neepheid

Have you already bought the bridge? If no, are you replacing a defective (and that doesn't mean "I don't like it") bridge?

I think it's when money first changes hands dictates whether or not it counts as this year's intake. If you have to put a deposit down to secure it then I'd say that's an out - people use the same argument to justify things ordered the previous year but won't arrive until the current year... If you can pre-order it for free then I don't think it counts.

According to the Radio Times, it's December - https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/entertainment/jools-holland-annual-hootenanny-2023-line-up/

Ah well in that case I reckon you'd be out. You can sell as many basses as you like but the acquisition of any gear coming back in I fear adds up to disqualification.

Have you already paid for the custom bass? Or, was it ordered last year and you have paid a deposit with a balance to pay on completion?

That's OK - multiple years is a hell of an ask. I made it to the end of 2022, but last year the gear came back with a vengeance - sometimes utter whim, sometimes necessary (amp failure) but I didn't replace like for like so I'd have been out. Back on the wagon this year though, fingers crossed. It's the quality of low priced gear I find tough to ignore - last year I picked up two basses which cost £200-250 and they were both surprisingly good for the money. If this trend continues then I might fall off the wagon with a weak "what the hell?" moment!

I wouldn't class that as gear, so I'd say fill your boots.

Well, I'm happy to swim against the tide. I enjoyed it. I suppose that makes me a cloth-eared music hater. The appearance of the yearly "how crap was the Hootananny (sic)?" thread/moanfest is as predictable as gravity.

Unsolicited gifts are fine, you're all good!

Yeah, those sound OK to me, sundry items. I'm building a pedalboard, got most things but will need to get rubber feet of some kind to stop it sliding around on hard floors. I'm not going to recuse myself because I bought some rubber feet, even though they are going on a sorta gear related thing.

Depends what it is. My thinking is if it's bass specific (bridge, pickups, tuners, neck, body, pickguard) then it's gear and you're out. If it's not bass specific - wire, solder, pots, jack socket etc. then it's OK? Eh, ultimately it's all a bit of fun so don't get too hung up on it.

A shoe-in for the win then

In? Out? Shake it all about?

Well, it's that time of year again. Hope you got your last purchases in before the close of business today. You know how it works - no buying gear for the whole of 2024. I'd like to offer my services this year as tracker of participation. You know the rules by now. But put simply - no buying gear, zero, nada. Exceptions - direct replacement (or as near as possible) of faulty/stolen gear. Unsolicited/unprompted gifts. Sundries such as strings are OK. Link to previous thread with rules - https://www.basschat.co.uk/topic/331041-2019-gear-abstinence-challenge-updated-with-rules/ Happy to listen to requests for adjudication, of course - make those excuses/liberal rule interpretations creative and give us a chuckle. Majority rules, throw yourself at the mercy of the abstainers (or anyone else who wants to stick their oar in!) Pledge now! And don't forget, it's just a bit of fun - if you fall off the wagon then c'est la vie. But do let us know what shiny goodness caused your downfall. Best of luck to you! Participation list @AndyTravis - OUT - 03/01/2024 - Sansamp FlyRig @ead - OUT - 04/01/2024 - ACG bass @Machines - OUT - 04/01/2024 - Dingwall @Burns-bass - OUT - 15/01/2024 - Epiphone Thunderbird @SamIAm - OUT - 15/01/2024 - PJB Bass Cub Pro @Phill - OUT - 02/02/2024 - Aguilar Cabs & TH500 @Maude - OUT 10/02/2024 - S.D. Curlee @Paolo85 - OUT 16/02/2024 - Squier Jaguar short scale @miles'tone - OUT 24/02/2024 - Hofner violin bass (SE Ignition) @bassbiscuits - OUT 01/03/2024 - Ashdown ABM head @Suburban Man - OUT 23/03/2024 - Guild Starfire @NancyJohnson - OUT 02/04/2024 - Harley Benton GPA-100 power amp @mr zed - OUT 05/04/2024 - EHX Big Muff @lozkerr - OUT 21/04/2024 - Boss RC-1 looper @tauzero - OUT 24/04/2024 - MXR Bass Octave Deluxe @neepheid - OUT 02/05/2024 - Hotone Harmony pitch shifter @hiram.k.hackenbacker - OUT 02/05/2024 - Octave pedal @gjones - OUT 02/06/2024 (but really 16/04/2024...) - Sterling Sub Series Ray 4 @Merton - OUT 03/06/2024 - pedalboard PSU @Beedster - OUT 03/07/2024 - Some old Fender @paul_5 - OUT 03/08/2024 - Spectracomp @Stub Mandrel - OUT 28/08/2024 - Sire P10 @TorturedSaints - OUT 01/09/2024 - EHX volume pedal @MacDaddy - OUT 01/09/2024 - Ibanez UB804 @TeresaFR - OUT 01/09/2024 - NuX C-5RC wireless @Franticsmurf - OUT 24/09/2024 - Sire BG5 + pedals @Shockwave - OUT 20/10/2024 - Stas Pokotylo Monarch PJ bass @BillyBass - OUT 21/11/2024 - Reverend Mercalli 5 (deposit paid) @Marvin - OUT 30/12/2024 - Palmer Pocket Bass Amp @Mudpup - OUT 31/12/2024 - Bass, amp, cab, everything, basically @Geek99 @2pods @OliverBlackman @Downunderwonder @ezbass @Velarian @barkin @bass_dinger @jimmyb625 @NHM @Sibob @Lozz196 @Richard R @Mustangbass87 @christhammer666 @bassfan @DaytonaRik

