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Now's the time to spring like a panther: send your drummer down to audition. When he gets the gig he can tell them he'll only join if he can bring his friend (you) in on bass. Then you both turn up for the rehearsal and sack the other band members. Then book some gigs in this band's name; leave it a while then cancel them at the last minute while savagely insulting the bookers down the phone. Then announce the band is folding. Arm long, vengeance total. Proper job.

*walks around the Happy Jack-Bluejay household, looking at the ceilings, and whistles* Nice light fittings we have here...

True dat. But that envelope filter has got to be used sometime, right?

Wow.... I thought I had issues with 7... I’ve now showed the missus how our spare room is going to look based on your photos..... apparently that’s where I’m now sleeping! 😩

I look at all those basses and think, "You could have bought a really great bass with what you spent on that lot!"

I’ve been listening to a lot of Crowded House this week in the car. I’ve been a fan since the eighties (before that, if you include Split Enz); they’re one of those bands I always go back to, Neil Finn is one of my favourite songwriters. I like Nick Seymour’s bass playing too, very understated, plays for the song first and foremost. He also does this thing where he sometimes holds the root note even after the chord has changed, or shifts to the root note of the coming chord in anticipation of it’s arrival. I like it, it adds a tension or an urgency which is very pleasing.

I've got a (welcome) gap between commissioned full builds. I probably have a rebody of a Cort Curbow coming up (more of which later) but, in the scheme of things, that isn't a major undertaking on a par with a full build. So, as some of you know, one of the things I've been doing in the extra time is sorting out a better arrangement with routing - I've invested in a self-assembled foldaway router table and am currently building a thicknessing rig. But I've also been looking at the crazy amount of 'oooh that looks nice' wood that I've acquired over the past few years. In amongst it is this - some of which isn't faring well in my far-from-perfect wood storage: On the left is a sister set of back and sides lacewood and mahogany/walnut neck offcut from Chris's (our band's vocalist) dreadnought acoustic that I built him back in 2015: Next to that is another neck offcut - maple /walnut and lastly an offcut of Macassar ebony fretboard from my recent 6-string electric build. Well....that's most of the wood for another dreadnought - with a choice of neck to boot! And I've got a bit of time on my hands And I've got a few new things in the workshop that need testing out. And I've always wanted, and never had, a dreadnought. Hmmmm….it's tempting!

Well it turns out it’s never too late to give up on your dreams. This is my band from the 80s with yours truly on bass!

OK, good news is that all components are usable, size-wise - even the macassar ebony fretboard offcut It also gives me a choice of two neck wood combinations - maple/walnut /maple or mahogany/ walnut / mahogany. I'm tempted to use the maple...harder to work but might add a touch of brightness for the fingerpicking side of things...

Things were cramped in the old house so wall hangers and racks were used,the new place is much bigger 🙂 4 x racks of 7 + 10 tripod stands in the living room, 2 are kept propped against the couch within arm's reach. Spare room hosts another 4 x 7 racks,basses unused for ages like my Curbow,Dano and Bass Collection live in gigbags in the wee cupboard. Only 51 Peaveys in this photo. I blame the double bass 😄 Happened at Xmas, Wunjos kindly swapped the Sub by SBMM for a GK Plex instead.

My one and only bass, always wanted one and have zero interest in any other. Teal green and does everything I want for the bands I have played in, never fiddle with the EQ, everything just set flat out, may just knock the tone pot back a bit on some numbers.

Fairly sure i’ve not even played 43 basses, let alone owned (4 at separate times)

The black pickguard looks ok too

Have a Bergantino HDN 2x12. Imported from Germany excellent sound But I do have it paired with the Bamp using its 2x12 profile Well pleased with the sound my other choice was going to to be the vandercleys

My wife is out shopping and I'm enjoying Humble Pie, Rockin' the Fillmore

I'm absolutely sure there's a clever link here to 50 Shades Of Grey ...

Hurt his feelings. Tell him to stop or he's fired.

