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I’ve used UPS a lot, know the driver like an old friend. Then a couple of weeks ago the Mrs wanted to ship some stuff and I recommended UPS. No one came.Went via ParcelForcetwo days later. UPS tantric sex: you stay in all day, no one comes.

The trick about writing good lyrics Is to just use your sense of empirics When you come to use 'Orange' You'll just have to write 'Sporange' You'll have everyone in hysterics.

'Just pick phrases you like from other peoples songs and stick them together without a thought for logic, grammar or copyright.' (Noel Gallagher, 1994 - Probably)

fixed.

Now that's worth repairing

I know, i was lucky to get a piece that nice! although hopefully enough of that lovely figure will show through the inlays. the thinking is that the dark "cloud" pieces are supposed to look like the breaks in the clouds during a thunderstorm, so the ziricote is as much a part of the overall scene as the pearly bits. sort of like how lightning illuminates the clouds as it passes through: whether or not it works out that way remains to be seen... okay so exciting times are coming... THE INLAYS ARE CARVED OUT!..... but not in yet. most of the rest went fairly smoothly... again apart from those bits of lightning. next time i do an inlay... no lightning. annoyingly, by the time id finished doing all the waves, i'd got fairly good at it. no doubt by the time i come to do the next bass i will have forgotten all of this. for any of you interested what a fretboard looks like before the inlays actually get glued in, and what inalys look like not in the fretboard: you can probably see to the far left of the first picture a little black square in the first wave, turns out i went a tiny bit too deep there, so thats a little square of ebony veneer that covers up my mistake. in the end, i separated the large cloud pieces either side of the lightning and did them separately, it was just easier that way to get it to all line up nicely. you can probably also see on that picture the two bottles of CA glue poised and ready... well that picture was taken pretty late, and the missus told me to tidy the kitchen and go to bed. so you'll have to wait for the big reveal once theyre all glued in. you can also see on the second picture the headstock with the tuner holes plugged and the sides cut off. im going to glue some new maple wings on tomorrow to accomodate the new headstock design. for now... heres the fretboard with the inalys just laid in place: they all lie within a couple of tenths from flush, so they should all look very nice glued in and sanded back. the only real concern is the black MOP clouds... black mother of pearl isn't the most consistent, and so sanding back even a few tenths of a mm can really change the shades that show through. im hoping this won't be a big issue, but i really like the clouds nice and dark so hopefully they don't lighten up too much once sanded and polished.

I would imagine there is no empirical answer to this as everyone is going to have a different left hand. For me, finding my optimum neck was simply as case of play as many basses as you can, usually bought and sold on at a huge loss, until you discover what it is about the bass neck you like. It could be the cross section as you have illustrated. It could be the width of the neck at the nut. It could be how close together the strings are. All in conjunction with how far apart the strings are at the bridge. But I found I had to live with a bass for some time before making a firm decision on it - just trying one in a shop didn't help. For years I was convinced I preferred narrow necked basses and anything more than 40mm at the nut was a struggle. Then necessity forced me to play 5 string basses - much wider than 40mm - and discovered that the width of the neck had nothing to do with it, string spacing was the key factor. It just so happened that narrow necks had tight string spacing. So I can happily play my 5er with a 45mm wide neck but still struggle with a 43mm wide 4 string P bass. Actually struggle is the wrong word - just feels less comfortable.

I will continue uploading this kind of videos, so keep in tune. Please SHARE the video, it helps a lot. SUBSCRIBE to help to widen the love for bass guitar, and also to encourage me to make more content.

Jack wins on avatar alone.

Oh dear, look how the simple things in lyric writing have changed. Once upon a time, you just needed to wake up in the morning.

Doesn't matter whether you're a novelist or a songwriter, you always start with vaguely autobiographical stuff. This is a bit like singing and playing bass at the same time. Get the bassline sorted first, then worry about singing. Write about what you know until you're comfortable with writing. Once you're happy with the writing bit, engage your imagination and make things up.

DPD deliver Shalla's food - they email me to tell me when it's due and who the driver is. Last week there was a problem with their system so delivery was "cancelled" - rescheduled for the following say - only to arrive two hours later. They went the extra mile despite tech problems...thinking about it now, I should have added something to the "Daily awesomeness" thread but was busy photographing an amp which I'd sold...old age...I forgot.

Only your hands can do this. No body else can. All you can do is play as many as you can and see what feels comfy and doesn't get in the way of how you play. I play 5 strings mostly. I know that a 48mm nut is too wide for me, and that rules out a lot of instruments. 44.5mm is a narrow 5 like on a Stingray 5 and I like that a lot. The feel of my 45mm nut bass is hugely different to my Ray even though there is only 0.5m difference. The neck profile is very different and the bridge spacing is larger meaning the strings splay out more as I play up the neck. The Ray is quite chunky in the hand and the Marleaux is much thinner, front to back. If the Marleaux was as chunky as the Ray I don't think I would like it - but it's slim and easy to play, just in a different way to the Stingray. Get to a good shop and try as much as you can!

