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That'd be one of your PG Tips then...?

I bought the house, where ever I damn well want.. oh oh sorry babe, I’ll move them right away... 😵

I decided that I'd craze the finish on the body - to give a lightly aged look, but still keep it looking shiny for now. (The bass will get any knocks and wear from gigging and playing over the coming years). Anyhow, when I've cracked the lacquer in the past, it's been on guitar bodies - which I've just stuck in my freezer overnight. The size of a bass body doesn't fit into the compartments of my home freezer, so I had to think of another method of crazing the lacquer. By chance, I'd met a plumber who was talking about freeing stuck pipe connections. He said, "when that happens, you just spray one part with Crack It spray. That instantly freezes the part and breaks the stuck connection". It turns out that this plumbers aerosol reduces the surface to minus 45 degrees. I got a can myself from a local Toolstation. All you have to do is get the lacquer warm, then simply spray the aerosol on the surface. You can sometimes hear the lacquer crack. Anyhow, the end result is a nice crazed lacquer. As the plumbers spray has an oil in it, you need to clean the surface afterwards using a rubbing compound (I used Mer Car Polish). I've heard that some folk use aerosols of compressed air to reduce the temp. I might try that on my next build? Here are some pics of some of the crazing (after crazing the lacquer, I wiped the body surface with water based Dark Oak stain to emulate years old grime in the cracks).

Say what you like about TOTP being contrived and controlled by the old boy network. Those of us who were there watching the telly at seven O'clock every Thursday evening are still talking about it and remembering artists as if they had attended the performances themselves. Thirty years from now, I don't think we'll remember so many of the equally good, sometimes better, artists of today even with instantaneous global communication and clever marketing. In its day TOTP was the sole source of video* promotion for bands. Apart from posters, album artwork and pop magazines you could only guess what a band might look like as you listened to a low-fi MW transistor radio. God forbid that you should tune that lovely warm sounding valve radio set to a pop station. Your parents would have a fit. Today there are so many promoters and outlets for video that that marketing power has been diluted for them all. In this century, mistakes are easy to edit out and that perfect image of how the promoter wants you to be seen is preserved in binary forever. As a consequence of quality editing it is rare to see the day to day foul-ups that occur. These days the bits that are edited out are kept for collectors of bloopers who are looking to market a collection of out-takes. More revenue for someone I suppose. Personally, I like to see how bands used to cope with stuff like that when they were dropped in it, so to speak. Today everyone has the option of 'phoning a friend' if they're the slightest bit uncomfortable. *In this instance, just for convenience, lets ignore the fact that the term video became popular later.

I feel I just have to share, the excitement is growíng So, after 20 long months of waiting my Wal MK1 is finished and soon to be on the way. Update photo from Paul.

Hi I just had to vent my disappointment and frustration at the obvious lack of quality and care that occurred in 2002 when Rotosound produced the batch of RS66 strings that have been on my bass for the last 16 years. The A string broke on new year's eve!!! You can imagine how shocked I was at the obvious lack of longevity of the things these days. Its also meant I've had to clean the fret board eradicating a small but very important ecosystem that showed promising signs of world domination.

Forgiven, but you should know that the pancakes have gone cold and a passer-by has stubbed a fag out in the hoisin sauce.

Some people seem to have shops, not storage... Under the stairs seems to be a very popular option, and I have the great good luck to 'own' the cupboard under the stairs, to which I've fitted a 5-lever mortice lock. I have to leave enough space to sit down in there and shut the door, for when I need to cry in private.

Bass cave. Been a few additions since this was taken like a Fender P Deluxe, an Orange rig and a TE small rig.

Before the site changed I had a build diary/repair thread on a Hohner Bbass I picked up for £15 on eBay. I’ve had it in storage for about 2 years, a mate is spraying it - it’s moved House with him...yes, we’ve dragged our heels. anyhow, I’ve always had a soft spot for the Jack and B basses so occasionally bid while inebriated... and this time I won the damn thing. Looks very good actually. not £15 like...but still. heres a few pics of the one waiting to be finished.

I have a Barefaced Four 10, which I use with a variety of tube (Orange, Fender, Ampeg) and non-tube (Mesa Subway and TC Classic) heads. Yes it is efficient, but I can honestly say I have not encountered this problem at all with any of the heads. The Four 10 is a wonderful cab, well suited especially to tube heads, I would be looking at a different head before considering changing cabs.

It’s one of these. https://m.thomann.de/gb/millenium_go_kart_solo.htm?o=7&search=1516479348

That's really useful. Thank you very much. What trolley are you using?

Not being picky or anything but did he have a plectrum?

We have a product page! http://www.tech21nyc.com/products/sansamp/dug_dp3x.html

Bernie has been to a previous SEBB so he might be up for a return

Basses: vertically in cases in two cupboards in the bedroom, which is besides the living room. One bass on a stand in the living room. All amps and cabs in the living room. All keyboards and drums in the living room. Everything of value with my ex-wife.

As far as I am aware valves can't be fixed except in a very specialised facility. He is basically selling rubbish and some poorr gullible soul will be taken in to the tune of £135.

Here - have a close-up if you like

That definitely looks the shizzle. Id be tempted 😉

Exactly this. My duo did a gig once at a big hotel, and they wanted us to play quiet background stuff during the drinks reception, which we did to polite applause every now and then. For the next set, they asked if we could stay in the reception area but put some of our PA speakers into the dining room for background stuff whilst they were eating! We did this ( fortunately had a monitor for ourselves!) and had lots of positive comments. For our last set we moved the PA back into the reception room where we played some stuff for dancing. At the end of the night we got a healthy tip from the booker, and gave out some business cards which resulted in some more work. Playing to the room (s) is key!

