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Showing content with the highest reputation on 07/02/24 in Posts

  1. So, today on the way home from a work trip I met a chap that sold me an amp... That amp was a Marshall VBA400 with a Jubilee 410 and 115. The cabs have seen better days, cosmetically they have their war wounds, but the work a treat! The amp has a few tiny little marks, but would probably rank 8.5 out of 10 for condition. Just lugged this colossus down to the garden studio some 300ft away from the driveway (yes, my spine is now dust) and set it up. It's quite monstrous... it's current set at about one quarter volume and gain and its still making my ears bleed. Given it has 8 KT88 valves powering it I shouldn't be too surprised. Pumps out +400w of glorious Marshall valve bass goodness! Given I play 6 string bass, and mostly prefer a more HiFi sound, I am pleasantly surprised that the 'bright' button really does hit the mark for me. Been lusting after one of these for probably 20 years! Happy to now have one and not be disappointed.
    12 points
  2. Up for sale is my Sonic Blue Fender 50s-ish Precision. I put this together using mostly Fender parts. The body is from a MIJ PB70 that I had stripped and refinished in Sonic Blue nitro with a light relic. This work was done by David Wilson. The neck is a MIM Classic 50s neck that I bought on here. The pickup is a Classic '58 from The Creamery. The bridge is a Hosco threaded saddle bridge that I've lightly aged to match the aged Gotoh neck plate, strap buttons, and string tree. The ashtrays, thumb rest, and knobs are Fender, the wiring is from KiOgon on here, and the pick guard is a mint green MIJ fit from earlpilanz in eBay. It fits the body fine but there's a slight gap at the neck heel. One point to note is that the tuners in the picture are Gotoh, but they'll be replaced with the stock Fender reverse gear tuners; my mistake! It's obviously got a few intended marks on the body due to the relic finish. The neck has one ding on the back around the 12th fret but other than that it's perfect. It's a great player and quite lightweight. It's a great player as well and the neck is nice and straight. All in this cost me about a grand to put together, the refinish being the most costly part of it. I'll include a Fender gig bag and postage is an option.
    9 points
  3. Remember boys and girls: When the fun stops, buy another bass.
    8 points
  4. Last weekend I got a call at 3:30 if I had something to do that night. I didn't. So I got a bunch of chord sheets and did a Bruce Springsteen tribute show with no preparation. Brought the 1970 Jazz and CS 64 Jazz. Pretty satisfied.
    7 points
  5. Very well made Canadian guitar. Not known for their bass guitars but all major players use their 6 strings. Please Google or you tube these basses and see how good they are. Great slim neck with jazz and P bass pickups. 4 way pickup selections. Comes with original Godin gig bag.
    6 points
  6. Hello folks. Name's Ben. I've been playing since I was 16 or so, and I'm getting alarmingly close to 40 now. I have never been a touring or regularly gigging musician, though I have had periods of playing live fairly frequently and have been in many, many of those sorts of bands that rehearse for months and then fall apart without playing a gig because everyone's too busy. My formative bass influences were, as is probably pretty ordinary for my generation, Flea and Stuart Zender, with a bit of Matt Freeman and Mike Dirnt thrown in. More recent years have seen me gravitate towards the work of the old masters, studying the ways of Jamerson, Dunn and Rainey. I've always kept my stable of basses to no more than two – a fretted and a fretless, though the roster has changed a few times. The fretted list starts with the family heirloom Gibson EB-3 that I learned on, then an OLP Stingray copy (see the note about Flea), a Yamaha BB604, a Squier VM Jazz, and finally a thing I made myself. My fretless basses have been a mysterious 1980s Yamaha I got from a pawnbroker, a Warwick Corvette, and finally another weird headless custom of my own design. My amps have been many and various, but these days I rock a Markbass head and a stupidly heavy 1x10 cab I made myself. My effects consist of the traditional bass player tuner>compressor>overdrive. In addition to electric bass, I also have an upright bass (that I got for free and can't really play very well), various guitars, a banjo and a mandolin (which I think of as a tiny bass strung backwards). I'm at the stage of life where old bandmates from days of yore are getting bored with parenting, and deciding that maybe they want to get a band together and play Steely Dan covers in the pub. Which means I'm starting to get called on again.
    5 points
  7. Fantastic looking bass in 70s style. Limited edition colour surf green. Extras include Fender Hi Mass bridge and Gotah tuners. This sounds as good as it looks.
