Leaderboard

Over the past six months or so, I've been putting some more themed pedalboards together for posterity before selling a lot of my pedals (which may have something to do with me clogging up the Pedals for Sale thread). I've finally gotten around to uploading photos here. I know themed boards aren't to everyone's liking but I'm three years into a shoulder injury (although in the final stretch (fingers crossed, without wrenching my shoulder)) and I'm still bass obsessed, so I have to do something. The themes are British pedals, European pedals, Canadian pedals, US pedals, black pedals, and discontinued and out of production pedals. British Pedals European Pedals Canadian Pedals US Pedals Black Pedals Discontinued and Out-of-Production Pedals

We, Siren, played at The Constitutional Club in Chippenham Saturday night, crowd was a little on the small side but they responded well and made it a good night. Used my TT800 and BF big twin II, chose to use my surf green MIM P Bass which sat very nicely in the mix - bloody hot in there!

I thought I'd resurrect this zombie thread to offer some positive feedback about G4M. Last Tuesday, I ordered some gigbags from them. Picked the cheapest delivery option so wasn't expecting to see them until the start of the following week. Two days later, I got an email from them telling me that my order might be delayed because they did not receive stock from the supplier. I found this odd because I went to double check and the website was still merrily proclaiming that they had heaps in stock. So I queried it. Within a few hours, they got back to me, apologising as I had received that email in error and it was an internal thing (getting stock from warehouse) which had triggered it by mistake. They assured me that the gig bags would still arrive in the agreed time (indeed, reiterated that the estimated delivery date was 06/10 - 07/10). Well, colour me surprised when the doorbell rings yesterday (yes, on a Sunday) and here are my gigbags. I wasn't pushy, I didn't ask to have my delivery upgraded, they just did it off their own backs. I don't think you get a Sunday delivery from G4M through DPD unless you specifically request it (and pay for it). So I think they fast tracked my order, I guess to make up for the admin oops? I'm going to believe that, because that was very nice of them and it made me smile.

My third foray into the Cort Space Bass world was guaranteed to happen. These compact basses punch well above their diminutive weight and I never sold one because I didn't like it - more because pupils always seem to want to buy them from me! So to get this nearly new model for a bargain price was too good to turn down. Back to the 5-string this time, I've added my usual Elixir 40-125 set and it plays really slickly. Perfect for teaching duties, or as that spare bass that you keep in the car boot, it can always hold it's own with it's clean, hifi sound. What's not to like..?

In the same week that a distant relative of mine - Sir Henry Rushbury - had a retrospective exhibition of his work in the Brum Art Gallery, my band was featured in Record Mirror. Sadly for me, the picture used went across two pages and I appeared to be impaled by a staple. My bandmates thought this was hysterical, and for the remainder of the mercifully brief duration of the combo, I was referred to as Sir Henry Staple.

Back when I worked in a very big record shop in Brum, one of my co-workers - a very affable chap called Chris Long - was in one of John Peel's favourite bands, The Noseflutes. They had a snappy way with marketing and released albums with titles like 'Girth,' 'Several Young Men Ignite Hardboard Stump' and the all-time classic 'Zib Zob And His Kib Kob.' They also had some stellar stage names - take a bow Sven Vortex, The Hog, Peter Heater, Shrobengo Tullonge His Levitating Masterfulness, Vic Pelthrust and Ralph Dangerfish. Chris' stage name was Legs Akimbo. As a side note, Chris once adopted the name of a colleague of ours who was in hospital when one of their Many John Peel sessions was broadcast. Peel dutifully announced the band line-up and our bed-ridden colleague screamed, thus waking the entire ward and bringing several alarmed nurses to her bedside. True story. The Noseflutes were bloody brilliant, too.

We had all five members of our bluegrass band together yesterday for our only rehearsal before our Tuesday show at a Legion hall in North Bay. We usually play festivals with the audience seated on the grass in front of the stage but some distance away from the band so it will be interesting to see how it goes when we are right up close to them in a long narrow hall where the bands set up against a long wall. This will not be a real bluegrass crowd so the BL decided to do a show that traces the history of the genre and we will play songs from the 1930's to more modern bluegrass and I will be explaining how the songs fit in as we go. I just got the "script" from the BL yesterday so I am working on smoothing it out and doing a little research as well as trying to memorize as much as I can. Excellent musicians and it should be fun, just hoping the sound man will get us set up so we sound our best.

