Dan Dare

Which would support the notion that they ship to their UK distributor in bulk and items are sent out individually from there. Makes sense. If we want quicker delivery, we can always buy from and support a UK-based company. May cost us a little more, of course.

This. It would make no sense for them to despatch dozens of individual parcels to the UK. Easier and cheaper to put them all in the UK-bound container and ship it weekly. Not unreasonable of them.

You can't have it both ways. You brought up the notion of entire reworking/artistic freedom and then claimed we were discussing one semitone. Make your mind up. Interestingly, we play this number in my soul band. Our keyboard player was playing the major third on the way up as well as on the way down. We had a quick word and played him the Otis original and, being a sensible grown-up, he didn't try to double down or claim he was "interpreting" it. He just said "Thanks, chaps. Got it" and played it right from then on.

No, we're not. As someone who has stated above that reworking entire songs = artistic freedom, etc, you should know that. That one semitone started the discussion, but it's broadened a lot more since.

"I'm sticking it to The Man/making a stand for artistic freedom by playing a load of wrong notes". Cool.

This. If he's local, it's only a couple of hours out of your life. There could be some pink, potentially red, flags. The main one for me is that there are plenty of good soul/funk bass players about, but they usually know their worth and expect to be paid. The word "collective" does smack of no money, hippies, etc, but there's only one way to find out and it's easy enough to make your excuses and leave if he turns out to be another Walter Mitty.

Right on, man.

Paper cones are often doped to increase stiffness and durability. You could try that ("Google "speaker cone dope"), but the stuff isn't cheap. In my experience, once a cone has aged, dried out (or got damp - the OP mentioned the combo had been in his garage for years) and become brittle, fixes will only work temporarily and the bullet - a recone or new driver - has to be bitten eventually.

As long as "making it your own" isn't code for "can't be bothered to get it right, so I'll wing it".

Of course.

The Super Compact is the most traditional sounding of the BF 12" cabs and should do the business with a suitable amp. It and your Markbass should be perfect for the old school sound you seem to crave. Which leaves the instrument. Something like a P bass would be far more likely to do the business, imho. It's also worth noting that no single 12" cab will give you the sound you get from a large PA. The laws of physics and all that.

Sounds as if someone felt threatened by your experience and knowledge. Shame it cost you a friend.

"Gourmet tone woods"? Oh dear. Interestingly, quite a few exotic woods are poisonous.

This. once you reach pension age, the mortgage is paid off and the kids are off your hands, you can just play what you enjoy and not worry about whether it will go anywhere or pay the bills. A job keeps some money rolling in and helps you stay in touch with the human race. It's a good place to be.

Good advice from Bill. I had that same cab many years ago and it improved a lot when I replaced the nasty, flimsy Fender drive unit, added some simple bracing and acoustic foam and lengthened the port (I used a shelf of ply to extend it).

My AG700 is simple - 4 band eq, input gain and master and that's about it - and powerful. It's been reliable over the years I've had it. It'll probably go pop now I've said that...

What keeps me in the game is the fact that I wouldn't know what to do with myself if playing music was no longer part of my life. I've been doing it for more than 50 years and it would leave a big hole if it ended. As is the case with many musicians, my social life is heavily tied up in it. A lot of friends are musicians. It's also a major part of who I am - my identity and how I perceive myself.

I agree with those who say bullet dodged. It does sound as if the others were not on the same page as you, so it would only have been a matter of time before a falling-out occurred. As you've nothing to lose, ask the singer if it's bugging you. If she's gone along with it, she's hardly in your corner and it isn't as if you'll be burning any bridges if the deed has already been done.

Agreed. I've said my piece anyway.

Ah, yes. The usual platitudes - I'm "disrespecting hard working citizens", etc, etc - trotted out by those who like the fact that they can buy things cheap and who wish to turn a blind eye to the reasons why it costs so little. I'm not "disrespecting hard working citizens". They have no choice but to work hard for little reward. I admire them for it. I'm criticising the system that forces them to do so. Next, you'll be telling me that they aren't used to Western pay rates and conditions of employment and therefore it wouldn't be good for them. I'll turn your question on its head. My PA and bass gear was made in Germany, the US and the UK, where I can be pretty certain that people are paid decently and don't have to work in a poor environment (relatively speaking, of course. Things can always be better). Have you ensured that the factories where your stuff was made are up to snuff, or are you happy to assume it was because it makes you feel better? The issue goes much wider than just musical equipment. It extends to every aspect of our lives - clothing, consumer goods, food, etc, etc. I know it's unfashionable, "bigoted" even, but I look at country of origin for everything I buy. If I can, I buy home produced goods. This is a matter of pragmatism, as well as principle. I live in the UK and therefore, I want the UK economy to be healthy, because that will benefit my quality of life and that of those I care about. it's in my interest to ensure that, if I can, I buy in a manner that does not see the money I spend lost for good to our economy. Thou doth protest too much. I made a sardonic comment and you took umbrage and attempted to accuse me of bigotry. I suggest your over-reaction betrays your sensitivity about your own conduct, rather than anything I say or do.

Why say you're sorry? Please stop clutching your pearls and open your eyes. Perhaps you are uncomfortable about the fact that we in the prosperous West enjoy cheap manufactured goods thanks to the fact that many people (who are often very young) in low wage economies work long hours for little pay, often in unregulated workplaces that boast few safety precautions or protection for workers. There's nothing bigoted (note single 't') about pointing that out. I put my money where my mouth is and try not to buy things that are made in such places. It may cost me more, but the consolation is that I'm not enabling exploitation or helping to fund the export of jobs to low wage economies. No doubt you'll tell me I'm fortunate to be able to afford my scruples.

This. Despite marketing claims, no manufacturer can offer more at a given price point than another, assuming they are all operating in the same economic environment. Obvs, things produced in high wage economies - Europe, the US, etc - will have incur higher labour costs than those made in the Far East by children working 12 hour days 7 days a week, but you get my drift.

Not unlikely. If he's been trading for 40 years, Brynn must be thinking of retirement. If he can sell the brand name and add something to his retirement pot, good luck to him.

I could have almost fitted into the narrow ends. They had 15" drivers, so the throats were very large. The fronts of the horns had about the same frontal area as a small car and they were mounted on large scaffolding stands that placed them about 10' in the air. Impressive. I just hope they didn't end up in a dumpster.