Agreed, but keep it casual - nothing short of a gig gets the nerves jangling than the dreaded "band meeting"...

A little more progress today - the sides are mounted onto the top. I'm sure you don't need walked through how to drill and countersink some holes, but I did come up with some clamping gymnastics to keep the sides in place while I drilled the pilot holes... Used an offcut from when I made the sides to create a flat opposing side for the clamp to grip. Had to slide them along because my clamps aren't big enough to take the full height. Anyway, pilot holes successfully drilled and screws tightened up and... I was going to glue and screw the sides on but honestly with three screws per side it feels plenty solid as is. So next thing is deciding on a finish (probably just blast it with a few coats of clear lacquer that I already have), maybe doing a back panel to hide the gubbins, and getting hold of some low profile feet or something else non slip. Got my velcro tape this afternoon so we're almost there.

I doubt you'll find something off the shelf specifically for the Sire, and I also doubt very much that any Fender one will be a perfect fit. My advice would be to get the original cloned - Brian Pillans on ebay (username earlpilanz - https://www.ebay.co.uk/str/earlpilanz) will see you right. You send him your original, he returns them both. He did a bang up job for my G&L Tribute LB-100, absolutely flawless 1:1 copy which fitted exactly and took me from this: To this: Other pickguard cloners are available, but I was very happy with the service and results.

Of course, I can't pinpoint where I gathered this info/lore, but I was always led to believe that you set your preamp gain high enough that the clip light just gets tickled when you play your loudest/heaviest. I take it that's BS then?

Right, it's dodgy because it's Mexican made. Jesus wept. EDIT - In case anyone was wondering, I'm being super sarcastic towards the sales person in the shop. A bad instrument is a bad instrument, doesn't matter a jot where it was made.

I'm never the same bass twice so this policy would be unachievable. Just as well I'm of the opinion that all my basses are "bassy"

How are you going to try it if they aren't allowed to open it? Whoever wrote/said clearly wasn't thinking clearly/rationally at the time...

So - how did they photograph it in the first place? I've only ever had to deal with their CS once, I bought a cheapy bass from them but the fingerboard was delaminating from the rest of the neck at the nut. Returned and refunded without issue.

I effin' hate plunge routers. I hate my cheapo one even more - no soft start so it just goes from zero to finger removal in about half a second and jerks the whole machine so you need to get in position and switch it on before you push it down. Anyway, as usual it took longer to prepare the router (needed oiled as the plunger mechanism was sticking, then inserting and tightening up the cutter, then offering up the piece and setting the depth), and prepare to cut (clamping straight edge as a fence to push the router along, clamping to the workbench, checking with the router off to see everything lines up). Then the cut's done in about a minute. Then tidying up, dismantling, putting stuff away. Slot's a bit wonky, haven't done any routing in ages so the start's a bit bobbly and I hit a knot near the end which also put the router off slightly but TL:DR, it's done... Guess I'm gonna screw and glue the end pieces on now...

Thank you for that overwhelming endorsement of my dubious practical talents!

I had one of their RedSub amps as my main amp for nearly 12 years. No complaints here.