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Hi Some of you might have seen @Happy Jack 's thread relating to his lovely Mike Lull P5. And very lovely it is! The result of the discussions on that thread is that (and many thanks to the folks who put my name forward) I spent a pleasant and interesting hour earlier in the week with Jack and @Silvia Bluejay at a pub somewhere in Oxfordshire. It's going to be an interesting project - one that I will slot into the lull periods (sorry - couldn't resist) of the ebony guitar build that I snuck into the Build Diaries. There are two necks that I will be working on: The present fretted neck - The truss rod is maxed out and the neck seems to have a permanent set that the rod can only just control...for now. This probably means taking the fretboard off (it's a glued on fretboard), planing the top of the neck, probably replacing the trussrod and probably refretting if the board removal has disturbed them or if they need removing to get the board off in the first place. - While we're at it, Jack would ideally like 2-3mm off the width of the neck, presently 38mm. - There are also some retro-fit epoxy dots that want removing and replacing with Luminlay dots - Also, Jack's preference is silky smooth wood rather than the present lacquer on the playing surface (we'll make sure the headstock and logo aren't affected We talked about the risks of fretboard removal but Jack's view is that, if it isn't unusable at the moment, it won't be long before it becomes so. Then Jack came up with a corker of an idea. As we don't know how deep those epoxy dots are, but if they are, say 2mm - 3mm deep...could we take the whole 3mm off the bass side and that would solve the challenge of filling the holes? One of those times when is goes quiet in the snug...and, after a few moments of quiet contemplation...yes...it's worth a try! We talked about the fact that the top dots won't line up - but actually, they don't anyway. So that's the plan. A new and easily interchangeable fretless neck So I will also be building a new neck - again narrower than the present P by up to 3mm. Probably maple neck, unlined ebony fretboard, luminlay side dots at the fret positions. So first step is to record the present action height and investigate the neck truss-rod movement (you never know....) and the side dot depth: But, before I take the neck off, I am going to cut a new nut at Jack's preferred position and string spacing and...well...just try it! This will also allow me to see where the fretboard edge will need to be and also how much those top dots are going to be out of line and also play it at the string spacing and make sure it isn't going to be too crowded for comfort: So, if I have a piece of bone in my bits box, that's what I will be doing tomorrow That and having a dig around in one of those epoxy black side dots

Just picked this up today! Amazing build quality and playability. Not plugged it into my Berg gear yet, but expecting good things!

She's finished! Apologies for all the photos, but I couldn't be happier with how it turned out. I think there's just enough 'new' to give the bass a whole new personality without sacrificing any of its vibe. Not only does it look good, but after a set up it's an absolute beast. My only gripe is the new pickguard has about a 1mm gap where it should meet the neck on the upper horn side - I'm not sure how this happened but I won't dwell on it. It is apparent in the 2nd pic. New parts were: tuners, nut, output jack, pickguard and screws, knobs, strap buttons, and bridge screws.

Thought i'd buy a 2nd hand lightweight amp head as a back up for my Mesa Mpulse. So this in Andertons for £125. Plugged in and it sounds amazing at home. Its not dissimilar to the tone from my Mesa head. It has a nice warm feel to it altho not as much as the Mesa but at low levels its pretty impressive. Basic controls with Gain, Bass, Lo-Mid, Hi-Mid, Treble and Master. I ran the EQ flat using my Jazz and then my Precision and they both sounded really nice thru my Mesa PH212. Hard to tell at reasonably low volumes but it had warmth, depth and a nice clarity with the P bass that i dont get with my Mesa head. All in all i nice buy and i might even use this with the punk band until my Mesa TT800 arrives in 2022.

Could make someone’s night though… ah. Ok. Sorry. no contex shitepost.

I can understand your frustration, but it wasn’t wasted time really, as you’ve pointed out yourself. As you know the drummer outside of the band, perhaps you could ask why they decided to go with someone else. If it’s something in your playing, you might want to work on that (or not). No one likes rejection, but it is part of a musician’s lot I’m afraid. Pick yourself up and, now that you’re back up and running, move onto the next project.

Erm, you weren't in Norwich on Wednesday by any chance? 😚

This is the bass in the spray booth a few months ago....

Just had an email about this new intriguing looking EQ pedal from Genzler, featuring a 5 band EQ plus high and low pass filters. Got to admit I'm a massive Genzler fanyboy so looking forward to giving this a try as and when. RE/Q - DUAL FUNCTION EQUALIZATION PEDAL - Genzler Amplification

One rehearsal I was warming up and played the first chord (piano chord A but on bass) of “someone like you” by Adele. The singer said “ooh yeah, can we do that?” So without a piano player and with the song not suitable for a full band version - I figured it out for bass and vocal. Absolutely belting way to finish the first set at a busy gig. But those 2 men and a border collie gigs - it was soul destroying. We we’re about to stop doing it. and then we did a gig where half of the stages power went off - and it saved the day as the bass amp, mixer and one of the speakers were in the other circuit. (The landlord messed with the fuse box and we finished the gig as a full band) Never write off the songs you despise playing.