Surely something "offensive" is something which is defined as contravening the overarching social/legal/personal/sexual norms of the day/region/person. So, I suppose, yes nothing is intrinsically offensive in a way that you might be able to apply a physical test to it - but only in the same way that nothing is intrinsically "red": that is simply a word which we use to describe a phenomenon that satisfies certain criteria. I'm not sure how useful it is focus on this point. Two thoughts occurred to me while reading through this thread, as a white male of just less than 40 with a very foreign name and 50% Asian parents: 1) As a youngster on holiday, the wee chap who came up to me and announced "you're a Paki" was using that language deliberately to offend, intimidate and injure. The word may not be intrinsically offensive but his use of it was deliberately so. Ditto the woman who came up to my mum in a shop, pointed at my dad and said "my father was killed by one of them in the war" (one of what? - no epithet was used but the insult is explicit.) 2) A more trite example. There are probably over 30 of us at work who share the communal milk. There are no rules applied to its use but if someone came in and used all of it to themselves every day, it would not make them a champion of libertarian values: it would make them a selfish oaf, unwilling or unable to see the consequences of their actions on others. Which is my long-winded way of saying that while I would in no way support a ban on any language that pub covers bands might choose to use, it has to be acknowledged that language is a phenomenally powerful tool, even a weapon, and those that use it indiscriminately (or childishly seek to offend simply for the sake of doing so) must be prepared to accept to the opprobrium of those with a broader scope of experience.

I often wonder if drummers do that because they think they sound boring, and want to seem skilful. Sorta like guitarists and, who knows, maybe even bass players sometimes. I know that I sometimes feel that I’m just playing boring repetitive crap, and stick in some pops or something, and o& course it falls apart. Other times, when I am feeling confident and in the groove, it works a treat.

I think that my musical training (A-level + grade 8 bass trombone) has certainly helped my bass playing. However I do use only a tiny fraction of that knowledge when playing most of the time. My guitarist is self-taught, he can't read music. He probably doesn't know if he's playing a first or second inversion of a chord - because that's not the way he thinks. He certainly knows exactly what he is doing though. He learnt by copying his favourite guitarists. Now, if he's heard a song, he can play it - with all the correct chords, solos and little nuances. I didn't particularly enjoy my A-level music. I found that analysing and deconstructing music took away some its "magic". Similarly, "unconscious competence" can be a beautiful quality in a musician. Look at how many bands had cracking a first album or two, and then went off the boil once they "knew what they were doing". Having said that, I'd still recommend that bass players learn some theory. Not every player is a savant, and may need to make an effort at playing. A good understanding of time signatures can help you nail a groove. Knowledge of arpeggios and chord structure can help you come up with interesting bass lines.

I don’t agree that people choose to be offended. People do however choose to offend. I can think of many words that are offensive in their use; it would depend of course on your gender, sexuality, race, religion or appearance whether or not you do find a particular word offensive. Of course if you’re a straight white male without any disability then you probably wouldn’t have encountered a problem.

Is it wrong that I don't actually know? They are in various places, some in our rehearsal room, some in my man cave, some in pieces awaiting fun projects, some in the living room and some in the dining room. From where I'm sat I can see nine. The thing is two are ukes, fretted and fretless, two are full sizes acoustics, fretted and fretless, acoustic db, eub, fours, a five, short scale long scale, bass vi and so on, all very different from each other. The silly thing is my main gigging electric bass is a Variax which has most of my other basses included in it My family don't go without, all the bills get paid and we don't particularly want or need anything we haven't got, so it's no biggy keeping them all, it's my hobby. If hard times came knocking I'd just sell most of them.

As I understand it the words ar$e, junk and slut have also prompted nervous broadcasters to whip out the bleep button around Christmas time. And just as well; these are words that could quite clearly bring society to its knees. So let's just substitute 'sit-upon', 'dangerous drugs' and 'a person exercising their right to (either sequentially or simultaneously) engage in coition with multiple partners. It's for the best.

