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Pleased to say Iris came home after 6 weeks in hospital and 5 operations (the first of which at 2 days old was a gruelling 9 1/2 hours). She’s doing great and it’s lovely to have her home.

Dropped the Mrs at the gym and thought I'd pop into the LGS which is only a couple of minutes round the corner. Just browsing - mostly at guitars when I came across the Mockingbird MK3 below. It looked stunning so I tried it and loved it. It's a bit neck divey as you would imagine , but sustains forever and has an awesome array of tones. I wouldn't have ever imagined buying a BC Rich but it wasn't what I expected at all. The shop had set it up perfectly too. I now feel compelled to put gold strings on it (it's an obsession) It was marked up at £500 so a quick google found it for £386 in Thomann and the LGS (Sound Affects) matched the price. A good days work !

Hang on - is that an Amazon Echo on his coffee table...

Have you tried offering to help carry the stuff to the car, you know, don't leave it all for her to do? I mean, don't strain yourself, obviously ...

Ok I do know it’s been a while ive finished grain filling finally and I’m sanding off the residue one trick I’ve learned is to wipe white spirit over to show the grain and highlight spots that need more filler or sanding. Monday is final sanding and sanding sealer

Cheeky interim purchase before my ACG arrives. Cheers Jonze! This is a 2006 CIJ Mustang, always fancied one, and the wife has a couple of bass gigs (she plays a Mustang guitar), so made sense! Liking the Fiesta Red more than I thought I would, but was the right price, so don’t care either way! Cleaned up the fingerboard (needed a little TLC), fitted some La Bella Mustang Flatwounds, overall a very cool bass Si

Today I took the glued bodies out of clamps and trimmed the excess with the bandsaw. Then I flushed the tops on the router table, when I looked at them I had an "Oh heck!" moment as there was what appeared to be an open glue line all around the join but when I sanded a bit of the top op the disc sander it turned out to be just a little glue that had discoloured the back at the very corner and comes out with the slightest sanding, PHEW LOL; that had me going for a few seconds. You can see the line in the photographs, it looks just like an open glue line, in hindsight there was no way that I could have ended up with an open glue line but I still fell for it. Next I scribed a line at 49mm all around which will be the line to carve the top to but also the line at which the bottom of the fretboard will sit at the neck body interface. I marked the position of the neck joint and pickup pocket routs and drilled out the waste to cut back on the amount of noise from the router. I fixed the routing jig to the body with a couple of screws, one through the point of the bridge and one near the edge where the wood will be carved away so no holes will be left after the body's done. I routed the neck joint on one body but then realised I had made the jig too shallow for the pickup pockets so I made a perspex spacer, I'll fit that and finish the routing tomorrow. The weather picked up so we went for a walk on the beach, it seemed a lot more fun than woodwork

The internet is a big place. If people want to aggressively argue about politics, religion or the more toxic stuff there's a lot of places they can go to do that whilst being as sweary as their imagination allows.

Given the presence of the 'Report' button plus the introduction of the 'Like' system, it would hardly be beyond the wit of Basschat for such a section to be largely self-moderating. As a doting Dad I am well aware of the need to keep children away from bad language. After all, who ever heard a teenager swear? But recent polls seem to have shown fairly conclusively that being over-run with little children is not a problem that need concern us. Seeing as we are overwhelmingly a bunch of mature grown-ups, why not treat us that way?

Pickguard arrived in the post today - Cheers @Jono Bolton so while I wait for the other chrome work to arrive...I stuck it on.

Stumbled across this and found it an interesting little read so thought I would share in case anyone else was interested. http://rumblinman-blog.tumblr.com/post/62650774540/the-bassist-within-elvis-presley

And, it arrived this morning 😁

Whatever the hiding place was you got the PA out of, just put your missus back in it. Job done!

Most people will have their favourite era, usually according to what age they are. So no, I don't agree with Roger Daltry.

