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Swamp Ash body with upgraded EMG HZ pickups. probably going to be a project.

Can I just say how much I'm enjoying this most British of Mod's Comment? You don't get that sort of thing over the Pond... 😁

For me the important thing is that the audience enjoy it. I do plenty of gigs, so if as a band we do't play brilliantly at one, then if it's an actual problem and just not an "off night" we can fix it at rehearsal and then next gig is likely to be great. However most of the time for the audience the first impression is the one the counts - our next gig will probably be in a completely different part of the country - so if they didn't enjoy we'll probably not get given another chance. IME most audience members don't pickup on all the problems that musicians seem to obsess over when they play, so unless someone makes a mistake so bad that it causes the song to grind to a halt less than 60 seconds after it has begun, don't worry about it, carry on as if nothing happened and look like you are having fun (unless like me you play in a goth band, in which case carry on staring moodily at the audience). If the audience has had a good time, they are more likely to buy something of the merch table (which is where originals bands make most of their money) and when you do play another gig in that town they are likely to come back to see you and maybe bring some more friends. That's what counts.

Having a trawl on various socials and reading threads about some of the older bands/artistes playing this year...lot of posts about Debbie Harry (voice gone/just stop), Generation Sex (shambolic), Sparks (just play the hits), GnR (is that Ian Beale/Mick Hucknall?). There's also a huge trend of responses trying to shutdown negative opinion, along the lines of 'My mother used to say if you can't say anything nice, then don't say anything at all.' I do wonder whether many of the respondees were actually around when these [older] acts were at their peak, rather than just using Glastonbury as a box ticking exercise. I also question whether many who went have something wrong with their ears. On the positive side, while I'm not particularly a fan of Manic Street Preachers, their set was clearly well rehearsed, on point and hugely enjoyable. Queens of the Stone Age, likewise. Same goes the Foo Fighters (even though I can't stand them). It's all well and good posting positive comments about these, but people posting negatives about Debbie Harry are just hit with a barrage of retorts about her being 77, how fantastic she is for that age and how she's doing her best. Honestly, who cares about how old anyone is? If you can't do it, then don't do it. Just because you're classified as a legend, does not equate to your performance being legendary. Someone needs to have a frank conversation with Debbie Harry and say, 'You know, love. It's over. Retire gracefully. You can't hit the notes any more and surrounding yourself with a couple of guitarists who are young enough to be your grandchildren just looks creepy. It's embarrassing.'

Mine arrived yesterday. I have to say I'm genuinely happy with this purchase! Build quality is good, even better then I expected. Tight fit and finish, and the neck feels great without sharp fret-ends. The neck feels a bit like a jazz profile to me. Action can be set low without any problems, so that's great. I expected the tuners to be crappy, like on the cv '70s precision I've owned, but they are better (thicker blades) quality and run smooth. No need to change them so far . The laurel fretboard looks pretty nice actually, it has some vertical striping that reminds me a bit of the pattern you'll find on some ebony fretboards. Lighter and cheaper though . It looks like it could use a bit of oil, will take care of that tomorrow. Soundwise it's a very interesting bass. Unplugged it's already pretty loud and resonant, which I take as a good sign. The two pickups provide a lot of sound options. From the YouTube video's I've already heard that these pickups have a lot more presence and articulation, and it's indeed the case. I've owned a Fender modern player telecaster bass once, and it was way more muddy with it's two similar humbuckers. With the neck pickup solood I'd say it still has a usable sound (you can still go to mud city using the tone knob), warm but still with enough presence. I think it would keep standing in a live situation. It's even a bit twangy in higher registers, very nice with a little bit of added drive. The bridge pickup solood is nice as well. Of course a bit brighter, but not thin. When played at the bridge it even does some snarly J-bass bridge pickup like sound. I think. The both Pickups together sound full with the right amount of grunt and presence. A very usable and pleasant sound that I think could be usable in a wide range of styles. For now I leave the rounds on (they come with Fender strings) as it actually sounds good as is. Though I'm sure some flats would be nice too. I have a set of Fender flats and Thomastiks in the drawer that are already cut for through body shortscale, so will give them a try soon. My feeling says the Thomastiks will be a great match. All in all I can say this is just a well built, comfortably playing bass, with more versatility and presence that you would expect from a bass with these wide range humbuckers. And of course she looks great too. I'll ad some pictures tomorrow.

