Paul S

As with many ailments, things improve with the passge of time. At least, they have with me. As I have got older by lumbar region has become increasingly knackered. So this has filtered out all those marvellous basses that weigh over 8lbs! Then a spot of arthritis in the hands and other joints mean swicthing to short scale is most comfortable - be gone GAS for pesky long scale basses. But most liberating of all - and possibly something sensible - on behalf of my band I invested in a fine brace of RCF EVOX 8 pas, one of those mysterious voodoo jobbies that can sit behind you without feeding back. They are paying me back the depreciation. Now I have ZERO GAS for anything remotely back line, I just plug into the desk. Works a treat.

Look like TI Flats to me, too. Here's the other end.

I have a '76 EROS EB-3 shorty which is my current back-up bass to a Gibson SG Standard. Not much in it, soundwise, but the SG is a decent bit lighter. The EROS is OK as it is but there are a couple of things about that could be improved. One thing are the tuners - another story for another day. The worst thing - it has one of those old 2 point bar bridges that is impossible to intonate properly - it is OK but not perfect. Also the mounting lugs aren't quite in a 'standard' size, the bolts having 82mm centres and screwing into the base plate, not anchor points. This means removing it completely, getting the holes filled and completely new anchor point set in. Now the bass isn't worth much so there is a school of thought that it is pointless spending anything on it, after all, I have lived with the bridge (and tuners) for some while already. I almost certainly won't choose to play it over the SG unless the SG is on the bench for some reason so it isn't going to get a huge amount of use. Nevertheless, ya'll know how it is I see a few choices. a/ Hipshot Supertone 2 point. With a little fettling this might fit as is but is probably the most expensive option. b/ Schaller 460, assuming I can find one c/ Tune-o-matic style as per the new Epiphone Embassy bass - could be a cheap option using a generic version. d/ any old bridge, after all it is a worthless bit of kit. e/ leave it the flip alone and stop being silly. I just can't decide. What would YOU do? A similar question will appear regarding the tuners.....

This thread reminds me of the old joke: What's made of brass and sounds like Tom Jones? Trombones.

James Taylor and the James Taylor Quartet. They sound exactly the same. Apart from the extra word 'quartet', of course.

Final gig of the year for my blues/rock trio Toredown with our monthly residency at The Shamrock in Ipswich. I wasn't feeling great yesterday, at the onset of a major head cold. Went to bed after lunch for a nap and slept for 3 hrs. Left late, got there 30 mins before kick off. That was actually quite nice as everything was set up and the traffic was lighter. Started off playing to a handful of punters, most of whom decided that our brand of music wasn't their thing and cleared off, leaving maybe a dozen souls. Things steadily improved until the place was packed and buzzing for our second set. Adenaline, caffeine and decongestants must have kicked in as I felt OK and, for the first time in a while, didn't play a single note out of place. The other guys were on the money, too - as a band we were pretty much mistake-free all night. We usually stick a slow tune in half way through the second set. Sometimes it works, sometimes it kills the mood. Last night we decided on 'While My Guitar Gently Weeps' and Alan played his socks off to the massive appreciation of the crowd which was hugely gratifying. Ended up playing 2 encores, punters wanted more but 2.5hrs was enough - certainly I was flagging by then. Got packed down really quickly, virtually empty road on the way home with no closures, home by 1am. We continue our residency there into 2024, with 10 gigs booked, plus one or two gigs elsewhere in diary, but it will be interesting to see what else pops up. My head cold has certainly 'blossomed' today so I'm probably going back to bed soon.

I have several prejudices. The biggest one is against red basses. I am not keen on other primary colours but red is a def. no-no. I did buy a red bass once, the only time I have attempted a refin, because it was cheap. Never again on both counts. Black basses with white pickguards. Someone already said it but they always look to me like the budget range. I've bought several and the first thing I do is change it for BWB. Tort pickguards. I really don't like tort pickguards, they look equally appalling on any colour bass IMO. Single cutaway basses that look like comic book whales. Plenty more but, really, mainly red basses. Red, single cutaway bass with a tort pickguard would give me nightmares.

I haven't bought much gear this year but this is the best buy: a Gibson SG Standard, 2021 in mint condition from BassBros. For some inexplicable reason I had always avoided buying a Gibson SG bass but, now I have, I find it is a perfect fit for me in terms of playing comfort, weight (7lbs), how it sits in the mix with my blues/rock trio. I have an old '76 Eros EB-3 shorty that comes a very close second but this just takes the tape. The dymanics are massive: it can sing, it can growl, it can thud. Love it.😍

I think it is some remote offshoot of an Evangelical organisation, the Church of the 7th Transverse Abdominist Pilates Reformers.

I expect you find this all the time, Tim. People are just so disappointing.

I am sure your comment is for general consumption but as you quoted me I will reply specifically. I don't actually want to build contacts for the future because, as I said earlier, whenever this band folds that's me done. This is my perfect band, anything else would be disappointment. And to be honest, at 66, I find after emptying the tank in a 2.5hr set and a 1.5hr drive, getting home at 2am is increasingly draining. Especially as every other night I am asleep by 10. For this band it is worth the effort, anything else probably not.

Basschat is often referred to as an asylum from the troubles of the world. But the word 'asylum' has several meanings.

Been there, done it. At one point I was in multiple bands (2 x pub covers bands, a Bon Jovi tribute plus this blues/rock trio) but it is not for me any more. If that works for you, great

That's kind of my situation. I am 66 (how did that happen?) and play in just the one band - a blues/rock trio. It is the band I most enjoy of all that I have been in - I play music I love with a two laid back guys who are absolutely on the money. If and when this band folds I'll most likely pack it all in as I will never find anything like this one again.

30 yrs ago I developed an acute sacro-iliac problem. This became full on chronic problem after clearing snow Dec 2009. Since then I have managed a prolapsed disc L4 and a hernia. I am usually a sneeze away from a week on the bench. I spent most of my adult life as a regular at the gym and, as I always say, was once as strong as an ox, now I just look like one. 😁. These days I have a daily core routine and walk a lot. All my basses are under 8.5lbs, my main squeeze 7.5lds, and I no longer use a backline, just straight into the desk via a pedal.

I've used foam pipe lagging sleeves before now, cheap as cheaps - especially if you happen to have a bit lying around. Not as dense but still works a treat.

Which is the same as the 'clean boost' patch on the Spectradrive, as it happens.

In true Basschat tradition I will recommend something entirely different. TC Spectradrive. It is an eq, DI, compressor and drive unit all in one. You can download different patches for the compressor and drive - I used 'clean boost' patch which gives a decent approximation of valve break up when balanced with the gain. I play in a blues/rock trio and it is my 'on all the time, take it anywhere' sound.

SG-ish. Maybe more rounded, if I were being picky I bought one of these Encore DC shorties a few years ago. Lovely thing, wonderful proportions.

I believe this is a great song. I love the way it keeps bouncing between major and minor. I love the slightly unusual rhythm pattern unlying it. Hard to imagine a vocal performance better than this.

Cute little double cutaway shorty would be nice, especially if you are looking for people to test it...

You've been recording your intestinal rumblings again, haven't you.