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I tend to get mine here - https://www.guitarstringsandthings.co.uk/search?search_query=picato+bass Free postage too

I've used Picato strings on and off for ages, since being put onto them by another Basschatter - good value strings and seemingly consistent quality. I have found availability to be a bit hit and miss though - if they were more widely available more of the time they might have a better market share... just my 2p. Definitely worth a try though if you haven't used them before.

I've had the same problem with with the licensed (not USA) Ultralites... perhaps unsurprisingly Hipshot actually sell bushes which allow you to fit their tuners to headstocks with too-large holes already drilled. I was going to buy some since they are only $4 each... but the cheapest postage option was over $50... no sale! I've used the masking tape 'fix' seemingly successfully, but it doesn't seem like an ideal way to make such critical components fit properly.

That is a fine collection! They are still around in amazingly good condition if you keep your eyes open - and I might be imagining it but the prices seem to be firming up a just a little. Still stupid cheap for what they are but maybe the world at large is catching on to the worthiness of 'classic' TE gear. The (daft) notion that they are one-trick ponies might be one reason they have been so cheap for so long, but I think I'll always have one or two in my possession.

I'm sure I asked on here once before if anyone could 3D-print these? Clearly it wasn't a go-er because I've still got a shortage! I'm sure that if they could be manufactured there are enough of us who would buy some (or one) to make it worth someone's time.

You don't even see that many with all of the little slider ends in place... I've got four TE heads and only enough of those white bits to fully equip one of them at a time.

First time customer of John's - and it won't be the last. He replied to my initial enquiry after an hour and then felt he should apologise for his tardiness... Transaction was completed on a Friday afternoon and the loom (nicely protected in a proper box) arrived the next day. Superb!

Bought some straplock parts from Martyn last week - he was nice to deal with and they arrived quickly. Recommended!

I was thinking about doing this too, and did a big of googling on the subject. It turns out it isn’t that easy, but with patience you can do a decent job with a hacksaw type blade. Full disclosure – I ended up getting one made by https://www.originalscratchplates.com/ and it’s good, if pricey compared to buying the blank. If you are going to do it, check out some YouTube clips and maybe have a few practices on a spare/broken pickguard first. One thing I do remember finding out is that power tools run the risk of overheating the material so hand cutting, although tedious, is probably better for a one-off job. Good luck – I’d be interested to hear how you get on if you do try it.

Thank you :-)

Typical - I see this the day after it sells. I don't need it either, but would have bid at that price... On a related note - would you mind letting me know the details of the amp tech you mentioned? I rehearse in Stevanage and one of my TE heads needs a bit of attention - I figure that if someone comes with a recommendation from a BC'er that's better than a bunch of google opinions! Thank you

I've got a 250SMX and there is a constant low level hum when it's turned on - not enough to be a problem, but it's there... I am planning to get it serviced later this year and I'll mention it to the tech, but as long as it's doesn't get worse I won't bother spending a lot of money chasing it down if it isn't obvious what causes it. The amp is totally reliable otherwise.

That AH150 is not short of volume - and is one of the sweetest sounding TE heads (IMO). The cab though, as mep said, is about the weight of a fully loaded freight train… good sounding combination though.

He does use hearing protection - we all do!

Thanks for all the replies everyone - I found a picture that hopefully illustrates the problem I’m trying to fix – I’m in the poncey shirt, and that’s my gear behind the keyboard player… It sits on top of his combo, which I usually like because it’s a bit higher up and projects better than being on the floor. In a small stage area like this I reckon 6 metres / 20 feet will be plenty for my needs, so I've ordered a good quality cable safe in the knowledge that I’m not tempting bad things to happen! In a bigger area the problem doesn’t really exist. Regarding putting the amp in the firing line of enthusiastic beer slingers, I’ve hatched a plan involving using one of the flight cases that comes to every gig as a makeshift stand that will fit neatly under the keyboards (by the wall), so everything should be safe and out of the way (i.e. well behind the front-of-stage line) but still easily reachable. Hopefully problem solved 😊

I've never heard of one of those (Epiphone S310) before... just googling a picture you can tell within 2 seconds that the body is pure Strat, but the headstock is pure Gibson/Epiphone... I kind of like it! The minutiae of these copyright and IP rules etc. however, confuse me terribly 🤔

I use them with my 'big' speakers, but this small setup doesn't have them at either end... That said, we tend to be quite good at running cables where they won't be a trip hazard, so I would do what I could to make sure I didn't tempt fate. The amp would be side-stage rather than anywhere it could cause a nuisance. We all go wireless for guitars and mics, which helps enourmously with keeping the stage area clear.

Thanks! I just needed telling I think - there was no 'science' behind my concern, just a nagging feeling that I should confirm it was not a problem 🙂

Giggity - first time GAS for a Jazz bass... that could be an expensive video to have watched! I may have to report this incident to the missus for my own protection. I have no idea why, but the marketing-speak on the Sire website actually appealed to me, especially when talking about the neck, and I’m no subtle and fleet-fingered Marcus Miller… tbh, more Windy Miller in my approach! I really want to know what that rolled fretboard feels like to play though...

So, just looking for reassurance here… the issue is that for gigs in tight venues my rig often ends up where I can’t reach it once we’re playing. I don’t go through the PA for these gigs, and I often only use a head and cab(s) i.e. no pedal board or effects etc. but especially if it’s going well we tend to get louder as the gig goes on, or I sometimes want to tweak the EQ to compensate for something mid-set. I am then in the situation where I have to rely on the keyboard player (or in dire circumstances the drummer) to twiddle the knobs, with sometimes less than predictable results... For these venues I’m happy enough with my class D micro head, so one solution would be to have my cabs in their usual place (on top of the keyboard players combo) and the head discreetly positioned in front of all that keyboard and drum nonsense, so I still have control of my own sound/volume. The question then is how long can the speaker lead be before I get problems? Rightly or wrongly, with something beefier pushing the watts, like my old school TE head, I wouldn’t worry so much about long leads, but with a 200-watt class D working at 80% or more on the volume control it just feels like I’m asking a lot of it already, and doing this means asking even more… is that nonsense? I’m hoping that decent quality 6 metre speaker cable would look the same to the amp as a 1 metre one… but like I said, just looking for reassurance. I don’t want to provoke the magic smoke.

Agree - I've had a few and they all punch above their weight!