The Admiral

Really sorry to hear that, but if you can organise a tour of local 'Crack Converters' and keep an eye on the 'bay you might be lucky. Any distinguishing marks/features we can look out for?

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1320510979' post='1427781'] There will be a lot of slapping, and not the good sort. [/quote] And by defintion, a lot of slappers...........................but not the good sort I presume?

Clearly the answer will be a subjective one, but I've never been before and am considering it. However, I travel a lot for work, and it would mean more time away from home - which won't be popular, and it's a lot of travel expense, whether I go by car or train. Also, I note that it's 'in association with Bass Guitar magazine', which I've canned my sub to, for reasons which have been discussed by others on BC, and it worries me that it may not live up to expectations, with too few exhibitors to make it worthwhile. All observations welcome - tickets are available now at £12.50 - as opposed to £15.00 if bought after 13th November - or £20 on the door, so it's worth me making a decision soon, either way. Cheers A

Just bought UFO's new compilation - "The Chrysalis Years" - a 5 disc retrospective, which takes in the albums from 1973 - 1979, with some unreleased live tracks. Amazon are doing it for £11.99 - maybe one for your Christmas list, and a great reminder of what a fantastic rock band they were. A live version of 'Lights Out' from 1975, with Michael Schenker on guitar and Pete Way playing a P bass (I think - maybe blue?) - rather than the thunderbird I'd always associated him with. Enjoy [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Blvnoao1WO0"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Blvnoao1WO0[/url]

Just to clarify the point I was making : clearly you are never going to get a hi fi sound from a £200 amp, by comparison with a £3,000 stack, but I was pleasantly surprised by how good it sounded. I do think that there is a tendency to assume that if you don't have (and/or can't afford) top end gear then you aren't a serious musician, and it's impossible to use anything other than 'pro' gear and sound good. You wouldn't try and play Wembley with a 15w bedroom combo, but equally you don't [b]need[/b] an 8 x 10 500w stack to play blues at the Dog and Duck. I've also seen the complete opposite of the situation I described initially - that of using modest gear with a great outcome ; where a band has thousands of £s worth of kit and can't play at all - guitarists are frequently guilty of this in my experience! A

[quote name='chris_b' post='1168264' date='Mar 19 2011, 02:20 PM']Not at the Blues Bar. Think small, cheap, tatty and very low tech and you'd still be overestimating this place.[/quote] Absolutely right - there is no monitoring for the vocals, let alone any of the musicians, or DI facility - and the PA is a wall mounted powered mixer, with a couple of 1 x 15 + H cabs hanging from the ceiling. The keyboard player actually sat in the audience at the edge of the stage - and everyone played backline only, Musicman 1x12 for guitar, a Vox keyboard amp, and the aforementioned Behringer, which I suspect was, as has been suggested, a loaner from the venue. Even the drums were completely unamplified - very old school, but sounded great. The bass was the one in the Massive Attack Mesa stack picture above. I'm not good on custom makes, but a large inlaid 'S' on the headstock. Sounded awesome. A

I was in London for work on St Patrick's day and wanted to go for a beer, but avoid all the one day only faux 'oirish' crap that goes with it. In the mood for some live music, I ended up in 'Ain't nothin' but....' - the blues bar in Kingly Street, where the Franck Ash band were playing. Anyone who knows this venue, will be aware that it's a [b]really[/b] small place, with a tiny stage - about 9ft x 5ft (if that). Clearly you don't need a huge rig, and in fact there simply isn't room for anything bigger than a small combo - which brings me to my point : the bass player in the band was Winston Blissett (Kylie, Lionel Richie, Robbie Williams, Massive Attack etc) and he was playing a nice custom 5 string....... but through what I'm sure was a Behringer bass combo, and it sounded great. I might have been seeing things, but it got me thinking about how much we sometimes might think you have to spend on gear, but is it as much about how you play, as through what? Clearly an expensive custom bass will give you a great initial sound, but the combo was more than capable of covering the low B. Finally, what a great thing that you can see musicians as good as Mr B, with a really top notch blues band, in a small pub in London, and for no cost other than your beer. A great night - and no 'diddly eye'!. A

I've owned a BBG4AII since 2000 and it's an amazing bass. I had to order it at the time as it was a non stock model, and you don't see many of this particular model in the UK - most of the ones I have seen for sale are in mainland Europe and the USA. [attachment=74501:Yamaha_B..._Reduced.jpg] The engineer recording it at a local studio was enthusing about it recently, as it had - in his opinion, such a great tone compared to a lot of the stuff he records. It won't (obviously) compete with a custom bass costing thousands, but for the money - I think they are incredible value - and the basic models are excellent instruments for learners. Why anyone buys a Squier when you can pick up a Yamaha RBX new for £140 I can't fathom, beyond of course the issue of image/brand. I actually managed to buy a 'spare' BBG4AII, in the exactly the colour I wanted - Amberburst, on eBay for £116 recently, and it was immaculate. I couldn't believe I won it for the price, but it was the best bargain I've ever had on eBay. BC member '4 string thing' was selling a blue/green one on here recently and whoever got that will have had themselves a bargain too. A