These folk do not owe you anything - and you shouldn't assume what pulls they may have on their time or reasoning for responding to, or not responding to your message. I think if I was a celeb, I would be very wary of responding to anything. You never know who people really are... or what associations may be presumed from such interactions.

It was either that or "Now look here old chap, this simply isn't cricket, what".

How about being at a sunny 30 degrees in my childhood flat in Florence (family duty, not holiday, though) but also insisting on not just ogling gear on BC, but also moderating the forum a bit? No, don't answer. 🙄🤷‍♀️😄

My opinion on Elton and Blondie, having finally had a chance to watch their sets: Debbie Harry is, worryingly, starting to look like my old Nan (R.I.P).... and doesn't sing as well as her... Chris Stein's guitar stylings are sorely missed.... and temp bassist Glen Matlock lacks the required 'groove' while disappointingly simplifying the classic basslines on Rapture, Atomic etc. Leigh Foxx please get well soon. The songs need you! Clem Burke.... pure quality as always. A monster drummer and still the best thing about the band... Elton John.... Wow!! What can I say?!?! An absolute masterclass in songwriting & performance! Emotional, stirring, celebratory and uplifting in equal measure. His band are stunning & I particularly enjoyed Matt Bissonette's bass playing, honouring the beautiful, melodic basslines of the late, great Dee Murray while making them his own. How lucky we are to live in a time where so much amazing music has been made and performed....

some questions please. What’s your rig/bass (I’m not bothered about strings but if that’s integral please included info) What sound issue did you have to land on your eq settings. When you say parametric do you mean semi parametric. If you’re cutting -12 does that mean clock face -12 or minus 12dB? I normally leave the eq flat on my bass and the preamp pedal too but I think I’m doing it wrong. When you say you leave the stage and travel upwards of 100ft is that a vertical trajectory or do you walk away from the stage? Why do you commute so far from the stage and does that help you hear the sound you’ve dialled in with the mix? For context what sort of music do you play what size of venues. If I walked 100ft form the stage I’d be in a canal surrounded by youths causing annoyance and I don’t think my wireless pack is watertight. I look forward to your insight and advice for my tone.

Throwing your weight around, pontificating and using phrases like "issue you "claim" to have" (are you suggesting he's lying?) are going to win you no friends at all, and just makes you look like a braggart. I politely suggest you wind your neck in a bit.

Mine arrived today and totally agree, I love the colour too. id be tempted to put flats on also- it’s a yes from me

My son is an actor and they are ( back at acting school ) taught how to respond to the public with regards Multi Media platforms. Some heed this advice and some don’t and often get dragged into an online dispute about something trivial. My son is getting familiar with the potential paparazzi issues and “ Joe Public” that will soon come his way if his success continues. He is currently on set filming season 2 of a Sci Fi show for SKY and naturally I’m very proud of him.

A lot if not most celebrity/band/politician's official social media accounts are run by PR teams. There's a fair chance whoever you were messaging never saw it.

Fixed 🤪

Funny that a lot of the iconic album tones weren't stingray. Wal, Alembic, Spector, Modulus and jazz.

I quite liked @Rich's pontificating braggart!

Also take a look at your finger movement - is there any extra unnecessary motion? Are you hitting the strings harder than necessary? The more efficiently your hands move, the easier it is to speed up. Don't be afraid to play with a lighter touch and turn the gain up to compensate, if needed.

“Last chance to buy it before it goes to eBay.” ”I’ll be removing it and it will be stored under a bed.” “The price is going up when I re-advertise it.” this isn’t encouraging, please don’t do it 🍻

I haven't, sorry. There, someone answered

Covers band gig success == good audience reaction, repeat bookings from venues. Money is nice, but "paid rehearsals" sap the soul. Originals band gig success == getting a gig in the first place, having anything that can even be technically described as an audience, people coming up and saying nice things afterwards.

If the onstage sound is good, the band's performance is good, the energy is there and the crowd are enjoying it, then I'm happy.

