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Yes, I know politics is a dark topic here on our fair basschat, but this is a once in a lifetime moment that surpasses such rules in my opinion and affects us all. I for one am deeply saddened by this turn of events, but that is not the point. We now have limited time to trade with our EU friends so let us celebrate by completing as many trades/sales as possible! Goodbye my trusted EU friends, I have enjoyed trading/buying/selling with many of you. I hope that this sinister day does not darken our world of bass trading. We are as one. We are one species. One we must remain long past our dark days. I for one will always be as in spirit as part of the one despite my countrymen's better judgement. Fair well kind EU, may our differences not darken our future. Xx

So after having had to leave my band at the end of 2019 due to it taking its toll on me I have a new venture. A group of mates have a jam session every other week and they’ve asked me to join in - as it’s not a band in the traditional sense, as in no gigging, no recording it’s ideal for me, it’s a laugh, we meet up and just enjoy playing for the enjoyment of music. We’re playing some great material, by bands such as Rainbow, Deep Purple, and Led Zep to name a few - a bit of a departure from my previous punk/Oi. The theory is select songs that will push us as musicians, and especially given there are no vocals it really makes you concentrate whilst playing. It’s great to still be able to play as I didn’t want to either give up totally, or to join another gigging band as I need a break from all that. Plus I’ve decided to use my Stingray AND a compressor, so def new beginnings for a new decade. Which is nice.

I thought I'd start a thread for people to admit their, hopefully humorous, bass face-palm moments. This is inspired by what I did last night. I got my acoustic bass guitar out of its bag ready for a rehearsal today - prior to an unplugged gig we've got in March. The strings felt like they needed a bit of a clean. So, I said to the wife, "Have we any isopropyl alcohol anywhere?" She replied, "No, but you can use some of my vodka if you want". Five minutes later I go back to the room where she's watching television. "The good news is; it doesn't leave a stain and evoporates quickly". I'd only gone and knocked the open bottle over and most of it poured over the table and on to the floor. An extra Norman Wisdom touch was that next doors' dog was with me. I give her respite from their teething toddler. Being part Laborador she moves like stinky poo off a shovel if there's any hint of food or drink. I reckon she got a couple of generous doubles before I restrained her. Problem is, she'll expect that every time now and sit by the booze cupboard howling. The bass strings now feel much better though.

Sorry guys, this thread isn't happening. It's an emotive topic whatever your views & I don't think we're going to be changing one another's opinions so we'd made the decision to keep Basschat Brexit free.

I've sold and bought various basses and other stuff from/to members on here, and most of them are kind people that are just great to deal with. In my experience it helps to mention that a price is fixed and no further negotiable. Of course not everyone will read, or want to read that.. But it definitely saves from some useless responses. A short while ago I was disappointed though: A well respected BC member asked me to keep my Gibson Ripper on hold until Monday when he would have the funds. No update followed, so I contacted him myself Tuesday or wednesday, to hear that he couldn't proceed yet. Ok, no problem mate. But next Tuesday when we would be home again, all would be sorted. He would defenitely buy it. Well, again time passed without an update. And again I contacted him, to hear again that he couldn't proceed yet and needed some extra time... I'm a patient guy, but this buyer just didn't take any effort to let me know that he couldn't keep to his sayings. While he knew I still had the bass on hold for him.....for 10 days already. And meanwhile he was still very active In posting/buying/selling... Don't get it; just take that 15 seconds to keep the other party posted, while you're already busy on the forum.

😂

But Rommel liked jazz. He was always saying ‘Wes Montgomery.’

I must have done this one on these pages before but I once spent a frantic five minutes at the start of a set with no sound coming from my amp or the PA. Frontman had to make awkward banter whilst I checked everything. Amp on, bass on full, everything connected up, sound man on stage, he checks everything, still nothing..., drummer comes over and investigates too, still nothing... guy at the front of the crowd enquires as to whether a cable is required between my bass and amp... 🤦‍♂️

Mmm, biscuits.

Buy it a drink first?

Give it a few months...

I approve of banning drum solos though...