The EVO IV head is fantastic. Just take time to work out what each slider does and itll be fantastic. People seem to love them with Barefaced cabs. However, having owned a SC g3 - and i loved it, if i was to buy again I would be a super twin - especially if you are after the sounds you previously had from a 4x10 & 1x15 cab set up. Replacing it with a single 12 falls short when loud. Choice of cab for me now is a markbass 610 for big gigs, and i picked up an ashdown RM212 (2x12) for ridiculously cheap money for smaller gigs. The 212 is pretty heavy for what it is though - seems heavier than an Ashdown compact 210.

I prefer the original recordings. The remixes and remasters make the songs sound like they were recorded now, so for me they lose a bit of character.

Big Beatles fan and I have no interest in re mixes. The original recording of almost any music is a snapshot of a moment in time, an era. I have no problem with the original recordings of any of the Beatles albums. The ones recorded in Mono still sound better in Mono than the faux stereo versions.

In my experience the science has little to do with what feels right. I have relatively small hands but I find the wide flat neck on my 83 P the most naturally comfortable to play. I do usually end up playing a thin jazz neck though just because it’s hard to play fast stuff on the P, but I never feel ‘at home’ on a J neck as much as on the P. I don’t actually think there’s much science behind it, it’s just about feel. Gut feeling will probably be your best guide, just go back and play them a few times if you’re unsure.

How bizarre - I just listened to them both and reached exactly the opposite conclusion! On the Woolley version, that guitar sound and the signature lick he plays at the end of each phrase are totally late 70s ... that sound and that lick were everywhere in the music of the time, and to me that version sounds really dated. On t'other hand, the Buggles version was uber-modern in 1979 partly because there was no guitar at all, and it still sounds strong today.

I’m personally of the opinion that we're too reliant on cars. What London is doing is ultimately good, Birmingham are introducing charging in the near future too. I’d rather not breath air that’s polluted by car and lorry exhaust fumes. If you play in a band and absolutely need to drive to a gig to carry your equipment then car share, organise amongst yourselves so you’re travelling in the minimum number of vehicles. I’m no doubt going to get a lot of dislikes for this, but we simply can’t carry on as we are, gridlocked roads and pollution, it’s unsustainable.

I bought my first six string about 3 months ago (Ibanez SR506) to cover the range needed for Grateful Dead material, and now have a second (SR1006) and haven't touched any of my four strings since the first six appeared in my life. Pretty much everything you say about yours applies to mine as well - astonishingly good basses for the money.

I’m thinking I have enough now, maybe even one too many for now. I’ll never be shot of the JV. It’s perfect! The black bitsa needs some tweaks but I feel will be a great player once the nut is done. My new headless is so comfortable to play, and is conveniently small and light! Th lovely blue HB originally done by @yorks5stringer is possibly going to be on the bench a bit more these days. Hmm. Could put a Stingray pickup in and make it a bit uniquerer?

If it gets to a "sensible" price before the last few hours it can scare off those looking for a bargain in the last few seconds.

I think it's better not to have any preference for neck profile. Tell yourself you don't care and can play any profile and it will be true.

I have 8 but 4 aren't finished yet!! Finished: Bitsa Jazz, Bitsa 4 string P, Quincy Monaco, Bitsa Telebass Unfinished: Bitsa 5 string P, Ibby 5 string (made new body), 5 string scratch build and 4 string custom But I've got plans to build about another 4............ 😀

I bought an American Vintage 74 Fender Jazz bass from Sean last week - the whole transaction was very easy, communication was great and the instrument was in super condition. I have no hesitance in recommending Sean as a seller

That would be your rock, pop AND country sorted in one go!

I have friends in Canada that are still gigging most weekends. Don't know who their audience is, I never asked. I presume that it is all Brian Adams and Shania Twain covers?

I just bought Andy's Guild B30 acoustic bass... very well packed and a gent to deal with

😂😂 Cheers Doug how i’m going to print that certificate is stretching me at the minute 😂 thanks for the votes , I shall try to pick a more inspiring picture for you all this time around

Not sure if it's still available, but...

My tinnitus has been pretty constant over the last 20 years or so, ever since I first realised I had it (I put some earplugs in for the first time ever and realised that the whistle I thought was coming from the telly was inside my head). Since then, I've worn earplugs every time I've ridden the bike, but not for rehearsals or gigs with any bands. I only notice it when someone mentions tinnitus, in fact. Bah.

If only I could skate.

Wish I'd know earlier...

Hey Brian - welcome to Basschat! What you've asked should be very do-able. You can save effects in banks of three and then just use the metal stomp switches (marked FS1, FS2 and FS3) to select which effect patch you're wanting to use at a particular time. You use the floppy paddles in the middle then to scroll up (or the left one to scroll down) to the next bank of three. If you're still getting stuck PM me and we can maybe run through it via a phone call and I can talk you through.

Thats okay, I'm happy to have TheGreeks' loaner instrument Fabulous instruments, by the way!

Fantastic set of pics

Another plus one for Ashdown customer service. They aren't afraid of a ringing telephone either. I think the ABM is a reasonable substitute for an all-valve amp. Doesn't get you there exactly - but set the valve drive at the sweet spot and go.

