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People are quick to moan, but I also like to be quick to praise where it is due. All sorts of grief with the DHL (Damage Handling Loons) over the delivery of my new Fender Precision after a phone dall from DHL to tell me theyd damaged it. George at Andertons was cool, told me not to worry, they'd sort out any damage. Just get it delivered then make an assessment and let him know immediately and he'd sort it. Fortunately the hard case and bass within were fine, it was just the packaging that DHL had mullered. I phoned George back to advise the bass had arrived undamaged, and thanked him for his reassurance. I mentioned that G had been cut a little short and as I tried to tune it beyond F it just slipped round the capstan. Well, not 20 hours a later a full set of spanking new Fender 45's drop through my letter box, fortunately delivered by a different company who didn't manage to drive a forklift over it. I'd have been happy with the one string, but a new set was a very pleasant surprise. Even better as I actually quite like Fender rounds. So top marks to Andertons. Reassuring on the phone, poised and ready to help refund/replace if the bass or case had arrived damaged, and super generous with the strings when I only needed the one. Well done. If anyone from Anderton's is reading this, thank you. You'll be top of the list next time I get a tax rebate that the missus doesn't know about and I go bass shopping.

So, yesterday, this arrived. Before we get to the photo, if anyone doesn't like pointy things, leave. There is nothing here for you but pain. I ordered this in 2021. How has it taken so long you ask? There was a thing called covid if I recall. Also, there were also hilarious parts problems on backorder for ages. Enough of that nonsense. What is it and where is it made then? Grainger basses and guitars are up near Peterborough, and around the time of one of the lockdowns they posted a bass in this shape that had a mad blue acrylic top. The cogs started turning. So, my idea was to have this wired like an Alembic Series 1 bass and it is. After chatting to Nuno at Lusithand about it I bought some filters off him (his stuff is great by the way - check out his site) with the caveat that it might not work. Undeterred, I sought the advice of the basschat massive and many thanks to @Hellzero who provided the Jack wiring diagram. Basically, the bass can be used stereo or mono with different jacks (like a Rickenbacker), but it's active with a filter and volume for each pickup also a pickup selector. So there's 2 jack outputs. I also got Darren and Gavin to make the bass modelling the neck on my own Alembics. They've done that amazingly precisely. Top and back is flame maple, body is walnut with headstock facings and neck strings. There is a touch of neck dive, but I've not used a wide strap yet. The bass is quite light as the upper wing is chambered. Naturally, I've got a hipshot on it for drop D and there's a brass Warwick Just a Nut too. Bridge is Babicz mono rails to accommodate the narrower spacing. Inlays are mother of pearl. Pickups are Nordstrand Zen Blades wired in parallel to keep as much top end as possible. The reason being is that Lusithand Filters go to 4kHz give or take, whereas Alembics go to 6.6kHz. So, does it sound like an Alembic? In a word, yes. If you want that John Entwistle 1982 Who bass sound, you'll get it. Or if you want a great clean sound it'll do that too. Darren, Gavin and Nuno were fantastic throughout this especially when there were wiring issues we had to resolve. If you're looking for a custom bass made by a British company (or anyone actually), then Grainger do really exceptional work. Also, Nuno at Lusithand makes really good preamps and pedals which are well worth checking out.

The pedals I was waiting for (two compressors) arrived so I've now put my main board together. There's one more board to go; a certain sci-fi film series themed board but there's one pedal I'm waiting on which will hopefully be here in the next couple of weeks or so. I've finally got a board where I have an octave, fuzz, octave, fuzz chain (I actually quite like fuzz into octave even if logic suggests I shouldn't but now I don't need to choose). It's power-hungry (it needs three IEC cables) and the settings pictured reflect those decided by my bedcover when the pedals were upside down while I was wiring it, but after some twiddling it sounds good! The chain is: BP1 > BP1 Loop Send: Strobostomp > Opti-FET > Octabvre > Doom 2 > Subsonic > TAFM > Frantabit > MBD3 > Cave Bear > XD > Type Two > AFG-1 > ADG-1 SE > Slow Loris > DLA-2A > Nimbus SE > BP1 Loop Return > Element (underneath board)

Neck through. Sorry, I'll post a picture of the back.

Started using a new luthier recently and he takes a while but is really great! Old Stingray looking and sounding brilliant.

I managed to acquire a Squire Mikey Way Mustang bass for a ‘reasonable-ish’ pice. Fit, finish and playability was excellent but the pickup sound woolly, lacked definition in the low end and just not great. So after Googling … I found pretty much nothing on swapping out the pup, where I did it suggest that it needs modding to fit, however after getting the dimensions of the EMG 35HZ and checking the pickguard it looked like it ‘might’ actually fit, so I ordered one and kept my fingers crossed It arrived today and it fits like a glove, easy install with the solderless pots and wires What a transformation, clear, articulate and punchy just need to add in some mids and it sounds ACE!!! If you’ve got a Mikey Way Mustang but frustrated with the sound then do not hesitate to pop an EMG in !!