This has been a lot of work, but this is our promo video. This kinda started semi seriously to have fun playing hard music with my friends but I've decided to try and get out doing shows. I'm Scottish, so my accent is wrong for singing like Mark King so I just tried to sing in my voice. I am also not a singer! There's obviously some autotune at work, but we probably only spent about 10 hours in the studio recording the audio for this! My singing is...passable live. My sister (who is filling the role of Mike Lindup) is an outstanding singer, who fronts my other band called Danger Zone (wedding/events band). Level 42 splits people. Some people hate slap bass out of principle for some reason. For me, it's hugely enjoyable and highly expressive. So I'm aware I'm going to take flack for even attempting something like this! So be it. I'm well aware of the failings of this band (my vocals!). However, the guys in the band are top notch and I want to show off our hard work. This has been a very challenging project from start to finish. In truth, we don't sound much different live - thought obviously the singing is not a good. I can sing and play the parts no problem, the drummer is super humanly tight and our keyboard player is also a masterful sound engineer. We use a Soundcraft UI24 which is awesome. The bass was my JayDee through a Trace Elliot GP12 with what I think is the correct EQ setting. The only track with the Status was "Heathrow" I'm trying to get this band out doing shows, but my home town of Dundee is dismal for live music. I guess I need a promoter or an agent. Any help or advice would be very much appreciated!

The recent post about the cheap orange L2000 Tributes at Andertons got me thinking, but even with the discount I couldn't justify getting one, plus I wasn't keen on the colour. So when I saw this one second hand I couldn't resist! This is my first non-Fender for over 20 years - it's also my only current bass with a chunky neck (I have 2 bitsas with Geddy Lee necks, and a Reggie Hamilton Jazz) so it might take a bit of getting used to. But the first 30 minutes I've spent with it have been very enjoyable. I'm a happy boy 🙂

New pedal day. Had a rehearsal with some mates in the week and wanted a “tighter” sound than my usual Precision/Para Driver sound. So made my mind up to use my Stingray, but to also get myself a compressor to just tame the peaks a tad. But which one, so many out there? Well I saw a band on Thu - already put a post up about it - and the bassists sound was great, and I particularly liked the evenness of the tone, so took a look at his pedals and there was an MXR M87. So decision made, and a quick trawl through the For Sale section saw our very own @Billy Apple was selling one, so arranged the purchase and collected it today, with a very useful lesson on how to use it very gratefully received. At home practice use I can hear the tightening that I wanted. It’s one of those things, if it wasn’t there it probably wouldn’t notice that much but it’s that extra 5% - plus with my ham fisted technique it will really even things out as the music I’m now doing requires a lot less power and a better technique. So given I have too much of the first, and not enough of the second I’ll let the M87 help me out.

I took my younger sister to see UB40 at the NEC in 1986. Supporting were a reggae band called Paul Blake and the Bloodfire Possee who absolutely blew the headliners away. I’ve never seen a support act engage a crowd like that before or since. I saw Simple Minds at MK Bowl, also in 1986 with various other bands. Simple Minds were slick but soulless, The Waterboys were terrific, The Cult were half arsed and chaotic, but the winners of the day, somewhat surprisingly, were The Bangles, who were brash, exciting, clearly loving being on a big gig and brilliantly thrilling in a ramshackle, garage band kind of way. Really good. But the ultimate giant slayers for me, again at MK Bowl, this time in 1993 were Little Angels, opening for Bon Jovi. My girlfriend at the time was a big BJ fan (no, not in that way, sadly...) and I accompanied her somewhat unwillingly. I was delighted however to see that the Manics were opening (I’m a big fan) so I went down the front. They were great, but I stuck around in front of the stage for Little Angels who were incredible and made Bon Jovi look bored and jaded. They should’ve been massive!

He was definitely on the bill but wasn't the opening act Ruby Turner??? One of my friends was in jail with one of the Campbell brothers many years ago so we often get back stage/ free entry. Rumour has it that there was a Tesco carrier bag full of weed lying about backstage for people to help themselves to. It had all gone by the time we got backstage at the end of the night. Must say that Astro's mother in law is a lovely lady...

I was at that gig! I was going out with UB40's fan club manager at the time, we had free tickets and back stage passes, the Pogues were brilliant but got very drunk after they played, started abusing UB40 and were thrown out by the bouncers! If I remember correctly wasn't Robert Palmer the opening act?

I saw UB40 at "UB40 plays the Blues" at Birmingham City's football stadium. On the bill were The Pogues who, though I had heard of, hadn't really taken serious notice of. They were brilliant - crowd was going mental with fans from all sorts of musical genre dancing and cheering. Opened my eyes (or should that be "ears").