I'll let you know when I finally get the feeling that I've got too many.... Currently on 94 and haven't thought it yet.... lol!

Starr Sports, Canvey Island, on Saturday evening. Decent night with a good crowd reaction. A few issues during soundcheck with feedback and a resonant node that seemed to appear in the second set that I wasn’t able to resolve whilst playing. Oh well, it didn’t seem to detract from the performance too much. I think we’re going to have to dial in a ‘gain safety net’ for the vocalists, their mics are just way too sensitive, and complain they can’t hear themselves during soundcheck, then they're too loud during the actual performance. Typical lead singer thing! Second gig with the Anagram pedal and I feel I had the EQ dialled in much better this time, punchy and articulate, and the drives sounded much better. I also set MIDI control up with BandHelper to save double footswitch pressing to switch presets. I need to spend a little more time with this. PC changes were fine, but CC changes are hit or miss. Next stop, Cow & Telescope in Southend in two weeks' time (with a much-needed holiday in between).

I saw a poster at a gig for a chap going under the name Rodge Adultery.

I assume that was because Owen was based in Wales but playing a gig in Belfast.

As above just wanted to put some positive feedback up for g4m I normally use them for most music gear and found the. them spot on recently I had a parcel go awol so I emailed them to ask if they knew where it was sadly it was untraceable so a fella called Alex emailed me back apologising and has sent me a new item via tracked delivery no nonsense or messing around a real positive bit of customer service

According to courtserve.net, Michael Mason is due to appear at Leicester Magistrates Court tomorrow, 7th October. I'm presuming that's Mick.

I think another 6 is in order, a Basschatter with 100 basses!

I would love to be able to play by ear. The closest I get is the old joke "Do you play by ear?" "Yes" "Well clear off and play somewhere else then!"

Met up yesterday in Pirate, Dalston, with one of my bands. Lovely guys and they're getting better! The drummer is definitely coming on leaps and bound. The songs we know are getting tighter and working better. We're gonna have one more rehearsal then do a band open mic in November, maybe do a split bill with the guitarist's other band (he's retired so he can dedicate his time to music). But... the big eye-brow raiser was my sound yesterday. I had a Blackstar 250w 15" combo and blow me if it wasn't one of the best sounding rigs I've had in a practise. So punchy, deep and clear. I was running my Dingwall ABZ into it through a Sansamp VT-21 and the dirty sound was sublime. The Neve preamp on the Dingle is the best active circuitry I've ever used, seriously. I don't often use the bridge pickup on a bass because it lacks low-end but taking the bass up a few notches to balance it and tame the low end gave me an incredible rich, burpy sound with oodles of attack. I even whacked the treble up for one tune with distortion to get a really nasty, clanky sound. Unbelieveable how versatile and useful it is. The Blackstar did make me wonder how many of the other bass amps I've used in rehearsal spaces have just been buggered though! Maybe this one was new...

Always easier to ask what the band or producer wants. I’ve done a few and you just ask about the vibe and take the basses that will fit. I’ve got a jazz session Friday afternoon and that’s strictly flats and a jazz bass with a vintage pre-amp. Then doing a double bass gig at night with (surprise surprise) a double bass. One of my acquaintances records with Sade and they got a series of super double bass players in to play on some tracks. Apparently one player had a huge amount of gear. The engineers asked him if one of the hundreds of pedals he had could help him play in tune for the whole song. Apparently this wasn’t funny.

So a newish Bass shop just down the road from the other local specialist ! https://bassbros.co.uk I popped over the other day to look at an Ashdown LB550 head. They work on appointments which is actually really nice no hanging about while people slap expensive basses to death. It a small ish place in a rural setting but about to expand in the same place I was met by name and looked after really well. I did a part ex of my MarkBass TTE 801 for the Ashdown and got a very fair price and a good deal The their bass stock is a bit different to BD .Still enough high end dream basses but a lot of mid price workhorses with a special focus on Jap Fenders and other gems. Give then a try they deserve success.

Dammit I love these guys.

I think that it is easy for folk to be critical from a distance but I think it is important to acknowledge that nearly all of us love what we do and dread the day that we will have put it down. If you love music and love making music, why the hell would you not carry on until you drop? I love the idea that they picked a female drummer in these days of toxic masculinity and mysogyny. I also think that, as great as NP was (and I loved his energy), there are better drummers out there by the truckload and I never thought he was irreplaceable (lyrics aside). And keyboards opens up a lot of potential for the tracks they historically struggled to perform live. I say good luck to all of them. There is no downside to the idea.