[quote name='mcnach' post='1133804' date='Feb 19 2011, 09:16 PM']sounds like a phone call may be in order, I like the idea of buying local homegrown products where you can actually talk to the "farmer", and I hear nothing but great stuff about the company![/quote] +1 for Andy @ Wizard and the 'Thumpers'. Fantastic for the money, and great customer service when I dealt with him recently.

Glen Tilbrook................ who is a very underated player IMHO, and it would never be boring.

There is a very interesting chapter in Will Hodgkinson's book 'Song Man' where he spends a day with Andy P at his home in sunny Swindon, which covers a bit about his career since XTC : writing with Cathy Dennis etc. One to spend your Christmas book token on perhaps, as it also contains musings on songwriting from a number of other big names, including Keith Richards and Ray Davies. [url="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Song-Man-Adventure-Single-minded-Songwriting/dp/0747584958"]http://www.amazon.co.uk/Song-Man-Adventure...g/dp/0747584958[/url] A

As a traditionalist - Something solid in 'Bottom End' A

Planning a 'project' to see me through the winter months, which will involve upgrading a nice 'P' copy. I want to replace the bridge, nut, pick ups and possibly the machine heads (although they seem pretty reasonable), and I'm looking for suggestions : Bridge - The Badass seems to be the 'standard', but they are pretty pricey, and if I could find something better than the bent bit of tin it now sports, but without costing a fortune, that would be a nice compromise. I've seen Gotoh's at about £40, but are they any good - or should I just bite the bullet and go for the Badass? Pick ups - Dear Lord - where to start! I am wanting to use the finished article in a blues/classic rock genre, so zinging highs are not required - it's more about a good bottom end and a bit of thump. Passive circuitry and not costing the earth preferably. All suggestions welcome. Nut - currently a bit of old plastic that would have looked low rent in a 1968 Cortina ashtray. Again, suggestions? Finally - where to buy? There seems to be a real divergence of offerings : either sellers are stocking loads of cheap and nasty Chinese bits at very low prices, or 'Rolls Royce' stuff at big bucks - but not much in the middle ground. Thanks in advance o wise Basschatters. A

A couple o suggestions : 80s big hair power ballad - 'Alone' : Heart If I could turn back time : Cher A

Couple of Thunder 1A's on the bay currently, as you may well have noticed - (not me selling BTW). This one needs some TLC by the look of it :http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160515382899&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT But this looks in nice nick - early headstock logo too I think isn't it? : [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180596999867&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...e=STRK:MEWAX:IT[/url] One in Manchester, t'other in Chorley. Clealry a hotbed of Westone action here in the North West. A

One for the family to club together for perhaps : [url="http://www.umanovguitars.com/store/details.asp?prodid=4289&cat=640&path=600,640"]http://www.umanovguitars.com/store/details...mp;path=600,640[/url]

[quote name='Mog' post='1035778' date='Nov 24 2010, 11:42 PM']Love it. The Amberburst version is something I've been gassing over for years, might as well add Teal to the list as well.[/quote] Like this? Everyone who plays it is astounded by the quality and sounds. Bought new in 2001 for about £320 I think, but my memory may be playing tricks. This is the one bass I will never sell. [attachment=65090:Yamaha_B..._Reduced.jpg] [attachment=65091:Yamaha_B...educed_2.jpg]

I bought this in 1982 and have kept it for old time sake, but it needs some love, and I don't have time to lavish it. Nothing majorly wrong with it - bar it has temperamental pots due to sitting around in my cellar (albeit it's dry and heated) and a couple of knobs missing, which could be picked up for pennies I would think. I've tried giving the pots a clean (with some proper switch cleaner - not WD40), but it's not playing very well. So, if anyone has the time and inclination to put this straight, they are welcome to it. I'm particularly interested in donating if you are working for or with a charity which needs some gear for less well of/fortunate kids/adults to use. PM me if interested in this classic bit of british amplification! It even has a custom made vinyl cover! Located in South Manchester/Central Manchester (office hours) [attachment=64297:Photographic_014.jpg]

[quote name='bottlebassman' post='978821' date='Oct 5 2010, 09:07 PM']"One last soul" by Black Country Communion. [/quote] What is your take on the album? I ask, as I've been thinking about buying the Special Edition, but the reviews have been really mixed. The fact that you are listening suggests of course that you rate it! Ta A