The free use of language doesn't oppress, controlled or compelled use of language oppresses. Please expand if I'm misunderstanding you.

Well, I can understand, to a degree, but anyone who is into The Blues will know the song and understand you are not speaking from a personal point of view but merely covering an old classic. I am a married man, so should I avoid covering any song that mentions attraction to a woman who is patently not my wife? I think things can be taken too far. It didnt stop old blue eyes singing "Something stupid" as a duet with his own daughter. Its a love song by the way.

I'd never change an "offensive" lyric if I was covering a song. The composer wrote those words for a reason and I think it's a greater offence to bastardise someone's art than to offend someone who deams their language to be inappropriate. It's your God given right to be offended and it's my God given right to offend you. Words are not and will never be violence; "Sticks and stones... Etc." to equate "offence" with "assault" is a very dangerous road to tread in my eyes.

The trouble is , is that all of the double Stingray pickup'd basses , all have the rear pickup way too far back - so not getting that 'Stingray sweetspot' . The only mainstream maker that I've seen 'dong it right' (subjective, I know) , is Warwick, with the Doublebuck

Way too many, would love to sell a few off. Blue

Ye just need better storage ideas 😃

There's a world of difference between a possibility and a certainty

I take it all back Christine - that black is looking pretty damn good. Lets hope for dustless and mistless future spraying . I'll be booking myself in for some carpentry lessons very soon

At least since its recyclable you won't feel so bad when it quickly goes in the bin.

@LewisK1975 meant to say if you want to know any more PM me cheers

😂😂 I've given it to my daughter so it's no longer mine. I guess I could take it off my list which would mean I have one less bass and an excuse to buy another 😁 I feel forced GAS coming on 😂😂

I agree with everyone else it's about time you get to enjoy the fruits of your labour, Ive always wanted to try and make an acoustic bass but the bending of the sides and making the neck scares the s**t out of me so I'll be watching this with interest, Also I hadn't seen the thread for the dreadnought build but that looks stunning 😀

That trans white and ebony board looks so nice 👍

I saw Buddy a few weeks ago at Summerfest. Great young band, Buddy is sort of an ageless type of guy.. He had a great message about the blues and told fun stories about the blues that included the major British blues artist. Blue

Just as an off-topic aside, I replaced the four-position switch in my ABZ4 with a John East U-Retro preamp. Works a treat, but then I'm a big fan of East preamps... 🙂

I had 2G&L ASATs which are the same pick ups and pre amps well made basses, really nice Loads of guts to the pick ups for my tastes almost too much as those MFD’s are wound hot and more Treble I think because as Leo had hearing and high end heating loss he compensated in his pick ups. If you can tame them they will work for you, but if you like pre amps and pedals it may be difficult to get the sound as they can be too much IMO

Used to have 3... Now I only own 2, lost the Sterling and made my own HS from a Ray35... Can't say enough good things about them. No 5er plays like it, no bass holds its ground in a mix llike it, the low B is better than that of many 35" instruments, fit&finish is like boutique quality but with a tone that's full of personality (a feat many boutique instruments lacking, a sound of their own).

Ocean turquoise with matching headstock... Parchment pickguard...

I vote sparkle!

good evening all had a look at the lacquer today (impatient) and decided it was hard enough to work on so I put it back together, have a couple of issues like I cocked up the wiring, the tone is like another volume I must of put a wire wear it shouldn't be ill check it out later, I have to fit a black jack socket when it comes so ill check the wiring then. On the hole I am very pleased how it turned out sounds luvly with them flats on don't know about the tone lol,

Awesome, thanks! Can't wait to get this one underway... I'll make sure I start a build thread on here.

Here's my pair, UK hand made from scratch, no Chinese crap, and not cheap either. I couldn't decide on WB or not, so decided to have both! 4005 Fireglo, chequerboard binding to rear, full width crushed pearl inlays, 60's spec throughout. 4005 WB, Mapleglo, plain white binding to front and back. Both full 60's spec in every way.