FinnDave

Back in the mid90s I was sent on a Photoshop course - the instructor was called Shirley Knott. I probably still have the certificate she signed somewhere

Let's not go there!

Probably!

I subscribe to the Grateful Dead's 'Dave's Picks' series - four CD sets a year of live material from their extensive archive. Pay up front in the Autumn, then the box sets pop through my letter box at three monthly intervals. That's the only music I have bought for several years now. Reading through other people's lists in this thread, I only recognise the names of about 5% of the bands/artists mentioned.

I call roses treacherous thorny bastards, I try to avoid getting close enough to smell the evil things.

Slightly off-topic, but having just mentioned Finnish and vegetables - some years ago, Marks & Spencers had (may still have, for all I know) a range of women's clothing branded as Per Una. When I visited the UK with my Finnish partner, we had to leave the shop as we were laughing so much we could hardly breath. The name brought a slightly less chic image to our minds. Peruna is the Finnish for potato.

Considering that as bass players, we hold down the beat and are often required to play root notes, some variation on Beetroot should have possibilities as a stage name. Maybe someone should start a band in which everyone is named after a vegetable. They could call the band 'The Vegetables'. . . . . Or maybe not.

I used to play in a band in which the main singer/guitarist had (still has) the same name as I do, so I started using the Finnish version of my surname to avoid confusion. Unfortunately, it confused him and he never managed to pronounce it correctly. Being in that band overlapped with one or two others, so I kept my Finnish stage name and still use it. I feel vaguely entitled to it after living and working in Finland for 16 years.

Even gorgeouser in the flesh, er, wood. Sounds great too!

Finally managed a to get a few minutes of reasonable light - so here is my new SR1200 in all its glory (well, most of it, couldn't fit the whole neck in)

Still no chance to get a picture of the new bass, but I did play it at rehearsal today. Going through my Trace Elliot Elf and Barefaced Super Compact at low volume (just myself and two guitarists today) it sounded great - and the pre-amp is more versatile than I'd expected. Got a lovely growl to it when I play a bit harder, and a great tone. Much admired by the other two band members today.

Perhaps your bank was blocking Bass Direct to keep you out of trouble!

I have had only good experiences with Bass Direct, which is just over an hour away from me. I try to avoid going there too often as there is only so much will power available! Very easy to call in for some strings and walk out with a new bass!!

I know what you mean, there is something very tactile about the wood and the curves on these Ibbys. I played it until I couldn't think straight this afternoon, looking forward to playing with people tomorrow. I had been planning to replace the pre-amp with one of John East's (I have one in an active Jazz) but will hold fire until I've played a few gigs with it, as it seems pretty good with the Ibanez pre fitted. I do like John's sweepable mids though!

Collected an Ibanez SR 1200 today that I bought on eBay. Looks exactly like a slimmed down version of my old SR1206 six string bass, and is also much lighter. Played it all afternoon and will take to rehearsal tomorrow. No pictures yet, too dark indoors and too wet outdoors! They will follow as soon as I am able to take some.

When I started playing 6 strings I had not (and still haven't) played a five string, so the two reference points (lowest & highest strings were both different. I did find this confusing at times, certainly for more than ten minutes!

I've owned and loved a couple of Harleys, but never wanted to touch a Rickenbacker. I kind of get your analogy, though, both appeal to niche markets and are subject to scorn from the mainstream.

No tyre on my steering wheel!

I have five wheels & tyres in/on my car, but only ever drive with four of them….

When I was a child, I'd do anything to avoid a slap. Now I'm a (supposedly) grown-up bassist, I still avoid anything to do with slapping.

I played headline slot at a small festival in 2019 and due to a breakdown en route (car, not psychological) had to play through a small combo. It worked fine, as would have my DI box. I have since downsized to a single 1x12 and a couple of different amp heads, much less to store, insure & carry about. The smaller option is enough for pub gigs, etc., and anything larger than that goes through the PA, making the backline irrelevant.

Yep, with feedback cancelling microphone pairs. That's what happens when you ask Owsley to design the ultimate sound system, money no object!

Quite honestly, in 45 years of abusing basses, I have never once seen or heard a Rickenbacker and thought 'that's nice'. I was offered a go on one at an open mic a few years ago, I think the owner was slightly miffed at the speed I declined the offer! Horses for courses, but if I woke up in the morning and thought 'think I'll pop out and buy a Rickenbacker' I'd assume I was still asleep and midway through a nightmare.

I think that's taking 'moisturising the fingerboard' a bit too far!