Stub Mandrel

You mean the traditional design Fender adopted?

I realise anyone stating 'best bass I've ever played' is opening themselves to scepticism (but every bass player has played a 'best bass ever' even if they've only ever played one). I do find the rash of "have ever tried a bass that isn't a Fender" comments both patronising and a touch pathetic. In my own experience, I've played a lot of basses and my love for a 'different' feel means it's hard for me to call any if them 'best'. I do know that I've met many disappointing ones, and a few of those were Fenders but plenty have been 'elite' brands whose reputation didn't meet my expectations. It's so subjective though... more than once I've been offered a try of someone's pride and joy and found it totally alien to my tastes.

And a video of my first song with the guys. VID-20250727-WA0006.mp4

Sounds like a break is exactly what you need. Then maybe hire a rehearsal space with lits oftime and no pressure to set up the whole pa from scratch... everything set to defaults before you start.

Photo from last night. Should say we got lots of dancers later.

Perhaps they are meant to, like Rush's rotisseries.

My first gig with the Fortunate Sons and with a neat twist of fate at my 'home venue' of Penarth Ex's. It was also bass player Andy's first gig on keyboards... he did brilliantly and being a bassist he kept out of my octaves Long story short, we had a very good attendance, I made a few flubs - came in late for one song, first bar in wrong key for another and huge random bang in My Sharona... but no-one seemed to notice, so and and audience very happy. No photos yet. Fender Precision & Jazz, quecha approach shoes, GRBASS cab and orange terror.

My first gig using a pa with multiple monitors and a little mixer for each of us. Feels ott to me but works well.

My phone adds a wrong file extension when downloading from basschat. Rename it as something.pdf or use a pc

It's difficult, but it's a skill and can be learned. Like you strumming an acoustic and singing is fine but... I'm getting better at it and the bands I'm know my position - give me a microphone and I will do what I'm comfortable with. I started about 40 years ago doing the 'yeah's in Moni Moni. Ironically I'll be doing them again tonight! Some songs are easier than others and it's not always obvious what will work. The very regular pulse of Heroes but I struggle with the 'by the wall' etc. Yet the other day I was singing the chorus to Jean Genie while improvising fills... I think the problem is they often use similar parts of the brain, especially if, like me, you 'hear' the melody in your head to play it more than remembering a fingeting.

The wiring of the switch in the diagram makes no sense whatsoever, I imagine it's in error.

The 'cheap as chips' option is an Orange Crush 20, 8" speaker and decent sound. What I use for home now is a Joyo Badass 50W with a PJB C4 cab. Sub in an Elf for the Joyo and it's ok for rehearsal with a drumkit and just loud enough to gig (with pa support). My guess is the GRBASS Cube would be awesome.

Or... Space Cowboy.pdf

You can just create an account (free) and ignore the app requests.

That twisted neck puts me off. Would need serious luthier attention. AFAIK decal on varnish is right for early 60s. Don't know about 64.

https://www.standard.co.uk/showbiz/air-ambulance-ozzy-osbourne-dead-last-moments-b1239711.html

The story is now going round that Thames Valley Air Ambulance battled to save him.

Most of us are filling in for missing keys.

My brother has a Squier Troublemaker for LP sounds!

If you are OK with proper tab (i.e with note values etc.): https://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/tab/jamiroquai/space-cowboy-official-4188526

The singlecut shape. The only exceptions are Squier paranormals and by definition they dont fit the template.

This. I've seen a few gigs where the vocalist seems to think they get points for every different vocal style they can cram into one song.

I have always used 40-95 strings in my Performer as it has a very narrow neck. I use 45-105 or 45-135 on virtually everything else, but different brands (chiefly Roto 66 unless I want a more vintage sound then Fender 7250). It's such a personal choice with lots of subjectivity I suggest trying different brands. Once you find something you like it eliminates uncertainties and you know you can get a sound and feel with an idea of how long the strings will last and how they will age with your style of playing.

I'm unsurprised.