SpondonBassed

I find it hard to side with one or the other but I have voted UK mainly for patriotic reasons. Having said that, I recognise the stronger influences of North American music on what we've been doing at least as far back as the big band thing. Thank you for posing the question. I have long been interested in the British Northern Soul phenomenon where ten year old US records were harvested from storage bins in America by British DJs to underpin a unique cult of dancers in Britain. I will be interested to see what responses there are in that area in particular.

The burning question is: Did you enjoy the gig? You can put up with some things if there is a payback.

I understand completely. If it helps, for true street cred, either a Hello Kitty TM or Peppa Pig TM product would have been satisfactory.

Sorry. All I can think about is how long it is taking you to get the TAB for TDST. Even I could have written it out for you by now...

Will it fit a tenor ukulele?

The main one is that you will not stop at doing just one. You will be planning the next one as you are building the first. Go for it. It's hugely satisfying.

...and let's face it, it's gotta be great for metal.

Sand blasting is a good one to consider if you like a dull grey metal surface. It has the advantage of thoroughly cleaning and keying the surface ready for clear coating. Here is a firm that does mobile sand blasting. If you do that, you might want to consider the further stage of powder coating for a baked on finish.

I think you should give the bare metal a longer lasting treatment than WD40. Over time you are bound to get rust due to condensation. It looks like you've put a lot of effort into getting the metalwork to that stage. It would surely be wise to apply some permanent surface treatment to stabilise the metal (mild steel). If you have the budget, galvanising would look awsome. Here is a firm that would quote for the job. That said, the rusty look is in at the moment. So much so that some people pay to have the appearance of rust airbrushed onto panels that are completely rust free.

Welcome Kalifabass.

Skiffle's cool. We wouldn't have our Ringo if not for skiffle.

Cheeky!

Your ex-bottom? When did you have the new one fitted?

Welcome Carlcoops. "Am I better off" depends on what you want from bass. For me, it is a hobby that I'd like to keep free of stress. I get stressed around teachers. I play along to YT clips mainly these days but I am happy to play with others as opportunities come along. TAB is as much as I need to get me going if I am struggling to get a line by ear. Reading notation is no longer on the cards for me for personal reasons. For many others learning standard notation and doing scales is very definitely the way to go. You'll have to try a little of each to find out for yourself.

Yes. You can get away with all sorts of stuff. For instance; everyone thinks that the photo on the left is of my bearded face. In fact it was taken immediately after I accidentally fell over into the tub in the bathroom where I keep my collection of spent belly button fluff. In reality, I have a clean-shaven and cleft chin that closely resembles Anneka Rice's bottom during the eighties.

Is that a different bass to what you started this topic with? There have been some sudden changes if it's the same one. Don't get me wrong, they're both lovely but I am missing the grey one, mainly because I liked the headstock a lot. I thought @Jimothey had secured the reputation for major mid-build design rethinkage.

I get this. Big time. I made lots of cabs for friends' stereos in my late teens and twenties. I'd buy the drivers, crossovers and terminals from Tottenham Court Road in London. I'd take the parts home to Dublin and put them in cabs that I made to order. I wasn't as well informed as folk are today about porting and cabinet tuning for individual driver sets but I always got a better sound than the boxes that my friends could afford from the shop. Lets face it, even today, it isn't difficult to improve on the speakers that come with all-in-one sound systems as standard. Made me a bit of pocket money too. Deeply satisfying. I'd love to do a few bass cabs but for the larger scale of the endeavour. I might do when I can reclaim some decent working space in the house again.

It's looking nicely scorched. Have you named it yet? How about Old Smokey?

That's going to feel lovely to the player's fretting hand. Thank you.

It's not often that I say this but I do like a good volute.

Welcome Gary.

You'd think that, by now, there'd be a pedal to give the effect of new strings.

Welcome Robbo.

It's amazing the number of non-oily things that have oil in them. In all seriousness, I'd never heard of peacock oil before.

+ = ! As if the above is horrifying enough, you want to pull its eyes out too!?! Nooooooooooooooooooo!