SumOne

I think so. Its confusing they are both called 1/2" but actually fit headstock holes of 11/16" and 5/8". Also would be a lot simpler if they just used metric.

Perhaps here: https://www.btnmusic.co.uk/hipshot-us-licensed-ultralite-bushing-sizes/

I think it might be down to the very annoying fact that the 1/2" USA vs 1/2" licensed actually fit different headstock holes: "The 1/2" USA Ultralite fits an 11/16" (17mm) headstock hole, while the 1/2" Licensed Ultralite fits a 5/8" (16mm) headstock hole." https://hipshot.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/360020825572-What-s-the-difference-between-Licensed-and-USA-Ultralite-tuning-machines-

For that sort of budget new from Thonmann I'd go for an Ibanez SR 300.

Pete Tong 'The year in Dance 2022' show https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001g0wy The cynic in me thinks dance music hasn't moved on much since my clubbing prime (and dance music's prime?) 25 years ago, but some tunes on that show are bangers - got me a bit misty eyed about youthful optimism and hedonism! These ones in particular, you'd have to be a cold hearted cynic to not find joy in them!

Fred again

I assume that streaming has something to do with it as that is how most people consume music now and is is part of where they get the top 10 listening stats from. Perhaps streaming somehow localises listening whereas physical sales can be more dominated by big international labels with big distribution and global advertising deals?

One possible good thing with streaming : "UK artists dominate Top 10 singles of 2022 for first time since records began" "For the first time since year-end charts were introduced more than 50 years ago, British artists have made up the entirety of the year’s 10 most popular songs in the UK." The UK’s Top 10 most popular singles of 2022 1 Harry Styles – As It Was 2 Ed Sheeran – Bad Habits 3 Fireboy DML & Ed Sheeran – Peru 4 Cat Burns – Go 5 Ed Sheeran – Shivers 6 Kate Bush – Running Up That Hill 7 Glass Animals – Heat Waves 8 Lost Frequencies and Calum Scott – Where Are You Now 9 LF System – Afraid to Feel 10 Sam Fender – Seventeen Going Under https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/jan/04/uk-top-10-singles-of-2022-were-all-by-british-artists-harry-styles

Dennis Bovell, Raindrops

Out to the resolution crew:

It is along the lines of Harley vs Suzuki motorbikes, each good in their own way but quite different - 'best' depends what you are after. If you want the Fender style I'd consider the competition more between options like Fender vs G&L & Lakland & Sandberg. If modern style then Basses like Ibanez vs Dingwall & Strandberg & MTD.

TENPIN v. To place digits simultaneously in the tea towel holder and the fish mitten. From the grip used in ten pin bowling. To spock.

What are your best music purchase of 2022? For me it has been an MPC One. It's almost too good as it has seriously dented my Bass practice time.

Ah yeah, for sure, there are lots of other options (35 bridges over the Thames within London aparrently, and the blackwall tunnel) but drivers will have to avoid Hammersmith bridge for another few years while politicians faff about arguing who should pay to fix it (partly down to different boroughs either side of the river, TFL/London mayor, and national government all trying to shift the cost). The 4 road bridges closed and area of roads around Whitehall and South Bank for NYE shouldn't be much of an issue for drivers unless they need to be within that quite specific firework viewing street party area of London (and there aren't many live music venues around those bits, it's mostly government buildings and offices and tourist restaurants).

Another one on Jahtari:

It does put some people out, but means 10's of thousands of people can have a street party once a year. The area closed isn't all of Zone 1, just the bit around the Thames where the fireworks happen. Is the venue actually within the closed Zone? If not, there are ways around it. https://www.london.gov.uk/events/london-new-years-eve-2022/business-and-residents-information-london-new-years-eve-2022

Jahtari is a decent label for digital stuff:

Lion D is worth a listen:

If Santa is paying, I'll go for this:

Hammersmith Bridge has been closed to traffic since 2019 as no one can agree on who should pay to fix it.

I expect there are nearly as many opinions as there are chorus pedals. I once bought about 6 new fuzz pedals at the same time so I could properly test them side by side with my setup, I knew I'd return 5 of them for refunds - which I did with no dramas (most shops make you pay for the return post now though, often it used to be free). Online orders might be killing the high street but it does have consumer benefits. So if your overdraft or credit card can handle it and you're up for the faff then that's what I'd do.

You've probably tried it, but the EHX Bass clone is about as good as it gets for that Nivarna 'Come as you are' (EHX Small Clone) sound while also having some good Bass specific features, I find the X-over is always useful in a bass chorus. Relatively cheap too. Or, to not answer the question: I think chorus (and other modulation and delays) are one of the few effects that can sound just as good (or better) as digital rather than analogue. Source Audio Gemini is very good and can edit to make just about any chorus sound and also can do other modulation sounds like phaser and flanger. Or, I like the Boss CEB-3 for a subtle chorus, they used to be analogue and then went digital and as far as I have read from owners of both the digital sounds better.

I'm sure they were just laughing at the alternate lyrics rather than the tune or playing skill though!

Taking a headphone amp to shops is worth doing to not be 'on show' and to give a better impression of how they sound rather than how the amp in the shop sounds.