Leaderboard

A week ago now but I played my first overseas gig in Germany at a small doom festival in Leonberg, with Gévaudan. Really really cool vibe, promoters really looked after all the bands and the crowd were ace both whilst on stage and hanging out during the before and after. we played pretty well and the sound was clear and mainly on point on stage. Good times and lots learned. Felt like a very different approach to live music on the continent.

Couple of gigs.. Last Saturday was an all day festival with 7 bands playing various different styles of metal - mostly the more tuneful variety. I've been depping for the last year with the band that organises the day but wasn't expecting to play this one, so it was a surprise when they informed me that they'd eventually parted company with their bassist and asked me to cover. It was a long day from turning up at 10am to get everything ready for doors at 2pm, then generally meandering round smiling at people and drinking a lot of alcohol-free Guinness until our 8pm co-headline slot. An hour on stage went pretty fast, and the four new songs (two originals and two covers) were well enough planted in my head. No screw-ups, a pleased band, and home before midnight... though predictably knackered. Warwick RB Streamer LX 5 -> L6 G30 wireless -> [SFX m-Thumpinator -> Boss XS-1 -> Boss BC1-X -> T21 VT Bass v2 -> T21 Sansamp BDDI v2] -> Markbass Nano 2 -> Blackstar house cab (?) Last night was back to the same venue but a different room for a tribute to Ozzy that another local band had put on as a charity event. We'd tentatively agreed to be support, but the tentative bit didn't quite make it across so the posters were printed before we knew our singer would be out of the country at a conference. We're all for keeping our implied/inferred word, though, so we borrowed the two singers (and the keyboardist for one song) from the depping band, and they took a couple of songs each solo then a couple of songs together. The rule was that there were no repeats throughout the evening, which is totally reasonable, but once the headline and main support had taken their pick, we had to be a bit creative to come up with a set that wouldn't leave people scratching their heads. In the end, though, I think we got it right and played a half hour set which seemed genuinely well received as far as I could tell. No screw-ups, and because I was able to get my gear disco-loaded-out and driven away, I got to stay and enjoy the headline set with a few beers as well. Warwick RB Streamer LX 5 -> Fender Telepath wireless -> T21 Bass Fly Rig v2 -> Markbass Nano 2 -> Blackstar house cab (?) Sadly no photos have emerged of either gig just yet, but there were enough cameras out and about at both so I'm sure there'll be some eventually to prove it all happened. No time to let that spark an existential crisis, though, as it's off to a first open-mic with a side project tomorrow, and then last gig of the year with the dep band mid-December. I realise it's nothing compared to the schedules of some round these parts, but I've not played out so much since the enforced break of covid, and I'm enjoying it; my gear is all condensed down to the smallest, lightest and most efficient versions I can manage, the DI sound keeps getting general thumbs-ups from sound techs, and my main gigging pair of Streamer LX 5s are feeling comfortable.

Gig with the Bonnevilles R&B band at the Foley Arms in Sutton Coldfield. Reasonable stage area and an unused area to the side where we could dump bags and cases. A fair few followers came as well. I'd managed to rip a flap of skin up on my right middle fingertip on Thursday which wasn't ideal. Put paid to any alternating finger work, and to the occasional bit of index finger relief. Had to resort to plectrum for quite a few songs, which reminds me that I left my plectrum holder on the mic stand (the singer supplies his and my mic stands). Had several plasters on standby in case the one I was using fell off (it didn't). Obligatory atmospheric shot by Mrs Zero Sei Flamboyant 5 -> Lekato wireless -> Zoom MS-60B+ -> home made jack-jack lead -> Tecamp Puma 900 -> GR Bass AT212, normal Caravelle memory foam trainers

He came on here a couple of times to reply to threads about his basses @Maniscream. I remember at the time thinking he came across as one of us, a really nice bloke who loves his bass gear (as well as an advocate of flatwounds which always moves a man up in my estimation). I read most of the Obits yesterday, it really is unusual for a bass player who most of the general public will never have heard of to receive such praise from music journalists and such love from fellow musicians ❤️

This is going to have to be my last new pedal for quite some time I think. Really need to get stuff sold but this is the sound I’ve been chasing for ages.

My bass playing is often described as agricultural.

And mine....

"Gay Kremlin?"

