cetera

And I bought the undrunk cans (burp!) and left over half a chocolate cake (Mmmmmm....) at half the cost price so it went back in the kitty/charity pot.

Big thanks to all for coming and making this year another great success. Always good to put faces to names/usernames! The venue worked, I think,..... especially considering how spoilt we'd been in the past with access to lots of rooms and a hall in a school! Thank you's from me to Paul @NancyJohnson and Paul @prowla in particular for doing a lot of the advance legwork and prep as I was unavailable. Also, of course to our guest speakers re: cab shooutout and pickups.... and to my old schoolmate @Mike Brooks and good friend Chris Childs for their insights and contributions. I think @stevie may have secured (or is about to!) a few orders as well so a great day all around!

Young Gun Silver Fox..... again! This time, tonight at Papillon in Southampton 🎶⛵️🎸👍😎

I have a 4 string NS Dimension. Looks and sounds great and plays really nicely!

I A/B'd a Barefaced 2x12 against the Genz with two friends in a blindfold test and we all preferred the Genz! Smiles all around!

Doobie Brothers - Anything from Toulouse St - One Step Closer (Tiran Porter) Chicago - Anything from CTA - XIV (Peter Cetera) Lake - Lake, Lake II & Paradise Island (Martin Tiefensee) & Ouch (Heiko Effertz) Ambrosia - Anything (Joe Puerta) Atlanta Rhythm Section - Anything (Paul Goddard)

Thanks to @Paulhauser for giving me the heads up on this stunning limited edition Spector Euro CST! Ordered and paid for last night and due next week... 1 of only 6 total made in this colour (3 x 4 string & 3 x 5 string). Ash body with Poplar Burl top, Ebony board with Abalone inlays, black hardware, EMG X pickups and DG Legacy preamp.... and that beautiful Purple/Black finish... 💜🖤

Paul very kindly honoured his promise to contact me 1st should he wish to move on the lovely Purple Charvel I sold him 15 years ago. It's now back where it belongs in my collection.... upgraded and in a case.... and delivered to my door. Can't say fairer than that!

Best purchases: Two beautiful limited edition colour poplar burl topped Spector Euro CSTs. A purple/black burst (1 of 3) from Bass Freaks and a Japanese only desert island blueburst, imported from Japan with the assistance of Bass Japan Direct. My old Charvel 3B, which I bought back after stupidly selling 15 years ago... and now upgraded with EMG-X pickups. The fantastic LHZ HL-1 HAZard LAMPS preamp pedal. The sound of a classic US Spector Haz Labs preamp in pedal form. Brings all non-Haz loaded basses to life, particularly passive basses! and last, but certainly not least(!!) the amazing LFSys Monaco 600W 8ohm bass cab courtesy of @stevie. Lightweight, punchy, authoritative and loud... with wonderful dispersion. Worst purchases.... none that I can think of. I like to do my research before parting with moolah.... 😉👍

I have two of them mate. When we sort the LHZs I'll make sure I have one for you to try...

Just heard back from my GK contact. There have been some manufacturing delays and they are now hoping to ship out in January.

A quirky gig last night.... My Wife & I went and saw the fantastic 'El Pony Pisador'. Impossible to describe but their wiki gets pretty close: "El Pony Pisador is a musical group from Barcelona that mixes various styles of folk and traditional music from around the world, including Celtic music, sea songs, bluegrass, tarantella and yodel." Great fun! We discovered them at Cropredy Festival in the Summer and loved them. Last night was in a tiny village hall near Chichester...

I've got my tkt for that too... 👍

I've e-mailed my contact at GK's European distributor and waiting on a reply....

Please see extensive update re: Sunday at the 1st post on Page 1 :

At that price and period of time, it sounds like it would have been a US Made Spector NS bass. The US custom shop made many variations on the theme of the NS shape, with different woods, finishes, fingerboards etc and in 4,5 and 6 string versions.

Ah, so tone ISN'T in his fingers

Off to the album launch for 'Perfect Beasts' this Friday night at The Butler in Reading with @Hamster. They're a new Prog Rock band featuring Darren Redick (Basschat member/Planet Rock DJ) on bass/vocals and John Mitchell (Asia etc) on keys/vocals.... Was supposed to be a live show as well but John has had a fall and is now unable to perform this Friday.

@Mike Brooks

Bet that sounds HUGE!

I would say the increase in people chatting throughout shows is more to do with a decline in manners and respect, enabled by social media. After all, people seem to feel like they can do or say anything these days and there will be little/no consequences..... despite always protesting "Cor, you can't say nuffink in this cuntry anymore.... you get locked up for freeze peach!"

Congrats! Still have mine and I love it.... Best bang for the buck bass cab out there imho.