I mustard mitt that I've been tempted by a five a few times, but it seems a bit daft to get one before I've mastered the four. I think that once I'm ready for a new axe, I'll try a few fives and see how it feels.

You're all going to get me into trouble with my girlfriend.

If you had checked out "standing in the shadows of Motown" you will know just how good Chuck Rainey is. His take on Jamerson is stupendous. I have loved his playing literally for decades & he has always been at the top of my list of great bassists. Wish I could get his tone and feel. Everyone should watch some of his teaching videos.

Can we make Def Leppard jokes?

So Maradona doesn't like flats?

Listen to the end of this to get an idea:

Doesn't matter. Whatever space you're allocated, it's always a bit too small. The overspill from under the stairs resides in the living room, conservatory and spare bedroom. And the car boot. And a mates house & garage....

Just a quick report back on Tuesday's gig with sax, electric piano, electric guitar, no drums. I played my Eminence bass through my new Acoustic Image SL-2 and the Upshot. The Upshot was placed on the floor behind me and the tiny amp was on a tray attached to my music stand. It sounded very natural, probably the best sound I've had with the Eminence. I've yet to try it with a drummer. Both the amp and cab fit in a purpose made rucksack for an easy carry. Check out the Youtube vids https://youtu.be/kEoqbbMtOTM

It’s been a bit hard to determine really Trev. Last year saw us take a dip in ticket sales, but whether that was due to Jeff & ELO touring or other factors is debatable. From our dealing with theatres, apparently a lot of shows have had reduced audiences due to terrorist activities like in Manchester, and perhaps Brexit has left some people reluctant to spend on leisure etc. On the other hand, raising the awareness of ELO’s music and back catalogue certainly won’t have done us any harm, and people who aren’t near or can’t afford any of their concerts will hopefully continue to give us their support. Fingers crossed......

I'm gutted. I was planning to bring out a range of plectrums with a built in chorus effect but this has completely stolen my thunder! Seriously though, if you want to go pedal free but still have distortion then we can only hope that one day somebody will be able to advance technology enough that we can live in a crazy musical utopia where you can get an actual amplifier with the effect built in so that you no longer have to have your distortion built into a cable before you can rock out. Dream big kids, dream big!

Yeah pretty shocking on my shouting at you about detail when I cannot even spell my name properly

All drummers need a set of those.

I did! Jamie Wilkins (wilko66 on here) is listening to my awful noise each week and trying not to laugh. Top bloke and I feel very comfortable learning from him. He's based in Aylesbury, which is a little way away, but it's worth the trek.

I’ve lived in Scotland for 20 years; when should I expect the rainy season to end?

I used to be able to read bass music quite easily, guitar not so well but enough to get by. It`s how I learned to play, I went to a few lessons, learned what the notes were and where they were on the fret-board, then went away and armed with that knowledge and a couple of song-books taught myself how to play my two - then - fave albums. I`m sure I could have learned by ear but I`m glad I learned the way I did. In song-writing it really helps me to this day. To anyone intending on learning a musical instrument, learn how to read music for it would be one of my top tips.

There's a story about Jimi Hendrix appearing on Top of the Pops in 1967 to perform/mime Purple Haze, only for the technician to put on Simon Smith and his Amazing Dancing Bear... I would have liked to have seen that, if it's true.

The 4s are nice and slim at the nut. To be fair, so are the 5s! The 4s are 38mm I believe. As far as I’m aware there’s no “official” upgrade kit for the Supers like there is with the KZs.

I have a bucketload of love for my Super 5. Sounds, looks and feels beautiful. Haven’t played a Super 4 or a KZ4 but I have played a Saratoga 4 which has the same neck. It’s possibly the nicest 4 string neck I’ve played. The asymmetry really is lovely in the hand. I compared the Super 5 to the Andrew Gouché Kingston and the stock tone of the Super just felt meatier to me, which I preferred. The coil switching on the Super’s humbuckers means you get much more variety than on the KZ and AG. Of course, more options doesn’t necessarily mean “better” but I love it. The Kingstons are all very solid - whichever one you go for you’ll be getting a really well put together instrument.

Very good basses for not a lot of money. I briefly had a 55-01. Sounded good and played well, but weighed over 10lbs, so too heavy to be comfortable for me. If I could find one that weighs about 8 1/2lbs I'd buy it in a flash.

For me @Al Krow I still have a 'normal' job. But, about a year ago, I cut my hours right back. I was full time and always have been. It was a big decision with a toddler and another baby on the way, but I actually earn more than I did allowing more time to focus on music. The main band I'm in now, is a functions band that are lucky enough to be well connected. We have agency support as well as contracts with 3 holiday parks, plus a couple of well connected booking agents. This was the bands first full year with this lineup and current setup. We also have the option of solo/duo/trio/electric/acoustic, so can cover literally any situation. Sometimes the guitarist and singer do duo gigs, sometimes it's the guitarist and me. I reckon the band probably did about 120 this year including the ones without me. Next year is looking even busier, I'm hoping to do a bit of teaching and maybe even a bit more guitar playing and hopefully this time next year I'll be full time with music.

Take some weed, they seem to be to be a bit picky about booze.