Leaderboard

So I was recording an episode of my podcast with Dutch bass legend Rinus Gerritsen of Golden Earring, and I'd heard about him having a shortscale Rickenbacker 4001, of which many people *know* doesn't exist. So I asked him about it, he smiled and said "oh yeah that thing. I was in Chicago and a guy came up to me and said 'hey, you play those cheapo Danelectro basses, shouldn't you play a Rickenbacker?' I didn't really like Rics so I said 'nah the Danelectros are great, and by the way, who are you?' The guy said 'I'm a Ric representative'. So to be sure to get rid of the guy I said 'sorry man I'm a shortscale guy'. The Ric rep said 'oh but we have a shortscale, actually we have two! One was built for this country music guy, so if you tell me at which hotel you're staying I'll have it delivered to you'. So the next day there was a guy with a guitar case and there it was. One of two shortscale Rickenbacker 4001 basses ever built." And here it is. Mapleglo, walnut headstock wings, and it feels...weird. It feels like Ric but...different. Shorter, of course, but also...special. It is of course absolutely unique. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. I'm not a big Rickenbacker guy but this is quite something.

Finally... first gig tonight, almost a year to the day since the last one, and 17 months since the one before that. It was a wedding in a village hall in the hills south of Hexham. What a joy. Bar a few scratchy pots, the gear was spot-on, and the 71 P-bass I bought (what seems....) a lifetime ago finally got a run out. To my relief, it's seems to be a great one. I've got nine more gigs over the next month or so with various bands... it's wonderful to be back at it.

First gig in 17 months for our band last night. 2 x 1 hour sets. Great to be playing again, a few duff notes, but the punters really enjoyed it and a bonus with the landlord paying us more than we agreed. Fingers are sore this morning, possible blisters forming.

Testing new live cab combinations. Neighbors are thrilled ! 😄

All back together ready for restringing and a set up. Although in these pictures I noticed the fretboard wood could do with a tiny sand with some micro mesh and a buff up. I gave it a fret dress and although I didn't notice it in the flesh, the pictures show the wood is slightly dulled. It's got some lovely grain on the fretboard. I'm glad I opted for a single ply black, it's slightly different from the norm and I like it.

