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Check out that little Gibson Jr bass. It works like a Pbass.

At a rehearsal last week , I usually lug my ancient GK MB150, noticed it wasn’t up to snuff. Volume dropped and it was sounding distorted. I once blew the amp up and loved it enough to get the power module replaced. At the time GK were moving their manufacturing , it took about a year to get the part. I have a friend that knows these well , and it’s off for repair. Should return like a brand new amp.

They truly are gorgeous things.

I went looking in the uk and couldn’t find a thing. Thomann did have some Gibson guitar pickup covers online so they might be able to order some , might be faster to just buy on on eBay though…

I’ve never had an issue with the stock 3point bridge , but I’ve loved the look of the hipshot. This has been my favourite player for quite a while now, it’s a beautiful little thing to play. With a single pickup in the classic sweet spot this actually behaves much like a Pbass. Lightweight , and fun. I love this bass.

I played in several bands that never rehearsed but were always adding new material. You’d get a tape or a link with the material and work it out on stage. Always fun to have a fresh go at something. It made me appreciate a good practice where you can stop everything mid tune and say “what is going on here?” Doing a project this afternoon that does rehearse. Everyone has been coming in prepared. It’s fun, but I’d really love this material to see an audience.

I remember when the Dave Clark 5 threatened to knock the Beatles off the pedestal.

Generally three sets that can be from 50-75 minutes. Plus encore. We generally do the whole night , but many of the kids will have three or four bands split the night. They’re lucky to get beer money doing that …

Many of my amps were bought on kijiji. I bought my DB from a friend that refurbishes them. But I found a GenzBenz Streamliner (that I had agedhorse check and upgrade) , a GK MB200 , an SWR Headlite (a hundred bucks) a Darkglass e500 , and a Hotone. And various basses and pedals. The secret is to simply keep a musical emergency fund in a sock so you can instantly spring when you spot something interesting. There’s only certain things I’ll entertain now. But I watch it like a hawk.

Beauty!

I’m probably not going to bother , there’s nothing I need. However … I watch kijiji , like a hawk , and have found some great deals there over the years. Sometime I can’t resist.

I’ve been pretty selfish about what gigs I do and with whom I play. I’m retired , and don’t depend on the money. Not that you make a lot playing mid sized rooms. So if I don’t think I’ll have fun , I pass. And I tend to like the rooms I play. Generally know the regulars and staff, and am under no illusions in terms of what to expect. It’s still good.

I think it might have been Solo Guitars here in Canada , I just googled Tbird chrome pickup cover and went looking for a Canadian source so I wouldn’t have to deal with customs or duties. They’re quite a common part , and quite available.

I I suppose the SG will be the next one.

My practice corner at the inlaw’s , I can generally manage to park myself in this little corner and let the time go. My refuge and hideaway. I use the Hotone as a headphone amp. Generally using the e500 into the C2 , but the MB200 is still here , it might wind up back home. I’m mostly using the effects in the e500 but there’s still no tremolo in the Darkglass Suite , and I do love that for some goofing around on the Bass VI , so my little knob farm is there. At the moment there’s two regular basses , a Gibson DC Jr and a Dano DC. Both shortscales. A Squier Bass VI and a Gretsch baritone. I usually limit things to four or five instruments here , and they are always changing. This little set up has evolved to this over the last two years , and is a lovely sandbox to play around in. It will continue to change , no doubt…

After my father-in-law passed away we began caring for my mother-in-law and I decided that I wasn’t lugging amps back and forth , so I was going to need a practice amp there. At the time my usual practice amp at home was an old and battered GK MB150 , a great little combo. My first reaction was to get something cheap , so I picked up a used Rumble 15. And it sounded like garbage , so I decided to rethink this. I was spending far more time practicing than gigging so I decided to go for something that would sound nice. Found a little GK MB200 head for a great price on kijiji and was off to the races. Initially paired it with a cheap Traynor cab , that was replaced with an Ampeg 210 AV , and that was replaced with a Phil Jones C2. I sold the Traynor cab and moved the Ampeg cab home for practice and semi retired the MB150. Now the MB200 and the C2 sound lovely! But I managed to score an e500 on kijiji and that’s replaced the MB200 for now. At home I’ve been running the 210AV through a SWR Headlite , the little GK might go back there . I normally do a couple of gigs per week but easily manage to put in several hours a day on a practice amp. It was well worth the money to get something nice that sounds good. I believe that in order to develop a good touch you need to practice amplified. And I like listening to good tone.

That looks like a great little rig! Unfortunately Barefaced are quite obscure down here. I’ve been having a proper ball with my little e500 but haven’t used it on any gigs.

My little corner at the inlaw’s house , looking after my mother-in-law so I spend a lot of time there. I have another practice rig at home. I use the Hotone as a headphone amp.

My Stingray , got it new , I guess it’s about twenty years old now.

I put a wooden popsicle stick bridge on a shortscale Danelectro , and took off the adjustable metal one. It made a big change , much woodier sounding now. Exactly what I hoped for.

I saw their first Ed Sullivan performance , and everything shifted overnight. So I grew up with Beatlemania and immediately listened to every new release. Their output was phenomenal. Then I got into the Chess catalogue and didn’t pay much attention to popular music , lost in the shuffle. Eventually I came back and bought much of their music again. I don’t listen to them often , but it’s like being in a Time Machine when I do.

All of North America has one plug. Probably South America too. And a shock is rarely fatal.

Just put a Hipshot on my Flying V. So I prefer Leo’s original bent metal , but on Gibson basses I’ve been replacing the 3points with higher mass Hipshot bridges. Say one thing do another … it is much easier to palm mute with the hipshot.