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Damn shame they didn't include a Jazz.

It was not Ray Thistlethwait but the guy was similarly breathtaking. I feel a bit harsh by not being able to at least share his name. I'm sure someone can find out... I saw Thundercat last year in Wolverhampton and he was fabulous also.

Hi all, I've got a super pair of custom made ACS ear plugs. They work very well but the day after wearing them my right ear hurts like hell. The pain subsides over time and by the day after that it feels normal again. Anyone else experienced this problem? Could the pain be caused by me not inserting/removing them carefully enough? Any thoughts welcome. I hope I can continue using them as they are 1000% better than any other regular musicians ear plugs I've tried over the years.

I was also slightly concerned about this. It was louis and gienevive plus Sam on bass, a keys player and a guitarist. When I saw Tower of Power in Brum a few years ago I was doubly disappointed to find (in my complete ignorance) that not only was Rocco deceased but his replacement was also absent due to a medical indent so in the end there was no bass player on stage at all.

First time I've managed to see them live after many years of enthusiastically following them and Louis Cole. I wasn't disappointed! Brilliant musicians, all of them, exhillerating performance too, crowd were bouncing by the end. Sam Wilkes was a big fat monster on bass. Had to resist the urge to keep videoing bits on my phone (one of my pet hates at gigs) but it was such a great show. I don't know why but I felt the urge to take a pic of Sam's bass at the end of the show, perhaps someone out there would be interested 😂

Bought a cable from John. Quick service, high quality product. What's not to like? Buy with confidence 👍

The true test of a basschatter is how they deal with unforseen technical issues which are out of their control. Jono scores top marks in this regard in how he dealt with an issue relating to an amp I bought from him. He is a true gent and I will not hesitate to do business again. Buy with confidence 👍

I recently bought a bass stand from Ed. I was very pleased with the whole experience- great comms, arrived in the post quickly, and it was extremely well packed. I would do business with Ed again without hesitation.

Just bought a cab from Peter. Lovely chap, transaction was perfectly straight forward and I am very happy. I would not hesitate to do business with Peter again.

+1 from me. Exchanges was THE music shop of my youth. I bought/PX'd more gear than I care to remember. I even did my school work experience here which consisted of messing around with bass gear and vacuuming. A guy called Woz ran the bass department. Amazing player. Wonder where he is now? Incredible to think we also had the Birmingham Bass Centre just around the corner from Exchanges as well. Great times. We're lucky to have Fairdeal in Brum which has improved its bass great offering in a big way over the last few years and deserves to be supported lest it goes the same way as PMT...

Excellent thread and one which gives me so much pressure to read about those of us who are still getting out there and doing it long after they've started receiving their state pension. I'm in my very early 40s and started on bass in a band with my mates when we were all 13. I've been fascinated and captivated by this instrument and music in general ever since. I play in bands but I have a regular job and a family and I think that is the best position for me. I just don't know if I would enjoy it as much if I was doing it full time but you never know.... Back to the topic question, what keeps me going is playing with others and gigging. There are caveats though: I lose interest if and when it becomes repetitive and predictable. I'm constantly on the look out for the next gig and a band that plays the type of stuff I like with excellent musicians to play and bounce off. I am also afflicted with GAS. Finally, I don't think you can 'complete' a musical instrument like you complete a video game. You can keep learning all through your life and keep it fresh by challenging yourself. Without bass and music in my life I would be a different person indeed.

Just learned that the wonderful actor Adrian Dunbar who, among many other roles, played Chief Superintendent Ted Hastings in Line of Duty is a member of our club... "Although he’d achieve fame in films such as My Left Foot (1989) and The Crying Game (1992), Dunbar started out as a musician. In the 1970s, he played bass and sang backing vocals in an Elvis impersonator’s band." https://inews.co.uk/culture/television/adrian-dunbar-people-trust-bbc-not-any-more-3842057

Wow, that is an incredible connection that I didn't know existed! Two fabulous musicians, giving so much to our instrument and our community.

This is what motivates my preference to using passive, and my comfort in using my P bass as well. Once everything is turned up I feel like all the knobs just 'make' me fiddle with them! The Stingray I previously used really confused me as well, with no centre detents available on the eq knobs I genuinely didn't know where 'normal' was. I guess I'm just trying to avoid being a bass-luddite and want to get the best out of my gear but I suspect I'll probably be keeping the passive mode selected in the long run.

I've a super duper Mayones super Jazz bass. It has an East Uni preamp which can be bypassed. I love this bass. But I've been playing for nearly 30 years, countless different types of basses, and I've come to the conclusion I just don't 'get' active preamps on basses. I think the East preamp is a good one, and the Nordstrand pickups and bass in general is just excellent. But I only run the bass passive because it's just simpler, particularly on gigs. The Uni has got a traditional passive tone control and a blend. This seems to be just fine. So what am I missing out on by not using the active bit? How do you get the most out of using an on board preamp? How not to keep messing around with the variable mid control? I guess what I want to know is how to get the most from this terrific instrument. It has a great natural, passive sound but by not utilising the preamp am I missing out on an even better aspect of it? All tips and opinions appreciated 👍

Saw him play when he came to Brum last month. He was superb, pure class.

And the missing piece of information from this reanimated zombie thread... Ibanez Precision?😂

I bought Peter's electric piano today. Great comms, accurately described and a friendly chap to boot. I would not hesitate before doing business with Peter again. Cheers 🍻

I enjoyed that, thanks for posting 👍. I really like that raw live sound they got on the Tube, you can really feel the live energy. There was a fantastic episode which featured Go West which blows me away similarly https://youtu.be/iX55-5VKcdQ?si=oM5KSBSgMhrfZCYJ