Leaderboard

Played outside at a classic car rally at Snetterton racetrack on Sunday. Only the second time I have played on a trailer stage. It turned out to be character forming. In the pic you can see the sound team scratching their heads after the first generator spiked and blew out the power amp for the bass bins before we had finished setting up. Two alternative generators were found and we finally got a stable enough power supply to power our amps plus a couple of column PAs and two powered speakers. The technical hassles put us on edge, so we had a bit of a shaky start but got into our stride after a few numbers. Unfortunately, playing to a much smaller crowd than anticipated: after a month of drought in East Anglia, the heavens decided to open just before the gig. Plus, there was a race meeting on the track behind us, a Grand Prix and the football on the TV, so lots of distractions for the petrol heads. It also rained again during the gig, so it turned into a bit of a drive-in with people sitting in their cars with the windows down some of the time. After doing our two hour gig, the main act turned up but without their rhythm section who had tested positive for Covid. After a hasty crisis meeting, me and our drummer agreed to step in. They did a few numbers with just the two guitars and harmonica player, then we joined them and jammed it out. You can do that with the blues!

I find some of the responses in this thread a bit depressing (not to mention predictable). One transaction has gone wrong (admittedly, in spectacular fashion) and it's being sorted out within hours. Nothing to see here, if anything I find it highly reassuring that the retailer is on the case so quickly and it looks like a mutually agreeable solution is forming, if it has not already taken shape. As a serial moron/someone who orders instruments online at distance, I find it absolutely normal. I bought a bass once from G4M - the fingerboard was coming away from the rest of the neck at the nut. Back it went, got a refund, no dramas. I had two goes to try to order a Gibson Grabber 3 70s Tribute bass a few years back but both had issues which I found unacceptable, so back they went too. So drama free, I can't even remember which retailer it was. Even if I did decide it wasn't for me and sent it back via distance selling regs, all I'm out is the postage - and that's cheaper than a visit to the nearest retailers with decent selection (Glasgow). I get to try it with my own amp, in my own environment - hell, I could even take it to a band rehearsal and try it there before deciding - can't do that in a shop. I know I'm not going to change anyone's minds here who are dyed in the wool, "must buy in person" types, but I just wanted to present an alternative point of view because at the moment, it's all looking a bit doom and gloom. You will not be cast into the fires of hell for buying a bass online without trying it first. I've done it many times, and I'm not even smouldering yet.

You're showing yourself up.

Good be playing live again - the Halfway Heroes MCC bike rally at Cabourne Parva, Lincs. Excellent hired in sound crew, brilliant crowd - our 90 min set ended up as 2 hours they'd have happily had us carry on but I think we broke the dummer!

For all the Giblin (and Joan ) fans out there in in case you haven't seen it.

Well, here we are after a few weeks of buggering around in my spare time Cab is Tuff Cabbed, corners are on and castors refitted. I replaced all the knackered black screws with stainless and I think it looks great. The grille is actually painted with chameleon metallic flip paint- so it's black gloss on the metal with the flip over the top. You can't really capture this on camera but on this grille you kind of get a purple-to-royal blue metallic which is actually much less garish than it sounds. I really like it: It looks stylish and eye catching. I'm not going to change much from here- I'll be repainting the handles in gloss black and wrapping the handle bars in blue grip. Then I'll attach the logo that's been 3D printed for this once it's painted and sanded. I got a tiny gouge taken out of the tuff cab transporting to rehearsal a couple of weeks ago. I just glued it down and dabbed a bit off tuff cab over it. Good as new. I expect I would have been really annoyed had this been 150 quids worth of tolex with a tear in it. As it is, I couldn't care less. Result!

And the joint winners are... @Doctor J and @upside downer..! Here, then, are your Winner's Certificates (download and save as pdf file, then proudly print and frame...) ... BC_Chal_Cert_2022_07.pdf ... which look like this (but bigger, of course..!)...

Or... ...via ouija board

My take on this would be: If it's for a one off gig, and she is going back to playing Cello then string a bass in 5ths. If she is going to be playing bass going forward, use standard tunings . As I'm sure someone mentioned above most classically trained string musicians to Grade 7 will have the musical knowledge to adapt fairly quickly to any stringed instrument. Especially when she won't have to worry about intonation (presuming it's not a Fretless bass)

Just to be contrary, Tony Levin tunes his cello in 4ths because it’s what he knows, so why not the reverse? However, he’s ancient and she’s young, so learning it in the traditional tuning probably would be easier for her and best in the long run. Ooh, a fence! Let me sit on it.

I don’t mind. I can take it.

