 30M "Naked Lady" What shop do you have fond memories of?

Plastic added to protect the light

Pickups with prominent branding Single-cut coffee tables New reliced basses Basses painted brown Signature basses, especially of people I've never heard of Singers who can't/won't learn the frigging words Bands that play songs that every other band plays Bands that spend 3 hours sound checking in the Dog & Duck and then end up being far too loud On stage noodling/widdling during a performance

The same (Sunbeams) but stainless steel = High Beams. I doubt you would regret giving them a try. I really like them personally. Probably the smoothest feeling stainless steel strings I've ever tried.