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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 😁

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.

Had a busy week, last week, with 3 festivals & an outdoor theatre gig. The highlight once again was playing to 30,000 people at Carfest South on the Friday..

A few jazzes here! - 1972 (sunburst & tort - pickup covers now removed!) - 1969 (natural & tort - replacement fretboard, bought right here on BC) - AVRI ‘62 reissue (Lake placid blue W/ matching headstock - refinish) - Geddy Lee (CIJ model w/ mirror pickguard) I’ve had a couple of others over the years, including a 2012 USA Jazz and a Lakland Skyline J-Sonic.

A couple of P’s to show off - 1966 (sunburst & tort) - 1983 Fullerton ‘62 RI (red & tort) - 1977 (natural) - 2000 MIM (sunburst & black) Technically I’m cheating on the 1977, as it’s now ‘left the building’. The ‘66 is everything you’d expect, but perhaps surprisingly, the Mexican is my longest serving bass and honestly, despite having owned about 25 basses over the years, remains the ‘all time’ favourite. It had SD quarter pounders and a Schaller bridge. Just something very playable and ‘easy’ about it.

👑KING AARON MILLS👑 killing it with his fellas!🔥🔥🔥💥💥💥 🎸TREGAN Shaman Bass🎸

This was my rig for tonight’s gig Tuner > big muff > q strip, into 2 x QSC k12.2s Amazing tone and volume

Personally, I'd hold out for a used OC2 or an Octabvre. The OC2 is the classic octave sound, and the Octabvre adds the versatility of having a seperate footswitch to solo the sub. The MXR vintage should come close, as it was cloned from one of Janek Gwizdala's old OC2s. I like the EBS Octabass too. It's got a smoother tone than the OC2, but it's not quite as cool. I'm not a big fan of digital octave pedals. I find them too clean and they don't have the glitches that are part of the charm of an analog pedal.

If using a stingray instead of a P bass or Rick is against the norm and mainstream of punk isn’t this what being punk is all about? 👍🏻

Wow! I know we live in a very different world today. But how did they ever think that was a good idea, let alone get away with it?

I have seen an Industrial metal band with an electric upright. Bow plus heavy distortion plus some very low tuning sounded like the apocalypse.

Check the OC-5 thread, no need for anything else. Plenty of sound files and comparisons with a lot of the contenders and the original Japanese (and Taiwanese too) OC-2, of course.

I am no pedal expert (I have two threads already asking for advice) but when you read a lot of reviews for various pedals, they all seem to reference the OC-2 and use it as a benchmark. As the 3Leaf pedals are like unicorn tears, I just went back to the beginning and bought an OC-2 and it’s great fun. It is the original octave sound you have heard on so many records. My octave journey may continue, but the OC-2 seemed the best place to start.

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

So quite a few years ago I became what began as an enthusiast but quickly became an obsession with the SWR sound. Over the years various SWR amps, cabs, and combos have passed through my hands but I think I’m currently at the most heads I’ve ever owned. As it was a typically miserable British bank holiday weather wise, I decided to spend the afternoon ‘testing’ and sorting my current stable. I think I’m sorted for now, unless someone tempts me with either a Baby Blue or the even rarer Spellbinder 😎

Saturday night, bringing the skank to Salisbury.

@Soledadis quite right, very much optimised in the manner described. I have never seen a capo specifically designed for bass, which is why I’ve tried quite a few. I settled on the G7th C31020 Newport Capo. @Lfalex v1.1I was just rummaging through my desk and it turns out I have two of these or some reason, you are welcome to one if you want it? Very early on in my musical endeavours I saw a band and the bass player was using a capo so I never thought anything of using one. I play up around the 12th quite a lot and play a lot of chords, it’s just another tool in the bag for me. In fact, sod it, here’s me using one.

RIP LSP

Been playing some Horace Andy today, nice Bassline

You lie and yo breath stank - infectious grooves

That's it then. If it's good enough for the man who in my opinion is the greatest ever punk bassist and also just one of the greatest bassists full stop then it's good enough for me.

A friend I played with for years did something similar, though theirs was a plastic Samsonite type job.

How about Cannonball by Breeders? A 90's classic often ignored by party bands.

Two on the trot here, first one was the regular at Mulligans in Manchester city centre...busy as always, singing the roof off (to Oasis...sue me), then last night's was a new venue above a Bangin Bar in Monton...just awful. A 40th where nobody really cared, the music downstairs was so loud we didn't even bother with any acoustic numbers, it was full of yapping Hooker Barbie types and fully sniffed-up tattoed lads in polo shirts. Three songs into the second set some hero insists, with the misplaced confidence and persistence that only over-imbibing on the sniff can provide, that he's gonna sing. Backed up by his similarly-wired mates, an altercation just short of fisticuffs ensued,. The BL pulled it, we packed up and were in the cars by 9:45. Got paid in full, tho, so there's that...ahhhh, gigging, I've missed it... 😕🙂

So sad. A true legend, dedicated to his life long craft. I'm sure dub reggae, and reggae in general wouldn't be the same today without him having pioneered his techniques so early. RIP brother. X

Body cut to template. Started the electronics cavity. And rounded the edges a bit.

Two gig weekend... little by little we're getting busy again.

@Reggaebass @SpondonBassed @Dad3353 Thanks for the welcoming

They were very new to the market at the outset of Punk, so availability, price, and even desirability were probably factors.

What I paid is an affair between Unicorn and me, but let us say like this: stellar material and craftsmanship ain't cheap. I know what I get and pay what it costs. This is a real custom shop bass, not just a bass called custom shop. Noone else gets a similar one. It is made for my head, hands and heart. Think like this: closer to Fodera than Fender... My philosophy is: A good price is what makes the buyer and seller satisfied.

DVLA have very kindly renewed my licence (jeez what a pain that was), so I'm hoping to get down to this if I can sort out a hotel. Looking to put names to faces and of course satisfy some GAS curiosity. Particularly looking at shorties, 5s and amps. Will bring my Bass Uke for giggles.

Today some "spare parts" will arrive. I had my org. tuners anodized. Not completely due to costs. Only wings and axis. The red 1000 will be complete by then. Happy 🙂

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.

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 £££££

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.

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

Perhaps he previously wasn't too concerned about the pic, however more recently whenever he'd meet a young lady and start dating she'd have no idea of his former fame, but then when they were about to get intimate he'd strip off and she'd take one look and say "hey - your winky looks just like the kid's on the Nevermind cover"

Fun fact: the original photo depicts exactly what is wrong with this young man.

According to another article referenced in the above, he recreated the photograph 5 years ago and allegedly suggested to the photographer that he, Elden, should be naked. "I said to the photographer, 'Let's do it naked.' But he thought that would be weird, so I wore my swim shorts," Spencer told the New York Post. Money-grabbing twot

'96 MIJ 62 reissue, my main gigging bass for 25 years, bought new and recently sold. A good workhorse, very roadworthy, played well, but I guess I got bored with it. I replaced it with a 2006 Aerodyne Jazz, non-export. A very good bass, well put together, comfortable, nice neck, and sounds nice with a good range of tone. I'll be keeping this. Recently got a 2020 Custom Shop '60. It's a dream to play, and sounds magnificent. A beautiful thing.