Happy Jack

[quote name='Muppet' timestamp='1435786941' post='2812543'] I knocked up a cable from some bits I had around. 750mm with Neutrik male plug and female connector. [/quote] But now you'll have to set the cable emulator to 18' ...

Very early report following rehearsal tonight. The set-up from box to first note took less than three minutes, the instructions were clear & simple, everything worked as intended, there was no need to set the correct gain level or mess around with a squelch control. As an idiot-proof system it's hard to see how it could be better. The sound was absolutely clear and introduced no artifacts that I could hear, other than the slight brightness that the instructions warned about. If required, this can be adjusted using the cable emulator mentioned by Muppet, I actually chose to adjust the EQ on the preamp slightly instead. Using the default settings, there was frankly no evidence that I was using a wireless system. My rig sounded as it always does. I played a Mike Lull T5 (flats), a Shergold Marathon (flats), and a Fender Precision (rounds and Seymour Duncan 1/4 Pounders). Three very different output levels from those basses, no issues at all, no distortion that I could hear. I'll try some active basses when I get a bit more time. The size and convenience is quite astonishing, both of the transmitter and of the receiver. If I look hard for things to criticise, the lugs on the battery cover are very flimsy and fragile and I can see one or both snapping off reasonably soon if I don't treat the unit with care. There's also a surprising pop when I hit the Mute on the tuner, which is the only thing between the receiver and the preamp. I don't know how much power the receiver uses, but the device is so small that it cries out for a slightly larger version with room for a couple of decent batteries. As with pedals, having the option to use a device without needing a power supply makes it that much more attractive. I'll be gigging with it on Saturday. More later ...

[quote name='TheRev' timestamp='1435495397' post='2809305'] ... others say the weight of the tailpiece has more effect on the vibration of the afterlength. [/quote] That's why I'm going to install a hi-mass, brass tailpiece and have it engraved Double Badass ...

Mine just landed on my desk. I'll be trying it out at rehearsal tonight ...

Then you're ... erm ... not perfect for this.

Oh yes, remember your laptop.

I rarely bother to clean places I never visit.

[quote name='Geddys nose' timestamp='1435670110' post='2811198'] Make sure your fly's are zipped up. and enjoy it, You will get better the more you play out. [/quote] But if he keeps his flies zipped up ... oh, no, I get it.

Keep it simple. In every respect. Don't load yourself down with pedals, gadgets, surplus equipment ... don't give yourself extra work to do, extra things to worry about, more stuff that can go wrong. Unless you're entirely money-driven, your first few gigs should be all about the experience and (hopefully) the fun. Enjoy!

[quote name='seashell' timestamp='1435664979' post='2811092'] Party on everyone. Till you're 29 and then you might as well go home and suck on a werther's original. [/quote] So tonight I'm gonna party like I'm nearly 29 ...

Aaaargh! Good spot ...

[quote name='peteb' timestamp='1435621546' post='2810812'] And as for playing dives and the rougher establishments – I find that years later when people are sitting round talking about old gigs and places, they are the ones that you tend to remember and have the best stories attached… [/quote] Bang on. The Battle Of Bethnal Green where that skinhead tried to glass a black guy and damned near cut his own hand off, the White Horse in Ruislip where there was a stage invasion by drunken pikeys (no, really, this happened) who threatened violence if we didn't let their 12 year old sing ... I wouldn't go through those gigs again for love nor money, but they're astonishing memories to have for a nice, quiet, middle-class professional.

Dear Lola Fatuous, Does the stated fee include a VIP Roadside Parking Permit for the hard shoulder of the M5? My girlfriend Lulu-Beth wants to "Get it on" in a VW Camper underneath a ginormous full-colour (am I allowed to say that?) poster of the greatest rockstar in the entire history of the whole world. Yours forever, Bill Wyman

Just tried to place an order, and the site is insisting on having my credit card details. Only I want to use PayPal! Any advice, Chris?

[quote name='TimR' timestamp='1435518280' post='2809648'] This will be the Kanye West born in 1977 who is 39years old? Raised in a middle class household in Chicago. . [/quote] An yes, but which side of the tracks, eh?

First album I ever bought with my own pocket money ... Fragile. RIP Chris, and thanks.

