Leaderboard

In late 2011, Prince Rogers Nelson walked into Capitol Guitars, a modest music store in St. Paul, Minnesota. Dressed in dark shades and an overcoat, he browsed quietly, barely speaking. The staff recognized him instantly but chose to respect his silence. He pointed at a few guitars, asked about the tonal difference between maple and mahogany, and then paused when the owner mentioned a recent conversation with a local teacher. The teacher had said that students at Anwatin Middle School in Minneapolis were losing access to their music program due to severe budget cuts. Prince nodded slightly and left without purchasing anything. Three days later, a delivery truck arrived at Capitol Guitars. Prince had returned but not to shop. Instead, he gave the owner a handwritten list and a simple instruction: “Everything on this list, pack it and deliver it to Anwatin.” The list included guitars, drum sets, violins, keyboards, amps, microphones, and recording equipment. When the owner asked if the instruments should be marked with a donor name or message, Prince replied, “No names. No credit. Just send love.” The delivery created confusion at the school. Teachers and administrators at Anwatin Middle School had no advance notice, and the delivery slip listed only a phone number that led to a private voicemail. Music teacher Kenneth Simms opened the shipment, stunned by the quality and quantity of the instruments. He assumed it was a mistake. It took several days of asking around and comparing handwriting on the note that came with the shipment before a staff member connected it to Prince, who had visited the store days earlier. When a friend later asked him about it, Prince said, “That’s between me and the kids. Not for headlines.” He declined to make any public statement or appear at the school. According to Minneapolis-based journalist Jon Bream from "Star Tribune", even the school district wasn’t formally notified. They only learned about the donor’s identity after teachers pieced the story together. Those close to Prince knew his silent generosity wasn’t a one-time impulse. During his early years growing up on the north side of Minneapolis, he often spoke about the importance of music education. His mother, Mattie Shaw, was a jazz singer and heavily involved in the local music scene. Prince once said in a 1999 interview with "Ebony", “If I hadn’t had access to a piano when I was seven, I don’t know who I would’ve become. Music wasn’t a hobby, it was a lifeline.” Former bandmate Sheila E. recalled in her 2014 memoir "The Beat of My Own Drum" how Prince frequently funded youth centers and music camps without telling anyone. “He believed in giving kids a chance to create,” she wrote. “He didn’t want applause. He wanted them to play.” At Anwatin, the new instruments transformed the energy of the school. Simms recalled how students began coming to class early just to practice. A hallway that once echoed with silence after the final bell now hummed with guitar riffs, drumbeats, and laughter. “We didn’t just get instruments,” Simms told "MinnPost" in 2012, “we got hope.” Store owner Alan Geller, who kept the receipt from Prince’s bulk order tucked in his office drawer, shared later that the musician didn’t even ask for a discount. “He said, ‘Charge full price. They deserve the best.’” For Prince, who had often used his wealth to quietly support causes tied to youth empowerment, the act wasn’t about visibility. His friend Van Jones later commented during an interview with "CNN", “He believed that if you help a kid find their rhythm, they might avoid chaos. He never needed a stage for that.” The donation never became a national headline. There were no photo ops or ceremonies. But in a city where music had once saved a young boy from the streets, it was returned, quietly, to the next generation. Prince gave them music when theirs had been taken away and never asked for anything in return.

Apparently, Pete told Zak he was only researching alternative drummers for a book.

60th birthday party for the sound engineers wife last night, and the Hulla band were asked to play a short acoustic set in the marquee in the garden. Sacrifices were made to the rain and wind gods and it was dry and warm. We played without drums and after a trial run the week before it was obvious that my acoustic bass couldn't cut through in the mix so I went with my Ibanez AGBV200 through a little Vox practice amp. As the MC was our sound man, the mix was good. It was meant to be a surprise so the instruments were hidden away in vans, behind hedges etc until we all gathered in the tent, much to the delight of the birthday girl. We did about 30 minutes and had everyone (around 50 or so) up and dancing from the start. One of the reasons I love playing with this band is that we always enjoy the gigs, and the kinds of audiences we play to are there to enjoy as well, so we rarely get the drunken idiots mentioned elsewhere in this thread. (I've experience them in other bands and 100% sympathise with you). No photos have emerged yet, probably because the party went on way after we'd finished. 😀 Footwear - black Skechers lace-ups. Here's one I took of my kit.

I'm 62. Apparently 60 is the age where bits start to wear out or fall off... We played the Exchange last night, valleys pub very appreciative of the sort of classic rock we play. Virtually empty when we started but a good few people came in when we started playing. Were they lurking outside? It eas never as busy as usual (had people gone to town/events gorcEaster?) But at least they were appreciative. Two new tunes were Uprising and New Sensation. Got a great sound using Joyo XVI (octaver), mojo mojo and 1980s Ibanez Chorus for Uprising. i used the brassmaster for one or two tracks, it sounds ott on its own but when we are all playing it seems to mellow. Big wait for our next gig so we were discussing a strategy for bookings. With us all in two bands, we need to double check the diary then contact all our previous venues ... plus we plan to self promote a ticketed two-band night. Chesp tickets to ensure decent numbers.