Bass vi strings e to e

Thank you, you lovely people. And well done to my co-champ the good @Doctor J! New image on its way to @lurksalot shortly 👍

Using the Fluence pickup positioning that Fishman used for Mike Inez's 'Moon Bass' special, puts the pickup here, scaled up for the 35" scale: And that looks about right to me - I haven't measured it, but I reckon the centre line is probably the same as a Stingray and, like the Stingray, should be able to allow the built in EQ sweep to achieve sufficient treble when needed without sacrificing pure bass 'thump'. So todays task is to cut that chamber and, time allowing, start the top carve.

Well done gents, excellent entries 👍 If you can sort a picture between you and send it over, I’ll start the new one this evening 😁

https://bassmusicianmagazine.com/2022/08/bruce-thomas-pushed-rock-to-a-new-era-august-2022-15th-anniversary-issue/

I can do that in standard tuning, never minded altered!

Wired up front panel controls, OT primary and choke. Now to check connections and continuity before installing 6.3V AC leads for pilot lamp and heaters.

My hardly bent-one.

Someone's mod status is irrelevant if they are posting their opinions about something. When I was admin I would want to be challenged and not expect my 'badge' to stop people doing so if they disagree with me.

Well, you didn't ask for my opinion either, but as it's a forum and you've posted the thread, I'm entitled to have one. The way the thread reads (although I note you've edited it, so I don't know what it said originally) is that you've quite rightly taken issue with the condition of the bass and then rung them. I for one would have made the call first and included that in your first post. Right to reply and all that. I know he's a bit more thick skinned than most of us, but I think you were a bit harsh or @wateroftyne. Calling out a Moderator on a forum he helps run for you is also not classy.

Wait till the 3kg back panel turns up...

I'm pretty sure "wrong time of the month" was a droll reference to the retailer's name .

Just an opinion of course. Not a classy way to go about it, IMO.

Same basic process for the pickup chamber as with the neck pocket. I generally aim for 1mm clearance around pickups to allow space not only for the up and down, but also - especially with soap bars - the ability to tilt the pickup a touch to balance the volumes of the bass strings and trebles. I start off by drilling the corners with a drill at 1mm greater radius than the corners of the pickups: Then a Forstner, to hog out the bulk Then take out the resulting 'waves' with a sharp chisel and mallet, creating a depth of 5mm or so dead on the original pencil line - this will then act as the datum for the top bearing bit on the hand router...and because it is already extended into the chamber, there is no possibility of it cutting beyond that chiselled line: And just continue deepening the cut until I have the depth for the full pickup and plug-in connectors: And so - unless I can think of any more excuses not to get on with it - the top carve can begin

These aren't cheap items, why the hell are they sending them out like this? ....perhaps it was the wrong time of the month?

Saturday - played an all day rock/metal gig at Leo's Gravesend. Had the pleasure of using the in house cab, which was a Zilla 2x10 plus 1x15 in one enclosure. Bit toppy, bit boom on the low E, no time for adjustments, was nice and loud though. Very moist gig! Yesterday, Charity gig just outside Worcester, favour for my engineer mate. used my own cab, sounded amazing. Work this morning- knackered.

Well done Chaps! 👏 A couple of great tunes!

Thanks a lot, gents, and thanks to all who participated and voted. @upside downer, please, the floor is yours, pic on!

I had a 'Jaco' style lined fretless jazz around 2017-18 that the previous owner had updated with EMGs, a Babicz bridge and Schaller tuners. I can't remember the purchase price but considering the upgrades was still good value. It felt, played and sounded nice. Was well made and without issue, but was a tad heavy compared to what I was used to (Luthite Cort Curbows) I should have kept it but it went in a clear-out of all my surplus gear. I may have sold it on here or ebay? I am currently considering a HBZ-2004 Deluxe Series 4 string. Does anyone have experience of it?

August is upon us and that means one thing, it's time for another challenge! A joint win by @Doctor J and @upside downer in July with 2 excellent tracks and a subsequent choice of image from the latter, with the comment .... "This image from Alan Schaller's Metropolis collection, which examines 'how we are dwarfed in the modern world around us and often lost in it'. That's deep! Simple rules ✔️ Entries must be <5 minutes and recorded this month. ✖️ No illegal samples, copyright infringements or other snide goings-on ✔️ Bagpipes. the Edinburgh festival/fringe truce * . panpipes only if you have too. ✖️ No voting for your own entry. We'll know. And we'll shame you. A line or two offering an insight to your inspiration/track choice will be good as well , it works nicely on the voting thread. The Deadline for entries is Midnight on Wednesday 24th August good luck everyone * well, you don't have to, honestly

Is he working at PMT now?