    5 points
  8. Your username makes this opinion not particularly surprising to me
    5 points
  9. 4 points
  10. I just bought and returned a Fender American Pro 2 P5. While not the point I intend to make, the Fender had terrible QC issues. I’ve had many new Fenders that have been great, but, sharp frets, a neck pocket that was horribly cut and finished, 3.3mm action at the 20th fret with bottomed out saddles… it was an awful example. A P35 has been my bass of choice for a while. Sound wise, I had chance to play them b2b, through my own amp at my leisure. I love P basses, I’ve had 8, old to new, flats and rounds and they’ve been great. But, the BBP35’s approximation of a P bass are as pleasing. It’s more ‘modern’, tighter lows and a clearer, snappier high end. Probably more scooped than the traditional low mid push. But, the BB with the P solo’d is a P bass alright, and the tone knob takes some of that and pulls it back to the more recognised P bass tone. I only just roll in the bridge single 20% or so most of the time, but it gives something I missed on the Fender and brings so much to the table to make it a truly versatile instrument, rather than the one (albeit, awesome) trick pony. I don’t want to write Fender off on one bad example here, especially as I’ve had some great ones, but Yamahas attention to detail is faultless. The BB is just such a workhorse, it’s not the most thrilling, fancy looking, but is a proper solid gigging bass. I’d sold it to a mate, eager to get back to my roots with a P bass and scratch the itch that is comfort induced boredom. Thankfully he agreed to call off the sale. Turns out the grass wasn’t greener.
    4 points
  11. The problem with playing music with the intention of earning money to be able to live off, is that unless you are very lucky you will need to take pretty much any gig that is offered. That will normally mean playing music you don't like in dodgy places with people you don't really get on with. I've said before I do something creative for my day job - graphic design - and while I would love to be able to spend all my time working for one or two clients who are keen on cutting-edge designs and think everything I do is fantastic first time around, the reality is that most of what I do is an exercise in trying to get the logo, the product shot and the USPs as big as possible without it looking too horrible, for people who wouldn't know what good design was if it slapped them around the face. Because what I do earns me enough money to live and have some fun, I put up with it. If a client wants something that I think is seriously wrong/bad, I'll politely suggest what I think would work better, but only once and if I'm over-ruled then the client gets exactly what they have asked for. However I like music too much to treat it in the same way. Having to treat playing music in the same way as I treat my design job, would mostly likely kill off any interest I have in playing or composing. No wonder the "giving up" thread is so busy!
    4 points
  12. My local music shop have had this in for a few months and I finally had the time to pop in on Saturday and couldn't help myself. The previous owner bought it new and had it defretted (which is probably why it's been in its case for most of the time) - it has just been refretted. Other than a refinish, it's all original and is in great condition apart from a few dings. It's a high quality instrument with the original case, tools and manual! Not lightweight at ~4.5kg but it sounds great and like a more focussed P to my ears. It just needs setting up to my preferences and I need to make the difficult decision of flats or rounds...
    3 points
  13. Leo probably got a batch of them at a good price and used them everywhere until the box emptied. We eulogise various aspects of the Fender story, when the reality was that they were just making a product to a price point. Am I happy that my 66J has the special machine heads (and binding and dots)? Obviously, yes
    3 points
  14. 3 points
  15. Hi I regularly see ACG basses sold that go for more than they cost when new. So not always the risk you think but I get the point you are making in that it is not a standard format.
    3 points
  16. Fantastic! Marshall bass gear gets nowhere near enough love The VBA truly is a monster of an amp
    3 points
  17. It's no secret that I love 3-7, warm weather afternoon gigs to the more mature sophisticated crowd. Getting paid well and home by the time most guys are just getting started. Daryl
    3 points
  18. Agreed, I guess I'm lucky to be in a band that's been gigging steadily since 2007. At this time we can be very selective about what gigs we will accept . Daryl
    3 points
  19. I'm in the process of booking dates around the UK to tie in with my next album release, due in late April. It was tricky booking shows last year and it's proving even harder now. The loss over the last few years of many venues that catered for the music I'm involved with has certainly had a big effect. Getting back into EU countries to play some shows is now a complete pipe dream as well. However I not overly pessimistic about this. I've just had to accept the reality of playing live less. I had mused with the idea of joining a band or ensemble to satisfy my desire to play live as much as possible, but realised I'd rather concentrate even more on my own music and make those fewer shows even better.
    3 points
  20. These are getting popular - always amazes me how many people will turn out on a Sunday, but freaks me out returning from a gig - on the road by 9pm, as my SO said on sunday "this is usually when we are going out!"
    3 points
  21. There will be times when you won't want to bother, but I'd approach it with the attitude that it's better to have the capability and not need it than to need the capability and not have it. That mainly falls on the mixer.
    3 points
  22. Oh, I don't know..... maybe some nice Slayer 'Reign In Blood' might compliment a 'carvery'
    3 points
  23. My best two gigs for 2024 are both Sunday daytime. Timing, playing to our target audience and both good payers! Perfect! Balances out the others...
