Rich

For anyone looking to upgrade the tuners (although yes the stock ones do the job) I can recommend fitting Hipshot Ultralite replacements. Pretty sure I'm not the only one here to have done this..? I went for the cheaper 'Licensed' versions and they're great, although the headstock holes are slightly too big for the tuner posts and I had to pad them out a bit -- 2 or three layers of heatshrink sleeving of a suitable size is perfect for this job. The other benefit of doing this is that you instantly lose 1/2 a pound of weight from headstock. Yes, I actually weighed them. I must try to get out more

I'd definitely go along with Dancing In The Street as 'lowest'. Even the bloody Laughing Gnome is better than that car crash. As far as 'highest' is concerned, probably Scary Monsters. [media]http://youtu.be/GA27aQZCQMk[/media]

This is fabulous. An absolute masterclass. [media]http://youtu.be/y6-AUmUMtm4[/media]

[quote name='lowdown' timestamp='1489477269' post='3257168'] What's an 'F' between friends. [/quote] Isn't that what they call "with benefits"..?

I use more AAs than anything else these days. For PP3s I use the Duracell Industrials. My current crop of AAs are some Costco-own-branded 'Kirkland' alkalines which I bought when they had a promotion. They seem to last just as long as the previous Duracells.

[quote name='wateroftyne' timestamp='1489067734' post='3254126'] He's played for lots of people, including Nick Heyward... [/quote] Pino-ey goodness from 2:30 [media]http://youtu.be/99mCq3_mlYA[/media]

[quote name='Luulox' timestamp='1488886727' post='3252607'] You are depraved and obviously need help. 😆 [/quote] And you've only just worked this out?

[b]The Pilot[/b], Bowerhill, Melksham SN12 6TA. Avoid like the plague. My band played there last night, not the first time but certainly the last. I'm out of action bass-wise at the moment but went along to provide BVs (and moral support for my dep, who did a superb job). We played the usual 2x45mins, as on the other occasions we've played there, playing to a virtually empty pub apart from a couple of scuzzy pissheads and a group of cackling superannuated chavettes. Every song met with total indifference. Started packing up and the landlady (I use the term 'lady' in its loosest possible sense) threw a total wobbler. She said that we were supposed to be playing till midnight and said that if we didn't do so, she would not pay us a bean. So we set up again and carried on playing till witching hour. When our drummer went to see about cash after we'd cleared up, she tore into him again. She said that we had agreed to play from 9:30 to 12:00 with a ½ hour break (utter bollocks #1). She claimed that we had played that long last time we were there (utter bollocks #2) and that was their normal terms (not when we've played there before, it wasn't). She then said that even our first set was only 35 minutes (utter bollocks #3), and she was not prepared to pay us the full amount, and shorted us by 50 quid. She also cancelled our future bookings, which is fine because after that lot we'd have done it anyway. And to put the old tin lid on it, as our drummer was leaving some arsehole in the other bar piped up and told him to “f*** off out the pub”. So there you go. The Pilot in Melksham. The ideal place to play if you like being ignored by chavs and abused by bolshy jumped-up barmaids & pissed-up wifebeaters. Personally, I hope the f***ing place burns to the ground.

The Sire basses have a passive mode. Just leave the actives switched out and you've got a passive 5 string Jazz.

[quote name='yorks5stringer' timestamp='1489277331' post='3255753'] Jarrit Reddick and David Gates for the first course (Bowling for Soup, Bread), Lou Rhodes and Marvin Lee Aday for the mains (Lamb, Meatloaf), Will I.Am (Black Eyed Peas),Billy Corgan (Smashing Pumkins),Paddy MCAloon (Prefab Sprout), Martha Johnson (Martha and the Muffins), Eric Clapton (Cream) or Vanilla Ice, finishing off with Errol Brown (Hot Chocolate) [/quote] You forgot the Phish course.

Getting into 'superJazz' territory now.

I love having a bit of a sing, my voice seems to work well with our lead vox so I try to do as much BV as possible. I've always found it reasonably straightforward, although I start getting problems when the two parts are rhythmically different. The one thing I simply cannot do is [i]talk[/i] and play. Almost impossible.

Do you just want new stuff for the raffle or is 2nd hand gear acceptable? I've got a couple of FX thingies that I'm not using, for example [quote name='LewisK1975' timestamp='1489139817' post='3254625'] I assume there's ample parking around the hall? [/quote]It looks like a decent sized car park on the satellite images and website.

A 'good weighted bass'? [quote name='timhiggins' timestamp='1488995503' post='3253604'] Is the alder body version not lighter than the ash ? [/quote] Absolutely no idea.

I'm not familiar with the Robbie Williams song, but I agree 100% on the Cher one. An absolute shag of bite.

The V7 fiver weighs a shade over 10lbs. You can shave 1/2lb off that by fitting lightweight tuners as one or two of us here have done (I think). Mine says it was made in Indonesia. I believe they still are. Certainly no build issues with mine. You can order direct from Sire in the US if you want to take the hit on tax and duty. What with the [bittersarcasm] recent fantastic performance of our glorious national currency [/bittersarcasm] I very much doubt there's any saving to be made by going direct to Sire. As far as Europe are concerned, it's either Thomann in Germany or [url="https://www.strumentimusicali.net/default.php/manufacturers_id/609/Marcus-Miller-by-Sire.html"]Strumenti Musicali in Italy[/url]. But they're both the same price.

Good question. I love my Shuttle but I'd be v.interested in hearing/trying the Magellan.

Ooh, the tonewood argument. We haven't had this one for a while. [IMG]http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u138/Xiphan/Emoticons/popcorn.gif[/IMG]

For this price range, I'd go for a custom build or a vintage Jazz.

Can I suggest having a bunch of sticky labels and a Sharpie available so that people can make nametags for themselves if they want? We did this at the last national bash I went to and it was good to be able to put a face to a forum handle. I can source suitable items from my office stationery cupboard (I'm only borrowing them boss, honest) if required.

[quote name='mcnach' timestamp='1488572947' post='3250247'] mine are lovely... maybe I'm too selfish and I'm keeping all the nice ones? [/quote] No you're not. All the drummers I've played with have been nice guys.

[quote name='PaulGibsonBass' timestamp='1488577642' post='3250313'] I was very close to buying this instore when I got the dolly. It claims 70kg but it actually felt pretty flimsy when I opened it out. The footplate didn't seem very substantial. [/quote] It might feel flimsy but don't be deceived. I've had one of these (well, similar -- mine's a [url="https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B000HVVSDU/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1488669328&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=magna+cart"]Magnacart[/url] from Costco) for quite a while and it's brilliant. Pretty sure I've been over the 70kg a few times but it shrugged it off.

I love playing I Wish; I suppose it's kinda repetitive but it's such a fabulous groove and our horn section do a brilliant job on it. My absolute favourite is our medley of 25 Miles, Papa Was A Rolling Stone and Uptown Funk. I go walkabout/ danceabout in the crowd during 25 Miles, stay out front during Papa Was as I'm basically the only bugger playing and then of course Uptown Funk is just a joy to play.

The headstock shape is pretty much the only bit of the Sire V7 that I don't like. Luckily the rest of the bass is so superb that I can easily overlook it. [quote name='PaulGibsonBass' timestamp='1488576367' post='3250300']Fender Performer? If the London Rubber Company had gone legal it could've been a 'Nocaster' scenario all over again... [/quote] Oh, the Fender Performer. LOVE the body shape. It should have been a massive hit.