grandad

I've never used Newtone but many sing their praises. Will you be using rounds or flats? Labella make a set of 760F-MUS flats specifically for the through body Mustang. I have them and like them.

I didn't know there were different sizes for a few years until I bought a Tokai SG medium scale. Then with the years and gained knowledge I tried short scale. The comfort and ease of playing them is for me the advantage. All of mine feel and sound very different. Tokai SG 32" Aria CSB380 32" Hofner HCT Violin 30" 2 Squire Mustangs 30" Yamaha Motion 32" (being refurbished) With any piece of kit, guitars or amps, I like to play around with it for a few weeks before I decide to keep or not. I would recommend to anyone with a fancy to try a SS to noodle with it a few weeks and get to know it before settling. It's usually a Mustang I pick up. For the youngster, for small hands, for the elderly and not so nimble, or just for the hell of it, go try 1 or 2 or 3.

Sounds like a Fender Rumble 100 would fit the bill, 22lbs.

https://www.granthamjournal.co.uk/news/grantham-musician-brian-licorice-locking-who-found-fame-with-the-shadows-has-died-9125699/

Why do bassists seem to be so obsessed with sustain? It's not just bassists. https://www.cycfi.com/2013/11/sustain-myth-science/

I can't say that I've tried/owned that many cabs as I tended to use combo's to begin with. In my gigging days I used a Peavey Max head into an Ampeg B115E both of which now reside in the music club after 20+ years of usage still as good as ever. Also tried & moved on - SWR, Peavey & Ashdown, various 10" & 15". Never been keen on tweeters. I liked the warmth of the Ampeg. A combination of infamous Basschat reviews and my dotage led me down the path towards Barefaced and I've ended up with a couple of One10s and a TC BH250 to complete the lightweight rig. The One10's give me the warmth I associate with the Ampeg - dipping the mids a bit and with just a smidge of compression. I've never used pedals. I'd like to try out a Barefaced 12" cab out of curiosity but I think I'm sorted for good.

Xmas 1961, I and my elder and younger brother got a Portadyne record player between us. 1st single was Apache and 1st LP was: It got played to death. My my elder brother still has it. Soon after our 1st EP was by the Ventures. My elder brother still has it. The early 60's had quite a few instrumental groups, The Chantays, The Spotnicks, etc. That electric guitar sound was new and exciting and the Shadows were front runners in the UK and of course we knew the names of Cliff Richard's band members. So Jet was the first bass player I could put a name to other than maybe Charles Mingus, (yes I listened to Jazz even back then). After that then McCartney and Entwistle and other bassists would become names. But Jet, was probably the first bassist not to be just 'at the back'. Every other pub had music on at the weekend and guitar bands boomed. My elder brother and his childhood friend learned rhythm and lead and had limited success until like many others they got married and settled down. I just learned a few chords and riffs but mostly carried their gear to get in free and under-aged to chat up the birds. Fast forward to my 50th birthday in 1998 and, in my back garden, elder brother, good friend and myself chatted about our youth and strummed some of the soundtrack on a couple of acoustics. Then the fatal words were uttered, "we should get together and start a band - you can play bass". And so with a loaned no-name P bass I was once again the little brother tagging along. A drummer was found and a singer and for the next 15 years or so every weekend was practice/gigs in pubs and WMCs. With a playlist of 60s & 70s pop. Our audiences were of a similar age to ourselves we did quite well as weekend warriors around the Black country. Our Shadows and instrumental repetoire was always popular. The tunes were in our heads having played them to death in our teens. Apache, FBI, Walk Don't Run, Perfidia, Shadoogie, Nivram, Kon-Tiki, Wonderful Land, Flingel Blunt, Atlantis, Theme For Young Lovers, Riders In The Sky, Sleepwalk, Blue Star, etc. The first few guitar shows at the NEC were called 'Mad About Guitars' if I remember correctly. Anyway we went to one. Hank was doing a workshop and I was loitering in the walk-way having a fag by a bin when who should come across to join me but Jet Harris. We had a great conversation, me telling him it's his fault I've recently taken up bass playing and him telling me to practice my scales. My brother and friend joined us and continued chatting for several minutes. He was very congenial and we watched him do an exhibition with his band afterwards and then the Hank workshop. There are a few tribute bands and Shadows clubs around the country. I've attended one or two. Mostly the members play lead to backing tracks as they all want to be Hank Marvin. Also there is Shadowsmania, until recently an annual Shadows-fest with Bruce Welch at Lakeside Frimley in Surrey. A popular tribute guitarist to Hank Marvin, I think called Alan Jones, was present at one such club meeting. He had a drummer and my brother played rhythm and I bass for him as all the other members only knew Hank's lead to a few tunes. So that was a good night. So, Jet, well with his looks & his P Bass and with the Shadows, he set the scene really.

Just seen this on ebay so it looks like they are string through. I fitted the Labella custom to both my Mustangs.

Is it strung through-body? I thought not on this model.

A bit of revision on compression for me reminds me why I prefer my BH250 with it's 1 control knob. https://music.tutsplus.com/tutorials/the-beginners-guide-to-compression--audio-953

https://www.labella.com/strings/category/short-scale/

I've used Rotosound on Beatle bass copies & liked them, £30. Not suitable for Hofners, too thick for the tuners. When I eventually got a Hofner HCT I looked at Labella and fitted these, £42. Another option is, £48. I would be interested to hear any opinions about the 2 Labella gauges. You will only need to buy flats once so I'd say spend the cash. I've never used Pyramid.

Old age and/or health is what's all about. In my 50's, my weekend warrior days, I would carry my Peavey head and Ampeg cab + the PA and that was OK. Now I struggle to open a pickle jar but do still gig occasionally and am grateful that my bass gear and PA are now less than 10.5 kg or 24 lb any item, and most much less. It's great to have all this range of gear available, something to suit everybody.

Hello Walshy. How old are you, and are you in good health? "Honestly don't get the complaining about weight of stuff. Its not like you arrive at the gig and no one will help you ship gear in! I have never thought Oh I won't buy that because its heavier than 5 kg. Unless you live in a top floor flat, who cares 🙄 "

It's multi-band.

Some years back I was forever buying and selling amps and basses, trying out pedals, and as I ran the PA always up-grading something or other. Recently I've gone the other way and down-sized and simplified everything. Sold most of my studio stuff and the only pedal I have is a Beatbuddy. I think it's old age and getting lazy, can't be bothered fiddling around to much or having to learn to navigate my way through a multi-layered set of instructions on a tiny LED screen. I often record on cassette or just fiddle around on Audacity. Whatever you enjoy doing go for it. It's no good thinking I wish I'd tried this or that - find out if you do. There's no one size fits all. By the by, I have driven an automatic for some years now.

There is a nice Fender Bronco 40 for sale here, oh, it's mine. I'm near Tamworth.

Early 60's - a bit of singing and that was about it. Never had a lesson in my life. I do envy those that had lessons, especially piano lessons as youngsters.