I know, I know. Mixing different speaker cabs. Comb filtering etc. However, massive air shifting trumps all that malarky

Alright guys - I've just picked up the bass from Steve at Chapel guitars. The neck has been finished with Osmo Polyx which looks and feels great, so we'll see how it holds up. The loom is installed and working nicely with the now straightened pickups. I was sent two bezels by Gig.ink so I actually found stacking them game a lovely 'ramp' feel around the neck pickup, so that's what they're doing at the moment. I've only used tape so I'll see how I get on over the coming weeks. I've set up the bridge to my liking - despite being 'better' than the stock one I can't get the intonation quite spot on, but it'll do. Certainly, height adjustment is easier. Just a few snaps for now - I'll get some better ones to show off the neck. It's nice to be using the original neck with the fishtail tuners, which work fine and seem OK with the full scale strings which have been bedded in around the posts and bridge. Really pleased with it!! Bonus picture of my parent's new puppy, Lois. She's the gentlest little dog I've ever met. So quiet and just absolutely delightful (the previous two were absolute shits at this age!)

Copy/paste from t'other Rush thread as I didn't notice this one! Well - I suppose that's exactly what I hoped they wouldn't do. I always hoped that if Lee & Lifeson did get together again, it'd be for new music, collaborating with other musicians, and not under the Rush name. They'd previously seemed resistant to doing precisely what it looks like they are doing - maybe there's only so long it's possible to hold out against bigger & bigger dollar-carrots being waved at you, I dunno. I'm glad they're using a relatively unknown drummer, rather than one of the 'usual suspects' list of prog drummers that get waved around as potential Peart substitutes. I hope they learn to pronounce her name, though.

Also adding a keyboard player

the blurb of the email, in case you're not on the list: "Rock and Roll Hall of Fame® Inductees, GRAMMY® Award-nominated icons, and RUSH Co-Founders Geddy Lee [bass, keys, vocals] and Alex Lifeson [guitar, vocals] have announced their return to the stage for a very special 2026 headline tour, Fifty Something, in celebration of RUSH’s music, legacy, and the life of late drummer and lyricist Neil Peart. It notably marks the first time Lee and Lifeson have toured together in eleven years since the finale of RUSH’s R40 Tour on August 1, 2015 at the Forum in Los Angeles, CA, bringing it full circle with a return to the Forum to embark upon these special shows. Of the tour, Geddy Lee says: “It’s been over 10 years since Alex and I have performed the music of RUSH alongside our fallen bandmate and friend Neil. A lifetime’s worth of songs that we had put our cumulative hearts and souls into writing, recording and playing together onstage. And so, after all that has gone down since that last show, Alex and I have done some serious soul searching and come to the decision that we f***ing miss it, and that it’s time for a celebration of 50-something years of RUSH music. So in 2026, my BFF Lerxst (aka Alex Lifeson) and I are going to hit the road once again to pay tribute to our past and to Neil by performing a vast selection of RUSH songs in a handful of cities. No small task, because as we all know Neil was irreplaceable. Yet life is full of surprises, and we have been introduced to another remarkable person; an incredible drummer and musician who is adding another chapter to our story while continuing her own fascinating musical journey. Her name is Anika Nilles, and we could not be more excited to introduce her to our loyal and dedicated RUSH fanbase, whom, we know, will give her every chance to live up to that near impossible role. Before we hit the stage, we also hope to add another musician or two to expand our sound a wee bit and free up Alex and I, in order to show off some of our new fancy dance steps. Lerxst, Anika and myself, along with many of our longstanding crew members have been hard at work rehearsing and designing the kind of RUSH show you’ve grown accustomed to expect from us. We dearly hope you will come along and help us celebrate our history together.” Carrie Nuttall-Peart and Olivia Peart, Neil’s widow and daughter share: “We are thrilled to support the Fifty Something tour, celebrating a band whose music has resonated and inspired fans for generations, and to honor Neil’s extraordinary legacy as both a drummer and lyricist. Neil’s musicianship was singular. Compositions of intricacy and power that expanded what rhythm itself could express. As both drummer and lyricist, he was irreplaceable. Inimitable in his artistry, and unmatched in the depth and imagination he brought to the lyrics that inspired and moved so many, he profoundly shaped how fans connected with him and the band, giving voice and meaning to their own lives. As the band enters this new chapter, it promises to be truly unforgettable. We are excited to see how their new vision unfolds, and to hear this legendary music played live once again.”

