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I wish i'd seen this thread earlier, i've just come back from a music shop where the first thing i did was light up my trusty crack pipe, then I started morris dancing, and in the excitement i shät myself, and with all the energetic morris dancing it sprayed all over the equipment in the shop. When the staff tried to stop me, they took me by surprise and I accidentally assaulted them by throwing excrement at them. It all worked out in the end though because I apologised and purchased 1 used plectrum for 9p.

After acquiring and really liking the Mesa Subway Preamp pedal, I decided I would like to buy a Poweramp - ideally small - to give me a small but powerful gigging set Ultimately ended up buying this: GSS Sumo 1000 Thus far I am blown away by the size and power. My Mesa MPulse 600 is a very loud amp, the Subway/Sumo combo is easily as loud whilst giving me the Mesa tone I like at a fraction of the weight. Pretty good on “girth” too! Still needs lots of road testing etc, but so far so good!

...and I've just played Streets of London with Ralph McTell. Just him, me, and a choir. It was gorgeous.

Cheers! Here's a few more I took later yesterday. A shot from my stage position Some flightcase porn (this is only a tiny part of it!) The backstage village (basically, the producer needs all the cast members to be in this area at all times. It has to run like clockwork) One of the millions of camera shooting it. There's cameras everywhere, and GoPros all over the stage Alan Clark, a fantastic keyboard genius who I'm sharing a riser with. In April he's being inducted into the R'n'R hall of fame with the rest of Dire Straits. An today is showday!

Definition: Bass Bash is a term used for a day hiding from your so-called loved ones (family) to spend with your true love ones (instruments) and other like minded individuals in a secret location known only to those who play the aforementioned gear and frequent these forums. There are the odd exceptions, Happy Jack/ Bluejay, Grangur and Mrs Grangur, and Silverfoxnik & Hamster whose lovely wives (only one each) support these events with copious cups of tea and cakes. However, normally they are populated by sad old gits who want to talk about a subject (The Bass guitar and equipment) that no other band member or "normal" member of society can even bear to. Along with the attendees, you will find some beautiful examples of the luthiers' art which are available for the aforementioned sad old gits to try and discuss at their leisure. Other features of Bass Bashes are seminars and gear trials, (seemingly) never ending Raffles, and of course a great review by our own Bluejay which is generally better than the event itself. Stay tuned to the "Events" thread for details of your next/nearest one.

Here’s a murky shot of playing Video Killed The Radio Star with Trevor Bloody Horn :-D

Squire are one of the worst brands available these days. It's a real shame. Then again, how can one be surprised, them trying to cash in on almost copying the name of a really good competitor (Squier). I hope bankruptcy will be their fate.

I refuse to play anything unless they provide me with a music stand.

Funnily enough it’ll have a maple top with transparent coloured finish probably so your suggestion is bang on where I was headed! Builder? Maruszczyk

Thanks again for all your get well messages, I’m very grateful. i have a hospital appointment tomorrow to assess the damage. Hoping the doctor will have some good news for me.

Always fancied one of these...

A few pics from a couple of years ago just to give a little taste of the SE BassBash. Me and the lovely Herbie, the main rig room, John Rhino Edwards from the Quo trying my bass and John Bentley from Squeeze giving a talk and playing some. Sadly I was too ill to attend last years!

Did anyone mention cake?

Best bass hang out ever, bassically (see what I did there). A chance to do all the things you mention... ogle and try out gear you’d never find in one place anywhere else, jam if you want to (I’ve never actually got round to that), meet other BCers in the real world, chat, listen to interesting and varied seminars if you want to... I first went three years ago, ostensibly because Silverfoxnik asked me to do a talk on Wal basses. It’s been a fixture in my diary ever since. Great bass day out. The second year I went Herbie Flowers was chatting - I wasn’t to miss that! John from Squeeze was fascinating. Last year was Davey Rimmer from Uriah Heap. I’ve no interest in the band but it was fascinating to hear his thoughts on playing and stepping into big shoes like John Wetton’s and Trevor Bolder’s. Steve Lawson was random, philosophical and amazing too. For a flavour you could do much worse than checking out Bluejay’s excellent photo blogs on the Bashes... https://silviabluejay.blog/2015/10/05/basschat-south-east-bash-2015/ https://silviabluejay.blog/2016/10/05/basschat-se-bash-2016/ https://silviabluejay.blog/2017/12/08/basschat-se-bash-2017/ Basically, get it in your diary and I doubt you'll regret it.

I'm part-way through a big long epic of a day today - more of the stars have arrived, so we're working though the tunes with them at various allotted time-slots. It's a huge production and logistical operation, with a massive crew - the band are just one cog in the wheel. Every song has to be rehearsed for lighting, camera positions, VT cues, walk-on choreography... if one part isn't right, we do it again! Like I say, I can't give anything away, but I've had a couple of OMG moments today... and I get to do it again - for real - tomorrow. Get in :-) Here's some arty shots I took during stolen moments...

AquaSonic - Between Music I just saw a piece on this ensemble on this morning's BBC Travel Show. It was both fascinating and disturbing. For the disturbing bit, watch the last half minute or so where one of the performers is pawing, so to speak, at the glass. I realised that I had been holding my breath in sympathy up to that point when I had to breath in suddenly. Breathtaking is a starkly appropriate adjective for the act. The vocal parts require extra control as water is taken in as close to the larynx as possible without gagging. Some of the instruments have been made especially for this project over the ten years or so of its existence. Of particular interest was an instrument that has the sonic qualities of a cello. It looks like a strung wire-frame body with the saddle of a lathe (complete with tailstock wheel) at one end and a loudspeaker cone grafted on at the other end. I'm happy enough that the instrument takes care of the sound of bowed strings. If plucked, it might be good for metal too but I don't suppose there would be much opportunity for slappists in this group. With all that wrist flapping you'd risk emptying your tank before you got to the middle eight!