I may have posted this elsewhere, but I've had a few octavers and this is what I've found,I've included some rough guides to the used prices 😁 Purely my opinion of course,I'm sure others may disagree. BOSS Oc2/ 3/ Very synthy and warm sound,the benchmark for octavers. Doesn't track well but has that sound,which is great for synth tones or even the classic 80s "Pino tone" with the clean up full. - approx £80-£200 depending on condition or year. OC3 is a digital version and tracks very well, has an OK tone (not like the OC2) poly mode is useless on bass and the distortion is awful - approx £60-80 used. I haven't tried the OC5 but I think it's still digital even in vintage mode. Sounds close to the OC2 in the demos to me,enough to make me want to try one. The octave up is a nice touch,once again poly is useless- approx £120 ish Valeton - OC10 inexpensive and very small clone of the OC2. Even the colour and design is the same, only very small (not far away😂) for me gets 90% of the tone, it's just not quite as plummy or deep. Tracking as per the OC2 as well as overall low volume from the unit. Sadly discontinued, these used to be cheap, maybe not anymore. Approx £35+ EBS Octabass- one of my faves! Tracks really well and has a smooth,deep,natural tone and 3 modes for Tonal variation (I've had 4 😂)approx £70-120 depending on condition and version (there are now 5) MXR bass octave Deluxe Nice small size and tracks very well. Has two voices meant to replicate the OC2 and EBS these can be mixed,however found thst one tone always dominates the other,so really only two viable tones. Has a very cool mid boost to add punch. This model has a well documented issue (which I can confirm mine suffered from) in that it has a constant subsonic warbling noise when switched on,not noticeable when playing though. Reason given by the company was that it was so sensitive it picks up noise. I got rid as it annoyed and it's a massive shame as it's tracking and tone are excellent. - £75-95 (amendment- I got another of these, and no noise issue, so try not to get an early one, fantastic clean octave) MXR vintage - small size and based on a vintage OC2 earlier units still have the noise problem, I believe this has been sorted. - £100-120 COG T16/65/70 The T16 is a tiny enclosure and features a filter on the octave so it can sound synthy and aggressive or deep and clean.tracks fairly well about as well as an oc2 I'd say (this can cop an OC2 tone very well with the filter) V1 has a volume issue on the filter,this was sorted on V2. T65 is the same only has an additional octave up. Thus isn't the same as a POG as the octave up is analogue whereas it highlights the 1st order harmonics and adds some dirt really. Very dirty sound and fantastic for synth,however even with the octave up dialled down it still sounds dirty,and the tracking is not the best (strangely I found the T16 tracks better) It also has a very useful parallel loop,so it can run in parallel with other effects. It means your octave sound is clean underneath fuzz/filter etc T70 is basically 2x switchable T65S with a third sub only channel (to get the classic OC2 sub trick)I do feel the T65/70 is more of a synth engine than an octave. T16- approx £80-100 T65- approx £100- £130 T7O-£180-200 Cog is currently not building,so you don't see these so often, prices are likely to go up. Aguilar OCTAMIZER The one octave thst is all things to all men. It can do synthy or super fat and deep with the filter switch. It also has a useful tilt EQ (this can be used as an effect in itself with the octave turned down)built like a tank and sounds fantastic. Unfortunately IMO it's the worst tracking octaver I've ever used (I know this will open a can of worms)approx £80-120 Digitech Bass Synth Wah On top of it's various synth and filter modes, it has a synth octave. The synthy tone can be dialled out,leaving it as a digital octave. Tracks very well and sounds great,although not as fat or organic as Analog octaves. Approx £35-75 depending on whose selling😂 EHX POG A digital pedal with a very unique voice,it's very "organ" like. It tracks well but has a very synthetic sound,which can sound cool in certain situations. Approx £80-120 depending on model/condition etc Emma - Okto Nojs A dual pedal with seperate octave and fuzz, just referring to the octave. Has the usual modern octave feature of a filter on the octave signal, can can get deep and clean to dirty and edgy. It reminds me a bit of the Cog T16, tracks fairly welk if you play up high (which I always do) decent octaver with nothing out of the ordinary, but missing it with the dynamic fuzz, yields very synthy results a great fun pedal. Used approx £100- 130 (amendment- the octave does not track well at all with active basses, unless played right up in the dusty end,No issue with passives) Iron Ether -Subterranea Not pedal you see everyday, however I'm now on my second one of these, and for completeness, I'll mention it. A boutique Octave/synth, no two look the same and the enclosures are a work of art. At its heart it has an Analog Octave with the filter as others have, so the octave signal can go from smooth and deep, to dirty and edgy. Once again this can be set to sound OC2 ish (Very close I think). It has two additional synth voices, one in unison with your signal and one an Octave down. It has two three way switches so you can set these voices to square/pulse/triangle wave making for some very interesting tones, for some reason the uni synth doesn't track well at all, but used sparingly it adds a great edge on certain waveforms, the octave synth tracks fine. I've found the tracking on the octaver isn't great (No worse than the OC2),however as the sound has a glitchy lofi kind of vibe with the clean signal off, it just sounds incredibly cool and I've a lot of love for it. Used (If you can find one) £150- 200 There is a modern digital version called the Dubterreanea which i haven't tried, but seems to have improved on some aspects (2nd footswitch for the synth voices, very handy) Sorry for the novel,Just thought I'd share my thoughts on my favourite effect. Apparently the 3 leaf Octavbre is fantastic,but I haven't owned it, and it's £££££

Have you tried turning up the mids? Yes. Have you tried turning up the volume? Yes. Have you tried turning up with a lump hammer and smashing up the guitarists ridiculously loud cab?

Another not very well made article.

I have had a 4 string with a thin jazz neck for ~ 3 years, well built modern take on P&J ...the neck is fabulous....well balanced

Yep, I love it when they join in with percussion. I do sometimes have to play a bit louder so they get in time.

