casapete

Although I have a couple of Hiscox cases (as everyone else has said, industry standard etc), for the last few years I've used one of these - https://www.gear4music.com/Guitar-and-Bass/Bass-Guitar-Foam-Case-by-Gear4music/C87 Although obviously not as tough as a Hiscox, I've found it to be a great compromise between the convenience of a gig bag with the protection of a hard case. Mine has been everywhere, and because it is so light it makes it so easy to take with me into venues and hotels when we stay over on gigs. Amazingly good protection for your bass, mine still looks like new after 4 years on the road. If you're going to gigs in your car, it will be more than adequate and the shaped design makes it fairly compact.

I had a similar experience - drove 30 miles to meet a guy buying some passive PA cabs from me I had on ebay. Never showed, or answered my tests / calls. After wasting 2 hours of my time + fuel, I went home. After calming down a day later I left him negative feedback on ebay, pointing out what had happened. After which he texted me, very abusive and said my listing had stated they were active cabs! When I sent him the listing saying otherwise he went quiet again. Unbelievable. Have to say though that this was a one off - please to report most if not all of my other dealings via here, Ebay and Gumtree etc have been just fine. I always meet up face to face for a cash deal whether buying or selling, not being into Paypal scammers etc.

I just unscrewed the screw on the top of the tuner button, and it came off revealing the washer.

Thanks Andy, they look just the job. I’ve been away so haven’t had chance to sort it yet, so much appreciated. They’re out of stock at the moment unfortunately, but there’s no hurry. Will keep an eye on when they’re available again though. Cheers, Pete.

Played at Ragley Hall in Worcestershire at the weekend. Event was for a caravan / motorhome organisation! Large marquee with over 1000 in the audience, all seated. In-house PA and lights, along with big video screens on either side of the stage, fed by 3 different cameras. This meant ensuring we behaved on stage, as facial expressions/gestures which normally would go unnoticed could be seen at the back of the marquee! (Pic below shows the image taken from behind the screen by one of our crew, hence me being apparently left handed.) Despite a steady start, the audience soon got into it and ended up being very lively and loud, with dancers down the front. Just goes to show you should never pre-judge how things will go! Really enjoyable gig, with my stage sound exactly how I like it. All done by 10.15pm too, so happy days - on the road home by 10.45.

It’s the same with Magic Soul. Used to be a lot more eclectic in their playlists, but lately it’s always the same stuff - Superstition, Lets stay together etc crop up nearly every day on the lunchtime show.

True story - last year I had a function gig at Ilkley Kings Hall with a 4 piece band. Usual line-up (guitar/keys/drums/bass) with quite a hard hitting drummer and loud keyboard player. I have both an MB800 and also an MB200, and had recently gigged the 200 on a small gig and left it in a hard case I use for both. You guessed it - turned up at the gig with the 200 by mistake. Couldn't set up straight away so went to the pub for an hour. Came back, set up as usual but didn't realise I'd brought along the smaller amp. (I know they're different in size but it was dark onstage / I'd had a beer, okay?!!) Anyway, first set went down well, then during the second set I began to notice I was getting near to losing some headroom on the amp - went to adjust it and suddenly dawned on me what had happened! The little amp had been doing really well up till then though, despite only giving out 140 watts into the 8 ohm BF Compact. Just shows how loud these amps are into efficient cabs.

Not a great picture, but you can see what a small and great gig this was. Bassist played probably 50/50 upright and electric. The electric was an old P-bass style (Sakai?) in sunburst, sounded fantastic.

Well, just seen the movie. An excellent social history of Asbury Park and the musicians who emerged from there, with some rare clips and great interviews. We were told to wait after the showing for an extra added bonus, which turned out to be not so great footage of a concert ‘jam’ featuring Little Steve, Bruce etc and some other guys from back in the day. Rather messy versions of a few rock n roll standards which were no better than what you’d hear in a pub jam session over here TBH. Shame, as it brought the film to a rather downbeat end. Have you seen it yet Blue? Be interested to hear your take on it.