Lol! Would love to, but I don't have a wide enough lens or enough guitar stands.... 🤣

Being a P bass there isnt too much that can go wrong. A full new harness would be about £30 and other than that the only thing it could be is a loose/broken pickup wire?

Depending on the year, the 15's were usually EVM-15L's, the 10's could have been one of 3 or 4 different drivers (the one in the picture is NOT a CA-10 nor is it an Eminence, it may have been a Precision Devices driver). The 6-1/2" driver is a customized Eminence driver, there were at least 2 versions, one with an unvented motor and a vented dust cap and the one pictured that has a vented motor (because the dust cap is not vented). I do not know what the customizations were, but it it likely that it was related to the mid voicing and extension. If everything is working, I would leave the drivers alone.

Added the Dirt Mixer, still not decided on which drives I want but for not I’ve opted for the Venus, Dagger and Halberd for a pretty wide range of options. Recording in a couple of weeks so still time to change things around. Still patiently waiting for a smaller version of the Bass Driver from EAE so I can go back to a more compact board 🤞

The Crook Hotel for us last night in County Durham. It's a great bar venue, small raised area in a window which normally has dining tables during the day becomes the stage area on a night. We put the black backdrops up and front lights truss to create the illusion of a bigger stage. Always a fantastic and very appreciative crowd in here, and we finally got offstage at 11.45 😳 Finally got my voice back after 4 weeks, now thinking I've been victim of the latest Covid variant with a cough that's lasted four weeks coupled with laryngitis symptoms, not exactly ideal 😖 New strings on the Vigier sounded nice though 👌🏼

Played in Maidstone at the weekend. Venue was pretty busy and all there seemed to enjoy it. We normally play as a 4 piece but were a guitarist down last night and played as a 3 piece. Gave my new Markbass combo a run out and I was impressed with the sound & volume it gave out. i am trying to gig with the least & lightest amount of gear possible, and this is definitely helping with that!

There are people on here I know and trust with whom a bank transfer is no problem at all. There are other people I don't know so I check their feedback thread, and given the place that Basschat is, there's a fairly good chance that several members have dealt with them successfully, which is reassuring. In other cases, if I'm buying blind so to speak, I'd need an extra layer of security provided by PayPal, in which case I pay the small % transaction fee so the buyer gets the total amount. When a seller I don't know or doesn't have feedback says "I don't accept PayPal, it's bank transfer or nothing", it tends to be the latter

Playing nightclubs before the smoking ban, usually something long sleeved. Whatever it was you'd want to take it off as soon as you got back. It smelt like you'd been rolling around in a gorse fire, and was coated in a thin layer of tar.

Having been a user of the Cali76 compact bass pedal i always fancied a try of the bigger TX version but prices are astronomical! This popped up on Richtones secondhand section the other day and a bit of research suggests it may be in the same ballpark. Look forward to giving it a blast, particularly with the Drive setting!

I don't think they're doing it for the money. Unless they have made some really, really, bad investment decisions they don't need it. I think they're doing it because they're bored, they've missed the buzz of playing live, they like their songs, and they can. No doubt they will be good fun gigs if you take them for what they are.

Tell us the brand. I'm guessing Fender. I lied about ending the inquisition clearly 😅

All of this reminds me of seeing the wonderful Hank Wangford band, back in the 80’s. Hank (aka Dr Sam Hutt) had a superb set of musicians with him, all with great stage names too. The ones I can remember included Irma Cetas on vocals, guitarists Brad Breath and Jett Atkins, Manley Footwear on pedal steel ( the legendary BJ Cole) and Milton Keynes on drums.

Back at The Burton in Brixham last night. Our guitarist daughter and BF, along with his family travelled down from Macclesfield to see us. The first set was a bit loose in places, but we got through ok. Our drummer was using his new Mapex kit with an 18" kick drum for theses small pubs. Last time it was fine, but this time the kick drum was moving so I spent the second set with my left foot on on of the legs. I adjusted my mic stand and had to stand fairly still. Overall a good night, and our next gig there has been moved to NYE. My usual rig and Skechers.