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First gig of 2026 up in cold Manchester at Band On The Wall, was ace. Surprising number of people showed up for a two day mini-Americana festival celebrating the 10th anniversary of the bigger Buckle And Boots festival held at Whitebottom Farm near Stockport. Katy Hurt had a 45 min slot on Saturday evening and we played pretty well I think (save a few little fluffs from yours truly). It was LOUD onstage but actually very well balanced. Bass was my ACG TKO, which interested one fan to the extent that he’s contemplating commissioning one purely to hang on the wall…! Rig was house-supplied TC Electronics something with an Ampeg cab, so I just used my Digbeth pre for the FoH and to sculpt the onstage tone. We had a blast, got back to Katy’s house around 1.30am and now I should probably get out of bed 😆

First gig of the year and back in Stramash,Edinburgh. 3rd time for our band SHOUT! Not as busy as before but still a decent turnout! Mild amusement in the dressing room as our trombone/trumpet man told us how he got told off and nearly ejected from a city centre pub for using a vape! He then proceeded to stand just offstage and do the very same thing! Cue fire alarm and knock on door from security! Lucky for us he was ok about it! Been in similar situations and a couple of fire engines have pulled up outside! All good though! Black Is Black SHOUT! Live Stramash,Edinburgh.mp4

Decided to bypass test's and simply mask the cabinet up in the kitchen. and paint it. As the CFO is out and it is still below freezing, I masked the cabinet up before painting. In hindsight this was a mistake, I grossly over estimated how thick the paint covering is. Whilst it's like tar in the tin, it spreads thinly and evenly. A simple mask rather than masking sacrificial parts would have been far quicker but you live and learn. Managed to get two smooth coats on the cab in the celler. The textured coat is last and I may get that on tonight. The red corners are sacrificial so don't care about them. The real ones will be attached using no nails as I didn't want screws showing. It's still wet in the photo Rob

Latest incarnations of my boards. Gigging requirements keep changing, so we have plenty of dirt options on one for the 90’s grunge and alt rock set, and more of a filter focus on the other for the 80’s pop covers.

Thanks guys, I appreciate the replies. Just to update: I've ordered some silicon finger protectors which seem to be mostly designed for beginners who are bothered by sore fingers - I don't hold out much hope for them. After doing some research and reading in one article that a possible symptom of Vit B deficiency is "electric shock" type pain in fingertips (exactly as I described in my original post). I've taken a trip to Holland & Barrett and am now taking Vit B complex, as suggested by Hellzero. In case anyone in future suffers the same problem, I'll update this thread.

Oh, this is wonderful ! 👍 Youtube wins again. Drummer plays a tree, and special guitar solo is at 3.40 Enjoy.

Education didn't really work for me when I was young. I failed just about every GCSE but then blagged my way in yo an apprenticeship and managed to achieve a distinction in every subject at college while my mates got drunk at lunch time and smoked weed and chatted up the hair and beauty girls. I also managed a grade A in A level maths in my 30's after getting a D in my GCSE. There's probably no single education plan to suit everyone and I don't think intelligence should ever be judged based on qualifications.

This website gives you access to almost all secondhand hi-fi items... I narrowed the search for turntables to U.K., good quest: https://www.hifishark.com/search?q=turntable

I've just stumbled upon this and it might interest people looking for a new mixer. I stress that I've not seen one yet or tried it out but it looks like a really useful addition to what is available and has a very different approach to what is already available. It skips on the touch screen and everything is 'physical' controls; note the parenthesis. You can control it with an app but that is via bluetooth not via a router. To me it is set up for live work more than a studio it only seems to allow two channel recording and it has a very physical, practical set of facilities. Andertons have it in for £499 So basically it is a 12/16 channel mixer with 10 XLR/mixed inputs and a couple of stereo inputs, standard stuff. Four main outputs, four submix outputs and three Aux outs. Mixing is via 6 capacitative touch faders, effectively a separate touch screen for each channel, No more problems with dirt in the faders I suppose. Faders are arranged in two banks Everything else is accessed by touch switches and rotary knobs at the side of the screen, which is not touch sensitive it is just a display. Eq is fully parametric with three bands and HPF on every channel. Compression is available on each channel as is phantom power FX is a comprehensive collection of reverb and delay, again with all the parameters adjustable by the rotary controls. To me the facilities are pretty much all you need for a typical pub band and very similar to the offering I have on my RCF mixer. This is going to be much less flexible than the Behringer X18's but so much more intuitive than any of the current stagebox mixers. The use of physical switches and rotaries is going to be completely comfortable for anyone who has used an analogue mixer and much better/simpler for anyone mixing from on stage. All the channel fx are available with one click and completely flexible, you can do as little or as much as you want. I have to say that this might be a game changer for many bands, physical controls are so much simpler when you are also playing. Alto have clearly looked hard at the shortcomings of other budget mixers and this looks to have come up with fixes that make sense. I've no idea of the build quality or long term reliability of all those knobs and buttons but Alto have been producing reliable and well loved speakers for a while so no reason to doubt them. I haven't found a manual yet so there are many questions I couldn't answer, primarily if you can save scenes and waht is on the app but this looks promising