Hey there. Mustang and precision user here who plays both flats and rounds here. I’ve actually tried to do the same thing (albeit with a 34 not 35), maybe I can offer some thoughts. First, though, let me try to “manage your expectations” a bit. What you are looking for is going to be tough. I think that you are going to have a hard time getting the 35 scale bass with flats to feel a lot like a short scale with those strings on it. You probably know this, but as a rule (darn physics), short scale basses like the Mustang will have lower tension for the same pitch and gauge as a longer scale bass. That’s why players often find SS to be “loose”, “floppy”, or lacking a “tight low end.” Moving to 35 will be the exact opposite—higher tension for the same pitch. Your particulars are more complicated because the gauges you note of the strings are unusual. Most sets with 45 top end have 100 or 105 on the bottom end. (At least the ones I’ve played and the ones I saw on a quick check of GHS's site.) So, you have even lower tension in the low end than normal because the string is smaller gauge. Add to that you'll be switching from rounds to flats. Most players find flats much stiffer than rounds because of the square vs round winding. They simply bend less with equal force applied to them. So, no only will tension be different, but flexibility will differ, too. All in all, a tricky thing you are asking. Going from what is a very, very soft feeling spec to what is usually a pretty stiff spec. My best recommendation would be LaBella low tension flexible flats. They are on the light side of what you can find in the world of flats (42x100), but are built with a layer of silk in between the middle and outer windings, which improves flexibility. In my experience, they are the softest feeling flats. They also sound nice and thumpy, with the classic flats sound. Plus, they as soooo smooth. They feel like you’re playing a silk shirt. TI Jazz flats are also popular because of their softer feel, because they have a similar winding approach. A bit heavier, and more expensive. But wonderful. So, to get a soft feel, those are probably your best options. Both sets also have “oddly guaged” middle string compared to other sets, to balance out the feel, which is nice. For comparison, I recently strung a through-body bass with extra light LaBellas because the bridge couldn’t take top load, and very few companies make flats that work though-body. Even though they were lighter gauge, they felt stiffer. (Ended up swapping the bridge so I could use LTFFs on it!) Like @fretlessguyI also use GHS precision flatwounds. And I really like them. They are, though, a bit stiffer than the LaBella LTFFs. But I use them on my fretless, where I don’t feel the stiffness as much (and I think it actually helps increase the mwah). And they have more in the upper midrange than the LaBella/TIs—“zingier”—which is great on fretless. They would be a good option, too. So, going from a very soft, round wound, short scale to an extra long scale with flats, I think the LaBella LTFFs will be your best bet. In my experience, they won’t get you all the way to the same feel, but as close as you can get. Sorry. Probably more info than you needed there. But it’s a tricky jump you are trying. Knowledge is power and all that... Good luck with the quest! P.S.: this focused pretty much on feel alone, because that’s the tricky part. Forgot tone. In the end, flats will never sound like rounds. Just different animals. So, if you like the sound of rounds, stick with Boomers on the long scale bass.

Well, the ill-fated gig I referred to above did take place, once we'd found the venue! Sat nav said I was there as I drove along a main road surrounded by fields, eventually found it by trial and error (rather a nice Oxford pub by the river) and a little later the guitarists (travelling separately) arrived. Surprised to find we were outside, squeezed into a small three-side structure, so I couldn't hear anything except drums and one guitar. Apparently sounded fine to the audience, as a couple of local musos we know were there to hear us. Not the best gig I've played, but not the worst either. At least we were spared a gigless weekend.

I had a wee blast on a couple of Basic Ken Taylor 5ers. One a 30th anniversary & the other a bubinga. Compared them next to a Sadowsky Metro, a Mayones Jazz, a MM Bongo & a few Ibbys too. I loved the sound of the Bongo, but I’m not sold on the shape & a gold finish isn’t my thaing. The Sandbergs sounded very similar & the lows from them are immense. I actually prefer them to every other bass that I played. I liked the Mayones & the Sadowskys, but despite their higher premiums, didn’t play as well as the Sandberds. I think I may have found my bass! 😎

Yes so not divine intervention but more a temptation from the devil then ...

Great news! all there very best to little Iris, your good lady and your self. SO nice in this buggerage of a world to hear good news.

Zebrano’s my favourite with that body shape.

I opted for a Sadowsky preamp/DI. Definitely makes a huge difference!

Welcome Knirirr.

Good evening, Knirirr, and ... Plenty to read and amuse you here, and lots to learn and share.

Welcome to the Oxford Bass Collective, there's quite a few on here from Oxford and nearby. I'm out near Witney (but playing in Oxford tonight).

If the Mrs is moaning have you checked she's not just transferring the moan about something else onto the gear? Have you removed that motorbike you were renovating from the kitchen yet? Has the water been re-connected since you put a nail through one of the pipes when putting up a Bass hanger? Do you still store used editions of Bass Guitar Magazine in the bed and when re-stringing a bass do you casually toss the old strings across to her side? Just sayin'....

I'm using Chrome on Windows Bloody Vista, so that makes a lot of sense. Thanks.

My personal view (and so not necessarily that of the Mods nor Admins...) is that there is enough diversity and richness in language (English and others...) to allow one's feelings, however strong, to be adequately expressed without resorting to vulgarity. Use, or worse still, over-use, of bad language diminishes my opinion of the author (that this matters little to them I'm quite aware, but still...). There are perhaps occasions when comic effect could, maybe, justify writing in that manner, but they are, I reckon, rather rare, and all the more effective by being so. It will be understood, then, that I am for keeping the profanity filter, hoping that it never need be invoked.

Picked up a Mojomojo from the classifieds this week (well I had to buy at least one new toy to replace all the ones I’ve sold!) and very impressed with it. I’m surprised TC don’t market it as suitable for bass use! The top end is a bit muffled and it sounds best at low gain, but the low end is amazingly good, better than most ‘bass’ pedals. Just read from the TC blurb that the internal voltage is ramped up which undoubtedly helps with headroom, letting the full heft of your note attack through. If you want a mellow, warm sounding drive that sounds great for classic rock, blues, R&B, etc, I reckon this is one of the best options going regardless of price, and the best thing is it only costs £40 new!

