Boodang

So, we have a swear filter on BC, should we have a 'misogyny' filter as well? Now, just taking this as an example, not to pick on anyone but just because it's a recently posted example (not by me!), a joke about carrying a dustpan and brush to gigs in case your female band members, due to their inherent bad driving abilities I'm assuming, need to sweep up debris from accidents they've had in the car park. Is there a place for this on BC, or is this just 'banter' (groan!), or am I being too sensitive. Do you find this joke funny or is this a stereotyping sexist trope that should have died out with Bernard Manning, or are you not that offended? Not wanting to have a go at anyone in particular but just genuinely interested to see how people feel about this.

Really? Glad to say that the bands I've been in don't suffer from banter. We don't feel the need to take the p*ss out of each because we're, what's the word... adults.

Feign?! Did you really think a sexist joke wouldn't offend someone? Or is it something you just don't think about... it's just banter after all, not antiquated stereotyping.

I use the Tempo Slowmo app on my phone and plug it into a a small Behringer mixer along with my bass.

Do you bring a dustpan and brush along with you to gigs and present them to your female colleagues? Maybe you could gift wrap them.

Even if it rock 'n roll, even if it's lame, it's still toxic masculinity.

Totally agree with @stewblackon this one, which is why there's no place for @Bassfingerstyle 'banter'.

Looks like there's some good option in the BC marketplace at the moment, including some trace elliot stuff. I noticed there's an old TE 4x10 combo from a Hobgoblin shop in Manchester for £150.... comes with a free hernia apparently.

Is your stage name Bernard Manning?

There's lots of fancy options at the premium end but to be honest at this stage a cheap and nasty 4x10 will do the job admirably and get you heard. Back when I was using Trace Elliot gear the 2 rigs that that always pushed it out to the audience were a 4x10 with a 350 head, and a 1x15 double ported combo with a 300 amp stage. Two instances stick out for me when I was using them... we were doing a gig in a pub car park at the edge of a park that had an open air festival. Half way through the set this guy comes over (their sound engineer apparently) and asks if we could turn down the bass or point it somewhere else as it was cutting across the audience in the park. An example of the focused 4x10 projection but in fairness it never failed to be heard in a venue when we didn't have a PA. The 1x15 combo was double ported and had a fat boomy sound but it did bounce around a venue and I wouldn't say it was very hifi but you were guaranteed to be heard (fyi their non ported and lower wattage combos don't achieve this). Was at a medium gig where I was using it as a monitor but had to keep turning it down as it was pushing out to the audience. Both fairly cheap now but there are obviously plenty of other options.

There's some very experienced players here on BC so I'm sure there'll be no shortage of advice! So, depends what you want from your backline... is it a case that you're going through a PA and it's just for monitoring or will your backline be how the audience hears you. Oh, and whatever your guitarists are using you'll need way more power/cabinet size than them! So, for small gigs where I'm not going through a PA and I've got guitarists to content with... for a drummer who's hitting reasonably hard anything less than a 4x10, ported 15 or 2x12 is going to be buried, and that's with at least 350 watts (rms). If it's just monitoring I would say get the same and turn down as at least you have the option. You don't want to be running your backline at full tilt to keep up, it's nice to have some headroom, so don't be shy with power. It doesn't have to be expensive, an old 4x10 cab and a suitably powerful amp off ebay, or BC marketplace, shouldn't be too much.

That's every singer isn't it!

Also, play sitting down, then you don't have to worry about being on your feet for 2 hours. In a punk band?, get a seat with the hydraulic adjustment, then you can bounce on it and it'll look like you're pogo-ing.

Always have time for people who enjoyed your gig and come up after for a chat. Too easy to be wrapped up in packing up and not be generous with your time.

Welcome back. Band name suggestion; Long Story Long Seriously though, interesting story and good luck, especially finding a vocalist, and keep us up to date, maybe with a cheeky demo or two.

Also good for making gaffa tape wallets while you're waiting to play. Scrawl your band name on them and sell them to eager punters.

Galli Synthesis update.... so, on my Squier Jazz VM the strings are great, no issues now they're settled in and love the flexible feel and the tone is nice and open. The above pics are from a set I was going to put on a new fretless but decided to use TI flats instead. As I was coiling up the E string I slightly over did the radius and pop! The chrome windings split open in 5 places. And when I said I over did the radius I do mean only by a bit, I wasn't being brutal and tying knots with it as I know they're delicate. Well, when they say delicate they mean it! Having said that, they're not delicate once strung up and I've had no issues on my Jazz. Once out the packet though, they're getting put back in, just in case!

Latest cable purchase... Sommer SC 'the Spirit'. Definitely more manageable than the Van Damme silver. PS Design-a-cable do have Mogami cable in stock.

My latest build from my local luthier, a '61 spec jazz neck (well dimensions that is) and a lovely set joint!

It certainly did! But as the body was already made and the luthier is semi retired and only doing projects when he feels like it, it's happened pretty quickly. We initially had a chat about the project, I expected it to be a while before it got off the ground but next thing I know he sent me pics of it in progress. Not complaining, actually pleased it's almost ready as once you get an idea for a bass you then just want it, but glad I had a clear vision for this from the start. Apparently the main woods in this bass he bought 25years ago. The walnut he got would usually have been used for making gun stocks by all accounts (not by the luthier!).

I haven't seen it in the flesh yet, apparently the oil coating is still drying. According to the luthier it has a slightly compressed, focused sound. The pickups are in the 70s position with the rear pup slightly closer to the bridge.

Yep, for a minute there I thought I was on pianochat!!

Ah, but are you playing a half diminished b9 b13 at the 24th fret?!!!

An angled headstock is going to be more susceptible than a level one. As it happens I'm having a bass made with a particularly thin jazz neck (36.5 mm nut) and although I didn't want an inline 4 headstock we've kept it level as an angled version would make it a bit vulnerable.