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We're still fine tuning the shape of the headstock, but it is likely to be in the Firebird/Thunderbird ilk. The original Trini Deluxes seem to have had a number of variations but most appear to have had something like the Firebird. This will be fitted with the Steinberger banjo replacements so, within reason, the wood can be any shape. Also the neck carve is basically done. Jack took me some profiles from his favourite playing guitar and I've used those to try to gain a familiarity of feel with this build. I use a combination of spokeshave, micro-plane blade and cabinet scraper to creep up towards the shape: The chalk line along the spine is so that I never dig into the spine which would affect the neck depth. The neck carve is my favourite part but is often too quickly done and gone! And then the preparatory work on the finishing of the body. I use a rough version of the Tru-oil slurry and buff method early on to act as a: - grain fill / gap fill / sanding sealer - 'reveal coat' to show up any glue residue, sanding marks etc. To do this, I sand with some brutal 120 grit emery (with the grain always) used wet where the wet is lashings of Tru-oil. You end up with a slurry of wood dust that is then wiped off and allowed to dry. Even at this early stage, it's showing some promise

I had an old GK Neo 112 and aquired a new matching speaker, so after humming and hahing (?) I built a cab to hold them both. Just plugged in my Genz Benz Streamliner 900 and man, this thing slams. The difference between the 112 and this 212 is huge. It weighs 18kg ( I guess that's about 40lbs) and is only 150mm taller than the 112. I built in a tilt handle and recessed castors so it can be wheeled around easily. 600 watts of punch! Looking forward to a gig Friday night.

Three '71s...

Done - now I can get back to building basses as god intended. I find the final set up work quite tedious but I powered through and it plays very nicely. The lignum vitae nut seems to be doing the job fine. It might wear out, but I'll cross that bridge when I come to it. A few minor issues persist - most notably the horrendous miscalculation around the placement of the tuners and logo! The string pull is just about adequately straight, but the logo sitting right under the massive low B string is unforgivable! There was a bit of ground buzz when playing through my laptop interface which I wouldn't expect from EMGs, but I soldered the switch and jack myself so it might be something to do with that. I'll have another bash at it at some point. The front strap pin should either be higher up of in the back of the body. I thought the positioning might help with balance a bit (and I think it does), but the strap gets in the way a bit there. This is how we learn though, right? Other than that, I'm very happy with it.

These are lovely basses, here's mine:

Really enjoyed playing my Sandberg yesterday - never realised how meaty the MM pickup is! Just received an Xotic RC Bass Booster too so even more EQ options on tap.

Judging by the number of YT videos, it seems that this really is a thing - why, I don't know.

Being a mediocre covers bass player, you'll need to please bear with my lack of an artist's perspective, but if what your audiences think has no bearing on your art, why "inflict" it on them? Why not just create something and enjoy the process and the outcome and keep your art to yourself? Or do you actually, deep down, want others to enjoy it too and you appreciate their reaction when one of your creations is positively received? What is your motivation for being a live musician? For me, the greatest artists throughout history from Leonardo to Shakespeare to Beethoven, and beyond, were all mindful of their patrons and their audiences. It didn't stop them creating some of the most beautiful art which will continue to echo down time - being appreciated not just by the audiences of their day but but also by each and every succeeding generation.

I wish my playing was as gash as Richard Bona's

Whereas I'd completely disagree. It's got flash and technique, but there is some nice phrasing and melodic lines in there because of how he's instantly playing what he's singing, and he throws in a couple of things for comedic effect. It's a really good, and relatively short, solo.

I don't dispute this. I was just giving my opinion. Is that not what everyone is doing on this thread?

I think the great thing about a solo is it can be improvised and anything can happen. It's why I enjoy playing and listening to live music. Anything can, and usually does, happen. Wrong notes, going into the wrong sections, starting in the wrong key, drum kits gaining a life of their own and wandering down stage, amps catching fire, dodgy sound mixes. It's all part of the live experience. A lot of that has become very sterile and clinical now. I think a lack of real live music on TV, multitrack recording on protools and auto tune have spoiled people somewhat.

Over the years I've come to realise that solos in live performances are largely aimed at the non-musicians in the audience, who can just enjoy it for what it is & not indulge in an orgy of chin-stroking & dissection over every note/phrase/nuance.

