A very belated hello

djk · 2025-12-16T22:42:34Z

Having been a member for some years, and posted a few time, I know I've never really introduced myself, so here goes.

I started playing bass in the 60's, playing for quite a few years till family and work took over. I played in cover bands in and around Essex and East London and fr a while I became a pro.

As some may have seen from my previous posts, I recently returned to playing bass in my seventh decade and found that the the world of amps and cabs had changed since the time of my Hiwatt and 4x12 cabs.

Being bereft of gear, with little income aside from my pension, I set about sorting out something to ply, and play through.

I'd sold my early Mustang some years ago but still had a no name bass that I'd done some work on. However having been a short scale player in the past I set about looking for something reasonable in both quality and cost to use.

As far as guitars went, my first new purchase was an Ibanez Talman TMB30, an OK bass but a little too heavy for my damaged shoulder, so I bought a Hofner Shorty, then a Gretsch G2220 Junior Jet whilst at the same time putting together a custom (homemade) short scale P style bass. More recently I've added a Squier Bronco and swapped out the PU for a 9.5K one from Toltec.

I've recently crossed over to the dark side and picked up a Squier Jazz bass, which I have found that, even with my arthritic left hand I can play OK and have decided that I'll stay with it. The Ibanez and Hofner have gone and the Bronco will go, leaving just the Gretsch and Jazz, along with the homemade P. I also have a Squier Base VI.

I also have a couple of Yamaha acoustics, an FG335 from the 70's that I bought new and an FG 12 string I picked up recently. These sit alongside a Squier Strat which I've swapped the PU's on.

Amp wise, along the way I picked up a couple of Laney Richter combos, an RB5 and an RB8, not realising that in the intervening years since I last played either amps have got heavier of I've got weaker so a rethink was needed if I was going to continue to play. The RB5 will sit under the desk in my home studio but the RB8 has to go.

For cabinets I've recently built 2 Basschat 110 cab's using Eminence drivers from an old Ashdown 210 cab which have impressed me with both their capabilities and light weight. Not wanting to give up old school totally I've also built a 1x15, again with an Eminence driver, based on a ported compact design. I've yet to finish this so not sure how it will sound. Finally today a Fane 8" driver arrived so I can build a 1x8 Basschat cab. My thanks to Phill Starr and everyone else for the designs, support and advice that you all have provided and offered.

I'll add some images later.

David