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Hi Having borrowed Pete's piccolo bass for the SW Bass Bash and having not yet delivered the 6-string electric I've just finished for my sister-in-law, I had a once-off opportunity to photo the three related lightweight builds together. Here they are: Left to right: The piccolo bass designed and built for our band's bassist Pete. Tuned to guitar pitch but sounds much more like a bass. Multi scale from 25" to 26" Total playing weight 5 1/2lb The 6-string electric built for me. The piccolo was so comfortable to play and sounded so good, I thought I'd try a 6-string version for my own use. 25" scale Total playing weight just under 6lb The 6 string electric just finished for my sister in law. Slightly slimmer (they are all around 1" thick) and designed for full fret access and thumb anchor up to the 24th fret for playing lead. 25" scale Total playing weight 5 1/4lb They are all through neck and feature a convex top and concave back: Those who tried the piccolo at the bash will know that, although it is at guitar pitch, it doesn't sound at all like the bottom 4 strings of a 6-string...it very much has it's very own bassy sound. For the electric 6 strings, I was curious whether 'lightweight and thin' would affect tone at all so I lent the middle one to a number of regular giggers I know. The general consensus is that it cuts through just as well as any of the strats and Les Pauls they would usually be using. Not at all scientific, of course, but there is no apparent loss of clarity or gravitas. The new one on the right hand side of the pic sounds brighter acoustically, but exactly the same through an amp. They are, of course, much lighter on the neck strap than most electrics and when the guinea-pigs later strapped their normal guitars back on, they all reported thinking various combinations of 'WHAT THE ****??' And they were trying out the heavier one of the three It's been a great experiment that may well continue to evolve Andy

VOCALIST REQUIRED FOR TERRIBLE BAND Unreliable egotistical diva required to sing badly before their voice fails half way through the second song of each two hour set. The ability to come up with various poor excuses and not turn up for gigs and practices less than half an hour before they need to be there is a must. Must also be able to argue equally with ALL other band members and have tantrums on and off stage whilst maintaining a drunken and/or stoned condition. The ideal applicant won't even turn up to their own audition and preference will be given to applicants who have extremely poor personal hygiene. If you think you can live up to these high expectations you probably won't be arsed to respond to this advert, if not please feel free to message me here.

Thanks guys, I am looking forward to it, we will meet him before for a sound check and other things. I followed the Manfreds in the early 60's, I loved those old songs and he is a great blues singer and harmonica player. I didn't realise he was retiring from the blues show, heck he's only 77! Just a youth really... He'll be there singing 'The Lord's my shepherd' (newer version) so we will have played with him if you squint a little

I think this is good advice for life in general, not just on a bass forum. Avoid politics and the news and your life will be so much happier!

And in 1998, this bass appears. It's the same bass, upgraded with the Basstec pickups and the Kahler bridge. You were right, @Bassassin!

Sunday night we have Paul Jones from Manfred Mann & his wife coming to our church to give testimony and sing. We get to play a worship song at the beginning and maybe wallpaper music before as people come in. Should be good.

All the talk of Mouradian basses over at Build Diaries got me thinking about Extreme, and Pat Badger specifically. I remembered seeing their set at the Freddie gig in 1992, and looked it up on YouTube to reacquaint myself with it. I’m glad I did; Extreme were on fire that day, they absolutely nailed it. It’s too good not to share...

Paul and Fiona have spoken and sung at our church several times. Lovely couple and a great evening of music and testimony. First time they came we backed them for the worship session so they came along to the rehearsal/soundcheck on the Sunday afternoon. That whizzed through no problems so when our regular Worship Leader said, “All done” there was plenty of time left. Paul looked round at the rest of the band, drew a harmonica from his back pocket and said, “Well, anyone fancy a little blues in G then?” Etched in my memory as one of my best ever playing experiences!!!!

I've heard that some people have lives outside Basschat!

