Leaderboard

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And the final verdict is, it does work. The B string does not thunder like the 64' stop on a church organ, but in my heart I knew that would be the case. It will probably be a string for special occasions only. But if nothing else, it will remind me that I am now more used to a 5 string than a 4 string so muscle memory will not have to adapt The original preamp sits nicely with the pickup filling out the lower register nicely. In case anyone has ever had any doubts about Jez's abilities, the man is a wood whisperer.

Similar story here. We should have bought a Basschat bottle and shared it around.

My latest guffing-about-with project thing, a Westfield 'Bird-shaped thing. Bought for next to nothing on my local Farcebook marktplatz. Was cheap because it's scruffy and was missing half its knobs and had really awful strings and is a Westfield, most of which is easily sorted. The fingerboard is filthy and cleaning it is the first thing on the list... well the 4th thing, having already 1) binned the old strings, 2) chucked some temporary knobs on, and 3) fitted a black bridge. Some black tuners will be in the pipeline too I think, probably a full electrics overhaul and maybe even new/different pups depending on what it sounds like. The action was surprisingly low and the neck felt really good to play in the quick blast I gave it. Inevitably there will be massive neck dive but I will cross that bridge when it comes along. I'm not expecting it to be any great shakes really, I only got it for the look... as deep as a puddle, me

It might be from their Irøningbörd range?

Classic StingRay (think it’s a 2014)

I'm pretty certain it's IKEA, from their carpoultunnoul range

It went well!. Reasonably quiet, and the Elf/,One10 did the business easily. There were many Telecasters!

And who can forget Vim Fuego?

… and finally this Classic JR for the Soul/Funk/ Motown stuff I also will hopefully get back to soon 👍🏼:

..then this one for my church stuff : .. the Beta is a lovely pedal, should be great when using IEMs.

just sneaked another under the radar I see ! have a look here

New board to accommodate the Barefaced Machinist I won in their recent Instagram competition 😎

Not for sale, unfortunately.

You are John McVie and I claim my five pounds...

I would go so far as to dare suggest that without either a decent singer or a tight drummer, you're knackered.

I was invited to audition for a band once, over in Oldham and a guitarist that i knew was putting it together. We all learned a few songs in advance and had goes on the night. I was a known quantity to the guitarist and was sort of 'in' as a result, but he was very keen on this keyboard player. The keyboard player was really good (apart from her having a proper strop at me for not knowing Riders on the storm by The Doors off the top of my head, as it wasn't actually one of the songs we'd been asked to learn). She was reliant on the guy who was singing that evening for transport. He couldn't carry a tune in a paper bag. Listening through the evening, I seemed to be the only one who was distressed by his warbling. I rang the guitarist later - he had serious designs on getting this excellent keyboard player in and if the singer was part of the deal... well, so be it. He was mortified when I told him that I couldn't be in a band with someone who couldn't sing in charge of the lead vocal. They lasted another two rehearsals. The singer and keyboard player started to haunt a number jam nights in our local area and, while she glared at me, he insisted on getting up singing and trying to chat people up into taking him on. It sadly never worked. A band is only as good as the people in it. If you have a lead singer who can't sing, you're knackered.

HX Stomp has been my only pedal for the past year (well, the Stomp and a few utility pedals to control it). It's a great platform, and it's really flexible. I'm moving on to an HX Effects as of this week, because my primary need these days is something to go in front of my amp, and I want more footswitches and easier programmability, but I have nothing bad to say about the HX Stomp. The main downside is its lack of switches, which is why I've had to expand it as much as I have, but if you can live with that and create cleverly designed presets and snapshots, you're golden. Here's my pedalboard as it stands today, and is getting ripped apart and rebuilt with an HX Effects within a few days. I'll happily claim that you can't beat this amount of flexibility in such a compact setup.