I used my new MIJ Mustang at rehearsal last night. Sounded great though a couple of buts. First I need to get some Ultralite tuners as it was dragging a bit on my shoulder towards the end. Second I really need to put some hours in on the thinner neck, on the more complicated parts of songs my fingers were falling over each other. For years I’ve played Precisions so am used to the wider necks, just got to get used to it which means hours & hours of playing - not a bad thing at all imo.

So, when Dave called me he initially said to "chuck it in the bin," which I wasn't really happy to hear. He then told me he was sending me a 'new' (returned) RM 800 as he had one that was perfectly operational but had been sent back and that it would take too long to work out the exact problem with my RM 500. I was astounded! The new amp arrived today, works flawlessly and I am one happy camper! Incredible customer service.

Van's been found by the Police in a lock up. Gear was nearby...

Yes, why does it always has to be the guy who has the responsibility for holding down the beat throughout the songs that gets to count in the tempo? Why can't everybody do their own count in? No one needs to tell me which tempo to play in! Polyrhythmics for the way!

What appeals to me Is the built in FX and that it can be used as an interface. Pretty much does it all for me at home and live. I may wait until after the ‘best amp ever’ lot put their’s up for sale 😂.

Musically I mean... I remember when this first came out in 87.... It was played on Radio 1 and various other stations endlessly.. I just cant imagine, even how epic this record is it would be played on mainstream radio stations today. Aids, Heroin, Crack, etc etc.. I just haven't heard a record this profound played on a mainstream music station in a long long time.... Sign O The Times.? Or maybe main stream music isn't as good as this anymore.

I have thickened my sound up in the past by adding a smidge of Octave and a smidge of drive. It doesn't need much, otherwise it sounds affected but just a bit of each will thicken the sound. Its also a very common recording technique to double track the bass and leave one clean and the second with a bit of drive to make a lovely warm, thick tone. I was shown this back in the late 90's by Mark Wallis who recorded It Bites, Travis, U2, Primitives albums etc. and have recorded this way ever since. Sting also did it in the Police but he doubled up with an electric bass and a double bass. More recently, I recorded with a fretless Precision with flats and then double tracked with a fretless Jazz with rounds. Created a nice kind of cello sound. So a smidge of Octave and a smidge of drive will add a nice thickness to your tone.

This morning the glue is hard. Hurray! That was close to being very annoying. 36 hours to cure is a loooong time though. I'm throwing away the containers, and have ordered more West System. It's a good reminder to measure exactly the two parts of the epoxy mixture, and to stir them together really really well. It's also a reminder to keep the mixing pot so you can check each batch has hardened. I use a paper espresso coffee cup. Phew😅

Well I’ve succumbed and placed an order. Will report back once it arrives. 😊

The only part of that I liked was the Read Less option.

Also listed at Thomann: https://www.thomann.de/gb/zoom_multi_stomp_ms_60b_590550.htm - £138 plus a tenner shipping, availability listed as "on request". The Bax listing now says "Delivery within approx 15 workdays" and it's down to £135.

Well. I'm pretty promiscuous when it comes to buying gear - I'll go with whoever takes my fancy at any given point. BUT. The experience of dealing with their customer service has meant I'm very happy to use Thomann again in the future. It was a bit of a faff taking loads of pics for them to claim against DHL but they were friendly and efficient in solving an issue. Honestly, cheap'n'cheerful products are only going to win you customers if the customer service is up to dealing with the issues and from my experience, it is.

As an aside I saw @ossyrocks in The Out and Out Blues Band yesterday doing a warmup gig in Lancaster. Really, really good. Two sets of blues, very tight band, no hesitation in recommending them to anybody who likes blues to go, watch and listen. As I was watching and listening, I was thinking Alan Price, Eric Burden, a bit of Dr Feelgood. The driving Hammond and Leslie organ were great, the drummer and lead guitarist worked together well. If only the bassist was up to scratch Just joking. All of the band worked together well. The mix was great, I could hear all the instruments really clearly, massive surprise as often the sound is garbage. @ossyrocks and the drummer put down a great rthymn section, surprised to see @ossyrocks singing as well. He's very good, not saying that because he's on the board, he really is very good. To be clear, the band are not a tribute band and had their own take on the songs. Two singers, one on harp, one on bass, a great keyboard player, drummer knew his stuff, hime and the bass were tight and a lead/rhythmn guitar who stayed out of the limelight and just got on with it without being flash. None of the band grandstanded, none of the band hogged the (very, very small) stage, the band were tight and loose This may have been a warmup gig, but I thoroughly enjoyed the evening. Very few people there, so I had a table to myself and just watched and had a wonderful time. Thanks Rob

Indeed, you're right on the money. T'was a cheeky swipe at the outrage threads about neck shimming can incite. I was most definitely not being unkind to @Tobe in any way.