I was at my daughters house the other day and asked her for a newspaper. ' Blimey get with the times Dad' she said as she passed me her iPad thing..... .....I'll tell you what, that bluebottle didn't know what the **** had hit it

look, no bass amp - i was feeling sorry for the two guitarists having to lug all their amps, cabs and mega pedalboards etc (but only for a bit)....IEMs and Helix for the win !

High and low G??? Clearly knows what he's on about.... He forgets to mention that he's a great photographer too..

And here’s a publicity shot of the aforementioned:

Think about what you have just said.... 😂😂

If you have to hide bass purchases from your significant other, walk out with an empty case saying you're taking a bass to the tech to look at. Come home with that new bass you wanted that she who must be obeyed had denied you

Ampstack shared their album. 14 March at 17:44 · Knob tip: If you are one of those people that always runs same settings on your amp, take the knobs off and put them all on straight up or in highest position when on your favoured settings, then it is easy to reset if you have to lend an amp at a gig or whatever.

I found a couple of photos recently which I thought I’d share, I don’t know if they might be of interest to any of you. It’s my dad, Martyn Gibson, who played bass in the early sixties, before marriage and fatherhood took over. Dad played in a band in Stafford from 1963 to 1965, initially they were called The Countdowns, later The Sneakers, and they played originals and covers, a bit of RnB (Ray Charles etc). They played all around the Midlands. They supported Johnny Kidd and The Pirates, and often played with a band from Leicester who went one to become some of Showaddywaddy. My dad’s first bass was (possibly) a Hagstrom PB-24-G; from my research they were also branded Kent and Selmer but he can’t remember and the headstock isn’t visible in order to identify it properly, but as The Beatles became popular he splashed out on a Hofner 500/1. The shop in Stafford (H.E.Parkes & Sons of St Marys Gate, Stafford) ordered it direct from Hofner in Germany with a hard case for forty pounds (or guineas, he can’t remember). How I wish he’d kept it! He had a Vox amp (didn’t everyone then?) but he can’t remember exactly which model.

I doubt I have the receipt!

I was listening to BIMM's own Spotify list for bass which has some nice tunes on it and thought this one could do with a bump! This is a collaborative list, so BassChatters can add their own favourite bass lines too!

I know how you feel. I sold my Stingray to Linus27 of this parish and have regretted it ever since. If you're out there Linus I'd like it back please?

Nooooooooo. Heavy amp, light cabs. Two Midgets on their sides with the TE atop. Will scare people. Just make sure you use each Midget on its own amp channel for max heft.

I always wanted to be a drummer but back in the day they were expensive, to noisy for a semi on a housing estate, and without transport a none starter. So I learned to play guitar and sing. I was in bands from the age of 14 singing and playing guitar, but I was always a drummer at heart. I play bass now, in one band, and drums in another. I have always had a guitar and have a strum sometimes but my heart is in drumming, and bass.

Welcome to BC!

Messenger's great for running the band. one message to all members who can pick it up at their leisure. It's a good tool.

slightly off topic, but I don't really understand why manufacturers can't use the speakon sockets that take a jack up the middle, no innuendo intended

And yet you still went ahead and said it anyway. My kind of bass player!!!

https://www.gak.co.uk/en/epiphone-premium-solidbody-bass-guitar-gigbag/901767?gclid=Cj0KCQjwzcbWBRDmARIsAM6uChXEJdgk9DgYwNumbLS9dIBSGkk3yvEuTlttcfLvVWZ825E-r4XyvuYaAthGEALw_wcB I use this one. Little bit of a tight fit to get the zipper over the widest part of the body, but not too bad. Nicely padded and plenty of room for straps, cables etc.

In the 97 catalog, this bass appears for the first time. I don't think it's there earlier. Obviously this is the basis for the model above. I also found Basstec pickups in the catalogs (I think it was in the 96 catalog). Maybe the model here was an attempt to make an improved model for the Western markets. I don't know.

