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The bass was not playable with a moderate/highish action. I checked all the frets with a rocker and it was like a roller coaster. It's a cheap bass, good ones are good but the bad ones are bad. I am convinced that cheap instruments when set up and fret levelled play as good as expensive ones This one now does. But out the box, it was not good!

Indeed. Just unlucky. I've had a Spector Euro that needed a fret dress out the box!

I have to say, this bass was terrible out the box. The fingerboard was the driest I have ever seen and the frets needed dressed as there was ridiculous buzzing everywhere. Got it playing very nicely now. The pickups are very "meh". Feels nice to play though.

I really like MKs voice too - it's quite unique sounding and really laid back!

Thanks man. My singing has improved over the last year or so since I put the rehearsal videos up. Live we won't be using it. For the sake of getting quick takes done for the promo video, we decided to use it. I'm funding this project out of my own pocket and time in the studio is expensive! I just wanted something pretty polished out there and autotune helps with that. It's so overused these days, even on people who are capable singers!

Was that her on the Live at Wembley gig from the 80s? Good singer!

I have no defence. I'll have to remedy that at some point

Thanks for the heads up! I've sent them a message. Looks like a Dundee gig is in the pipeline for June from a local promoter

Tweed please!- less tangly!

I can be a bit pessimistic, true enough! There have been a few famous bands out of Dundee, but there are very few venues to play these days. And those venues are hard to get into unless you are part of the "in crowd" it seems. Same the world over I guess! I'm very encouraged by the interest and support here and over on the Mr Pink facebook page. It's only been up a few days and comments are flooding in asking when we are playing - it seems there are quite a few Level 42 fans out there! I'm contacting as many people as possible, hopefully an agent/promoter will see the potential!

Thanks for all the kind words! We recorded the full tunes for the video clips, so I'll probably upload them to the website at some point (www.mrpink42.com) - it's very rudimentary at the moment. Any leads for gigs would be greatly appreciated! Of note, I'm trying to get a MIDI controlled light show on the go. A light display programmed to coincide with key drum and bass fills.

Good advice tbh, I'm very much self taught. I think though the thing that's preventing gigs is not knowing the right people (I am far from a socialite. Despite being a very capable bass player in my home town I have zero social currency with the very cliquey music scene ) and also hailing from Dundee - the town really has no serious music scene and ambition/chop flaunting is looked upon with suspicion/derision.

Thanks

This has been a lot of work, but this is our promo video. This kinda started semi seriously to have fun playing hard music with my friends but I've decided to try and get out doing shows. I'm Scottish, so my accent is wrong for singing like Mark King so I just tried to sing in my voice. I am also not a singer! There's obviously some autotune at work, but we probably only spent about 10 hours in the studio recording the audio for this! My singing is...passable live. My sister (who is filling the role of Mike Lindup) is an outstanding singer, who fronts my other band called Danger Zone (wedding/events band). Level 42 splits people. Some people hate slap bass out of principle for some reason. For me, it's hugely enjoyable and highly expressive. So I'm aware I'm going to take flack for even attempting something like this! So be it. I'm well aware of the failings of this band (my vocals!). However, the guys in the band are top notch and I want to show off our hard work. This has been a very challenging project from start to finish. In truth, we don't sound much different live - thought obviously the singing is not a good. I can sing and play the parts no problem, the drummer is super humanly tight and our keyboard player is also a masterful sound engineer. We use a Soundcraft UI24 which is awesome. The bass was my JayDee through a Trace Elliot GP12 with what I think is the correct EQ setting. The only track with the Status was "Heathrow" I'm trying to get this band out doing shows, but my home town of Dundee is dismal for live music. I guess I need a promoter or an agent. Any help or advice would be very much appreciated!

Already have done - let's see if the reply?

My bad - apologies!

You're right there, but it's not a cheap bass. 800-900 quid depending where you buy it.

Not possible, they are a unique and unisomeric shape. Dropping the action to about 1.5mm from 2.5mm on the B *just* got it intonated but, unsurprisingly, there was far too much fret buzz! The overall design is just not fit for purpose. It's a bit of a poor show from ESP as they must know this is a problem. I also note that Thomann already has two of these basses as B stock. Soon to be three when mine gets back to them!

I think the problem would be the same tbh.

Agreed man - even removing the spring it is still very sharp

Possibly.......but it was shipped with D'Addario XLs. It is unfortunately just a bad design I feel.

https://www.espguitars.com/products/21002-ap-5 Just received this bass. Ticks all my boxes; 5 string, PJ configuration, EMGs, high mass bridge, metalic blue, U shaped neck, ebony finger board. However....... Due to Babicz bridges enormous saddles, it wont intone. The saddle is back as far as it will go and the B and E strings are still 20% sharp. The only solution would be to remount the bridge about 1cm back! It has to go back, which is unfortunate as it's a really nice bass otherwise; the Pickups sound great, the neck is comfortable, the action is low and it looks fantastic. I'll probably do a video review on my youtube channel before it goes back. What a shame!