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Am looking forward to one of my last gigs this year. It’s at the wonderful Sun Inn in Beverley this coming Sunday. My duo play here once a month, and for our December gig we get some friends up to sing with us as well. Last year was a hoot, and included landlord Paul who sang really well. They get to choose what to sing, so it’s a challenge for us too!

Just saw this on Facebook from Macca: It is very sad to see Höfner go out of business. They have been making instruments for over 100 years, and I bought my first Höfner bass in the sixties. I have loved it ever since. It’s a wonderful instrument to play: lightweight, and it encourages me to play quite freely. It also offers pleasing variations in tone that I enjoy. So, commiserations to everyone at Höfner, and thank you for all your help over the years. - Paul

We played there last week, absolutely superb venue!!

Thanks Dave, yes I’ve got the pickups adjusted so that the volumes are pretty consistent across all strings. The eq I used on the rehearsal rig was pretty much flat and the lack of depth on D & G was quite clear to me. I think different gauge strings may well be the way forward, and will be fun too. I just wish Elixirs came in short scale.

We recorded 6 tracks at a studio, cost around £400 and then hired a room above a pub for £50 (The Queen of Bradgate in Leicester if you know it). Our guitarists brother filmed it while we mimed and then edited to this showreel. I guess a professional filming and editing would charge around £400 so we saved that cost. Proves you can get something done for less than a grand. We've had at least 10 gigs from it so a great investment. https://youtu.be/5aGfwosPMwk?si=WZ4oI5QiMWHiqLFN

The only suggestions i have is either heavier strings on D & G as you already mentioned or try raising the pick up a touch. Not sure whether its just a volume thing or its purely weak tone you mean. I'm sure Neil Murray once told me that's how he got round volume differences on his older basses was to put a heavier gauge on the weaker pole piece. Raising the pick up is an easy adjustment. Just remember how many turns and if it doesn't resolve it you just put it back to where it was before. Did the rest of the band notice it too. ? I've found with some basses thru certain amps i get differences across the strings. If i have too much bass EQ rather than tweaking up the volume the D &G strings do sound quieter. If i flatten my amp EQ it seems to balance it out again but out front it all sounded balanced, its just what i was hearing on stage. Dave

Eighth day. Hazel. O’connor

I’ve just used my Lionel at band practice and noticed the same thing, was wondering if upping the strings from 40-100 to 45-100 might be worth a try.

Hey Rob. In case it wasn't fixed, the following was a message from the main man behind the Genz-Benz heads for servicing in the UK: Contact Surrey Amps - https://surreyamps.co.uk Ask for Stan Lawrence, let him know that Andy Field suggested you contact him for this. He can email me directly, I can walk him through this issue. He's one of the best service engineers in Europe IME.

Yeah, you're right 👍

Did you get this sorted?

Spot on I’d say

Check the distance between the stríngs and the (fret)board. If there is not clearance for the string to vibrate the tone will die - especially the deep tones. Most basses - even the cheapest of cheapest - will (if they have no serious defects) play at least decently if setup properly. So it is very likely something that can be solve by proper adjustment. As You probably bought this from new and may not be able to set it up yourself I would recommend starting by complain about the issue to Thomann and hear what they can offer.

Just got in from my first band practice with my new Sandberg Lionel. Sounds great on the E & A strings but D & G a bit weak. It’s still got the stock 40-100 strings on it so am thinking 45-100 might beef it up a bit, but has anyone else noticed this on theirs, and if so how did you get around it?

Just about up to date. Best played on shuffle - Enjoy!!

Strange Days - The Doors

Yes I know, the good reviews on here is why I chose it 🙂

The model is JB-40FL and looks like this... The model is JB-40FL and looks like this...

You're very welcome, Andy! Well, there were definitely a few 'Moo-ers' in the Manger all those years ago... So don't be surprised if something magical happens when you plug your bass into the Radar for the first time... 😉😁 Feedback left for you also, btw...

Folded my band of 15 years up last December for a variety of reasons - here's a few.... The death of my Dad meant that i couldn't put the backroom time in whilst i sorted his house and estate out, nobody offered to step in and do the bookings or promo work whilst i spent 3 months of weekends finalising everything. The singer/guitarist was inacapable of learning any new songs on his own and coming to rehearsals with them semi prepared, that was driving me nuts. You know when you've all agreed to learn a song, everyone does their homework and then someone shows up at a rehearsal and asks what key its in or what version is it? Playing the same 40 odd songs at the same 12 venues for years (and no hope of improvement mainly because of the above) was getting a bit boring even though they weere the best local venues and the band was very good. Finding any free family time at weekends was hard as we were doing 50 odd gigs a year and I was conscious of getting older and wanting to travel around a bit with my wife before we couldn't manage to any more. I was the peacemaker in the band that stopped the drummer killing the lead guitarist because he was totally incapable of turning up at the correct time to unload the gear from the van. The singer travelled with the guitarist so he was always late as well. Me and the drummer frequently unloaded the whole van before the other 2 herberts showed up. Along with the grieving process it was getting me down. So i packed up in December 2024 with the intention of taking at least 6 months off and just noodling at home. Maybe learn to play a 5 string. But have a total break from the band thing. Sold my gig cabs. Put my gigging amps up for sale. Bought a 5 string. Bought a boutique amp and cab for at home. Learnt to play a few guilty pleasure songs on the 5er just for fun. Started getting a bit itchy around April. Maybe if i found something that was just about 10 or 15 gigs a year..... Auditioned for a band that looked mildly interesting. Couldn't play with the drummer, he was very average and i was used to something a bit more solid. Got the gig but turned it down. Realised i didn't like the boutique amp/cab for live work so sold them and bought an LfSys Monaco. Love it. Answered an ad in May from a local drummer putting a one off band together for a festival gig locally in June doing some Americana/new country stuff. Did 2 rehearsals and then the gig. Really enjoyed playing (my new 5 string) again. Gig went well and got invited back to headline next year. Started to feel like gigging again as a result. Answered an ad in October for a local rock covers band just starting out but with 10 gigs booked for 2026 at the best venues locally. Auditioned. Got the gig. Drummer left the following week (was it something i said?). Grabbed the drummer from my old band to help. Now we have 5 people all learning everything at home, doing their homework and just turning up and nailing the songs. No issues. Bliss. Had 3 rehearsals. Learned 28 songs in a month ready for 1st gig on Jan 3rd. Looking forward to it. (Figured out that trying to play songs that you already know on a 4 string on a 5 string is difficult. But learning completely new songs on my 5er is a whole lot easier) Went to my first ever jam night last month. That was fun. Did 2 songs with the singer and guitarists from the new band and then 2 songs with the old bands guitarist. Nice to be on a stage again. Just been offered a gig with someone i depped with at a festival with a few years back. Always fancied doing that one again so we're going to see how it goes. Laid back sort of soul and 80's classics with a gritty rocky touch. John Mayer meets Chaka Khan/James Brown. Maybe 10 gigs a year tops. Need a drummer though. I'm enjoying playing again and feel like i have my mojo back. I've learned about 60 new songs of various styles but all ones i like, figured out a 5 string and made some new friends. Oh and also been travelling around a bit with the missus and son 🙂 The balance is good.

Is it used? If so then it may have cheap AliExpress strings on it which can sound a bit too tinny/metallic. Not sure what echoey means, is it buzzing the neck ie has backbow? Does the truss rod turn ok?