As usual Sire just slipped out the new basses ahead of NAMM! For 2026 we highlight * P7/V7/V7 vintage. "New Gen" takes over Gen 2 in what seems satin finish? I can't see much gloss there. New neck profile, colours and electronics. Consistency in weight, chambered bodies * Headless/headed top rsnge - F10 DX and X10 DX. How did Fodera not sure I do not know, but I love it. I'm assuming these will come at £1200 ISH £1500+ (thanks @MichaelDean)? Hard case and wooden covers and wooden ramp as accessory. * Other colour updates and edits, to note the Dingwall Nolly swirly finishes... https://www.sire-usa.com/pages/2026-marcus-miller-new-models What do you think? Ander.

It's a Paul Webb bassline, copied note for note by Tony.

Rubin. because the little sod will randomly wander around the studio, occasionally make a bit of noise, and then claim all the credit.

There is a lot more focus on the education when you are paying for it yourself thats for sure!

That F10DC is a huge aesthetic imorovement on their previous Fodera type single cut. Looks nicer than an actual Fodera.

Whenever I used to interview people I always used to respect someone with an OU degree higher than from a 'bricks and mortar' place as I recognised how much they must have actually wanted the degree. I do have to admit some bias though. I did an MBA with the OU when I was doing a job with a huge amount of travel (some years up to 80 % of my life was in a hotel room).

I went really deep into the rabbit hole of in ears. I went from KZ ZST, KZ Castor pro, KZ ZS10, Sennheiser IE100 and IE400, Shure 535, Plunge Audio Dynamic, Soundbrenner Waves (and Westone X30 are on its way) and I went back to Sennheiser. Now I have my IE400 with custom molds and the IE100 as a spare. I am even tempting on trying the IE500, but I read that they are not that good and they are expensive, but the Sennheiser are really really good. I am preparing a full review of all the models I have tried. I am also currently using the Xvive U45 with the Rolls PM351. It is a great combo IMO that allows me to have always control over my bass (sometimes I am very picky and my experience has taught me that it is better to rely on you than in the soundguys, since we do not work with our own soundguy). I previously have the Sennheiser XSW, but this is more straightforward and easy. And I had some dropouts with the XSW and never with the Xvive.

my relic ..put a few extra doinks on it since i dont have to be treating it with kid gloves.

I wonder if Bass Direct or Bass Bros would be interested in attending, they are fairly local. Might be worth inviting them.

Cyclists who keep their helmet on while sat in a cafe. Are they expecting something to fall on their head? They do look a bit "special". Maybe its a mating thing, maybe the female cyclist sees your S-Works helmet and is attracted by it while the man in the Giro helmet gets no action. Its only lycra wearing road cyclist, Ive never seen mountain bikers or leisure cyclists leave their helmets on in cafes. Im a mountain biker, my helmet and gloves come off as soon as I've stopped.

Of course not but I’m running out of room to put food and clothing 🫠

Your not naively assuming a 1:1 bass:bassist ratio? 🤣🤣

Working in music retail gave me a different perspective. We sold basses from the 3 brands you mentioned, and would pretty regularly re order popular colour combos, for example. It's not like we sold loads of US Stingrays, but I know for sure there would have been several examples of the same spec/colour in the same town, so when you expand that globally it's not insignificant! I do think more people hold onto quality instruments than perhaps we assume; being members of this GAS - inducing den of disrepute (Bass chat) I think warps the perspective a little 😂

As you say, sometimes it works. I look at clips of bands like Motley Crue back in the 80s when they were drunk/drugged to the eyeballs and they were great. Look at clips since they’ve gotten sober and, well not so good would be diplomacy at work.

It's interesting that just because you're a musician in a band it's assumed you're into drugs. Most musicians I know are stoned cold sober and it's the audience who are stoned. As you say, not everyone is into it.

I’ve never tried to play it but whenever I hear the song that fantastic bassline juts out. May have to give it a try 👍

Chairman Meow. You know it'll sit above you and judge you silently as you create...