Yes apologies! My day has been a busy one away from my computer mostly. Ok, if you are all sitting comfortably, then I will begin. But first, a quick recap. UPS Customer Services up until this point had taken 8 days to do what essentially feels like "not much". At the 11th hour, the UK CEO stepped in after a lengthy communication from the shop supplying the bass. And...... can you chuffing believe it, FOUND THE BASS in what seemed like 30 minutes flat! Yes, it took having to track down the UK CEO to put this debacle straight. Needless to say, the box (condition unknown at the time) was sent straight back to the shop in question to be inspected. I had a long, long conversation with them about how I was feeling and then FINALLY yesterday said box of joy was despatched out to me:

Belle du Jour Allparts second swamp ash body, Fneder CIJ P neck, DiMarzios, BadAss. Iced Blonde wash, satin nitro top coat.

I lost faith in couriers earlier in the year when then cracked my SC3. What annoys me more is now they charge you to do a job - pick up and deliver a parcel in the same condition as it was picked up - a job any of us could do, but if they dont manage to do that job - either by non delivery or arriving damaged - you dont get anything back unless you have paid extra to insure it!! and then theres a million caviates to try and stop a pay out. In what other job are you allowed not to do what youve been paid for and then only allow rectification in the form of compensation by the client having to take out their own insurance policy against you not doing your job??!! drives me crazy.

OK... before I fall asleep, here's the crack. Sorry if I ramble. I was asked to do the gig about three months ago. At that point, no-one really knew what was going to be in the set. Over the following weeks, I was drip-fed some possible tunes, so I just started to do my homework as much as I could. Bear in mind at this point I also had no idea who would be singing any of them, either. I'd heard Ralph McTell was coming along to do 'Streets of London' with a choir, which is a song I love. He rarely - if ever - plays with a band, so I was surprised and pleased when he asked for a bass accompaniment. I guess it might have been because it's a big hall, and wanted something for the choir to lock into. Video Killed the Radio Star was an interesting one... I bloody love the tune. The bass part is mint. So when I heard Trevor was going to be singing it, I immediately prepared myself for the possibility that he'll play bass on it, like he always does live. Sure enough, I got the call to say he'd be playing bass on it. We don't get a chance to rehearse with the stars until the day before the show, so I had to learn the part anyway for band rehearsals the previous week. I was slightly gutted, but I saw it coming. Fast-forward to first day of band rehearsals, and I walked in, cases in hand, and said 'morning!' to our MD. Before I'd even put my cases down, his phone rang... it was Trevor, saying it would be simpler for him if I played the bass. Happy? Hell aye. The band is me, drums, 2 x keys (one being our MD, the other being Alan Clark from Dire Straits.. about to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame!), guitar, 4-piece brass and 3 lovely backing vocalists. Rehearsals were hard work, but fun. If we were flagging by the end of the week, we were kicked up a gear when we shifted to the Arena on Friday night. I'm lucky enough to have been involved in some big productions before, but this was another level. Four flown arrays, three massive LCD panels, 22(!) cameras, scores of crew... just a logistical head-scratcher. All the cues and camera positions had to be worked out and rehearsed - the show also features comedy sketches, etc. - so nothing could be missed. We ran though the tunes a few times on Friday night, and all day Saturday (a 12-hour shift). Sunday morning was dedicated to sketch rehearsals (the Auf Wiedersehen Pet cast traditionally reunite for this show, and there were other great artists in there too, including Johnny Vegas, Jason Cook, Vera off the telly, and that). We got a quick line check, and no time to get adjust to the room. We were going in cold! We kicked the show off with (Reach Out) I'll Be There, which sounded massive... and it all went like a dream from there. Along with Trevor and Ralph, we had Jill Halfpenny singing 'Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now', A great up-tempo blues with local legend Ray Stubbs, Tim Healy sang a great Alan Clark song, Ryan Molloy (Jersey Boys) did 'Can't Take My Eyes Off You', and was then joined by Joe McElderry for an incredible duet on 'Don't Let the Sun Go Down On Me', which took the roof off. We closed the show with a couple of Lindisfarne tunes, 'Clear White Light' and the Tyneside national anthem, 'Run for Home'. Then... we had to kick around for an hour or so, and muster the energy to do it all again! The second show was looser, as you'd probably expect. The evening crowd were a bit more raucous, too. It was fab. So proud to have been a part of this - the show is massive, and so many people have worked incredibly hard on it. It's worth it - it's going to raise thousands and thousands of pounds to help young creative talent on Tyneside. GEARCHAT.. I kept it simple, 'cos that's all I know. A pick (for Video Killed the Radio Star) Fingers (for everything else) LR Baggs Venue DI (used for in-line tuning only) Maruzczyk Jake w/rounds > House DI Limelight '67 Precision w/flats > House DI Handbox WB-100 head (Thread here), and absolute dream of a head I have on loan. I'm considering selling a kidney to buy it. Big, rich and LOUD. My R-400 was under the stage in case I felt like switching to it, but I didn't. TKS S212 cab (best cab ever) > Mic'd ...and that's it. It sounded marvellous. DVD's out in April!