Maple Road Saturday 11/22/25 7:00-9:00 "Join us in the newly revamped Eden Ave. event venue located inside Game Over, downtown West Bend! Full bar, killer food menu including smash burgers and a Saturday night of live rockin' blues tunes!" I don't know about this one. I have one main concern. This is downtown West Bend (30k). We're not a 3 hour Saturday night party band. We're a better fit for the larger Summertime afternoon multi-band festivals and fairs, playing for 1.5 hours. This could be a real dud. I've been wrong before. And here's another issue. Dep drummer. Daryl

Bringing the tone down: I did a charity fundraiser with Bandwidth (covers and originals) for the Felbeck Trust at Cley Village Hall last night. It was a ticketed affair with a meal between sets (veggie and gluten free), with a few over 70 there despite the filthy weather. The meal was delicious in fact and we were provided with free drinks. The stage could have been excellent, if it wasn’t for the hundred or so chairs stacked at the back, which meant we were very cramped. It also looked a mess with the curtain tucked into the chairs. Anyway we played 2 x 1:15 sets and got plenty of dancers in the second set. I was really struggling, as I was diagnosed with a chest infection an hour before set up and had just started on antibiotics. I’m not sure how I managed to drive home. Gear was Guild Starfire 1 and custom P/J shorty into Blackstar U700 (via Peterson Strobostomp) and 2 LFSys Monza. DI to the desk. U700 master literally on just over 1, so two Monzas was complete overkill. I should just have connected the top one, as I don’t think the amp was working hard enough. We got loads of good feedback and possibly some follow on gigs🤞. Not a great pic and yes,mChris has to sit through gigs these days. We’re a poor old bunch🫤

Home straight… Bottom block fixed, bass bar reinforced, top going on. Slowly one step at a time. Leave it like this for 24hrs. Finish off tomorrow.

One from earlier in this year at the regular Monday Night Jam I go to. Having fun grooving to the Ceelo Green/Live at Darryl’s House version of I Can’t Go For That (No Can Do). Can you tell I love my new Sandberg?

Can they be trusted 😀

Got the bass and it was in as new condition. The bags are still on the tuners and film on the pickguard. Yay! The fit and finish are exceptional, the neck is a thing of beauty - reminded me of the Charvel necks everybody used to rave about. I actually quite like the colour, it is an unusual green but perfectly complements the darker colour of the neck. The preamp and eq are working perfectly as per the review above and you can get some positively thunderous tones out of the thing. It is perfect apart from the neck dive which when seated, is probably up there with the worst of any bass I've ever owned. Such a shame. Definitely worth what I paid for it but it could have been a 10/10.

Someone who does an advert without saying they are doing an advert.

As far as I can tell, they err... inform those people who lack the ability to form their own opinions what to think and believe. Think of them a bit like a gen Z version of Joseph Goebbels only with somewhat more inclusive agenda.

Last gig at the start of this month.

I’d imagine it would translate quite well. I can hear a difference running just my amp versus running my pedal board into my amp. Same way my amp Di is adequate- I never use it but had to recently as my tube pre amp wasn’t giving any sound (turned out it was a simple fix but the amp DI did the job in a pinch). Did it sound ok for the gig yes but it’s wasn’t as enjoyable a sound. I could defo he’s the difference in my IEM’s This same question gets asked a lot on forums and there’s been some great demos showing how a pedal can sound like another pedal but I believe Origin are going for more of an experience in both feel and tone. It might not be important to folk for a pedal to feel like an amp if it’s nearly £500 but it’s exciting that we have a recreation of a classic amp that folks are describing as nailing the tone and feel. Does a 5k bass vintage bass sound better than a £400 bass? Does it feel better to play versus the £400 bass? Not everyone cares for these things but it’s nice when we can feel and hear a difference and that can push something form desirable to must have fall in love at the first play. If a £99 pedal can do 80% great but some players live for the last 20% because that’s where the inspiration lives.

Before my life as a professional musician I used to work in IT. I also really liked advertising that I'd much rather have been doing music than being there, so I had a BassChat business card in my ID card holder. Imagine my embarrasment on the occasion we're all stood in a lift and my "i-have-no-social-filter-and-dont-know-when-to-shut-up" colleague spotted said business card, the letter B obscured by my lanyard..

First gig in a while for me, hernia op and rotator cuff uff injury means I have not played in anger since August. Still struggling so will take the Kala UBass Solid Body. Depending on the audience, might tell a joke about the UBass shrinking in the wash. However on Thursday I managed a session with the Fender Aerodyne so will start with that but change to the U Bass if necessary.