Next up, play it. Played as a straight-forward bass, this is a really nice example. The sound of the pickup (with utterly dead roundwounds) was still lovely, very clear, similar to a Precision but quite distinctive and - IMHO - rather clearer. Output level from the pickup was fine, volume pot works as it should, tone pot sounded like a DFA control but I thought that might be down to the strings. The neck is absolutely gorgeous ... if you like that sort of thing, which I do. it's 1" 5/8ths at the nut, 19mm spacing at the bridge, and a lovely deep rounded profile. I find it very comfortable under the hand. The fretboard has a hard, shiny finish very similar to a Rick, and the bass is surprisingly capable of sounding Rick-like with the right playing style. Then I tried bi-amping, using the stereo outputs. That didn't go according to plan. Both output sockets work fine, but the main produces the "normal" EADG output whereas the secondary output only produces the DG strings. As I understand it, with jacks in both sockets one should produce the EA and the other the DG but I'm getting strictly either/or. Not a biggy since I haven't many applications for bi-amping, but I'd like to get it working. Time to change the strings. We tried D'Addario Chromes but the silk at the ball end was so thick that the E wouldn't go through the hole in the BBOT bridge! Luckily enough, I found a set of Thomastik Infelt lying around and they worked perfectly. [URL=http://s1128.photobucket.com/user/h4ppyjack/media/Basses%20CURRENT/Shergold%20Marathon%20CURRENT/Shergold%205_zpsgor2g0e7.jpg.html][IMG]http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/m496/h4ppyjack/Basses%20CURRENT/Shergold%20Marathon%20CURRENT/Shergold%205_zpsgor2g0e7.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=http://s1128.photobucket.com/user/h4ppyjack/media/Basses%20CURRENT/Shergold%20Marathon%20CURRENT/Shergold%204_zpsnqssh8mx.jpg.html][IMG]http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/m496/h4ppyjack/Basses%20CURRENT/Shergold%20Marathon%20CURRENT/Shergold%204_zpsnqssh8mx.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=http://s1128.photobucket.com/user/h4ppyjack/media/Basses%20CURRENT/Shergold%20Marathon%20CURRENT/Shergold%209_zpsc8c6tww2.jpg.html][IMG]http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/m496/h4ppyjack/Basses%20CURRENT/Shergold%20Marathon%20CURRENT/Shergold%209_zpsc8c6tww2.jpg[/IMG][/URL] The nut has been over-filed at some point (I suspect the bass has been strung BEAD for a while) so there's a tendency to rattle. That's offset by the zero fret but the break angle on the AD strings is also pretty critical. All in all, I'm pretty chuffed with this. For £350 this is a bass I'd happily walk onto any stage with.

I've never previously owned either a Shergold or a Hayman, so I got quite interested when this came up on eBay: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Shergold-Marathon-Stereo-white-Refin-/111698416200?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2047675.l2557&nma=true&si=OaSzWEdpQ3E4VUtig6fehSYVPQk%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc From a collector's point of view, the refin largely wrecks the 'investment value' (if any). From my point of view, it made a nice bass rather more affordable. The vendor assured me that, bathroom scales stylee, the bass weighed about 8.5lbs. My experience with that sort of effort is that it usually means the bass will be substantially heavier, at least 9lbs and probably more. Met up with the vendor who, sadly, is not a Basschatter. It's a shame because he would certainly fit the demographic ... lovely chap, very friendly and open, middle aged, shaved head, the full works. My first impression (in a pub) was "blimey, that's light", and my second was "blimey, that's lovely". We were in the West End so 20 minutes later I was on my way to Denmark Street to visit Andy Gibson. He checked out the electrics for me; the input sockets were both pretty dodgy and the two controls very scratchy. He didn't need to tell me that the strings were way past the use by date. I collected the bass on my way home, now with the electrics apparently sorted. First thing to do was to weigh it properly - exactly 8lbs. Even by my standards, that's pretty bloody good for a lightweight bass and makes it a pleasure to sling around your neck. Photos on arrival, still with the old strings: Handsome beast [URL=http://s1128.photobucket.com/user/h4ppyjack/media/Basses%20CURRENT/Shergold%20Marathon%20CURRENT/Entire%20bass%202_zpsrobdnwpc.jpg.html][IMG]http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/m496/h4ppyjack/Basses%20CURRENT/Shergold%20Marathon%20CURRENT/Entire%20bass%202_zpsrobdnwpc.jpg[/IMG][/URL] It really is this white [URL=http://s1128.photobucket.com/user/h4ppyjack/media/Basses%20CURRENT/Shergold%20Marathon%20CURRENT/Body%203_zpsikhbz1lq.jpg.html][IMG]http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/m496/h4ppyjack/Basses%20CURRENT/Shergold%20Marathon%20CURRENT/Body%203_zpsikhbz1lq.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

How was this man never elected? It's a travesty ... a travesty, I tells ye ...

In the late 70s I used to ride my bike (a BSA Bantam D14/4 since you ask) along the Cromwell Road at West Kensington. For about three months, there was a HUGE poster billboard by the lights at Warwick Road saying something like, "While you're waiting for [[i]something or other, can't remember what[/i]], here's a Wok in the Black Forest." The HUGE poster was of a wok dropped onto a gateau. I laughed every time I rode past it. Mind you, I was younger then of course.

[quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1435321420' post='2807658'] 'New man', eh..? Sounds very 'Grandpa' to me..! [/quote] Are you suggesting that I am Clive Dunn?

I haven't heard that in years - excellent stuff!

http://youtu.be/zQQ5sEOhbjQ

http://youtu.be/66TLrby1R1g Worth playing if only for the accompanying video ...