True. When the next generation of engines were not so reliable I went Japanese. Buying something you know isn’t very good just to remain loyal to a brand is definitely cult like, irrational behaviour on that we agree.

This happened yesterday ☺️ It was a very lovely drive up to Bass Direct in Leamington Spa to drop off a bass for a commission sale, and to also pick up this masterpiece. I am in awe of this bass. I fell in love with Spector earlier this year, and that admiration for the brand convinced me to go for this beautiful USA, handmade Forte 4 in Nightshade, and now named “Stormbringer”. The quality and attention to detail, is second to none. The sound, the feel, the resonance, the playability and the comfort is something I have ever experienced, and I’ve owned a lot of basses in my time. I’ve never had a bass with EMG’s before, and there a real revelation. Also, simple things like having a master volume and pickup pan instead of 2 volumes, just makes me happy. I also love that is has no fretboard inlays. A real classy, clean look. It’s like going from a BMW to a Bentley. Thanks to Ash, and Mark, for all their help as usual. So good to see them both, at last. Cheers all ☺️

Tonewood threads...

I think it's fair to say that anyone who plays in a genre is having some thought about the audience. Just because the audience may not appreciate the minutiae of pickup impedance doesnt mean they don't have some shared appreciation of aspects of music. But art? In my experience art for arts sake tends towards intellectual masturbation. The fundamental purpose of art is either ritual or social. The aim is to create an emotional reaction in the recipient, whether deity, critic or the woman in the street. Ultimately to have any worth true art, and perhaps music most of all, is transactional.

I like the non-export model

I have one on board thanks.

The worst thing about any solo is when it is being played by someone with less ability than confidence.

Thanks! These EMGs are loads of fun - I assumed I'd just be chugging away on the bridge pickup but since I finished it I've been doing nothing but jamming Sleep-esque riffs on the neck one with the tone rolled off - it sounds immense I think little Barry Baritone and his big sister Betty BEAD are going to be a sludgy, doomy match made in hell 🤘

Im not generally a fan of bass solos or bass solo arrangements but I will make an exception for this [Youtube]

Has @Frank Blank seen this?

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Just spoke to John & will have some new pics on the assembly bench soon...

No it's not. You might not be impressed, but it is very impressive bass playing.

Jimmy Nail polish, 'cos the left side looks like crocodile shoes 😆

I knew people would be eyeing this up, and if it went, I knew I would always regret not pulling the trigger. I think if I had pondered for another 24 hours, it would have definitely gone. It was a no brainer, and I’m just so flipping happy I did it. I genuinely love it. It plays, feels and looks like nothing I’ve ever owned ☺️

This is my only reason for doing anything musically. The reason why I stopped gigging was that I got absolutely nothing out of it. I'm not an "entertainer" by nature & have absolutely no desire to be one. I'm at my happiest when I'm just working on my own in my little music room seeing what I come up with. I enjoy the process far more than the end product.

I once walked onstage to a room full of work colleagues. They weren't regular gig goers and it was complete silence. It was horrible. I said down the mic, you can clap and it was almost like they were relived that they now knew how to behave at a gig. So I am going to respectfully disagree with you on this one. Nice theory but the reality was not good.

Drum Solo: usually band stops and drummer hits everything in sight that doesn't move quick enough to get out of the way. Can be any number of bars or any time signature, poly-rhythms with different time signatures on each limb gain extra applause. Everyone is pleased when it ends. Choral solo: singer sings with all other instruments still playing. At end of solo, rest of choir join in. Acapella solo: see also Freddie Mercury. Guitar solo: usually rest of band play verse while guitarist plays as many notes as possible in the given time. Except for Eric Clapton, David Gilmour and some other notable exceptions. In rare cases band gets bored, put down instruments and go for a beer. Keys solo: always playing solos even when not supposed to. Difficult to determine when solo starts and when it ends. Bass solo: usually, drums continue, guitar comps and bass plays something melodic rather than bass and harmony, except when the bass plays just the bass groove. Except notable exceptions where the band stops and the bass player pretends to be a drummer. See above. If the band has keys player, someone unplugs them at this point.