This is a real shame. Particularly considering Mesa had left their previous distributor and it appeared that prices for Mesa gear were going to be considerably more affordable. Alas, while it appears that the the gear is going to be more affordable it appears that the gear is not being made for anyone outside of the US for the foreseeable future. I'm conscious that there are supply problems, however there are several other US manufacturers who are still exporting products and Mesa are presently the only company I am aware of who are deciding to simply not fulfil any international orders whatsoever. However, the position taken isn't actually as bad as the complete lack of communication to Andertons until such time that Andertons had probably secured a whole host of orders worth presumably tens of thousands of pounds going back the previous 6-7 months since the new distribution model was launched (amid a certain degree of fanfare). It appears that there has been a complete lack of transparency to international dealers like Andertons. I'm conscious that we are still in the process of coming out of a massive global pandemic with shortages to all manner of materials (I struggled to find concrete and sand to build a patio!) but the approach by Mesa is particularly poor. I am sure that Mesa have underlying reasons and that the parts shortages issue is a real issue, but the way in which the reasons were communicated (or rather not communicated) is disappointing and frankly, a bit Gibson-esque.

I've used my Trace Elliot heads with a variety of cabs - TE (obviously), Mesa, Schroeder, Vanderkley and Glockenklang amongst others. I can't remember being disappointed with any of them. If there is a Mathematical equation it'll probably be: TE+ anything = perfection

It's a fine pick up. Sounds like a P and doesn't have the mid scoop of 1/4 LB'er. One of the original replacement pick ups for the P bass. I'd be more than happy to have one in a p bass - in fact I did for a few years. If in doubt a Model P is a solid bet. If you want to agonise over marketing spiel and pick up's you 'think' you should have go ahead but when jamming with the band you really want the P bass character and the Model P will deliver. Telt!

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Status & Trace were a classic 80s combination. Mark King springs to mind. I had a Washburn Status geat bass ,sadly sold. Status necks always felt a little chunky for me. I have several Trace heads, which aren't too heavy. I only use with lightweight Vanderkleys of Barefaced. A well preserved Trace Head is the way to go.

I have a stage name and have been using it since 2006. initially it was a device to help me deal with shyness, but has since become a separate thing. When I joined Thunderstick, I suggested I use my real name, but it was decided that I keep my stage name as it ‘fitted’. I’m registered with prs etc as both my ‘born’ name as well as my stage name

Well at the risk of causing further upset, lets recap and see what we appear to be facts: Oiling your fretboard can make it look and feel more pleasant. Over oiling can cause problems by softening the fretboard. Oiling varnished fretboards can cause unpleasant streaking. Then some points which are matters of opinion, but less contentious: Sellers of fretboard oil emphasise the benefits of their products to help drive sales, which may encourage over-use. Significant damage is rare and moderate use of fretboard oil doesn't seem to cause problems. Custom fingerboard oil isn't significantly different in performance or effects, but smells more pleasant. My personal opinion: More instruments are ruined through over adjustment of truss rods and clumsy customisation; no-one is going to say 'stop adjusting your truss rod' or 'don't fit new pickups'.

Originally Alice Cooper was a band name. Same as Sade, with lead singer Helen Folasade Adu sharing, then taking over the name. Blondie could possibly be put in the same category, as the name was the band, but was pretty much a nickname for lead singer Debbie Harry.

Long story short : I once sold an early Squier Vintage Modified 70's Jazz Bass to a friend. It was really excellent sounding, way better than a lot of original ones. He started to use it in the different bands he was in and at the conservatory where he was studying. People were always telling him to get a decent bass : Buy a real Fender was what he was always told. So one day he put a fake Fender logo on it and a different pickguard (scratchplate for the others) : Suddenly it became an astounding bass and he got complimented for his sound. 🤦‍♂️ Sad but true.

Get your money back and buy an Ashdown.

No Self Control - Peter Gabriel

I'm fairly new to the world of flats, but so far..... I thought I'd experiment with a relatively cheap (for flats) fender set for my first pair and whacked them on a Precision. I'm not a fan really, the tension is too high for me personally and it feels like I'm playing with cables. Over the past few years I've become predominantly a pick player (I've been playing in heavier/louder bands), but after playing with fingers (in a blues band) in a 3hr rehearsal I found my fingers were hurting with the fender flats. I still have calluses, so don't think it's a case of having wussy fingers, but I am quite heavy handed. A few months ago I out some TI flats on an SG and they're a dream to play. Really easy to fret, really easy to bend and they sound great too. Although they're a bit more expensive, they'd be my first choice.