    3 points
  24. Leader of the pack(age) - The Shangri-las
    3 points
  25. As for @casapete, I’ve seen the Sunday afternoon gig grow scene grow in the last 5 years. There are four pub venues doing it around my small town. None of them ‘food’ pubs, either. The Flowerpot, generally Americana, blues or folk. The Smithfield, exclusively heavy rock or metal, (no housing nearby 😆). The Crossroads Tavern, generally covers bands. The King William, usually acoustic acts. Having played Sunday afternoons at two of them my experience is that pay rates are lower than an evening slot. However, there’s a balance of getting home early, usually easier drive-in and parking and more sober audiences.
    3 points
  26. They are a few venues in my area who have started putting on gigs on Sunday afternoons, say 4pm to around 7 or 8pm. I’ve done a few and it seems to work well, often in pubs where they serve Sunday lunch and then put music on to keep people in afterwards. Home by 9pm does make a change!
    3 points
  27. I love mine. Gigged it last weekend for the first time in an age. I should take it out more.
    3 points
  28. I take them all off before restringing so I can give the fretboard a good clean.
    3 points
  29. They’re having you over mate. I’m assuming it was a brand new item and not sold as seen within any faults? If so, tell them to do one and get your money back. I would also very much like to know who they are so I can avoid them.
    3 points
  30. For sale is my Lakland Skyline 44-64. Excellent condition, just some very light marks on the back, nothing through the finish. I have attempted photographing the back but the marks do not show clearly. You are welcome to come to my house in Stevenage to try it out. Collection preferred but you can arrange your own courier if you wish at your own expense and risk. I can offer P&P with UPS for an additional £40 including insurance. A gig bag would be included in the sale and will be well packaged. Bass weighs just under 9lbs. No trades. Body: Ash Bolt-on neck: Maple Fingerboard: Rosewood Pearl Block fingerboard inlays with abalone accents Scale: 34" (864mm) Fingerboard radius: 10" Delrin nut Matched headstock 20 Nickel silver frets Precise fret leveling through PLEK processing Pickup system: 1 Lakland NeoPunch Split Coil and 1 Lakland Vintage Wound J Pickup Volume and tone controls Lakland Dual Access Bridge Hipshot Ultralite machine heads Chrome hardware Strings: D'Addario EXL170 .045"- .100" strings Colour: Candy Apple Red high gloss White Pearl pickguard.
    2 points
  31. Reluctantly I'm listing this rather rare all original 32" scale JV Squier Precision. This is from the fabled 1982-1984 Japanese production run and it's clear to see why these basses are so sort after. The neck in particular has a really lovey vintage look and feel with the mottled tuners and honest play wear from 40 odd years of use. It has some knocks on the back of the neck but I'm sure these could be rubbed out if preferred. A great thing about this bass is that it features slightly scaled down body dimensions to match the reduced 32" scale. You only really notice this when it's next to a regular FSO (see pic below), but it really makes a difference when wearing the bass. It's also very light at 3.4kg/7.5lb. It's wearing a brand new set of LA Bella Low Tension flats and it sounds wonderful.
    2 points
  32. PRICE: £800 1982/83 Squier JV Precision that has been restored somewhat, and is far from original. I bought it about 3 years ago in a bit of a sorry state. It had been fitted with a Jazz Bass pickup in the bridge at some point which had been filled (badly) and then refinished in Fiesta Red (also badly). Whatever had been used to fill the pickup route had shrunk as it dried and left a visible gap around the edge of it. I sent the body away to David Wilson to strip it, fill the routing, and spray it in a faded shell pink nitro. He did a very good job of it, though there's an outline of the old J pickup route that can be seen under certain lights, but is virtually impossible to photograph. It's picked up some bumps and scuffs since it was refinished, the worst of which I've pictured. There are a couple on the neck and headstock which have been accrued over the last 40 years, but nothing major. The original tortoiseshell pickguard had been drilled for an additional pot, and the cutout for the pickup had been crudely filed at some point. I had a parchment pickguard made by Earlpilanz which is a perfect fit. I fitted a 65 Precision pickup from the Creamery; the wiring and the bridge had already been replaced at some point. The JV neck plate had developed a curve over the years, probably from being overtightened, but as chance would have it, I had a Squier SQ neck plate which was a direct replacement; the old Japanese neck screws were much beefier than the standard ones that most basses have today. The neck is entirely original as far as I can tell. The frets are in good nick and the tuners are truss rod work as they should. It's got a nice rosewood fretboard and is strung with Dunlop flats and plays really nicely. Weight is 4.23kg/9lb 5oz. Short version: body, neck, tuners, strap buttons are all original. The finish, bridge, pickguard, knobs, thumb rest, neck plate and pickup are not. The original pickguard and neck plate will be included. I've got a couple of brand new Fender gig bags knocking about so I'll include one of those, and I have boxes up in the loft so shipping is possible. I wasn't sure how to price it. The whole thing cost me well over a grand, but if you think I'm wide of the mark then let me know.
