neepheid

So, where's her signature bass so we can have a moan about that?

Eh, just get a Z3 then - you won't miss what you never had.

I think mine's between 5 and 6mm on both sides. It's hard to measure because of the rolled edges. Either way, I don't have any bother with pulling strings off the side of the board.

I used to quite arrogantly just take one bass to the gig for many years but in the last few years I've taken two. Then I got the bright idea of swapping basses at half time. I don't give a monkeys if they're completely different basses - in a band mix, in a room full of pissed up punters, who cares which bass I use? At my most recent gig I played a Sire Z7 in the first half and my Epiphone Les Paul in the second half. Completely different basses. Why? Well, no-one's given me a credible reason why not, so I'm just going to continue to do my thing. If I take two basses to a gig, I might as well use them!

She's better at playing bass than me. Just as well I don't do it for a living then!

Last night, Nine Lives played at O'Donoghues - first time we've played there. What a cracking night! Decent crowd, I could get used to these late starts (11pm) if this is the result. Lots of dancers, singalongs and memorable characters and incidents. Early on in the set, this big guy decided to take a breather and have a seat on the end of the "stage" (it's like a foot high, maybe) and promptly sat his big arse down on my pedalboard. Thankfully he was soft and squidgy enough that he didn't mute me or change any settings - I had to give him a few pokes in the back and he got up. Moved my pedalboard back a bit after that. Then some guy came up and tried to talk to me mid song, I mean like how? Anyway I glared at him and he bogged off but it put me off my stride for a couple of songs because it pi$$ed me off. But the winner was this guy who was very enthusiastic in his appreciation of us. He was trying to high five us/fist bump a heap of times (I acquiesced when I could) then he asked to borrow my hat a couple of times - I allowed him to take it off my head and wear it for a song and he was fine, it was returned to me unscathed. But there's more! I didn't see this, but apparently he got so into what the guitarist was doing that he undid his fly and proceeded to play air guitar with his penis being the guitar from what I can gather. I mean, like WTF? I think the air guitar/penis incident happened after he borrowed my hat. At least, I bloody well hope so. Still, was a busy and fun night all in all, and it looks like we passed the audition - venue has already been in touch asking us for our availability for next year. Gear was a shiny new Sire Z7 then my black and gold Les Paul into the usual Markbass tone cubes.

It's not always malicious - one time I sold a bass on here and I didn't notice that there was a crack/possible fretboard delamination at the nut end. I was gutted because I'm usually so careful. Sorted it out though - offered to either take it back for full refund or some money off and buyer keeps it - negotiated the latter.

I have made a correction to my initial statement, specifically regarding the bass control on the preamp. Having been assured by another poster that it should provide massive gobs of bass when called upon I opened my Z7 up again to take another look. Turns out that when I went in there the first time, I might have snagged the wires to the bass pot a little. They are not soldered on, they use connector blocks which are pushed onto the terminals of the pots. I did notice that connector to the bass pot was at a bit of a jaunty angle. So I pushed it all the way on, then tested it et voilà - working bass control. Phew, I really couldn't be arsed with returning it, especially since everything else is pretty damn great. Now whether I caused this issue when I was doing the photos of the guts, or if it had been that way the whole time, I couldn't say, eh, it's sorted now. So, to confirm, the bass control does a lot. I used it last night to good effect - was playing on a small stage which despite not being very high was being a bit boomy. Simply dialled back the bass on the preamp a little - problem solved!

A quick glance at my location will explain why I won't be contributing pictorially to this thread

100%, this.

Weirdest effin' knobs I've ever encountered.

Naw, I'm getting more of a Jabba the Hutt vibe from it

Oh yeah, must admit I was busy at work so only gave it and the specs a cursory glance. Yes, they've changed the bridge, and the knobs are different - chrome domes instead of speed knobs.

Wow, and I thought the gestation period of my Sire Z7 was protracted!

Looks identical - I wonder why it took so long for it to come to fruition, it's been the best part of a year since they surfaced!

"Personnel" might have been a typo, but assuming it isn't a typo, I think this is a case of "I'm in a band full of ar$eholes" rather than any more general personal issues...

Still looking. There was one for sale on Gumtree near me, I reached out to the seller to see if they'd be willing to do me a favour but I got no reply. It sold pretty quick so maybe it wasn't the fact that some nutter got in touch with them with some cock and bull story about wanting to do some kind of experiment with their JC before it sells. Weirdest tyre kicker ever, amirite? My whole reason for wanting some clarity on this is because I swear to God it's got worse over time - I used to be able to play gigs with my JC at loud volumes, with OD, without issue.

First of all, I would say make up your own mind about it before doing anything - everything you've read about the knobs here is personal opinion. They might not bother you, and there would be nothing wrong with that. But to answer your question: https://www.bassdirect.co.uk/product/east-knob/ They only have chrome in stock and double unfortunately, they only have 1 stack knob left in stock. Sorry if that was me taking the second and third last ones. I guess you could ask when they'll have more. Other knobs are available - most of them are a standard size. Good luck! I think "burgundy mist" would ordinarily be the full colour name, but after they got their knuckles rapped for the initial headstock design they're probably feared of being sued by Fender or whoever used that term first. Or something got lost in translation, I dunno. But yes, I wouldn't drink burgundy that colour, it's gone off, mate!

Hehe, whoops, finger slipped. Got about 15 weeks to cancel, I guess...

I would ordinarily react with sad face to this, but in all honesty, my November was looking pretty congested with gigs so I'm kinda glad that it's on the move. Can I say that if a spring bash does go ahead, the sooner you can fix a date the better it would be for me - I would really love to attend but the gigging bassist has to plan around these things and the sooner I can block it off in the band calendar, the better. Venues already starting to ask us about dates for next year...

You underestimate how much of a foreground task playing bass is for me...

Just do your due diligence - this place is not immune from bad actors, cosy and friendly though it is. Check for a feedback thread, check the person's posting history. If something feels off, walk away - it's only a bass/amp/whatever. Report concerns. BC as an entity should not be held responsible for what a few bad apples do (or try to do). You need to take personal responsibility for your own online safety.

But... but... you're buying basses wrong! 🙄

I've gone off such things - not only is there a service charge/delivery charge, but they mark up the price of the items as well, the rats. I'm cheaper going in the car myself and getting the bloody takeaway!

Some places we play have some electronic system that you have to do some bollox with to get paid direct to a bank account. I don't know a lot about it, the guitarist takes care of it then sees we get our share of the loot when it finally deigns to arrive in his bank account.