leroydiamond

Sounds like a plan and one you are comfortable with. Well done on 50 years of playing!. After 40 years of playing I retired 3 years ago and no regrets. I happen to get on really well with my other half and have enjoyed the free weekends, being able to travel alot more as a result. One of the surprising experiences is going to gigs and not being bothered about the gear the bass player is using and paying attention to technical concerns. I am a regular punter now and find that much more enjoyable.

I think that if you are determined to continue to play, be it live, jamming out with mates or recording, then there is every chance that you will. I may be wrong, but I am picking up a degree of anger or resentment in your post. If so, then IMO Never a good way to part company with something you once, or may still have a love for.

Same as

I play for no money, Confine my playing to jamming out with my mates and enjoy it. However in terms of gigs I have no interest. After many years, it is a chore for me. If I had to, then the two gigs that pay more than eight, will always get my vote.

When 2 gigs will pay better than eight, then its a no brainer

I miss the pre brexit days when buying from the UK was an option

Its a type of stunt that was thought provoking, though only for a short time, a long time ago. It belongs in the past, a bit like Pearl Jam's music. IMHO of course.

Great looking bass!

Lovely J bass. What make and model is it?

Watched The Eagles from 1973 earlier. Love them or hate them, they were the mutts nuts when it came to nailing harmony vocals

AC voltage in the UK IS RATED AT 240V and has been measured up to 250V. 220V is standard Voltage in EU, so that might be an issue.

Micro heads and neodymium speakers kept me in the game for several years, as I was no longer able or interested to carry the heavy weight alternatives. Very grateful to companies that had the foresight to research and develop this technology.

Seem like one of the real good guys. Imagine how society would benefit, if more business adopted this model of operation.

Most importantly Richer sounds give 15% of their profits to charities and the original owner, Julian Richer transferred ownership of the company to its employees. Outstanding company with outstanding values!

Saw Steve Vai last night in The Academy in Dublin. Sensational is the only word. I have been going to gigs for many years, but sound wise this was the best, just perfect.

Not quite regarded as boutique, but the cheap and cheerful Sire basses are worth a look. A friend got one a couple of years back and as someone who was used of the Sadowsky, I was astonished at the value for money of the Sire. Fit and finish were excellent, the eq was very workable and the action was nice and low. A very comfortable feel to the neck. However it was too heavy a bass for me to gig. I have seen a few other Sire's but the quality of the set up and finish varied considerably.

I own a Sadowsky NYC J bass that was my go to bass for several years, up to when I retired from playing 3 years ago. I always liked J style basses and needed something lightweight. A well finished bass in every respect and I like the onboard eq. Nowadays they are really expensive new, and there may be more affordable alternatives out there. As always, try before you buy if possible.

I had forgotten about that. Also they have a no quibbles return policy, which I have availed of a couple of times and not a problem.

Thats good value for money without doubt. What is significant here also is that Markbass are only obliged to provide 1 year warranty in the UK, but by law must provide 2 years in the EU. EU residents get greater protection, hence getting significant better value than those in the UK

And if you are putting 'Highway Star' into your setlist, I want to be in that band!!. I am coming to get ye😄

Very frustrating for you as a technician and the owner of the unrepaired amp. I have no objection to Markbass, or any other manufacturer making there schematics available to the end user, just attempting to put some context as to possibly why they have decided not to. If I owned a Markbass head that had developed a fault, no doubt I would share in that frustration. However I and many others have found them stellar in terms of reliability, but obviously every amp will develop a fault at some stage.

I don't see all that much unusual about my experience as a band member. I played for over 40 years, so guess In that time, I have experienced many different scenarios. I guess I am always a glass half full type of guy and therefore look for the positive in every day, even when faced with adversity and people who are disingenuous. Its a matter of what lense we wear when dealing with such and we can often turn a disadvantage into an advantage. For me there are always worthwhile lessons to be learned. Thats been my experience but obviously not everybody's.

Pretty much every band I have been in from start up, that had the intention of gigging, jammed out in the initial stages to test the waters, find a groove, develop a style and so on. I would have thought that to be the norm. A good jam session can bring to the surface interesting ideas and creativity that are necessary to write material that is required for gigging. In my experience it is part of the process Rehearsing for up to 12 months with guys who come up with excuses after excuse to not gig, surely would be the exception. It hardly takes that long to suss out such a guy, be he dishonest or otherwise. It should be apparent in a matter of weeks and can be dealt with one way or another. I have no idea how you came to the conclusion that I would feel its ok to rope people into a project under false pretences. That would be disingenuous and plainly dishonest. I assure you I strive daily to be neither. People coming together, be it a band or otherwise, will have a degree of unpredictability, together with having to rub up one another for better or worse. In my opinion dealing with someone who is not showing their full hand, is part of lifes lessons that can lead to one's flourishing and wisdom. The only soul being destroyed is that of the person who is being deceitful