I was in a band once with someone who insisted that his Marshall 100 head needed to be at a certain level to get ‘his sound’. Actually he was right - master volumes on Marshall heads have never (IMHO) been that successful in achieving this, as you really need to get the power amp valves working. Just winding up the preamp(s) is not enough for getting ‘that’ sound, which is why the very sensible move to smaller valve amps/combos has enabled this to happen but at more sensible levels. 100 watts of full on Marshall is too much for many gigs let alone a rehearsal room. I have an original Marshall 1974 model 18 watt combo which is perfect for rock and blues stuff - when fully opened up it is one of the best guitars sounds I’ve encountered, as well as loud enough to be used unmiked.

Last Sat...

With your rig (as mine is similar I know how loud it will go) if it was swamped by a band I’d really consider whether I wanted to join them or not. Pubs will probably only ever put them on once, and proper music venues with FOH will have soundmen that will get very frustrated by them. If you do join I’d say adopt a Cliff Williams type role and play solid without expecting to cut through, and def get some ACS earplugs.

Thanks for the heads up. Although I did hear that Bill Wyman actually played most of the bass parts on Beatles recordings.

I have an Concord 1 that I've owned from 1982. It's been through the wars as you can see but it still plays really well. Solid as a rock, really punchy sound.

Gigged a BB424X today. Tamed the low end via my Basswitch and subtle cuts on the provided Fender Rumble combo. It’s a nice alternative to my jazz and comfortable to play. Not as skinny a neck on my jazz and a wee bit thicker than my p bass but overall pleasing! The P bass has the “B” neck which is probably the neck profile which really is a best fit for me. I’ve been told if you search on Facebook for ‘ EH32 Live ‘ you’ll see a clip!

A few more progress shots. Much happier with how this neck is turning out.

Our 4th outing since lockdown, requiring a mammoth journey to Essex and back from East Yorkshire. Total journey around 550 miles, got in at 3.30am. Still, a worthwhile trip with around 700 punters in the theatre. Staff at the gig were excellent - we had to show proof of negative lateral flow tests and wear masks backstage etc, all with no problems and I felt quite safe onstage. We played well (apart from one mishap in the 2nd set which we recovered from quickly!) and it felt like things just may be starting to return to some sort of normality at last. (Icing on the cake was a great pizza joint having just opened 20 yds from the stage door!)

Starting the day with a great Flabba Bassline on stray away girl

Second gig of the weekend and god were my fingers feeling it. I had to play some songs with a pick just so I could save some use for later. So a village pub not too far, normally not busy. Got there, they showed us the alcove we were playing in and in conversation it popped up as 'you could play outside if you want', so we did. Thought it would be pretty empty, but when we started soundcheck people started pouring from everywhere, it was heaving (although not as close as yesterday). Apart from the finger thing, I had a problem with the amp / pedals / whatever, just couldn't get much volume for some reason, swapped the speaker leads round, tried the amp at full, hardly any volume, fiddled with the board and then something happened and all was good, but it unsettled me a bit. But after that all was good, played until the latest we could (had a curfew outside), every seemed to enjoy it a lot. If this is what post covid gigging is like, I am impressed, seems like everyone really wants to have a good time.

I first heard him many many years ago when I was 18, me and my sister listened to this live album and we just thought it was the best music we had ever heard. . . Still to this day he blows me away. His voice, his keys playing on this live album, his vocal power and control. No other soul singer even comes close to his vocal range. Willie Week,s bass playing on this live album is just..!!

So if you'd like to provide a loving stable "forever" home to a BB that's been left in a loft, or no longer gigged due to basschat "Glass back syndrome". Contact Dr Travs, BB relocation and restoration service! A few months ago he very kindly took delivery of a vintage white BB425 from a very lovely man, which he stripped down and setup. And brought to live with my flock. He even fitted a BB1025/P35 bridge which a nice man on BC was selling. Not two days ago he brought to live with me an 80s BB350f fretless in Pearl White (It goes pink in the sunlight, awesome) from a funny fellow in eBay land, that probably used it as a doorstop or something. he replaced a broken bridge and gave it his famous TLC, he even gave it a chance to be fretted, but it still wants to identify as a fretless in as world that isn't kind to fretless. So if you have it in your heart to love a BB that currently is about as popular as an excitable dog at a miss lovelylegs contest, please donate to Dr Travs and his team of magical elves. So I present my two current BB'S "The White Sisters" BB425 in vintage white with an upgraded Yamaha vintage + bridge AKA - Jayne BB350f in pearl White AKA- Luna Another shout out to the lovely @Hacksawbob for tracing his 5 string pickguard, which means Jayne will be getting a new Tort frock 😁

Is bass X good for genre Y? Yes.