    2 points
  33. See photos. Acquired as part of a 'bitsa' bass. Not sure of the body make / origin but it's nicely finished and the neck pocket (63mm wide x 85mm 'length' x 18mm D) will accomodate a standard F-type neck. Body (complete weighs c.6.5lbs) will take a standard J s/plate and bell-plate (photo) but may need some adjustment/s for this. The current plates fit fine and look to have been refinished to fit. The bass played fine with both pickups (unsure of make/age) clear & strong. Upgrade bridge (can be replaced with a more std. F' type if preferred) with individual routs per string. Price includes P & P.
    2 points
  34. Little birdie told me Mick had some spare knobs (oo-er missus!). Got in touch, made a deal and boom...fast post! Deal with confidence with a true basschatter! Thanks Mick!
    2 points
  35. Tinnitus Through The Tulips - Tiny Tim
    2 points
  36. message to you rudy - specials
    2 points
  37. Afternoon and early evening gigs are weird. When I was in my covers band we used to do one that started late Sunday afternoon and was over before 8.00. The strange thing was that even though the pub was open all day it would be almost completely deserted until 5 minutes before we started our first set when the "rock crowd" would turn up en-masse, order their drinks ready to enjoy whatever band was playing that week. The kind of music I'm playing at the moment doesn't really feel right being performed during daylight hours. Having said that we have at least two afternoon gigs booked for this year. One of them is in a large windowless venue so there's no real sense of time once you are inside. The other is in a brewery where they open the large glass doors along one wall so that the people in the courtyard outside can see and hear the bands too. I've been to this one as an audience member several times and it seems to work, although in the past it's always been as a "warm up" to the main events happening elsewhere in the town in the evening. This time around the evening entertainment is significantly less than normal, so it will be interesting to see if it affects the atmosphere in the afternoon.
    2 points
  38. I think this is mostly true. It's a bit sad that the ridiculous prices and closed order book/4 year wait means that there are no (at least that I can think of) young/up and coming players playing Wals. I mean you can see younger players out there playing USA Spectors, Foderas, MTDs, Alembics, Ken Smiths, etc., professionally, but most of the new Wals I see (admittedly on Instagram so not necessarily truly representative, but it is a good indication of younger players' trends at least) seem to be going to weekend warriors of a certain age (over 50 is quite accurate) who have waited the 4/5 years (nothing against weekend warriors of certain age of course - they keep the custom builders in business). In the UK, Overwater seem to have the pro market pretty well sewn up, but go back a few years and there were plenty of players using Wals at the West End, on BBC sessions etc. (Rob Burns is one that springs to mind). Even Laurence Cottle seems to be using his GB more than his Wals these days (too valuable to play out perhaps?). This just all reinforces the stereotypes that Wals are collectors' items, antiquated etc., as you're not seeing them out there used for new music. Of course it's none of my business and Paul can do what he wants with his company, but he has really missed a trick in not finding a good quality manufacturer in Japan, South Korea or the Czech Republic (think Spector, Sadowsky, etc.) who can take up some of the manufacturing slack while still turning out a really high quality product which would get into players' hands and keep the brand alive, while keeping the UK operation as a smaller custom shop.
    2 points
  39. Well if that’s the case Daryl, you’ll soon be joined by me - I’m retiring from my main band end of April. I’ll still be playing in my acoustic duo, and maybe the odd dep here and there, but my pension kicks in this week so I’ll no doubt be in a similar position to yourself! 😆 Oh, and a belated happy birthday too Daryl. 🎂🍾🎊
    2 points
  40. Current shrunken board as my band is currently drummer-less. Managed to get a good deal on a pedal train nano with a cioks Adam bolted to the underside. For the most part its just an amp modeller on the zoom with a bit of grit coming from the digbeth, but have the option to be more adventurous should the need arise! Of course as soon as a drummer appears the fuzz and the octave are coming back 🤣
    2 points
  41. Treated myself to this American Vintage ll 1954 Precision. Well, you cant take it with you when you go. 😅
    2 points
  42. The Bass stuff is great... DoI still a bit odd... Couple of the other threads have been life savers and life sharers... Depression, and some members personal journeys... and to all the members...Thats Basschat
    2 points
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