I sincerely hope for your health and safety's sake that your bandmate drummer has a lot more patience and restraint than I. A pedagogic approach of this nature would, at a minimum, be met by me with a deft drumstick through the offending metronome, and a fair few Anglo-Saxon words and phrases that would make my displeasure clear to all around. Still, if it works for you both...

I love Pick of the Pops on Radio 2. Currently hosted by Gary Davis. I always find any chart between 1977 and 1982 to be absolutely packed full of superb tunes, and some cracking bass lines. 1978 was one from last week: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001y2kd?partner=uk.co.bbc&origin=share-mobile Baker Street Wuthering Heights Night Fever Everyone’s A Winner Denis …oh and Brian and Michael’s Matchstalk Men & Matchstalk Cats & Dogs… I was 3 in 1978, so I think this period is fused with my early life and memories. But there did seem to be some high quality music in those five years.

Another company messing things up. Doesn’t even have Netflix, Boss really dont have a clue do they? 😂 I like it and am looking for a new head……hmmm…..🤔

At least they didn't let that fella from PMT demo it

Latest addition to my Ashpeg / Ampdown board is an Ampeg Liquifier chorus, courtesy of @Berserker. Rather a restrained board compared to a lot on here, but does what I want / need.

A bit late, but my new blues band played our first couple of gigs a week or so ago (Tapestry in Bradford on the Thursday & Venue 23 in Wakefield last Sunday), supporting Mick McConnell's (guitarist from Smokie) new blues rock band at both gigs. It all went really well for our first gigs and went down very well. It looks like it's going to be a good band with some top players. Just need to get some more gigs booked now...

I wish I would have kept my Dan Electro Long Horn. Daryl

2 guitarists is too many, actually probably 1 is too many but there you go... I'd stand in front of the one using a music stand, or who doesn't do backing vocals, or who looks at his shoes/fretboard all night etc etc.

I know you'd prefer a standalone version, but when I started learning piano I was looking for a flashing metronome that I couldn't miss as I can't stand a noise making one (it really hurts my ears). After trying a lot, I found this app version of what seems to be a more than complete model: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.eumlab.android.prometronome I put it on my tablet and it was just perfect. It even has a polyrhythmic mode and you can set the light almost wherever you want. Worth giving it a try.

I imported one from japan in 2008, for my wife. An excellent bass it is too. She still has it but it's been unplayed since her Bravewood arrived 11 years ago

Apologies matey, I think I need a holiday tbh 🤭 😁

Buy a tandem and get a friend/your partner to hold the combo while you steer at the front !! 😂 Seriously a trailer seems the best option John 😎

That’s a great song and yeah there’s many versions, if I’m not mistaken I think the original is by Carlton &the shoes, I’ll have a look at the 90s releases

I've had a melody (and its lyrics) stuck in my head for decades now from a song I heard in the 90s. It was a line in a dancehall song, but I just can't remember what that song or the artist was. So recently I actually tried in earnest to find that 90s song. I still have not found it, but in doing so, I realised that the melody is actually quoting another much older song (I should have known). And now, I've found a bunch of versions of that original song (it must be popular, I just did not know about it!). I see versions by Dennis Brown, The Skatalites, Anthony B and the Mighty Vikings. But I'll put the version here from Johnny Clarke cause I'm diggin that vibe today...I'm still on the hunt for my song, but the internet/youtube can be a wonderful thing.

Mull of Kintyre, which, being a Forest supporter is a real problem for me, when I used to go to matches I used to dread the start of the second half when the whole ground sings "City Ground oh mist rolling in from the Trent", part of the reason I don't go anymore, at least when they're on TV I Can mute the sound.

Mrs. Pook and I are on a road trip holiday and have been listening to quite a bit of Laurie Anderson. We'd forgotten how much we both enjoy her music. It's great to reconnect - to reconnect to music, and to reconnect to music 👍

Trying out a new drummer last night, I took my JMJ along as the guitar player had said how much he liked it and I’ve been playing my P bass almost exclusively since I acquired it, last year. I’d forgotten how easy the Mustang is to play, especially around the first position. Looks like the P will be taking a back seat for a while now.

A Dremel with a polishing wheel and a dab of fine cutting compound such as Meguiar's Ultimate Compound will take it to another level again If using steel wool mask off your pickups, or you'll never get it off