Anybody else watching this on Disney+..... Suppose just those of us with small kids! Watched part 1 last night, excellent. Sir Paul and Rick Rubin talking about how certain songs came about and isolating the bass and talking about how it works with the track. Sadly not a full bass documentary, so they comment on the tone on While my Guitar Gently Weeps but don't say how he got it. I'm off to buy a Hofner. And maybe a Rick if I can get one for a realistic price (£500 or less...)

Another vote for the Lidl batteries, I bought a couple of 12 packs of the coloured ones (2,300mAh, ready charged) a few years ago after having good results with some older versions too. Most of them are a few years old now with the oldest maybe 10 years old. I probably lose at most a couple a year that won't charge, but basically they go on forever, a few are rolled out at Christmas only to power lights and they are all good too even after sitting unused for 11 months, the rest are in pretty constant use and have been recharged hundreds of times. I also have a Lidl intelligent charger that does what it says on the tin, the only thing is that if I completely flatten them (usually by leaving my Zoom B10N on overnight) it detects the batteries as duds. I have an old fashioned trickle charger and 5 mins in that gives enough charge for the intelligent charger to identify them as good. Once charged they are back to behaving normally. At gigs they run the B1 a Zoom H4N recorder and my Line6 wireless transmitter plus my Trantec in ears receiver and all run for longer than the length of the gig, I carry spares but have never needed them.

We played HRH Sleaze in Sheffield at the O2 Academy. Biggest crowd since Covid broke so lots of rules about testing and vaccinating for the audience. We were slightly under rehearsed but both the electric set last night and acoustic set this morning had a certain charm and were well received.

My third gig depping on lead guitar with a rock’n’roll band. The dep bass player is ill (don’t ask!) and BL decided to go ahead without bass. I played my Gretsch Duo Jet through my DIY 5E3 and used every opportunity to pick out thumpy bass lines - and it worked. Same again tonight, this time in a pub garden so I’ll also be going DI into the PA.

So uhm I've decided to keep the five string and to also order the exact same bass as a four string. Can't wait.

All versions of the Octabvre are amazing IMHO, but they almost never come up second hand, and the mk3 is currently unavailable as Spencer Doran (mr 3leaf) was having some mental health issues and not building. He's starting to build again but there's no indication as to when anything will be available. The EHX POG is great as well, plus you get an octave up. Heard good things about the MXR bass octave deluxe too.

I've found a singer with PA and lots of experience in some relatively well known punk bands. I've contacted a few drummers who I know are good. Guitarists shouldn't be too hard to find. Maybe we'll be the next Idles but even older.

Haven’t tried the MkIII but this model is fantastic

I’ve watched the first episode too, and thought it was brilliant. Going to do some more over the BH weekend.

They also make the Metropolis edition : And the Star Wars one : That's a serial tone killer thing : https://www.kemper-amps.com/profiler/overview

Yep, it's not where you start, or where you end up...it's about the journey, right?

Just think of the fun you’ve had with all that kit and the friends you’ve made playing/buying/selling… not all a waste… 🙂

After spending £1000s and £1000s over the last 4 decades, I’m back to doing most of my gigs with a cheap Squier Mustang. It’s like a pair of comfy slippers.

Really liking the new one from Robert Browne, it’s a cover of Marley’s real situation, Bassline played by Glen Browne , nice groove

A mod can merge that into his main thread easy enough. Just have to wait for them all to sober up 😎

"Main bass"??? That suggests you don't own enough basses....

Grindr

10 months later the bass has finally arrived... Overwater J5 Contemporary Figured Maple Top Ebony Fretboard Abalone Inlays Black/Grey Burst - Comes out more purple in photos Can't wait to plug it in later!