Almost all the basses I have bought have been sight unseen, and I have used PMT loads of times (as well as loads of others). You get the occasional hassle here and there, but nothing that was never sorted, and as irritating as things can be at the time, you get over it pretty fast. Maybe if you live in a big city, going to a shop is an option, or if you have enough time to travel somewhere, for me it isn't, I can buy it online or not get it. When I think about the basses I currently have, none of them was bought in person, i have a few guitars that were.

Thanks again, chaps. The connections between the PCB and the bridge plate are sound, as are the wires from the plate to the actual piezo elements. The bass working well with my Thomastiks tells me it must be the nylon coating. SO...what I did was this:And it works! The copper tape is connecting the ball end of the string to the piezo element. I will tidy it up (and hope I don't blow myself up), but I quite like the diy look... Thanks for your input, I probably would have given up without it

I like Yes, a lot, but some of it really leaves me cold and or irritated (shades of, “Shut up! We know you can play,”). Take any bits you like and stick with them. I really like the pre Steve Howe era Yes, Banks & Kaye definitely had something going on that I found and still find pleasing. Yesterdays is a intro to that era, with only 1 Howe, Wakeman era track, a cover of America, which is sublime. YMMV.

Cavity cover has been found and is being posted, woohoo!

First step is to cut a plasticard template from the full size drawing I did: Then, with a few pencil marks to stop me going too far, too fast, out comes the plane to take away some of the bulk: While, as far as paulownia goes, this isn't overly soft, it planes pretty easily. Pretty soon, I get to here: Bit further to go, but time to move to the block plane so that I don't overdo it:

It's easy to rectify with something like this https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/175354318755

I'm not raining on anything, but simply pointing out that when you have built up the required skills and have easy access to all the information you need and a workshop full of power tools, you would actually have to deliberately make mistakes in order to produce something that wasn't at least, good. At the risk of sounding like a Monty Python sketch, when I built my own solid electric instruments in the late 70s the only source of information about how to make your own guitar was Stephen Delft's monthly series of articles in International Musician magazine. There was no Stewmac and the like for getting supplies, so several issues were given over to how to modify existing woodworking tools to make them suitable for guitar building, and two articles were dedicated to making your own truss rod from scratch (the alternative at the time would have been to remove a functional one from an existing guitar). My two instruments were made almost entirely with hand tools, at school we weren't allowed to use power tools ourselves, but the woodwork teacher did put my rough cut wood blanks through the planner and cut out the body shape (very roughly) on the bandsaw. However everything else was done by hand and I probably spent as much time sharpening plane and chisel blades as I did actually shaping the wood. Each instrument took the whole school year to make and I spent every lesson where I wasn't actually required to be in class for one of my A Level subjects in the woodwork shop. Therefore having gone through the process myself I know how much easier having a fully equipped workshop with all the modern power tools at your disposal would make it. That's not to say that the end result in the video isn't impressive, but it's tempered by the fact that IMO you'd have to be a complete numpty in that situation not to make something good.

I have two hardly bent-ones.

On a bolt on neck, the neck pocket is pretty much the datum for everything else. So, after one further check that I have the bridge in the correct potential position, the next step is cutting the neck pocket. The only router operation I trust is one that is totally captive with a bearing bit involved - and so I personally always start these types of chamber with a Forstner bit and some chisels. It's generally not the way other builders do it but it works for me: Then a trial fit of the chiselled outline: And, that all good, a top bearing router bit that uses my chiselled outline as the guide. This may be a mm or so higher than final depth - I'll check that once the bridge is fitted when I can again use the captive router bit. I will then also cut the pocket to length (the extra length at the moment gives me support for the router base if I need to use it any more): Next will be a similar process to create the pickup chamber, and then the carve can begin

This is my MB-5 SBK. Stock except for the pickguard (can you tell I despise tort? ). I love this bass. It's passive but I don't feel the urge to mess with that, it sounds great as it is. I was recently going over a bunch of little demos I did last year and there was one in particular that I thought "ah, I love that Stingray, it sounds so good" then I heard a low D... "hmm, I do have a Hipshot D-tuner thingy on my Stingray but I don't recall having used it in ages"... and then a low B... ah! It was the Harley Benton 5 string!!! Nut needed some attention as it was cut slightly too tall, and the fret ends were a little sharp. Both issues were sorted easily in about 30 minutes. I wish the string spacing were a bit wider, as the fingerboard has room for it, but it's a really nice bass to play regardless. This is the bass that finally made me appreciate 5-string basses and now I'm comfortable playing 4/5-ers equally.

@Beedster Funnily enough my 16 year old son grabbed me a couple of months ago and said, Dad I've just heard an awesome track you might like. It's called Roundabout. Imagine my pride 😊 maybe that means musical taste is in your genes 😂 But you should also listen to Heart of the Sunrise. Turn it up good and loud and marinate in the sumptuous soundscape!