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Yeah, that was another time. The board was pretty well documented on here back then. I gigged with a board that was custom made and was strictly a 2-man lift (1.4m wide, around 50kg). it was all a bit silly really. But life led me to sell up everything (I was bass-less for 3 years), though really my entire collection was on the board to be fair. Pic of that old board for the new crowd that never saw it back in the day! Note this was only has 4 foogers, but the custom Xerograph had just taken the place of the Moog LPF... it didn't stay for long though as it struggled with the CV messages from the MP-201. There are 5-6 pedals not seen under the rear raised tier as well. That board was... fun.

Replaced by Harley Benton.

Anyone remember the Sue Ryder bass frenzy years ago? That was BC hype in full swing 🤣

She's an absolute beauty! Looks extra mean in black. Also probably in better nick than mine - if it's sitting in storage then you can't bang any of the pointy bits on anything 🤣

… I grab my walking stick and hat as I leave the house. Jump in the van, still wearing my hat (leather flat cap), and off we go to the lake to do some fishing. I take my hat off before I get out of the van, get set up and put on a different hat (peaked cap)… I sometimes wear my hat (flat cap) indoors if I’m feeling particularly paranoid and worried someone might nick it (it wasn’t cheap) or that I might forget it and leave it behind. There are sunglasses involved, too, but I can’t be bothered with the details.

The Tech21 DP3X pedal will give you a whole heap of crossover joy with a 12 string, throw in a MXR Bass delux Chorus which also gives you a flange option - all you need

Well, I can't have one of anything; I have to have at least one more, just in case.

Compressors e.g., DBX 160. Just buy a decent tube amp Costly DI e.g., REDDI. Just buy a decent tube amp Class-D tube-emulating heads e.g., WD-800. Just.......... Nothing wrong with any of the gear, in fact each of the above were bloody lovely, but I defo bought them with a sense of 'I need to get this" rather than "I actually need this". Although tongue in cheek, the 'Just buy a decent tube amp' thing is not so far from the truth as since switching to tube amps only I never feel the need for any of them 👍

Jazz Bass. Guy Pratt and an awful lot of others play Jazz Bass, so I thought, it'd be the way to go. Having tried a couple of those, but never really got on with. Dreadful neck profile, weird body. The "default" sound is as annoying as Warwick Corvette, and everything else feels like a desperate try to get a P or Stingray-like sound out of it.

Venues that advertise “Live Music” and put on a person singing to a Karaoke backing track. People who think they are musicians who sing to karaoke backing tracks.

My Frankenstein! (Or is it Fronkenshtone?)

So if you're British, buy yourself a proper USA-made Bongo and cheer up, things could be worse!🙂

I've got another non-bass one.. Bleep bloop modular.. Pick some notes yourselves, cowards!

David bought my Markbass 801 amp and as usual, he was an absolute Gentleman to deal with. Insisted on paying upfront, great comms, flexible on meeting up and a thoroughly lovely bloke. Enjoy the amp!

Preamp pedals. The likes of Nobel, Cali, Caveman, Jad Freer. I mean, if you're at a venue that insists on a silent stage I can see the point of something like this, although you could use a plain DI. Every time I used one of these pedals though, it just seems to make my sound worse; fewer dynamics, less top end. Generally, using the DI out of the back of a modern amp will sound just as good if not better, give you far more control over the sound, you can always mute the master volume if it's a silent stage situation, and you'll save £100s.

Most British people don't realise things like that if you call an ambulance in the USA, it can cost thousands of dollars. Most Americans wouldn't call an ambulance unless someone was literally dying in front of them, no exaggeration. Plenty of people die for exactly that reason. And as for prescribed drugs, describe to the average American the system we have here with NHS prescription charges and exemptions ect and they literally won't believe you. For lots of my friends over there who are about the same age as me, helping their elderly parents pay for medicines is an ongoing expense and major worry. By way of contrast,here in the UK the NHS will send an ambulance with a lovely helpful crew to pick up your elderly and frail parent and take them to a hospital appointment if necessary. That's unthinkable in America unless you're rich. In the U.K doctors will prescribe whatever is appropriate and even have it delivered to the elderly patients home free of charge. In America pensioners go on bus trips to Canada and Mexico to buy cheaper drugs and bring them back across the border because of the inflated prices of most medications in the USA.

would love some of those strip lights, but I already bought all the PA and I got some PAR lights as the first gig we did was almost in dark, so I am not buying any more!

I can never understand why people wear hats in cars. Especially the driver, I always stay well away from them. Same goes for country singers and cowboy hats. And anyone who wears a baseball cap when not playing baseball. (I have a couple of those). Oh yes, and bass players with the bass just above the knee when standing.

Ha! My garage told me just now that my turbo has died. I will not be buying anything new for a bit. But I am still interested

This all relates to buying bass equipment, because in America the sticker price may be less on some gear, but you have to factor in the wider lifestyle you would be living in a completely different society. Would you be reckless enough to spend a substantial portion of your savings on bass-related purchases if you and your family didn't have the kind of safety net we enjoy in the U.K? Would you be able to enjoy what you bought? When I first moved to the States and got my own place to live I was having the time of my life. The only problem was I kept getting charged for everything by everybody at every opportunity. Phone company, utilities, building maintenance, college tuition, medical, dental ect. And if you don't pay them they don't deal with excuses, they just cut you off and /or sue you for payment. America hadn't got the memo that I was only there to enjoy myself. They treated me like a regular person, not the carefree celebrity I really was . It was one of the most salutary lessons of my adult life. I still find it hard to forgive them.