String spacing at the bridge is about 15mm on my violin bass (Hofner, German artist series) 40mm width at the nut I got it recently on a whim, never tried one before and didn't expect to like it I love it, unique and unlike anything I've ever played! It came with very heavy gauge black tape wound strings with a high tension - makes we want to play with a pick which I rarely choose to do

… spent a bit of time taking the stickiness off the Sub Phatty end caps last night before it’s first outing at church this morning. All good and about half the worship set was spent using it, a very phat sound indeed (kind of makes the electric sound a bit weak in comparison though 🤔🫣😁)

I am very impressed with the sterling short scale feet work. ground and black filled feet tangs were a nice touch on a bass for 650! Quality is remarkable. The main difference I see vs the American other than the badging, bridge, and control plate, is the heavier hardware, but the weight feels good on such a small bass, and make it feel substantial dispite its surprisingly small size. Love it!

Using CNC / Mechanisation to build basses is only logical from a viewpoint of quality of manufacturing and ability to reproduce compatible parts. Even boutique manufacturers do this, here is a Facebook post by Roger Sadowsky from back in 2023 talking about his New York Custom Shop basses being made with CNC machines:

With the advent of CNC machines, I don't think automation defines mass produced any more. There are low volume shops with all the machines. IMO mass produced just means high volume output, fewer choices and, in many cases, reduced QC. There are boutique shops which contract out cutting bodies and making necks. They are low volume and high quality, with many options, but they are probably not defined as hand made anymore.

I bought a Vintage guitar from GAK about 6 years ago, it was absolutely shocking, the routing, the neck joints, fretwork etc. Everything that could have been wrong was wrong. It went back to GAK and Dennis Drumm from JHS (the brand boss) was in touch to apologise and they put it right within days, sending out a replacement that had been set up with my choice of strings and some extra goodies thrown in. The replacement guitar was really outstanding, and JHS stands by its products 100%. I've also dealt with JHS and Dennis over one of the Vintage ProShop guitars. Now, they are very good indeed, that one is a keeper.

Oops!... I Did It Again — Britney Spears

No snow today and the CFO is heading to York for the day leaving me as something called "the responsible parent". Given my eldest is severely hungover in a farm near Kirkby Lonsdale and my youngest is off to work, that leaves me and the dog. I might accidently have to check the cellar and see how warm it is and perhaps check the Armacab paint and see if its frozen, and if not frozen, and all OK, it seems a shame not to test out the paint on some surfaces using the smooth roller for two coats and then the textured roller for the third coat. I will need to build some of jig to hold it but I suspect a coat hanger or two might be just the ticket. Has anybody any experience of masking areas off? Rob

My ex-wife used to have a thing of not wanting the kids to go to uni. They now each have a 1st-class degree in their chosen subjects and one has a PhD. (They've also got student debts...)

Mechanical decoupling is an audiophile myth. What vibrates the stage is the acoustical output of the speaker, not mechanical coupling from the cabinet, which would be the tail wagging the dog. What can occur is that the vibrating stage will cause the cabinet to vibrate. The best way to prevent that is with a piece of yoga mat. More on the subject: https://ethanwiner.com/speaker_isolation.htm

@Mrbigstuff I don't see that happening, there's no real parallel between China and Japan in this respect. Post-war Japan had crippling poverty coupled with a heavy US military presence, folk grew up with a culture they wanted but couldn't afford. When their economy picked up folk bought American. China had decades of crippling poverty but almost zero experience of US culture. Now things have improved, when they want nice things they buy domestic 🙂 One of the Zheng'an luthiers, Zhang Weiyi, charges between $26,000 and $52,200 for his guitars; man has a waiting list 😎

Mass produced. . . someone calls the timber yard and orders 20 tons of wood to be delivered. Not mass produced. . . . the luthier goes to the timber yard and selects the wood he's going to make into basses.

🙄 😂 Mark

Honestly, learning by doing is best. If you want a short cut, I'm happy to demo my method with you, if that would be of use/interest?

Good video by Hervé Jean here: But also if the new strings are a wider gauge than the old ones, maybe the slots in the bridge are too narrow, so the strings are tending to stick as you tune up and pull the bridge forward? A luthier won't charge very much to adjust the bridge feet and slot width for you. So if it continues then get it booked in. I went from steel to gut and my bridge was always collapsing. A luthier fixed it for £150.

I know that this might not be the main point of what you were saying, but i worked with a tech once who used to brag to anybody that would listen, that 'no child of his was ever going to go to university'. I don't believe a university education to be the be all and end all, but I could never understand why he wanted to handicap his kid's futures so much.

This tends to be a rather clumsy option for the fretting hand, though. ...

GP-50 review by my bandmate Lee 👇 here for anyone who’s interested, looks good value still and much better having a screen and two footswitches - just the fact it does NAM captures makes it worth the price alone - some excellent captures of stuff like the DCX Bass and the Jad Freer Capo which can either save you a lot of money, or give you a chance to try the sounds before committing serious money to them. Saying that I’m buying an Anagram on Monday 🤣