Thank you for the rapid reply.

I didn't get that far, they were on their way back and talking to my little lad who would have been non-the-wiser. I wouldn't want to steal WoT's thunder, anyway

I'll bring my Greenboy/Fearful 1x12 if that's the case.

Second show is ongoing.. I'll tell you later :-D

NERD ALERT - the latest video and blog post deal with the value of tracking your practice: Full article is HERE Updated/corrected transcriptions: • Lionel Richie - 'Dancing On The Ceiling' • The Beatles - 'Help' • David Gray - 'Babylon'

I'm in the Alder camp, although I do enjoy the aesthetics of a nicely grained Ash body. In the context of playing live with a band not sure I can hear a difference though.

I usually start by being highly specific about the precise combination of amp and cab(s) that I want to play the bass of my choice through. I then take the cables off the guy and wire it up myself, all the while pointing out why I've chosen this specific setup, and the failings of the other gear they have in stock, and why I won't use any of it. After that, staff and punters alike usually f-off and leave me in peace to play.

Generally sound like you know what you're talking about. This is the equivalent of going to your doc and reeling off a number of medical conditions you've been able to rule out with confidence before he tells you how irritated he his with people who use webMD for self diagnosis. Both GPs and music shop staff want you to be ignorant and at the mercy of their expertise.

New board is finally complete. Powerful and portable. signal chain: cali 76 > providence BFX-1 (L1: Boss OC-2 octaver / L2: Chase Bliss Audio Brothers / L3: RMI Basswitch Sonic Spark / L4: Strymon Mobius) > TC Polytune mini powered by 2x Strymon Ojai R30

Looking really good!!

Yeah that ugly "Sting" is stiil on my ears. And on my mind. But it's difficult to find one.

I thought it would be Adrian You can't go wrong either way then. And if you want it light, ask him, you'll get light.

That is very pretty

I've had both and preferred both. I like good definition with snappy, punchy and warm mids, but it's the overall sound of the bass that I listen to. That's why I'm not a good candidate for a custom build. I'm not sure woods fall neatly into traditional definitions anymore. Seems to me that the difference will be in the resonance of the particular pieces of wood and the pickups you have to choose from. Either way, Mert, I'm sure it will be a great bass.

Saw Bas had ordered a new pedal that was on back order so got him to cancel and buy used from me instead! Prompt payment as always.

I can't even play this!

The one I noticed it on was Queen of Hearts.

I can’t see anything up with it. Its a lovely Fernie ball preciseman

I'v never measured my action..not interested really! I lower to the point of perfect balance between playability and string noise for me, its entirely subjective

Honestly, thats as good as if not better than 90% of the youtube covers of this track....

They should list drivers appropriate for use with them, along with modeled response charts and displacement limited power ratings with said drivers. Since they have the box design specs (one would hope, anyway) doing so with any driver would take all of five minutes.

Well, it's got the nod over the R-400 for this weekend...

I've got a 2016 Deluxe Special in white/rosewood. I love it to bits, it's pretty much all I play these days. I've not tried the US Elite, I'm guessing it has upgraded pickups and preamp, but other than that I have trouble thinking what improvements they could make for it to be £1000 better. I've got the MIM Deluxe PJ and two Mexi Telecasters, all three of them are superb instruments.

Yes you may moan that EU imports may become unaffordable soon, but looking on the bright side, the lucrative trade deal with India is almost in the bag. Who needs Nordstrands when you can take your pick of the best indian sweatshop-produced pickups made by 9 year old slaves instead? Tone for days.

Just had a six-hour rehearsal with it today. MY GOD... the notes are massive. Some of the tunes are old-school P-and-flats, others are rounds and growl, and it just responds beautifully. It's beautiful. Can't wait for tomorrow.

If there is a 1x12 shootout, I have a trusty old SWR Bass Monitor 12 I could bring along. Would be interesting to see how it measured up to the (much) younger upstarts!

As a member of a band who also wear ridiculous costumes I'm with Rammstein on this one. I always think of it as a bit like wearing a tuxedo - it feels great when you put it on in your room, and it'll feel great again when you're at the event, but you tend to feel a bit of tit wearing it on the bus there.

Hi folks, After asking around here for some advice I decided to take the plunge and get myself a Harley Benton 6-string bass. It’s arrived today and I thought I would share some details with you. I’ll start by saying I am very pleased with the bass. It’s a neat yet simple design and it feels nicely made and well finished. I was expecting it to weigh quite a bit but actually it’s quite light – certainly a lot easier on the shoulders than my Harley Benton Jazz. The neck is very playable. Being a 6-string it’s clearly chunky, and the shape reminds me quite a bit of my Squire P-bass albeit even fatter. Despite the size, I find the neck pretty fast and there is no problem reaching the low B string. It came really well set up with a nice low action. The intonation needed seeing to but otherwise it was playable out of the box. The electronics are pretty nice too. It’s got a 2-band active EQ with a blend and volume. It also has the option of going passive when the volume pot is pulled out, in which case the treble control becomes a passive tone control. Sound wise it has quite a bit of growl to it. It almost reminds me of a Warwick in that respect. The active circuit is pretty hot and can easily bring on some distortion when the bass control is tweaked up even a little. However, it’s a nice sound and pretty flexible. I’d say the passive sound is the nicest – clean and rich and certainly much more impressive than a bass of this price has any right to sound. I’m off to band practice with it tonight so I’ll report my experience with it in the wild tomorrow, but until then it looks like Harley Benton have designed a really nice bass for just silly money here.