Sorry, @bazzbass, but no earth to the bridge won't cause it to cut out. We don't know how tidy this circuit wiring is, but a good, quick solution would be to buy a new harness from @KiOgon. That would almost certainly sort it.

They don't make 'em like they used to. I don't mean that as a compliment.

My mother always told me "If you pick it, it will not get better". Always listen to your mum.

I have never played guitar. My fingers just aren't long enough. Only occasionally found it to be a problem, usually when a guitarist tries to show me chords at a jam. I always reply, just tell me the chords. Interesting thing is that sometimes they don't know what they are called.

Simplified things a little but very happy with this.

Didn't think I'd be posting the words 'I AM A BENDER' today, yet here we are.

Harry and I recently revisited an old hobby involving the transfer of heavy Mesa Boogie equipment from the Netherlands to the UK (and in this case the other way also). As was the case previously, not only was it a seamless transaction, but he was very courteous over a slight faux-pas in packing at the UK end, the outcome of which was luckily minimised somewhat by the tank-like construction of all Mesa gear, even foot-pedals (which I had put in the box before sealing and completely forgotten about, meaning that if - or of course when - the courier decided to put the box on its side, it had the not inconsiderable weight of a Big Block head in an equally heavy case to deal with). We live and learn, in my case, don't pack bass gear whilst supervising young children who are at the same time finding scissors and tape an irresistible temptation! Thanks Harry, here's to the next time mate Chris

I didn't find it that controversial to be honest. I understand what he's saying about needing different techniques for different situations and agree 100% with his sentiments regarding the fact that live your tone is either made or lost by the person on the mixing desk.

Read all the thread and all I can think is... It's called a plectrum in this country.

And Carol taught James Jamerson too!

Good afternoon, Ric, and ... Plenty to read and amuse you here, and lots to learn and share.

My "pedalboard" from my last gig...

I don't know why but whenever I read the word 'peccadillo' which, to be fair, isn't that often, I always get these images in my head in true Reggie Perrin fashion.

Great idea. It also really confuses people when they borrow your amp - they sound terrible! Bonus.

Cheers Al. Totally hear what you are saying, however this is a signature amp built for Geezer Butler.... Built precisely to what Geezer and his tech required with some input from us of course and the Slave Outputs were/are important to what they want. Nothing about the amp was specified down to 'felt like a good idea at the time' I promise. This was never a project to just stick an artists name on a load of existing amps and just take peoples money like one of our competitors in particular may have just done.... with that I guess they have to make the money back they are paying him somehow... ;-) Main point is that anyone buying a Head Of Doom is getting exactly the same amp as Geezer is using built by one of the same two people who built Geezers not a watered down version with his name on.

Sorry to disappoint Big Red but sadly the last week or few has been a bit hectic, we have 2 members of staff at the CES show this week and last moment preparations for that meant despite long days last week we fell behind on some bits and then you are forever playing catch up. We are also finishing off the final aspects of the new 2018 products which launch in 2 weeks at the NAMM show. Also today we launched our new website which for the first time we have done totally in house so this has also been a huge drain on us. Then new Ashdown 2018 brochure to complete and get to the printers before Friday or it won’t make the show. Take in that this is on top of the regular day to day running of the company of which we deal with 68 countries, January is always a more hectic month that most mainly down to the NAMM/CES shows and the deadlines that launching products there imposes. Lastly whatever your view/impresssion of us we are but we are a small family company consisting of 10 people from top to bottom. We generally always try to keep on top of answering everything that comes our way but when these days that consists of Emails, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Basschat and more most of which are dealt with by only 1 or two people it can sometimes mean our replies/interventions take a few more days than normal at certain times of year. Hope that helps to explain the delay, we never knowingly ignore an issue as should be seconded by many of the members here. I’ll hopefully get chance to respond to the more specific b social issues tomorrow.