Black Bear Tewkesbury. Large venue, absolutely rammed. Previous sound complaint issues have meant an in-house FBT PA which you ‘plug in to’. Fine in concept, but it’s underpowered for the job it’s trying to do. Result = all the tricks in the book to get sufficient vocal volume over the top of the acoustic drums and the hundreds on people. Just about…phew. IEMs all round took away the feedback problem the support band had wrestled with. The real problem was the arse at 11:15. Pissed, arrogant and obviously thick. We are playing, and you are gesturing that you want to speak to the singer and then me. Mouthing back that we can’t hear you, (IEMs) and that you should just gently bugger off. And what did he want of a band who’d been playing classic rock all night? Wonderwall. I must confess, I told the door staff that he’d been aggressive- he was ejected. Please forgive me. 😘

I had a notification from bandmix in the 'someone looking at your profile', so I looked them up (I have a free account, can't send messages) and they were looking for a bass player. This year with my current band we have managed 1 or 2 practices as the guitarist always has some reason to cancel, and only a few gigs, also a little bored that it takes us an age to learn the simplest of things, so though I would look for a side project, so I looked up this band and found them advertising on JMB. Contacted them and agreed to meet up this thursday (actually last thursday but that was cancelled as there was a legit emergency for someone). Met up at a village hall. A very different way of practicing than I am used to, all have microphones and stereo in ears, no amplifiers at all, all though the mixer, the sound was great. 2 guitarists, drummer wasn't there (played along to the drum recordings), singer. Went through a whole host of songs that I have mostly not played before, heavier stuff with some muse etc thrown in, really enjoyable leaning 10 new songs in a couple of weeks and getting them down not too bad, they seemed happy anyway and asked me back. Going to go back and see how things work out with it - maybe just playing around and getting set lists ready for the moment, but nice to have a break and completely different styles of music to play. The in ear thing made stuff so good as did only having to turn up with a bass and the Boss me90b

I've been on the hunt for a big Acoustic rig for a long time, something like a 360 or 370 head into the matching cabinet with an 18" speaker in the weird, back facing configuration. They seem to be as rare as hen's teeth in Europe, so I've been using an Acoustic 136 combo as my main amp for a while now. Then the successor to those two big Acoustic rigs popped up on this forum. So now I'm the proud owner of a massive, impractical but wonderful sounding Acoustic 320/408 combo thanks to @Skinner. The 408 has four 15" speakers, and it's another of Acoustic's unusual configurations - two conventionally mounted, forward facing speakers, plus two mounted horizontally to face each other in the middle portion of the cab. The beast had it's first full rehearsal this week, and the most interesting thing is how much bottom end the cabinet chucks out. It seems to generate some unusually low frequencies that are audible and sit perfectly under the two lead guitar sounds in our post punk/new wave influenced outfit. Meanwhile, it also puts out the middly clank sound of a Rickenbacker that sits in a tonal gap that the lead guitars also don't occupy. First gig with it at London's Lexington next week - all I have to do is work out how on earth I'm going to transport it to the venue!

I own 2 x J5s from Overwater. Both 35 scale's and an absolute dream to play.

we did a gig last night and during the Kids Are Alright our singer came in too early at one point, our drummer was not amused when I told he was sacked 🤣

I've put up with more annoying bandmates for a lot less money...

I've been in bands for 45 years and just when you reach an age when you think finally everyone is acting as grownups. Something happens to remind you musicians are mainly big kids.

Fitted a BT7 last week. Very slight ream to accommodate the ferrule and drill holes for the mounting screws.

So Ive put this together for the U2 tribute Body was ex Chris Cross Neck from Aliexpress Pickup Tonerider Cts pots, orange drop cap I've literally screwed it together and tuned it up Sounds like a P bass Ive even wired it up myself and it works

I'll be playing two gigs in one day with my band SHREDS. I always thought people were crazy to play two shows in one day, and I'd seen quite a few mates do this! However, we were offered a slot to open for the legendary NYC hardcore band AGNOSTIC FRONT and simply couldn't pass! We'll be playing Sheffield in the late afternoon (at the Phazed Out Festival) on May 3rd, and then hotfooting it up to Leeds to play a second show that same evening!

It's almost like they forget: "What do you want to do when you grow up?" "I wanna play in a rock band!" "You can't do both."

You're forgiven. Whether asking for Wonderwall is....

Augh, I finally managed to decrease the action by almost 0.5mm, while keeping the intonation correct. The bridge config is fussy but not terrible once one understands which of the many screws does what exactly. I feel like a true Sandberg owner now 😁

Bit of Stevie Wonder, the arrangement from the film “Sing” Moises app to remove the original bass. Tone by Line 6 HX Stomp

Happy Easter everyone. Had our pro drummer return for a visit at the service this morning. Neither of us could make the practice on Friday so we rocked up and just played - much easier to do when the drummer knows what he's doing! Finished with "Happy Day" which is quite a rocking song.

