Frank Blank

I was a punk when I was young, part of the schtick was to be anti-everything and while that did encourage independence and a strong DIY ethic, which I still have thanks to the era, it also made us throw a lot of the good stuff out with the bathwater. I remember arguing vociferously against learning theory, backed up with hollow arguments about not adhering to a orthodoxy, how untrained musicians make interesting and surprising note/chord choices. Then I was lucky enough to meet someone classically trained, a violinist, guitarist and singer, who is steeped in theory. She makes note/chord choices that even I wince at. Because she understands the orthodoxy she absolutely understands how to subvert it. I'm rambling, in short, know your enemy. Now I just wished I'd learnt theory when I was a kid, not that it was an option as my family were a) bastards, b) not financially well off and, (just for good measure), c) bastards again. But it isn't their fault (even though they were bastards) that I am not learning theory today, that's my hangup, but man, I wish I'd learned.

U OK hun?

Are you confident enough in attending to go on the gear list Sir?

Too late now but just for future reference. La Bella 760F-MUS are super lovely...

This made me listen to Nine Horses again...

@cetera - Charvel 3B, ESP Surveyor '87, Fender FSR PJ Precision, Hamer Impact, Italia Imola, Spector NS2, Spector Euro, Spector EuroX (Spectorbird), Spector Pulse II, Spector Dimension 4HP, Gallien Krueger 400RB & Legacy800 heads, GenzBenz Neox 2x12 cab @TheGreek - All short scale this year - a @Jabba_the_gut scale 5er, Mini Ray, Short scale P bass @Harlequin74 - Zoot Performer, Status Shark, Spector QV4 , Markbass TTE501 and Matching CAB. Maybe the Lehle Basswitch… @Frank Blank - @Jabba_the_gut short scale fretted and fretless, JMJ Mustang, QSC K12.2, Grace Design Alix @TrevorR - Mk 1 Wal, Wal Pro IIE, Aria SB700, Frankenjazz, pedals and MarkBass LMII & Traveler 2x10 @bnt - travelling light, probably a couple of pedals such as T-Rex Diva Drive, Orange KongPressor @bass_dinger - 1999 Washburn XB500, 1994 Washburn XB500, Washburn XB925 in zebrawood, Washburn XB925 in bits, Boulder Creek 5 string (likely to be for sale, SWR Workingmans 12. @greentext- 2008 Spector NS4-H2, 2015 Sandberg VS4, 2000 Trace Elliot T-Bass, my pedalboard and my tin of picks 😈 @prowla- Probably a couple of Rickenbackers and some interesting oddities. Amp-wise a Markbass EVO and a 1x12 (last year I bought some others to try and never switched them on, as the EVO sounded spot-on). @SuperSeagull- Status S2, Feline P Bass, Modded Fender Lyte, Flea Jazz, MB Combo @Merton - various short and medium scale ACGs, Zoots and Conway basses, Barefaced cabs, modern Trace Elliot amps @MacDaddy Shuker (probably no3), Snapdragon Folding Bass, possibly a Rob Allen Mouse. @neilp - matching pair of fretted and fretless 1980 Aria SB1000s, possibly my fretless Wal mk1, Ashdown ABM500/Ampeg 4x10, Tech 21 Bass Fly Rig

He won't turn up, he's been a very naughty boy.

Same here. Most of my basses are piezo and he gave a lot of valuable advice.

Really liking this, tell us more Dad.

Agreed. Having discovered missing springs between the upper and lower knobs of a couple of ACGs that have passed through my hands, I emailed John who sent me out a bag of said springs at no cost. He has also quickly and thoroughly answered a couple of emails about technical stuff too. The more I use small, often one-person, outfits the happier I am, usually a quicker response and much more helpful than bigger companies/brands who are often simply varying shades of indifferent. I have had great service/advice from... John East Newtone Strings Effectrode Lusithand ACG (of course) Grace Design Rob Allen

@BigRedX thanks for taking the time to answer. Nor do I half the time TBH. Which was exactly how I felt about it initially. It definitely does have its own set of in-jokes but its by no means a clique, I was a latecomer to it and yet was welcomed. It is essentially blather but its extraordinarily civil and self-regulating. I completely agree with this. I have no interest in 95% of off topic and yet I understand other people have interests that don't interest me which is why I am happy to tolerate that 95%, but if there were such a function I too would hide the vast majority of it.

*drums fingers on desk, looks at watch*

Why?

@cetera - Charvel 3B, ESP Surveyor '87, Fender FSR PJ Precision, Hamer Impact, Italia Imola, Spector NS2, Spector Euro, Spector EuroX (Spectorbird), Spector Pulse II, Gallien Krueger 400RB & Legacy800, GenzBenz Neox 2x12 @TheGreek - All short scale this year - a @Jabba_the_gut short scale 5er, Mini Ray, Short scale P bass @Harlequin74 - Zoot Performer, Status Shark, Spector QV4 , Markbass TTE501 and Matching CAB. Maybe the Lehle Basswitch… @Frank Blank - @Jabba_the_gut short scale fretted and fretless, JMJ Mustang, QSC K12.2, Grace Design Alix @TrevorR - Mk 1 Wal, Wal Pro IIE, Aria SB700, Frankenjazz, pedals and MarkBass LMII & Traveler 2x10 @bnt - travelling light, probably a couple of pedals such as T-Rex Diva Drive, Orange KongPressor @bass_dinger - 1999 Washburn XB500, 1994 Washburn XB500, Washburn XB925 in zebrawood, Washburn XB925 in bits, Boulder Creek 5 string (likely to be for sale, SWR Workingmans 12.

Let's hope so, you'll never win the Derby with them in that state son.

As someone who plays hollow and semi-hollow basses I have to say that it's a way to go, if not the way.

A good point, well made. What on Earth was I thinking? Pics coming up.

It did. The black looks fine but the white pearloid... *shudder* Just not my bag. The white one was perfect for the TinyTone template, they could've bunged it out of the window into the rather excellently named River Irk afterwards for all I care.* *you may glean from this that a fan of white pearloid I am not.

That's the word I was looking for, Character. Awarded? Who are you, Fred Nobel?* *Nobby Nobel's youngest, works down the fair on the dodgems. It's a classic look, oft misunderstood by the great unwashed hoi polloi such as yourself. My middle names, there.

Carthage, penguin, euphonium.

So right...

Well, it is going up for a full set up in a week or two, once I've decided which scratchplate I'll get it put on then, once it's back, photos ahoy.