Things haven't improved since , Neil Young was the Sunday Headliner for the Isle of Wight festival a few years back , reports were everybody starting leaving early and the fireworks that normally close the festival at 11 pm went off at 10:30 ..

The Eagles blew Neil Young off the stage when I saw them back in the early '70's in Glasgow. Young kept stopping songs to complain about the monitor sound and he looked like he was off his face. His set was cut short thank F***.

Buying a Westone Thunder III couple of weeks back was my sole 2020 purchase 🙂 That was until I heard Mr Konig decided to sell his Renegade 🙈🙉🙊 My renowned Iron Will crumbled after 5 minutes 😁

Just to add that I've now had a chance to really jam away on the new LX5 (since it is a more reasonable hour). It became pretty obvious to me that tonally, the A, D and G strings are much different than the B or E. In fact, the B and E seem mis-matched to both the other three and to one another. It could be two or three sets on here. What a mess. Undoing the twist on the low-B string seems to have fixed some of the sound issues that I had earlier, which triggered this thread. I have also now adjusted the height of the pick-up closer to the neck, and things are sounding a bit better. But, a mis-matched set of stings on a new Warwick bass is indeed totally unacceptable. So hopefully they'll drop some in the post and send them my way soon.

Right, so other than this issue with the mixed strings and the missing fretboard protector, I'm very happy with the bass. It certainly looks brand new. I did send a couple of (polite) emails: One message to Warwick simply asking if they ever paint the ball ends on any of their strings (but the community here seems to know the answer). The other message to Peach Guitars in Colchester, who ordered the bass for me. I asked them to please have Warwick send me the fretboard protector and a new set of strings. I've asked for a set of the EMP Warwick strings. They are the higher-end and more expensive strings that come with the Master Built basses, but I'd say Warwick owes them to me now!

I doubt it came straight from Warwick like that. It looks more like something done by the distributor. Why would Warwick keep D'Addario strings in their factories, let alone put them on their new basses, when they have their own strings? Even just for the sake of publicity and good PR?

Thank you so much to Martin for doing this for me. I have never met a bass player who isn't also a lovely human being and Martin is no exception. On the train home back to the New Forest now, and looking forward to reaquenting with this beast. I feel it still had lots more music itching to get out, which is no surprise as it's lain dormant and unplayed for nearly 2 years now. Robbie

First - Possibly Stan Kenton, or Buddy Rich late '70s-ish. Went to several jazz gigs in my early/mid teens and can never remember the order. First non-jazz - Hawkwind '79, Preston. All the jazz gigs had not prepared me for lasers, strobes, volume and the smell of pot. Blew my head off and changed my life. Last - Lissie, Stoller Hall Manchester. Best - Fleetwood Mac at Maine Road. Had always wanted to see them outdoors. Worst - not sure. Stones at Maine Road? Assuming we're taking name bands of course. Seen some truly abysmal cover acts. Loudest - Dragster at Motorheadbangers party at the Ritz, maybe '82-ish. Seen the most - Hawkwind. Most surprising - prob Less Than Jake at Leeds Festival. Had never heard of them. They were fantastic. Actually, scratch that. Manowar, Apollo '84. Went for a laugh and came out a changed man. All hail! Next - Babymetal, Apollo. Wish - ABBA, anything with Sandy Denny but especially Fotheringay, Genesis circa Seconds Out, Hawkwind circa Space Ritual, Zero 7 at Glastonbury, Radiohead at Glastonbury 2017, Kate Bush (especially '79). Saw Whitesnake 1980. In fact saw them a few times in that era. They were a good band then.

And we're back on the classic Jr.

Just had a quick low level play at home. Really like the tone. More lively than my MB800. not as bright as i feared which is good. I did think the hiss was a bit louder than my other heads, Even without a signal. i guess it wont be heard with a band. Might be because i had the input trim right up (with no clipping light on). I have realised its not going to fit any of my bags, at least not liek my other heads. I can just get it in a couple, but no room for my Helix and cables. All in all very happy.

