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BOOM! Got the job!!!! Band is called Fraudio btw. Absolutely stoked and in need of a beer or two. Now begins the hard work!

Bass Players be warned.

I recently quit a blues band I'd been in for the last five years to avoid the routine of Saturday night gigs at pubs up to 50 miles away to indifferent audiences. Last year I played 50-60 gigs, this year about 20, plus five I am proud of that were played with a band who share my taste in music, to an audience who know the music and are there just to see us. I'd say think about what you really want to be playing, find some people who share that dream and get a band together, and you'll find an audience. You won't get anything like as many gigs as the local standard covers band but you'll feel so much better about yourself.

I do it because I've seen other bass players do it, and I think it will give the illusion that I'm quite professional. 😁

I never understood this. You're literally giving away your bank details [*] to strangers all the time. It's good to be cautious but... On the other hand, bringing a stranger to my place, I may be more cautious about that. [*] By bank details, I mean account/sort code. There's nothing anybody can do with that other than put money into your account If that's a scam, scam me all the way to Chicago.

Just for balance... Several years ago now, I saw an ad (not on BC...) for a Hiwatt amp I was keen on. Isn't it always the way; I didn't have the £600 asking price. The amp was in Kingston-on-Thames; I'm in France. Not deterred, I asked the seller if I could buy it, but pay in instalments, 3 x £200. To my surprise, he agreed. I paid using Paypal (not into his account, but his father's...), and three month's later, with Our Youngest, took the ferry to Portsmouth, then train to Basingstoke, from where my elder brother drove us to Kingston to collect it. Uber-heavy, in a new flight case, it almost had to be crow-barred into the boot of the Jaguar. Some folks can be trusted; some folks are trusting. It may be rare, but sometimes the two go together. The amp (DR205...) is now our principal bass amp. A Good Deal; it does work out, sometimes. Just for the anecdote, the car was parked in the only space available, quite far down the road from the address. My brother stayed in the car; Our Youngest and myself went in to see the amp. The bloke had it set up in the back kitchen, with a 4x12 cab. He handed me a Telecaster, to try it out; I plucked away a few chords, testing the inputs, listening for pot crackles; it seemed fine. I handed the Tele back, and the fellow turned the master to full and hit a chord. Our son and I both jumped back a metre or so; it was loud; very, very loud. Lugging the brute out to the car, my brother, who had been quietly listening to the radio in the car the while, asked what the heck that noise had been..? That power chord had woken up half of Kingston; it was audible, and bloomin' loud, all around the block..! No, we don't play that loud, but I'm ccomforted in the knowledge that we have 'headroom', and that it can deliver..!

My truss rod looks like that. Not wishing to teach anyone to suck eggs, but you do know the Maruszczyk truss rod is backwards to other truss rods don’t you?

For me Aladdin Sane is TB’s finest work. It’s possibly my favourite record of all time any road (certainly the one that never strays from being in the top 3) and would be my recommendation to any budding bassist in terms of an album to listen to that inspires. The title track is sheer perfection. And of course he also had those amazing sidies!!

Now that my Reincarnate bass is almost finished and I still haven't decided how to move forward on the neck thru build!! I thought its time to start planning an new build It's either going to be a 5 or 6 string depends on what donor bass I can get hold of?? This is the shape it's going to be: I'm thinking (at the moment but it could all change?? ) of doing a wood and resin body, I can get for a very reasonable price from a fella that lives in my village and sells 'character timber!! ' a nice looking lump of live edge Spalted Ash which I think would look really nice teamed up with some Black resin I haven't decided if it's going to be trans black or opaque yet??............. 😀