Think most people have the varitone disconnected, reckon it’s a bit of a tonesucker? Didn’t stop BB sounding great though...😀

Yola at the Caroline Street social club in Saltaire. Sold out gig (200 capacity) , wonderful venue. My fears when seeing the small Mackie PA were unfounded, as the sound was faultless. One of the most outstanding gigs I’ve been to in recent years. Amazing young band - keys, guitar, drums, pedal steel and bass ( electric and DB) all playing to serve the wonderful songs. Yola was simply incredible, her vocals never failing to reach out and connect. We managed to get seats near the front, and were mesmerised throughout. If you get chance to catch her on the rest of the tour you won’t be disappointed. Dates coming up in Manchester, Nottingham, Birmingham, London , Bristol and Brighton.

Good thing is that it doesn’t smell, and as you say isn’t as potentially vicious as some other spirits.

Another homespun one - vodka! For some strange reason we have a small bottle of cheap vodka acquired from god knows where. Mrs CP uses it to remove marks, as you sure as hell wouldn’t want to neck it. Seems to work on most things although never tried it on an instrument to be fair, but it’s just another spirit I guess so who knows?

It will be! Apparently Steven is doing a DJ set at Glasgow Hard Rock Cafe tonight as well. Enjoy the gig.

Little Steven and The Disciples of Soul last night at Leeds 02 Academy. Nearly two and a half hours of amazing material covering many genres, all played superbly by a fifteen piece band. Sound was really good even though we were on the balcony. The superb Jack Daley on bass too, playing a white Stingray rather than his usual black Jazz. They are doing other dates in Glasgow, Bristol and London, highly recommended.

Sounds like that car boot sale mentality. Years ago when my daughter was about eight, we did a car boot to sell some stuff we’d accumulated. Whilst I was busy , someone came up to her and tried to haggle over some of her books she was selling, for 20 p each! Unbelievable.

If you haven't already seen them, there are quite a few others in the series - Ed Sheeran, Adele etc and even Mariah Carey! Brilliant arrangements / band, great stuff.

Brilliant, thanks for posting!

What’s not to like about something that does the job and didn’t cost the earth? Just enjoy your bass and don’t worry about it. I’ve played a couple of Broncos and they seem well made and solid. Short scale basses are also quite in vogue at the moment too, so cool points to be earned as well 😄

I had a similar problem Lozz. After using a 63 Precision for years, I went on to Stingrays - no problem there as the neck profile wasn't a great deal different. However, I did start getting the occasional twinge in my fretting hand which would come and then go for ages so I didn't worry too much. About 10 years ago I had an accident which damaged my shoulder, and also meant I couldn't cope with the weight of a Stingray either. Ended up buying a couple of Precison Lytes - around 7lb each and a very thin jazz style neck profile. Since using these I've not experienced any pains in my hand at all, only just a little aching after a long gig which I guess is 'normal'. Despite never playing jazz style necks before, I can't help thinking that by changing to them (along with the lighter instrument of course) it has enabled me to carry on gigging regularly. Really miss my Stingrays of course, but kept the 63 P bass....

Beat me to it.

Agreed. Brass section in my old band used to memorise all their parts, and could play them spot on even after a number of visits to the free bar at functions. Think old school brass players were brought up to read everything, ( unlike guitarists! ) Subsequently they got used to just having parts in front of them all the time and never saw the need to commit stuff to memory. A lot of keyboard players seemed to be the same too. That 'reading music' culture didn't seem to extend to many bassists / guitarist and drummers, certainly not in this area anyway.

Listening to 'Summer of Sorcery' from Little Steven and The Disciples of Soul, in readiness for seeing them this weekend during their UK tour. Amazing 15 piece band, can't wait. This is the opening track on the album.

Yeah, definitely. Also was hoping they'd be more around the £700 / £750 mark too. 😕

Am liking the look of the new models. I love GK stuff, having started with a couple of 800RB heads (still got a very tidy one!) and then on to the 700RB ->1001RB (which is still my main amp) and also an MB800 with an MB200 as a backup. If the Legacy 800 captures any of the tone of my 800RB then I'll be very interested. $899 in the US, now shipping June 21st according to Guitar Center website.