Have you just joined ? 😳 WTAF? I’ve got the stake, kindling and rope … “yes, of course” and “just because” are the only answers needed to your two questions

Ha ha! Dr King is ready for you now… (evil cackle, snap of latex gloves etc)

Like you, I’m mostly running these sounds clean (or with slight breakup when digging in). Yes, it is frustrating to hear most demos showing the harsher side of the SV because it’s very capable of some lovely clean tones. (I actually noticed the other day that Avishai Cohen was running his upright through an SVT-CL Heritage rig.) As mentioned above, the SV does have deeper and more prominent lows. The top end can also get much fizzier due to the high switch. And this is before using either of the cab sims. I thought getting the Fifteen would obviate my keeping the SV, but I do appreciate the extra low end heft it brings for certain sounds.

Oddly enough, Fender did build a headless prototype bass in 1975. It was the result of Gene Fields (of Fender's R&D Department) research into eliminating dead spots on basses. Gene’s research led to his designing a completely new instrument, the first Fender prototype headless bass. The instrument consisted of a maple neck-through body with mahogany wings. The neck had a 32″ scale with 23 frets and black position markers. The body was cut to a stylized Jazzmaster shape with a carved top similar to the LTD jazz guitar. The body-mounted tuner was a simple right-angle pull design with tuning knobs in the tailpiece. Individually adjustable bridge sections were used, as well as individually-adjustable mutes. The neck pickup was humbucking, while the bridge pickup was a P-Bass with a special cover. Two switches provided pickup control and phase reversal.

Update time: The two remaining Batch 1 necks (#4 and #5) are currently being painted and I expect them to be shipped later this week. The necks for Batch 2 have also been made and are currently being wrapped in an outer layer of cosmetic weave. This marks a change in our approach - we've found that the wrapping technique reduces wrinkles, creases, undulations and warpage by quite a bit. And the weave really pops when not covered by so much resin. So, a risk of sounding a bit corporate, we're constantly learning and adjusting to keep quality at the highest possible levels (for us). Hopefully I will be able to post a vid of batch 2 later.

It's getting dark out there earlier and earlier. Luckily, I got just the thing.

A while ago I splashed out on a cheap Kay Gremlin. The nachine heads responded to a drop of oil and I decided the pickup was ok. The slightly worn finish I tarted up with ratty mustang stripes and added a tiny amount of extra wear on the upper bout. Needed a shim to let me drop the bridge. Took me a couple of sessions to sort the frets... I suspect a few might lift again. I only resorted to superglue on one. Lots of filing, scraping and stoning. Action isn't super low but is much better. Quite a fun wee thing now.

Band photoshoot pic. Rob

Dear Mr @Al Nico, I am writing in response to your recent suggestion of a new bass position which you called "The Half Angel". I was intending to play at church tomorrow morning, and so this afternoon decided I would practice your move. The most appropriate song seemed to be "The Lord Reigns", an upbeat number (especially with our over enthusiastic young drummers), where the move could be employed on the repeated phrase "The Lord Reigns" in the chorus. My practice room at home is about 2.1x2.0m and has my work desk and chair, a small Ikea chair bed, Yamaha keyboard, two basses and an Ashdown combo. I decided that with careful alignment on the diagonal I could practice the move safely. Alas, I was mistaken. On the third "Reigns" of the second chorus I lifted the bass neck and my left leg as intended. However I caught my foot under the back of my work chair. This unbalanced me and the bass and I tipped leftwards at speed towards the chair and desk. The Bass is more expensive than the desk so I instinctively turned to the right to avoid smashing the headstock into the desk, but in the process twisted my hips in a manner not attempted since my graduation ball disco in 1988. I was now completely unbalanced (as indeed I was then). The chair, given angular momentum from my foot, spun round towards me as I fell headlong towards it still trying not to damage the bass. The back of the chair hit my face at roughly the same time as the bass knocked over the keyboard stand, and the.noise from the bass amp and me were equally loud and unpleasant. My fall continued and I finally came to rest sideways on the floor with the bass across my neck, the lead twisted around my legs, a terrible diminished chord emanating from the amp, and small cartoon bluebirds tweeting round my head. From this I conclude: 1) The move should be renamed "The fallen angel" or possibly "The falling sinner". 2) I am not, and never will be, cut out for "moves" 3) The good Lord has a sense of humour, occasionally slapstick. Yours, in traction, @Richard R.

Thanks Gents for playing along. I've had some good laughs.

Don't think you can beat this accessory for a bit of groin orientated stagecraft whilst simultaneously relic-ing your bass......

Give @PaulKing a prod ... he'll get the top off for you in no time at all.

I have several of the rollers spare and would be happy to post a couple to any cab constructor. You’d need your own handle but I think that’s a standard size.

