bassbiscuits

Does anyone on here use a GruvGear Neo Duo Strap? Im thinking of buying the optional tension strap which stretches across the back of the guitar between the two strap pins, but I can't figure out whether you need to have strap locks or whether it fits over normal Fender-esque strap pins. Anyone tried it? Cheers Chris

Got round to finally gigging the Lull this weekend, in two very different gigs. First was a loud, sweaty pub rock covers gig, the second a gentler, stripped back alt trio in a Victorian former church hall cum music venue. Both using a Littlemark head into a Schroeder 1210. Pleasantly surprised by how lively and touch sensitive it was - no fighting for notes, and very even response across the whole neck. Tone control actually very usable too; set to half for a good standard fingerstyle sound, turned up full gave a really sparkling aggressive tone and the clearest slap sound I've ever had. The lows are tight and punchy rather than the really huge thud I'm used to from precisions, but with a bit of EQing and the LM3's VLE and VPF dials on about 9 o clock smoothed it and filled things out beautifully. I must say it such a pleasure to play a gig with a bass weighing so little. I was sweating from the effort, rather than from the ordeal of singing and playing for two hours with a dead heavy bass round my neck. It's got rounds at the moment which it had when I bought it, but I may well venture towards flats as both my other basses already have on, and I really love that sound and feel.

Yeah I had a 1996 USA P until recently. Only sold it cos it was getting a bit too heavy for me and I needed the money to put towards another bass. Great bass tho - probably best all rounder I've ever had. Had a big chunky neck - in terms of depth rather than width tho, and a thick paint job that would probably deflect bullets. Strangely in the ten years I owned it I don't think I ever sat down and noodled on it at home. Just wasn't that sort of bass, as it was big, chunky and heavy. But plugged in and cranked up live it was a joy to behold! I've got a USA strat of the same sort of age (well 2001 in fact) and same story - quite heavy, but really loud, resonant, chunky neck, sounds incredible. Interestingly both those Fenders, plus a 1999 Jazz I briefly owned, all had a million hairline lacquer cracks along the back of the neck finish. In the case of my strat, some of the lacquer has even flaked off. Dodgy batch I think in the 90s at some point! Great guitars tho.

Just played at a cool little event called The Rafters are Ringing, in a place called Fearon Hall in Loughborough, Leicestershire. Beautiful old Victorian building which the organisers of this three/four times yearly event are trying to bring back into use as an arts/music venue. Three bands on the bill, covering some quite experimental stuff, and good turnout, and home made cookies and cakes! Result. Hope the organisers succeed in making it a regular established event.

I think the neck thickness has an impact on the tone - basses i've had with big thick necks sound really loud, bassy and fuller than the ones with slimmer necks. Not better or worse, just different. I know comparing a handful of basses without looking at all the other variables such as pickups etc is hardly conclusive of a wider trend, but it makes sense that more wood would affect the sound tho, yeah?

Just sold a bass bridge to Tom - all good, no fuss, paid straightaway. As good as you could hope for really!

[quote name='mr zed' timestamp='1473631288' post='3131899'] Do you play with the same drummer as I do .......oh wait........ You sometimes play with a pick. [/quote] Ha ha!

Ooh. This thread is making me wince already. I sometimes play with a pick, and before now have gone for a massive dramatic down stroke and smashed the quick of my finger nail into the side of the pickup, which hurts a lot. I've been smashed in the teeth with my microphone many many times when a drunk clown has danced into my mic stand mid song. And I bizarrely managed to cut my hand packing up from a particularly rowdy St Patrick's day gig once - I was packing away a speaker lead which I'd gaffer taped down across the front of the stage, and as I slid the lead thru my hands I discovered the gaffer tape had stuck to various shards of broken pint glass which stuck in my hand. Great.

I'm mostly using a secondhand LM2, a used Schroeder cab and a used Epi Jack Casady bass which all comes to less than a grand. I used to regularly gig a slightly knackered old SGC Nanyo which cost me about £100 and worked perfectly well - took some pleasure in gigging with such cheap stuff. Then again i've spent shedloads recently on other music stuff instead, which rather spoils my point.

Bought a Gruv Gear Duo strap from Tom. Very smooth transaction, no fuss at all. Good work sir.

Just got a Lull PJ4 weighing 7lb 12oz, and already have an old P weighing 8lb 9oz, which is enough for me. My Jack Casady weighs only 8lb 1oz, but the hollow body does make it more neck heavy than the other two tho. Getting older now so can't be bothered with hefty heavy basses any more.

Suwalki Blues Festival in Poland this summer. Probably about 1,500 people packed into the area in front of our stage. Got some cool onstage shots!

I weighed all of mine the other day, as i've got a bit of a bad shoulder at the mo and figured the weight wasn't helping. I ended up selling on two of my MIA Fenders just cos they were really getting a bit too heavy for me (at 4.2kg and 4.3kg) Current crop is: Fender 1970 P bass - 3.8kg Mike Lull PJ4 - 3.5kg Epiphone Jack Casady - 3.6kg Hopefully that's my lot, as i'm skint now! The rest are six string guitars, which are all sub 3.6kg so no probs there.