I bought one of those, same colour too (but original whiteish pickguard) last year [*] Really nice. It was incredibly light too. Good buy! [*] actually it wasn't for me. My girlfriend plays bass a bit and she's been looking for another bass as the one she had just wasn't what she liked. One day she told me she had seen a beautiful bass on the window of a second hand shop, went in and tried it, and she fell in love: it was very light, it played very nicely, sounded good... So she was a bit short of cash at the time, but she hoped to go in a week or so and buy it. She had taken pictures. I just made some appreciative noises without looking too impressed... but I thought I knew where the shop was, so next day I went on the hunt. I found it, tried it and bought it... then kept it for nearly 2 months until her birthday

Seems it may have been a mistake on the part of the band leader, he called last night to tell me it was his fault. Human error I can understand, this doesn't seem to have been a cynical mis-use of bands after all. We'll get together for a jam somewhere tonight, no pay but at least we get play with our Australian friend again before his brief visit is over.

Anyone at the recent SW or Midlands BBash's will be familiar with this, for those that haven't seen it there is link to the build thread as well as a couple of pics. Finally got my hands on a lightweight ( about 6lbs ) med scale ( 31.5" ) fretless, the workmanship is stunning, check out the pic that shows the neck flowing into the body pocket , the balance is superb, with the top horn strap button just over the 10th fret, this feels more like playing a guitar than a bass when hung on a strap & despite the low body mass there is no neck dive either playing seated.The neck is a joy to play with a slightly rolled feel to the edge of an ebony board it seems like I have had this for years rather than days. As for how it sounds, the combination of LaBella flats, Shadow undersaddle & John East simple vol/treble roll off circuit all work to give a well defined acoustic tone with excellent balance across the strings. If like me you are starting to show your age & not everything works as well as it used to one of these will keep you going for years to come, Jez is a top bloke to deal with & I can't thank him enough. Looking forward to see what he comes up with next, mike b. Semi Hollow Bass https://www.dropbox.com/sh/4kizwfi7j094u78/AAAAb1WxD-4Iv1BzP0Z2zTAza?dl=0

I've just clocked, that with this months theme picture about the blackout , my tune last month was titled 'lights out' i thought I'd found a title for this month, but it sounded a little too familiar , now I know why .

I've been really very impressed with the kz iems but wouldn't take them over my UE900s. The custom moulds make them so much more comfortable and far better at isolation. I'd be reluctant to get kz's reshelled for the obvious reason that it's a lot of money to have potentially cheap parts put into a custom she'll. Bet they'd sound great tho.

I think a Pub Carpark section(where anything and everything goes) should be established that is only visible to memebers and the swear filter should be removed for that section only. And yes I stole that idea from HiFi Wigwam

Well I've certainly got hundreds of albums in my garage that were released by my band, unfortunately they all look and sound very similar ...

Thanks guys. I have to say, I'm tempted by the idea of putting the bass on the stage at the end of the gig, pouring lighter fluid all over it, and setting fire to it. I never realised that Hendrix was actually trying to restore the finish on his Strat ...

Well the Ramones didn’t form until ‘74 so...

Who knew walls were so popular!? Here's mine, taken in Dartford about 8 years ago

Made the body contour and started to shape the back of the neck.Also open the pickup cavities

So basically the other guy's made a £60 profit on a voided transaction, the 'justification' being a couple of vanilla set-ups. Nice work if you can get it. Really, everyone needs to learn how to fettle their own guitars. It's not difficult; the basic tools are dirt cheap; forums like BC are full of helpful people with bundles of experience; there's tons of information and vids out there; and even a little practical knowledge helps when trying out prospective purchases.

I think have all of the pictures that are broken links now. You wan to post all of them (i don't know exactly what i have posted) or you wan to see a few specific pics?

Almost finished glossing this one it’s been flattened just got to buff it now but........ When I first did this build I was toying with the idea of having a pickguard on it then I went away from it now I’m thinking (not that it needs it) it might look nice with a white or cream pickguard on it here’s the rough shape it might be....... What does everyone think?? Opinions please .........

Does "band & decaying gothic gate" count? Alarmingly, that was 18 years ago - I remember we searched for ages for a suitably melodramatic backdrop. I've ended up living a 5-minute walk up the road from it, as does singer Karen. We've considered revisiting it as a photo location, in the unlikely event we ever bother to try & find other musicians deluded enough to agree to working with us.

Before you veer away too far from the RD type shape, and knowing how you like orange basses, check out this beauty from the Czech Republic. It’s a Jolana Disco Bass and I can’t deny I took a little bit of inspiration from this 😁

So I’m still very good friends with All but two members of the band. Nice Christmas messages from all of them. They’re carrying on without me and the singer who left at the same time. The plan is to earn more, think my mate the guitarist will turn to bass and they’re going down the much more tried and tested “Dakota” route. A shame really - but I wish them well. Tomorrow we meet with Neurosurgeons and have a look around the family quarters at St.Marys in Manchester. All grand, Iris (the little bundle of stress/joy/fear/interpretation) is also going to be seen in 3d and we’ll hopefully come away with heads full of More information. Anyhow, we’re all enjoying Christmas...Jenny’s Nanna turned 100 today, and my Nanna turned 82. We met a new family addition today at a do, and my eldest daughter (Ella) got a guitar for Christmas and has declared I’m to be her bass player when she’s famous.