NickRiffed

I bought a secondhand Hohner B2a and a Cub 30 bass amp in the mid 80's, bought them home where they sat in a corner of the bedroom after a couple of initial failed attempts to get a reasonable tune out of them, and there they stayed. Kids, house moves, career changes all happened but the bass and amp always made it back to a corner in the bedroom where they just gathered dust. The age of 40 was on the horizon and, as you know, that's when life begins, so I decided to get a life, seeing that the kids were all capable of looking after themselves to a degree. I announced to my wife that I was going to learn to play that bloomin' bass and join a band if it kills me. That was 16 years ago. Apart from the first 6 months and a two year break where my M.E. wouldn't let me hold a bass let alone play it, I've been playing at home and with gigging bands. It can take me 3 days to a week to recover after a gig but it feeds my need to get out and play with other people in front of other people. When that stops, as long as I can still play at home I'll be happy.

I've recently started playing with two bands after moving out into the sticks. One is a classic rock band and we are still getting the set together, the other is a Country band in the truest sense, definitely no Country Rock. They tend to open with 'I recall a Gypsy Woman.' Makes me want to open a vein everytime.

[quote name='KK Jale' timestamp='1475519338' post='3146598'] I bought one of those Thomann Premium gig bags about six months ago and one of the shoulder straps is completely pulling apart. It's not even for a bass... it carries a semi-hollow, 6.5lb guitar. Not chuffed, I'll be sending it back. [/quote] Surely the famous 3 year warranty should cover it.

[quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1475336201' post='3145173'] https://www.thomann.de/gb/thomann_premium_gigbag_e_bass_br.htm I've had these well over a year and they are unmarked so I'd say they are hardwearing. The price is amazing and don't believe these are cheap crap... far from it. [/quote] Blimey, apart from looking a bit '70's car interior, they have to be worth a punt at £30.

[quote name='ead' timestamp='1475342779' post='3145246'] I have these for my ACGs, top bags in my view: https://www.fusion-bags.com/collections/guitar-gig-bags/products/f1-bass-guitar-gig-bag [/quote] Yup. Same here. You can also add clip on bags to the front, which is quite novel.

Don't ever let striving for perfection suck the fun out of it. I've seen good technically great bands that have bored me and musically crap bands that have really entertained me. I'd much rather be playing average bass in an entertaining band than in a boring one.

Two things to look into. Thanks. Insurance is one thing, the hope something being recovered is better.

I couldn’t find a topic on this so I hope I'm not going over old ground. Does anyone use security marking on their gear and, if so, what?

Part of owning a luthier built bass is that you can own something truly unique that has been hand built from scratch to meet your own needs. I happen to own two ACG custom spec basses, both of which were 'stock' instruments up for sale on the ACG website. I had been a fan of ACG for a while, my eyes were sore from reading all the reviews. I just happened to see, what was in my opinion, the most wonderful looking bass I'd ever seen and, after being assured by Alan that if I was in anyway unhappy with it I could send it back, I took the plunge. I don't have a single regret. Alan made an offer that I couldn't refuse the other month and I ended up with another one. They are both very different but have a similar feel, one being a 5 string fretted, the other being a fretless 4. I will be speaking to Alan in the new year about an Über spec build. This will be something very special for me but will be made to suit my needs at half the price of Fender Master built precision that looks like any other Fender precision to the untrained eye at a distance of about 5 feet. The options are, to a degree, open ended. Single cut, double cut, 4,5,6 or more strings, fretless, headless, Scale, whatever. Apart from the res-o-lite tuners everything about an ACG has had Alan's input. Don't start me on neck and body options... or tops... Jeez!! Why would I ever consider a high end mass produced bass? Alan is at the end of the phone or an email and is happy to answer even the most ridiculous of questions. Service is everything.

I built one with my Grandkids to try and get them a bit more interested in bass guitars. You can screw one together and play it in an hour or so if you want. I did that to make sure it worked then took it all down again and changed it about a bit. They come with the body prepared to be painted. I got the kids to sand the coating of as I wanted to refine the shape a bit and finish it off with gun oil. Maybe not the best choice with a 9 and 10 year old working on it. A lot of bits got put in the parts draw. The body remains but slightly altered. The neck stayed the same. The head stock comes as an oblong paddle which was carved to shape with a Stanley knife... yes really! The electrics stayed but pickups were replaced with Entwistle pups. Wilkinson jumbo open back tuners went on. A heavy duty bridge was added that is strung through the body. New knobs, new scratch plate eliptical strap pins and a decent set of strings. It plays very well.

I'm a collector of the odd and unusual provided it's cheap. I have 20 basses of various types including a Russian Ural, a VOX Bassmaster, a Sonorus tapper (not so cheap), 7 Ashborys and other stuff. They all get played even if they don't all get gigged. The exception to the rule is my new ACG which should arrive tomorrow. That wasn't cheap.. no sir, but compared to other custom builds I think it's value for money. My kids have grown up. The mortgage is paid. It's all gravy.

All of them... at one time or another. A full house. Am I bothered? Not a jot. Christ, I've even played 'Amarillo' for gods sake. I'm not proud. If it keeps 'em dancing on the tables, crack on.

"The songs may be other people's but the mistakes are all original."

Saw Norman at a Rock and blues weekend in Skegness several years back. Had a chat with him at the bar after he came off stage. Nice bloke.

My new ACG that is making its way down from Scotland tomorrow ☺☺☺☺ is a 34". Saying that, I also like a short scale, even as short as an Ashbory.

I was playing in a three piece, great guitarist, great drummer. I lived about 30 miles from the guitarist and 45 miles from the drummer. I was getting gigs near me based on my previous form in another band. The drummer was getting gigs near him based on his previous form and many contacts. We never failed to get rebooked but sometimes the guitarist would knock the booking back because he didn't like the place for some reason. He never seemed to come up with any bookings in his area apart from one charity do. He had contacts coming out of his ears and was mates with managers and or owners of all his local music venues but nothing was forth coming. When I asked him at the end of a rehearsal as to why he couldn't get us into any of these places, he said that he could easily but he didn't think we were good enough not to show him up in front of a crowd of people that he knew.

Went to a schoolmates place one weekend near Regents Park in London. He was one of five Thompson brothers I'd met three of the others. In the morning he casually introduced me to his big brother, Richard, and his sister in law, Linda who had just flown in from the states. Not a scooby until years later.