I sold my last Stingray a few years ago during some... ehhh... legal challenges, let's say, with my ex ( sold for €750, what was I thinking?) . A trade this week got me back in the game. I'd still love a go of a Sterling but this 95 'ray is a very nice piece of kit, it must be said.

My starry night stingray with a matte black guard from pickguard planet.

I think you’ll find they’re legu…… Nah. They’re nuts

Nut cheese? Isn’t that a prop65 substance?

So, couldn't find a Starry Night, so went for a Charcoal Sparkle Special instead Love the black hardware with the finish, it's a beaut! It's been a while since I played a regular Stingray, but the specials feel really good. Neck seems slimmer and faster than I remember? And forearm contour feels very comfortable.

Slow day guys? 😂

Good point, I will ask the drummer. They explicitly said it was nothing in my playing, but I mean, they're not going to throw me out because they don't like my hair... I forgot to mention I'm a good generation older than the other players, that could be a factor - and explains why I know none of their music 🙂

If they've contacted me, they have the wrong number.

... so remember, get good by playing with other musicians but don't play with other musicians until you're good!

Crying out for a neck swap!

Mine just arrived!!! Absolutely fantastic. I've had an hour or so to get set up (took 2 mins) and have given everything a very quick whirl. Essentially, I've got everything I love about my beloved VB99 in a pair of headphones (minus the GK pickup stuff). I set everything flat, added a touch of Boss Limiter (same settings I use normally) and a tiny bit of reverb, turned the '3D' effect off, and bang, there it is - a beautifully full and detailed unadulterated bass sound. I had a play with the 3D stuff, which I think will be great, especially when you turn your head and get a subtle impression of an amp in front of you. It paired with my phone for playing along with music and the app itself seamlessly. I will probably use them as headphones even when I'm not using the transmitter. I plugged the transmitter into the output of my Backbeat so I could feel the rumble and it was perfect - of course you can plug it right into your bass, or a pedal. VERY little noise, barely audible and you know how picky I am about that. I'm really really pleased with them. I'll do a full review once I've had a proper play - but this is basically my dream product!!

Shameless self-promotion thread. One of my longstanding on/off/on projects has a single out today; I wrote the music about two months ago. One of our number is well connected with a few people in the cloudy cabal otherwise known as 'the industry' and I've been stunned at their positive feedback.

I picked up this Stingray in a trade earlier this week and I've noticed an unintentional trend developing. Honeyburst horde?

Actually @Doctor J that honey/amber thing is contagious

FTFY

I would imagine that's why. I was once in a band for a relatively short time with some fellas about 10 years younger than me. Was a while ago and 10 years was a lot then Was fun and all, but I did feel a bit like band dad and they almost certainly felt similar the other way around, despite me insisting that they drove me around everywhere because I had other need for a car at the time. Lol. All just fizzled out in the end. Bands with varying ages tend to work better with an array of different ages I feel.

I would be wary of applying heat if it has a transparent finish in case of scorch marks

One swallow stops a shotgun wedding

Great little amps - especially at that price. I used mine for most if not all of our gigs from the end of 2017 until things dried up at the end of 2019, and I dare say I’ll still be using it when things get back up and running for us - whenever that is. I have bigger and ‘better’ amps, but I just couldn’t beat that one for sheer convenience. Usually just ran it into whatever cab the venue provided, and to say they were mostly cheap old 410s that had seen better days, there was always enough power output and a useable sound to be had.

Yepp, I am waiting for an update on that front too. Mostly, though I am hoping that the cabinet includes a 4 ohm lightweight 4x10 I can pair with my V6. On topic again, I believe that the Mesa M9 has onboard compression too.

RHCP - Californication - BASS ONLY

Fortunately, no. We were playing this, but with 4 not 12

This is called free jazz by people who don't know what free jazz is. 🤦‍♂️ 😉

I’d be tempted to colour-in the gap with a sharpie. Or, less destructive, perhaps stick a carefully trimmed piece of black electrical tape under the pick guard?

I used to play alto in a band. The only way you'll be able to control your sound is to have your own 'clip on mic' on the bell. I used feed mine to a pack on my belt, then a lead to a DI box and would let the sound guy connect to the DI. General mics don't really work that well on sax and horns.

if you post once, you are only 1 post away from being right - victor wooten

Should amps be labelled “may contain electricity” just so everyone knows they may be dangerous?

Hi folks! Thanks for all the help. So, after much deliberation, I am picking up a buttercream player P on Saturday morning, can't wait! I think the neck feel and fretboard radius will suit me better if I'm honest. Just to make sure I'm doing the right thing, I took my old squier P to rehearsal last night. This was my first bass from about 1994, and is one of the Korean ones with a plywood body - nevertheless it rocked! Thoroughly enjoyed it, and the P sound really worked well in the band mix, so I'm confident the Player will be even better (hopefully much easier to play too 😂)

You don't need a new cab, you need new wheels. 😊

Back in the club. Sometimes you see a bass and you think “I have to have it….” So a year to the day I collected my last Spector (435xl) It’s time to go again.

Be careful, my cousin's friend once used an Ernie Ball polishing cloth and his testicles became so swollen his girlfriend called off their wedding.