First - Rockpile (Nick Lowe & Dave Edmunds) Hemel Hempstead 1979 Last - Mike Monroe (of Hanoi Rocks) Milton Keynes 2019 Best - The Sex Pistols, Finsbury Park 1996 Worst - Siouxsie & The Banshees Hammersmith 1986 Loudest - why Motörhead of course, Hammersmith 1985 Seen the most - prob Stiff Little Fingers Most Surprising - The Cure Next - not known Wish I could have seen - The Sex Pistols in 1976, alas I was too young

I use markbass 15s , with an Ashdown head and it’s a nice deep clear tone I like, I’ve also seen Robbie Shakespeare play through mb and it wasn’t a muddy sound 🙂

Bass is now back with its rightful owner Robbie’s a top chap and it was a pleasure helping out and having a natter over a cuppa in Brighton

The one I always remember for me is when I was 16 I was doing a gig in a pub in Glasgow.. My bro drive me in with my bass amp. After sou d check I had my p bass copy plugged in and leaning against the fabric grill of the amp. Windsor the drummer stepped back off the 4" drum rise, onto my lead which pushed right into the cavity, breaking the plastic pick guard and making the lead stuck inside at an angle. It still worked so we decided just to play the gig as is and deal with it at a later date. Started the gig to find my amp farting as it had never farted before. After a quick look I could see that there was a perfect tuning peg sized hole in the speaker.. Must have happened during the lead incident. Had to just put up with it, however I then broke a string and had no spares, so one of the other bands handed me their bass to play. Complete disaster. Only to get back to the car to find it had been broken into! Oh what a night that was.

Who needs DHL 👍

I’m excited! Thanks for the thread and your amazing work @Andyjr1515 I haven’t owned a multi-scale before and have only played one briefly but when Andy asked I was very up for the idea! Re scale length, I like all flavours - the previous “African fretless” build we actually went 34.5” and I do think small differences affect the tone, not better or worse exactly just a difference of “vibe” that I enjoy Both of these bodies I had carved for me in Gambia on trips there where I was playing with musicians from the area @GarethFlatlands thanks for kind offer re fingerboard, let’s see what the boss has to say Thanks everyone for the enthusiasm, I will go back to lurking and excitedly waiting for updates from the mad scientist!!!!!!!!! Tom

Yet another reason to hate nazis.

Having a miserable time in the for sale side of Basschat at the moment. Had a buyer pull out at the 11th hour, a bass returned for refund, no positive feedback because a delivery was late and no acknowledgement when I refunded the delivery cost, looks like a pedal is coming back as well now. It's just a run of bad luck I know but I'm the kind of buyer who never complains, just take it on the chin if something isn't quite what I expected. I know this doesn't mean I should expect others to be the same, but my goodness it tests my serenity. Time to meditate I think.

How loud are the amp fans? Would you hear it next to a single clarinet for example? ta

Babymetal supporting Chili Peppers at London O2 about three years ago. Blew them away for energy and musicianship.

Silvia Bluejay, I had these exact thoughts and followed that same train of logic myself. But now have a look at the Warwick factory 'mugshot' photo that came along with this Warwick! I put the photo here with the certificate shown, and then a zoomed in photo of the 'mugshot'. You can clearly see that it's the same mixed set of strings! WTF? I have my own theory on what happened here. But first, let me add a few more clues which might be helpful in solving the puzzle. Here's what we know: o There appears to be a mixed set of strings on this bass (at least A, D and G look like D'Addario, probably E as well). o The RockCare fretboard protector from Warwick was NOT included with this bass. This seems very unusual, as I've always gotten one with other new Warwicks that I have purchased (and this is a GPS Streamer, so not all that cheap). The protector is a thick plastic sheet that Warwick also sells separately for about 5 EUR. o The strap-lock buttons came opened in a small plastic bag (photo attached), rather than in a new sealed plastic and cardboard package. A bit odd, and again totally unlike what has come together with other 'new' Warwick basses purchased. My theory is this: I put in an order for an LX5 GPS streamer in cream white but with black hardware (standard is chrome). Someone, somewhere, had a cream white LX5 with the default chrome (a music shop? a distributor?) which got returned to Warwick recently for whatever reason. While that bass with chrome hardware was in the possession of someone else, at some point some / all of the strings were changed. The strap buttons were removed from their original packaging and used on a strap. The fretboard protector got tossed out / lost. Warwick, perhaps being busy and wanting to move stock, swapped the chrome hardware on that 'returned' white LX5 bass with some that is black to fill my order. They then took a new 'mugshot', packaged everything up, and sent it to me. It's effectively a slightly used / floor-model bass. That's what I think, but I do tend to be paranoid.

No, I wouldn't need to buy an afro wig.