Blue Aran hasn't had any black Tuffcab for months. Your best bet is to get a litre tin of Armacab from Penn Elcom. It's very similar to Tuffcab but thicker in consistency and with a higher pigment content. It'll cost £27 delivered. To get a decent finish, you'll need the foam rollers from Blue Aran. Unfortunately, they're out of stock of those as well but they're due in mid-December according to the website. In current weather conditions, it'll take some time to dry. So, leave each coat to dry overnight - and don't allow the paint to freeze, as it will then be useless.

Vapors of Morphine in Coventry last night. I didn’t get the chance to see Morphine back in the 90s, and I’ll take this as the nearest to it I’ll get. Great intimate gig in a record shop, with someone live painting it! Excellent stuff!

Mine is relic'd after a hot curry.

I still don't know what an influencer is

Pretty much done (yeah, right). I had to modify my pedalboard yet again, this time by adding an external effects loop to accommodate the wah.

So, I've finally got space to do a bit of work on this cab to make it worthy of using. I pulled the speaker, cleaned all the black tarry gunk off the edges, cleaned it up, and I've fitted 3mm high density foam speaker gasket. I've glued and dowelled the speaker mounting holes ready to sand down and re-drill. Some of the speaker mounting holes were a bit stripped and the screws couldn't be tightened. All the corners have been removed, sanded and repainted. I'll give them another coat tomorrow before refitting. The whole cab has had a really good clean, and it's come up very nice. The biggest job today was fitting the castors. I went for fairly big ones, 75mm grey rubber, with the front two having brakes. These are mounted with M6 bolts through the cab into internal T Nuts. There's no way these are going to pull off, and it will make it so much easier to move around. Next jobs - re-drill speaker mounting screw holes, more acoustic wadding inside, re-do the speaker wiring. Pics!

Too many windings, 3 is enough.

Had a very busy weekend and a break from the norm with some great dep gigs. Fri night & Sat morning depped in a production of Charlie & The Chocolate Factory, a very professional show and a chance to flex my reading chops, I then went straight from that gig on Saturday 120 miles down to a Holiday Park near Scarborough to dep for a band playing at an end of season party to finish off a very busy Saturday. Quite a contrast but some fun tunes to play. The theatre show was in a really nice old Theatre in Newcastle city centre, I took a few photos from the pit where I was sitting, it really gives the place a proper old timey feel rather than some of the sterile newer places.

Well the Cort GB Short scale bass arrived, I bought it from Jimmy Egypt in Glasgow last Monday and they set it up and posted it Tuesday, express 24, due to the ineptitude of Parcelforce it was delivered on Friday afternoon. I should add that the family at Jimmy Egypt were great chasing up the parcel and getting things sorted even though it was parcelforce at fault. I didn't get a chance to look at it Friday evening so not much time with it before our gig Sat, initial impressions were very good, the fit and finsh is perfect, fret ends smooth & lovely feeling roasted neck. The controls feel solid and have centre detent's for the eq knobs. bbot bridge is adequate and nut slots filed well. Tuners are smooth and do the job well. It was set up before delivery so just needed a few minor tweaks to get it perfect for me, the truss rod adjustment wheel at the heel of the neck is a joy and it was easy to get the action low with no fret buzz. The bass weighs exactly 7.5lbs and balances perfectly on the strap, it feels solid and the neck is comfotable, I did roll the fretboard edges as it is a fairly flat board with 15"radius which helps with the feel. The stock strings are not great so I changed them for a set of D'addario nickel round wounds. I used it for the whole gig, the Markbass preamp is great and the humbucker is like a small musicman pickup, positioned a little more forward from the bridge than a Ray. It has a 3 way switch for series, split and parallel, series is a big fat slightly edgey tone great for the rock covers we do, the split coil uses the rear coil of the humbucker and has a similar tone just a bit cleaner and brighter, the parallel is a clean tone with less mids. With the 3 band eq a lot of tweaking is available, I played throuh a Trace Elliot motion b preamp set flat into an Ashdown ABM600 again everything pretty much flat using the series setting on the bass and the preamp for minor adjustments for different songs the cab was a Laney 4x10 with Celestion Neo drivers. I was very pleased with sound I was getting, it was fat, powerful and smooth and sat well in the music and was easy to make small adjustments on the go. The black side dots are difficult to see on a dark stage so I will fit some luminlays For a bass that cost £299 the quality and spec are really quite amazing, I will use this bass a lot, it is an equal to my more expensive basses and the short scale is great for playability and the smaller pubs we play in.