I do exactly the same jonesy, I played my P for years then swiched to jazzes and the P went back in the case for about 2 years, then I got it out one day and loved it again now I’m liking both 😁, and looking at steinbergers

Hey all, I’ve had a Pedaltrain Nano Max for while but no managed to decide what to put on it. I’ve finally come to this: … I guess we’ll see how long it stays like that ha ha!!

Japan - The Very Best Of... Tend to get old CD's from Music Magpie via eBay for a few quid... Not really my thing back in the 80's, couple of mates were in to the weird scene... i was more Motorhead n Zep n Gu!tarz... Mick Karn's name cropped up in another thread so i thought id give it a whirl. Saw Sylvian and Fripp 20ish years ago...

I discovered them a couple of years ago, and saw them play in London. One of my best ever gigs. Fantastic. It was the hottest day for years (trains were cancelled due the heat) and they still wore the big furry hats😃.

Obvious, but inevitable... Psycho Killer - Talking Heads

Does it matter though? It's a standard P-bass footprint pickup, if you don't like it you could flog it and choose from loads of alternatives to replace it. I doubt you'd end up more than £30 out of pocket selling the DiMarzio.

The other one looks interesting, not seen that before, double Ps on a BB, anyone come across one of those?

@Reggaebass Last year I bought an Ibanez EHB1505 (five strings version) : it is a very light and ergonomic bass, very dynamic with more options than needed, excellent Nordstrand pickups and typical Ibanez Vari-mid preamp (very good, in fact). The neck is a pleasure to play and the workmanship is flawless. It's now gone to a friend as I have a long love/hate affair with fivers... But I am the problem, not the bass.

Orange crush also an option

I was once entered into an Irish music competition under the name Sean O'Sullivan, by a branch secretary who couldnt' remember my name and had lost the beermat with it written on!

Kid-in-a-sweet-shop feeling!

This is an obvious technique problem that’s common for beginners. If I was starting again I would join Scott’s bass lessons where I’m sure there are copious lessons on proper technique.

So I had a go at playing bombtrack for the first time in ages and with the no bass backing track.. A little bit rusty in parts but nothing I can't iron out. The question is, is it the rightsong for an audition.. it's got palm muting, slides, bends, chords, dynamics.... hmmm 10000000_769597590396874_5640884625868416501_n.mp4

This is one of those ideal small jobs for 'in between the bigger stuff' jobs. Well, mainly I say 'mainly' because I ended up spending most of this morning getting the finish off the fretboard!! Yes, you live and learn! Most builders will tell you that stripping finish off a modern bass body can be a nightmare - but necks and fretboards are straightforward. That's because, on a body, many modern makers put a viciously hard undercoat under their poly finishes and you would go mad if you tried to sand it off. Generally industrial-grade heat guns are the only way! On the other hand, necks are always lightly finished and hand sanding is a breeze. And even more so for fretboards where generally they are not finished in the first place. Or so I thought before today... Because Yamaha clearly don't play to the same rules. This fretboard had the viciously hard undercoat - and you can't risk dig-ins and burns on a fretboard from the fairly brutal heatgun and decorators scraper approach, so it has to be basically sanded. One hour in: One and a half hours in, realised it was going to need some help with the help of a razor used like a scraper: Two hours in...there's some wood showing! (but only at the edges so far) : Two and three quarter hours later - we're down to wood : And a quick damp cloth check to make sure that there's no residual in there: So that's the easy bit done, then

The control cavity was shielded with copper tape so that's done. Next was the wiring. The original plan was to have two knobs that do nothing and the other two to be passive volume and tone but I thought it might be an idea to see if the original preamp would work with a magnetic pickup instead of the original piezo. I've seen some preamps whose input is suitable for use with either but I have no details of this one so it was a question of just 'giving it a go'. And it does work, surprisingly well too. I'll chat with Owen to see how he would like it but it had to be tried as it was so simple to refit!!! Recessing the bridge has worked quite nicely - the strings can now go that little bit lower which makes quite a difference to how it feels.