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Pleased to report my last two rehearsals were at very civilised levels. No ear protection needed. Inuse Alpines for gigs, waiting for my ACS moulds to arrive... quite excited!

I plug in my 600w Mesa head and 1516 cab at home, at rehearsals, and on stage. If I want more volume I turn it up, if I want less I turn it down. Occasionally I feel it would be easier to have a smaller and lighter rig for smaller gigs, but I get over it once I hear it

That is indeed very red red. I like that. Mark

As always good design and honest specifications trump all else.

My Orange Terror is rated 500W. The power consumption is given as 650W. This is unusual (although @agedhorse explained that most amps typically quote a value based on an assumed duty cycle). I also respect Vox; they understate their amp power. The AC30 is comparable to a Marshall 100W. My Vox Valvestate 20 is a 30W amp.

Looks like i'll be joining a Blues rock band from Edinburgh area. The BL has already seen the Glam band i'm in and says he's happy if i'm up for it. They're happy to work around the Glam band gigs too so that's a bonus. I've to let them know tomorrow once i've had a think about it but i'm quite keen on the idea. Dave

I got 3/32" dots cut from high strength vinyl on a Cricut machine. Very durable... the ones on the 'busy' parts of the neck last a long time.

Had it for years, doesn't really bother me too much. Got it thru riding motorbikes without ear-plugs in. I mean what motorbike has ear plugs ? 😂 Dave

Thanks for this, much appreciated. I’ve ordered new pots and will have a play at the weekend! Will update some more photos and update! 🤞

Without the push pull it was VVT (and it worked well and sounded okay) honestly didn’t know it was push pull until easing off the scratch plate though! Suspect it might have been a series/parallel switch - but was never something I used and don’t need/want. joys of pre-enjoyed!

Colour going on this one… This is the paulownia build for a BC member and it’s now officially very, very red. Dakota Red in nitro and it’s absolutely popping under the lights. Paulownia is always an interesting one. Lovely and light, but it does like to remind you it’s basically made of compressed air and optimism. This body had the full routine — shellac, primer, grain attention, more primer, careful flattening — the whole “no, you are not sinking back on me again” conversation. Happy to say it’s behaved. Edges are nice and soft, belly carve is flowing well, and the horns have kept their shape without going blobby under colour. Always a relief. Still a few coats and plenty of cure time before flatting and polishing, but it’s at that exciting stage where it actually looks like a bass rather than a woodworking experiment. Going to look great once the hardware’s on and it’s all glassed up in clear. More soon once it’s had time to harden off and I start the levelling dance. Made to play. Built to last. 🔴

More progress on this one… Blank is fully cut and shaped now. Horns are flowing nicely and I’ve softened the edges without turning it into a bar of soap. Always that “measure twice, sand forever” moment, but we’re still in one-piece territory. Belly cut is carved and blended. Went for comfort over bravado – this one will sit properly against a ribcage rather than just looking good in photos. First coat of Liberon is on the ziricote and… wow. The grain has absolutely come alive. The dark lines have gone deep and dramatic and the lighter figuring is glowing. It’s one of those woods that looks fairly reserved dry, then turns full cinematic once oil hits it. Before anyone asks – this isn’t staying oil finished. The oil is just to pop the grain and show me what we’re working with. It’ll be sealed and finished in nitro clear. I want that depth and chatoyance under a proper gloss coat. A few tiny natural pin knots showing through – staying. This is wood, not laminate flooring. Letting it cure now before the next stage. So far… I’m very happy. Made to play. Built to last.

They're bl00dy uncomfortable after a short while but I still wish I had mine.

Did you get it?

In terms of not clipping the amp output voltage headroom is more important. In terms of not overheating the amp output stage, potentially putting it into protect mode, current headroom is more important. Valve amps are better than SS in both respects, as their natural soft knee compression reduces clipping, and they're fairly immune to current issues, as they don't have a minimum impedance load. Not perfect, though, as they do have a maximum impedance load, and of course they're large and heavy.

Theme From World Of Sport — Don Harper

I was patient and stoic for a while, but since the NAMM builds started coming out, I've been getting pretty antsy 🫠

First rehearsal with my new covers band last night and it went great and after waiting so long for a covers band looking for a bassist to become available it seems like they really are like buses as I’ve got another rehearsal tomorrow with my other covers band.

Not me, I live in hope some American does fall for it 😀 Good news is the moment is getting closer. Just an hour back I was reading a "Please tell me more" post about an extremely rare 2004 European Peavey Cirrus. Odd thing was Peavey never made any Cirrus basses in Europe until 2024, no overseas models until 2007. Kisser was photo posted with the 2004 s/n, it had the words "Made in Vietnam" alongside it 🤣🤣🤣

Just received a Bass Pod XT Live from Bob. Very pleasant chap to deal with and a very easy transaction. Posted out very quickly and arrived well packaged. 10/10 Thanks Bob! 👍