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I played a gig as a dep bassist in my mate's band last yesterday. I had 2 weeks to learn 32 songs most of which I hadn't played in any form before and a third of which I'd never heard before. It was at a rugby club where a local derby match was being played so the prospect of post game rowdiness was high. And it was in a smallish marquee on a day when winds and thundery showers were forecast. We set up in the morning, pre- game, during several heavy downpours and the water was running into the marquee under the sides and across the band area. There was only staging enough for the drums so when I got there everything else had been placed on beer crates, duck boards and in the case of the keyboard player, an old door. I was stood on the upstream side of the band area and only had a couple of old rubber car mats for my pedalboard. Fortunately the stage had enough room for the Trace Elliot cabs, which were only for monitoring anyway as I was going through the main PA. In the gap between set up and gig I was able to go home and make a mini riser for the pedal board and a folding duckboard for me which I deployed when I got back for the soundcheck. The anticipated rowdiness wasn't there and we kicked off at about 5.40pm, playing all the way through to 7.30pm when the crowd started making their way home after an all day session. I managed to get through all the songs with few 'creative lapses' - the drummer reminded me when to come in on one song and there were a few fumbles on transitions between choruses and middle 8s. We had a full tent of dancers for pretty much the whole gig and best of all, no river flowing across the band area. Kit was my Hohner Jack into a Sine HPF, MS60b (for noise gate and tuner only), NUX Sculpture compressor, EHX Bass Clone, NUX Voodoo Vibe and into the desk via my Ampeg SCRDI, with a signal to my Peavey Minimax 600 nto apair of TE 1X10 cabs, one angled for the drummer the other angled across to me. The original plan was to take a split from the SCRDI into my Behringer P1 monitor and via radio to IEM. But one of the cables in that chain was playing up and all I got was crackles and blips so I gave up on IEM, retaining the earphones as ear protection. As it happens, the monitors were good and I could hear myself nicely. After rejecting the idea of wearing wellington boots as being a little out of character with the rest of the band, footwear for the evening were a pair of black shoes, brand unknown. Morning set up. My pace is stage left. Duckboards

had a little sort out and switch up as I fancied bringing my Tyler back can’t wait to dial this in later tonight

Done. 😁

With regard to my current advert (here & on FB), so far I've had: I live in SE London but I should have no trouble getting to Harrow for regular 7pm rehearsals mid-week; I hope to take my driving test next year but don't worry, I have a really small bass rig that will easily fit in someone else's car; Yes I know I was really enthusiastic yesterday but that was when I thought you meant it was £300 each. As you might imagine, all of those were from those wonderful people on FB, and in fact nobody has yet got as far as an actual audition. In truth, I've had zero interest from Basschatters.

Having been alerted to this thread here ..... ....and having just read Jack's first two posts, I'm looking forward to grabbing a couple of cold ones and working my way through the whole 10-pages this evening. Please feel free to add any further experiences in the meantime

Maybe not countersunk.

It's a slotted countersunk screw.

Maybe for some... I'll confess I have a collection of 'boutique' basses. The collection as a whole, as well as each of them individually do bring me joy. I enjoy playing them at band practice, I enjoy switching between them, I sometimes just enjoy holding them and spending time marvelling at the skill of the person who made it, I also enjoy them as playable 'art' hung on my studio wall. I play them at home and each of them has been gigged more than once. A few I've had made specifically for me (Binky and a few ACGs) and some I've picked up here and elsewhere for a 'good price', so should I ever need to liquidate them, I could. It's each to their own, but I very much enjoy my basses, and I don't consider them purchases due to me 'needing' them. Though my personal 'wants' in a bass are: • 6 string (7, 8, 9, 10 also fine!) • Active • 24 frets • Through neck • Wood top There isn't a HUGE number of basses that offer those specs and are genuinely 'good' from my experience (Cort A6 is perhaps an exception) so I've found my sweet spot within the boutique basses world. Nowt wrong at all with a 4 string Harley Benton P-Bass, they're great for the price point, but they don't meet my personal bass 'wants'. There' are definitely others in my camp, don't write us all off as pretentious just because we like something different! 😋

what size allen key does it take, if its a 1.5mm then its probably M3 like most metric saddle screws

Looking forward to your updates on this thread 😁

Land Of Confusion - Genesis

Last night in a Boston pub, 1st dep for Kloane, an 80s+ covers band. Was apprehensive to be honest because, though I had depped twice recently with most of the guys for their soul big band, these songs were mostly brand new to me: I'd never attempted these basslines before, even at jam nights or learning at home. Out of 30 on the setlist, 9 days to learn 25 of them. I had a feeling they wouldn't mind if I used a tablet as an aide and it turned out to be the case - it was a bloody useful crutch. I don't know how I'd have fared without it, but on some songs I'd have been not got the starts right and missed some of the many breaks, interludes and specific endings. Most of the recorded tracks are fade out, but I had their backing tracks the vocalist uses on his solo gigs and I trusted the band would follow the structures, which they mostly did. Had a few unannounced key changes which totally threw me for more than a few bars as I was trying to desperately transpose in my head whilst keeping the groove going 😱😎. Pay wasn't the best, but we all get the same and this is the first that's not been cash No rehearsals, just straight in. It's nice they trusted me for that. I'm not even a semi-pro, so this has been a challenging but huge learning experience - and on the night a lot of fun once we got going. Hopefully I'll get called in again. In the meantime I plan on learning these songs properly!

Can anyone reccomended a multi-effects pedal for a technically challenged old guy. I’m looking for something that isn’t too bamboozling. Thanks in advance.

If the 1st fret we see is a zero fret then those dots on fret 2 are misplaced, and confusing (should be 1 dot @ fret 3). Looks more like a mockup someone photoshopped, not a real life instrument, but apparently it's real.

Another dep last night, my 3rd and the 1st with this band. 25 great songs "learnt" in a week. First gig where I read off my tablet: hard to maintain focus on the score, check my fingerboard from time to time, get eye contact with bandmates and crowd, watch the drummer for visual clues. Had a blast though!

The pups are EY Parts Eric Custom T Bird ceramic humbuckers. I chose to use two 14k Pups both higher output units which offer a huge range of very diverse tones. The Harley Benton is great starting bass for pup up grades. Alder body, bound neck, nicely finished, all for £199.

I'll have try one, one of these days. No music shops nearby unfortunately. Btw could you tell it's a USA visually from differences?