Tokalo

I tested my new Comfort Strapp last night. I have boney shoulders - muscle doesn’t naturally grow where I need it to, and there’s a nerve which gets trapped between the pressure point of a bass strap and bone. I was playing a Sandberg Electra VS4, so a relatively light bass (3.5kg). But - even with the neoprene padding - after an hour, my nerve was impacted and the pain (and pins & needles in my little finger) gradually increased for the rest of the session. Today is the worst I’ve known it, and that’s after I used a decent strap. I’m seriously considering getting one of those rugby undershirts with padded shoulder protection.

Is this the bit where we can openly talk about Barclay James Harvest? Les Holroyd was my hero when I was 14.

The guitarist in my church band has the 6-string version of the Westone: we’ve been joking about me getting one of these so we match. It’s at the price where that would work, but sadly it’s too far away (and I can’t sell my SB-2 so no more basses for me anyway!)

I’ve only been playing for 7 years and have agreed to a 3-bass limit, so this is probably inexcusable: Stagg Spector Ibanez 5 Ibanez 4 Squier G&L Tribute* Sire Fender MIM J Sandberg Electra* Bass Collection Spector (again)* * = keeps

I had that problem with TI flats last summer. Coated rounds were better (I found BlackSmith AOTs were ok). Cobalt flats are better too.

I’ve just bought a used Coda 4 Pro. I wanted a Spector and I was also looking for a jazz-style bass (so this means I can keep below the max number of basses allowed in the house!) I want to change from two volume controls to a volume + balance. My options seem to be: Get a 4-pot preamp replacement; Get a 4-pot passive loom (eg from KiOgon). My question is whether going passive will necessitate new pickups - are EMH HZs powerful enough without a preamp? (And is going passive a huge No No for a Spector?!)

I’m working on an old Bass Collection jazz bass (2013) with noisy electrics. I put in a new loom last week (series/parallel type) but the noise was still there, so I’ve got a shielding problem. I’m guessing it’s caused by the unshielded wires - hence my question above. I appear to have just solved the noise issue by wrapping copper foil around the wires all the way from the pickup to about an inch short of the pots. I also had to link the wrapped wires to the control plate, but it seems the noise has gone. For me, this is easier than coating the entire cavities with foil because the spaces are quite small.

Is it possible that a pickup has unshielded wires running to the pots (two thin wires, rather than one thicker one with inner core/outer wrap)? If so, could you simply shield these cables by wrapping the tape around them, without needing to line all the cavities?

So did you end up with the refund AND the bass?

I just replaced a grubby bridge on a 10-yr old Bass Collection Jive with a shiny Squier bridge. But it had a similar effect - turns out, the barrels on the Squier bridge are slightly smaller and each is a couple of mms closer to the E string side.

The Washburn reminded me of this, which is a real instrument by Kinkade Guitars of Bristol I believe

I think that’s included with any package. There are optional upgrades available - £500 cover was an additional £6 in November, for example.

I'm cleaning up an old Bass Collection Jive (jazz) I acquired fairly cheap. The pots are crackly, and I’m thinking of upgrading them. I like the idea of a parallel/series switch, but I would also prefer a V-B-T to V-V-T when in parallel. While parallel/series looms are common, I haven’t seen any with a VBT set-up. I know the second volume control is redundant in series, so if it were changed to a balance pot presumably this wouldn’t work in series either? Is there any reason why this might not be the best way to go? Thanks

I would use SendMyBag - the carrier is ParcelForce, but it’s insured through SMB. It’s very clear that you’re sending a guitar and there’s no mention of eBay or anything.

helpful?

Gary has just completed some work on a used Sandberg Electra that came with some issues. It needed bodywork, fretwork and electrics to be sorted, and Gary was great for all of it, with plenty of helpful suggestions and advice thrown in for free!

All the music was upbeat, life-affirming and great for dancing. Definitely NOT what The Blues is all about!!

I loved the film, but I get niggled because it’s all soul music - not blues!

Texas at Nottingham Ice Rink, late 90s. It wasn’t a Texas gig - it was the “Charlene Spiteri is the female Elvis” show. Shame on her. Prefab Sprout at Essex Uni in 1984. They weren’t bad: they were awesome. (Paddy McAloon’s songs are pure genius)They just didn’t have enough numbers ready, so at least two of the encores were further repeats of Don’t Sing.

I bought a MIM Player Jazz in July because it was underpriced on the Bay. I didn’t have the funds so needed to sell another bass if I was going to keep it. I didn’t sell the other bass in time, so the Fender had to go (for a slight profit)x In the month I had it, I learned a lot: I absolutely love the Fender “modern C” neck; I quite like the punch and clarity from a single coil p/u; I hate the variations in volume across and up/down the neck with a single coil p/u; I don’t get on with VVT controls. So it was my best buy because it quietened that little voice telling me I need a J. (And because I soon sold the other bass and got a Sandberg Electra VS4 which - for a relative beginner like me - is light and punchy and feels like it was designed to be gigged, unlike the Fender).

I use the drive setting on my Laney Digbeth preamp, but just to give some warmth and tubey feel. Even with an enthusiastic drummer and overdriven guitarist I’ve never felt comfortable with very much distortion in church: I’m not sure it helps the congregation much. Maybe the TC mojomojo might be right for you - it’s more subtle than most drive pedals?