I don't see the point in brand loyalty. It's a bizarre concept. I know a guy who dresses only in SuperDry branded clothes. I don't understand that. Doing the same for instruments, only playing X or having multiples of the same model by the same manufacturer... I just find it quite tragic. I appreciate we're bombarded with marketing designed to manipulate and instil brand loyalty in our brains from the time we leave the womb, but we should be able to see past these things. We've never had it better, never had a greater choice, even with traditional designs. There are faithful recreations and creative reinterpretations of utterly magnificent quality, as well as the mass-produced mundane. There is so much out there to experience. To pay for the pleasure of allegiance because of the name of the parent company... I just don't understand it.

I've done a different tune in the EHB Short scale thread already but I thought I'd do another one, this time with just the bridge pickup for that sort of jazz bass bridge tone. As I'm playing in a big band and that's seems to be all I'm playing at the moment that's what you get - a big band arrangement of Stevie Wonder's "Don't you worry about a thing" All tones from a Line 6 Helix. Recorded live using OBS - none of that video then dub a track on top of it nonsense, I ain't got time for that! A green bass with a green screen gives some weird colour effects! Although now I'm wondering if I want the bass to be refinished in a chromaflair paint job!

The tributes are great, you get so much bass for the dosh. They've released a few new colours too, there's more on the G&L site, but here's my favourites..... I haven't seen them in stock anywhere though 😔 If it were me, I'd go for the SB2. It's got a slimmer neck than the LB100, a bit more versatility with the PJ setup and the MFD pups. What's not to love?!?

Errr...simply because that's how I would currently rate myself. I certainly aspire to be a better player - but I'm not there yet. Not being defensive at all, just realistic self-appraisal and certainly not prompted by anything you've implied. I could easily list off a bunch of fellow BC'ers (many on this thread) who are better bass players than me. Don't worry, it's ok I'm not feeling at all threatened just because you're self-identifying as being "creative"! You've still not really addressed what your motivation for your art is, which was at the heart of my question - what is it about what you're doing that gives you a "buzz"? For me it's easy to articulate: playing tightly with my band to an audience who are loving the set and losing themselves in the music. Mr Mandrel - that is very well put!

Is it Me? or is there some confusion going on here between "Playing a Bass Solo" and "Solo Bass"? Bass Solo -- Make the band/artist sound good the Groove is sacred Solo Bass -- Show Your Stuff

Perhaps because you framed playing covers as a creativity-free process of mimicking someone else. If that's true neither Jacqueline du Pre or Paul Robeson were creative artists.

I love a good bass solo - more notes the better! Though I prefer ones where the drums keep going, and perhaps guitars and keys do a rhythmic stab on the one or wherever... I tend not to do many at all, probably because most of our band's songs are built from a number of busy bass riffs so there's only so much our poor audience should be burdened with. However, the 3 I do are a 16 bar intro, with melodic bass playing the actual song melody in reverse with guitar feedback and cymbals slowly joining in, a 4 bar with lots of notes slappy groove that's a pre-amble to a crazy chromatic guitar solo in a You've Got Foetus On Your Breath style (!), and a fast chromatic run down the fretboard based on roots and 7ths lasting 2 bars.

The option is not to go and see Richard Bona live. And if a band starts doing something you're not enjoying, leave. I think we've covered- "I don't play solos". Would be good to hear from some more bass players on how they approach playing solos.

Absolutely stunning mate! I too had been eyeing that bass on the BD website, but my finances don't line up at this time.... Enjoy! It's an addiction...... believe me.... lol!

Spector and GK all day every day for me, but then you already knew that. The Spector feels like a part of me and in conjunction with GK gives me 'my' sound. I also enjoy a good Fender P, Wal and a few others..... as well as Tech 21 for preamps and Genz Benz amps/cabs. Lots of great stuff out there.... and I own many different brands which I enjoy for their individual qualities.

Bass taking a lead part in the song is to my mind different from a solo. The very word solo means alone. This is what sinks my boat. I don't want to hear drums, bass , guitar or keys on their own showing off.

I went through a stage of only driving VW cars. I couldn’t care less about VW as a brand the decision was based purely on past experience. They were well made, reliable and not too expensive for parts and servicing. I don’t get the cult like fanboy approach but do get why people gravitate to the familiar if they have had positive previous experiences.

I don't listen to bass solos 'cos I find them boring, so I'm sure as hell not going to inflict one on the punters.