Clearly he mean 100ft vertically, how he became so highly elevated above all us other mere mortals. We cannot with our simple Earthly equipped minds do us any hopes whatsoever of even just remotely begin to fathom what his divine sensory perception of reality is like, transcending reality it self as it does. Levitation is just but a trivial display of a mere faction of the true magnitude of other-worldly powers this genuine God of Tone possesses. Genesis 1:31 of the Tone Bible : "joel406, The God of Tone, levitated 100 to 150 feet upwards to properly judge and take joy in the superlatively sublime splendour of his EQ settings, and He saw everything that He had made, and behold, it was very good and He validated it completely"

I couldn’t find one of just meself, so here’s Essex’s own MLC on a rehearsal night. The drummer (Dave) is the handsome one so we hide him away behind his kit

Bacchus makes some very nice basses...from $300 to $3,000. These are in the $1,000 and under range. (They have more finish options than any other company, too.)

A pound for the brown on the bus -FZ-

Contact made .... Marc got back to me straight away. So many thanks for the contact details!!

Any of the Hercules AGS (automatic grip system) stands are ideal for near enough any bass (except headless!). The bass “hangs” at the top of th stand by the headstock and rests against the stand at the bottom. Most other stands cradle the bass at the bottom, hence things like T’birds don’t sit well on them. http://herculesstands.com/international/products/fretted-and-bowed-instrument/guitar/

Which is why the loss of John Peel is felt even greater. IIRC, once on TOTP, he said, “If this gets to number one, I’ll come and pass wind in your kitchen,” a man who stuck to his guns and taste in music. Johnnie Walker would count in this vein too (sacked/resigned for refusing to say he liked The Bay City Rollers on radio, when he didn’t).

Back from 37 degrees in Mojácar to a grey and damp Macclesfield 😞…. deciding whether or not I can be arsed driving North again to see Jamiroquai tonight in Lytham st Annes, probably not tbh. I was genuinely excited to get my hands on a bass, and arranged the delivery of my serviced Ashdown EVO 500 head. So all is good, nice to be home, and of course I missed you all.

When the audience outnumber the band.... that's how my duo work anyway!

Good day @dave74200 For me, learning songs that push me into areas I'm not used to eg: speed / style / genre etc. I slow them down using the likes of "Amazing Slow Downer" This allows my brain and body time to think 🤣 and I split the track down into manageable chunks. Once I've learned the sections I'll start joining them together (still at a slow speed) which helps me remember fingerings and start to build on stamina. Once I can play the whole track through I then start increasing the speed by a few % making sure I'm playing as cleanly and accurately as I can. I also use the likes of Youtube to check out how otheres are playing it, noting both left and right hands. "are some of us just less able to play in this style?" I don't think it's a case of "we can't" so much as "we've probably not learned the techniques and practiced it much" Mr Harris has been playing in this style for around 40 years so has a bit of a head start on most of us 🤣

You forgot the money!

I am not a Glasto aficionado, but I watched Elton on Sunday night and couldn't help but realise that this was something rather special. I've rarely seen a performance that unified people like that one. I can only think of Queen at Live Aid, really. It's a terrible cliché but it's true, those songs have become part of people's lives and part of the cultural fabric of our nation. What's great about Elton is that he doesn't pretend to be a normal person. He's had fifty-odd years of being the superstar Elton John and he is unashamedly different and difficult. But ,paradoxically, ordinary folks identify with him and his music.

I don't have holidays (I'm a musician so obviously I can't afford them) but I stayed with my daughter for a couple of days after giving her a lift to a caravan site. Did I miss my bass? No. I took one with me of course.

Nothing as fancy as you guys, but I got the Boss WL-20L and it’s a game-changer for me - first time wireless in my life. I tend to be quite active on stage, so it’s lovely to be cable free!!

Thank you for the suggestion Paul, turns out like you said, there was a small wire, that I take it powers impeller, obstructing the fan. I just poked it back with a small toothpick and it works like a good’un👌🏻

It's catching innit, this guitar thingy. Scored this lovely 80's Aria Pro II GT-3 HSS recently.