Is Vicks There? - Subway Sect

Ishibashi are excellent but having imported from Japan it almost works out at an extra 1/3 on top of the bass price.

While my Catarrh Gently Weeps - Jimi Hendrix

I got 18 years from a set of Chromes on my Precision

That’s just too f***in’ cool for school 🤘

I think it's why many ( not all ) guys my age wear slip ons or the footwear where you have a velcro closure. I wonder if I'm pissing off punters. Are they offended because an old guy can't tie up his shoes? Lol 71 wearing Van's. Who do I think I'm fooling? Lol Daryl

It would have worked in the early 1980s, I think: "...that's after the news with Jan Leeming. Over on BBC2, continuing coverage of snooker from Sheffield and updates from the continuing embassy siege. But now on BBC1, Rog and Pete get ahead of themselves and agree to a charity gig that isn't quite what it seems. It's Ronnie Barker and Graham Chapman in Who's Out Of Tune?"

I'm a Van's guy. Lol Daryl

I have a Skyline hollowbody but with Bartolinis. It's a 2005 Korean build

Variations on a theme, I like it. Cracking post. 😊 Mark

This is really cool, but tinged with the knowledge that I’d never be able to afford/justify it. I’m guessing the production version would be £300+. I love Lego but it’s getting pretty damn pricey. Visited Billund LEGOLAND and Lego house last week, amazing experience but most of the sets in the shop are £150+!

Finally got around to re-cutting the front of the cab.... This is the finished article... At a total outlay of £77.50 I'm extremely happy with the outcome.

I bought it on here from @hooky_lowdown about 3 years ago as I just wanted to try a shortie. I swapped the pickup to an Aguilar with a loom made by our own @KiOgon as the stock controls were really just on/off. It neck dived a bit so I swapped the tuners for Hipshot Ultralights. It’s a cheap bass but the basic quality and build is more than good enough to warrant spending on those swaps. I love it! I liked it so much I found another one for roundwounds. I thought the bridge string spacing would be a bit tight but I’ve discovered I much prefer it for everything other than slap, and I don’t do a lot of that.

Welcome to the madhouse, Helios. Nowt wrong with a bit of SFG.

Or maybe "Hi Kenny, doing much for the next few weeks?" "Sorry Pete, I'm a bit busy watching Strictly and Eastenders" Hmnn - maybe we'll give Zak a shout and see if he picks up.....

I have just listed one of my Yamaha BBV1s in the basses for sale ads

The "It's certainly not a big deal and an easy fix" is a sentence I can't here anymore as I've heard it too many times when I had my own workshop (as well as my father when he was an independent mechanic, so nothing new here). At the end, my answer was always the same: "Go on, help yourself, the tools are there." And guess what the embarrassed answer always was... If it's under warranty and you know nothing about electronics, but have done all you could do, which is putting a new battery and it's still not working, do what's been proposed to you by the store: Send it back and get it fixed. This is what warranty is for. 😉

And all thanks to our Rob. Dave

You have tried a new battery so opening few screws is not a problem. Open the covers and take a few (sharp) pictures. You may be able to see what was fixed afterwards.

Send it back, get it fixed. It is tempting to try and see if it’s a simple fix, but if this is on offer, just do it. It hopefully removes the fault returning if you manage a seemingly easy repair.

TGI Extreme cost me £50 and has been my gig bag for a few years now. Holding up very nicely. https://www.gear4music.com/Guitar-and-Bass/TGI-4836-Extreme-Series-Bass-Guitar-Gig-Bag/2WP4?utm_campaign=surfaces_across_google&srsltid=AfmBOorsJBjGgNs-F_xx_L78M5XzXpcxJpvLgmTyb2LDj7KN4hsJByhwAno

Brilliant. I usually just try to blend them in, though I discovered Sea Foam Green wasn't such a good idea. Never forget my husband's double take when he saw that.

I was suffering hand cramps at one stage when doing 2.5-3hr sets and decided to follow the "experts" guidance and use the thumb on the back of the neck as much as possible and i very rarely get any probs now. I do occasionally get lost in the moment and forget but i soon get back to it. Also tried keeping my hand in the 1st finger 1st fret, 2nd finger 2nd fret kind of thing mainly when i'm playing around the 5th fret areas as i struggle to do it nearer the nut having small hands. Dave

So the headstock is fixed, all it took was a bit of tape?

I always look at the Acoustic gear on sale here and wish it was a practical choice for me. I spent my early years, as a bassist, lusting after a rig like John Deacon's. Way out of my price range at the time. I had a budget version with a 1x18 and two Sound City 4x12s but it was always the 371 rig I wanted. Green with envy and enjoy your new rig.

I don't know about the 4-string version, but my 5-string MiK Warwick Star Bass II had similar neck specs to my favourite 5-string basses.