[Long-winded old-man alert!] Reading this may alter your mind. "Retirement" is only a modern-day phenomenon. We've forgotten that in past centuries, people never retired. They belonged to guilds as shoemakers and blacksmiths, ...etc. When they became old and feeble, they simply cut back until they could no longer pass muster and hopefully, they were wise enough to save for their twilight years. Or successful enough for apprentices to take up the slack. Perhaps retirement was born as a military contractual benefit, to entice men to join such a thing. But, everyone else couldn't just stop working and "retire", as their work, proprietary profession and business was certainly their only means of livelihood. No cushy pension schemes. Life was short and brutal. Most people dropped dead on the job, before they could worry much about "retirement". You bopped till you dropped. Today, most of us work as employees for corps and gov't. Retirement schemes abound. Even doctors and lawyers are salaried, now. Of course, it's a ponzie scheme waiting to collapse as demographics invert. Hence, the big push for immigration. Soon, we'll all witness abrubt and impending retirement upheavals and the fallout of lowered expectations. If you can still command an audience, carry on. Back in the 1980s I watched Peter Noone (aged 71) performing Hermin's Hermits songs for twenty-five people in an open-air park at the CNE fair in Toronto. While sitting on a park bench, I had to wonder how this could be. But I was still young. You're all in for a surprise at 52. That's when you find out how stupid you really are. Things get better after that. By the way, he's still performing. I'm 64 and have long moonlighted as a BP. I have no intention of working the careers that I chose to raise a family and earn a living. But last week I joined a bar band. Why? Because bass playing is my passion. Knocking those four strings about makes me feel like I'm flying. I know that I'm a denizen of the far tail on the BP bell curve and can shake a dance-floor better than most. So why not? (I'd rather recline, drink coffee and watch House MD, Battlestar Galactica, Star Trek, Law & Order and Tommy Cooper; but I seen 'em already. Besides, the actors are really the ones having all the fun. A bar band provides human interaction on a grand scale.) Why is age a factor? Is it youth that is the real commodity? Do you go to a concert to see youth or hear music? Dancer or lurker? That's the part that makes no sense. Mass youth was simply a property of the post-war baby-boom. It's not a religion. Why would anyone seek after a youthful face when they really just want musical entertainment. It's not a romp in a cat-house. It's only entertainment for bar hoppers and pub punters to immerse themselves in a joyful noise and dimness so they feel more secure as they seek a buzz or a mate or give the baggage a good shake in public. Those who like music based on the Fender bass have grown-up and aged. But they still like this music. Look at the Stones. Look at their audience. The sixties was not just a youth rebellion. Most of us were not rebelling. We just liked to hear the drum kits, the Fender basses, the 'lectric guitars, and the vocalists with colourful voices and magical, meaningful lyrics. Trump is 71. Merkle is ? McCartney? Richards? I'd bet that even Elvis would still be gyrating today at 83. Why do they do it, the OP asks? Because there is a public need... Because passion rivals money... Because they can... and they're good at it! Satisfaction trumps waiting to die. Live the life you love... till it's time to die. Let's not call it a disorder. It's a blessing.

OMG, I do that too!!! Black ones, obvs. In all seriousness, I do find them useful during the summer months if your fingers are getting a bit sweaty!!

10 holes and only 2 screws. Just like my last visit to a swingers club. Looks very nice though.

I just couldn't stand the 'no pickguard'' thing any longer. It's just not me. I tried tort, black, gold and white, they all looked terrible. So I went with this cream job. I hope you like it. If you don't - too bad!

This. It takes less than a second and avoids that schoolboy-error embarrassment as your lead comes out and you look like a total twât. Or more of one.

I can't be the only one wanting to know the name of the band surely?

I have this in a week or so's time but as I keep telling myself, joining a band is a two way thing and you are auditioning them too! To make a band that works needs so many different stars to align that if you don't get the gig it's to be expected in many way - getting the gig is a bit of a miracle! Good luck!

It's what keeps him going; he loves it. Same reason most on here will travel 60 miles to a gig on a Saturday, spend 2 hours setting up, play for 3 hours, spend another hour breaking down, then drive home, and maybe get £30.

I dont have much time for Cliff's music, he was a late 50s/60s artist to me, but to suggest someone should stop doing something they love seems strange. If what he was doing was important to well being in any way (Yes I know ) then yes, give it up, but its just music and if he and the audience enjoy it then why not? Its his job after all. My old man loved his work as a carpenter and did his job till he was 76, not cos he was desperate for the money but because he loved it.

OMG Then be prepared to be mocked !

Well done! 👍

Excellent - another @Jimothey build!

I think I saw this very one in PMT Bristol last week. If I didn't already have a Mustang, I'd definitely be in the market for this.

Those moments when you get a roar of appreciation from the crowd as they recognise the next song from the first two or three notes - that feels so good.

I always do it as I,m forever stepping on my lead. I always wrap the other end round the speaker handle too, just as a precaution.

In short, yes. The scenario involves a foreign bank and uncleared funds. Your bank shows you receiving the money as cleared funds, but the transaction is cancelled when the foreign source account doesn't have funds to meet it. Or something like that! How sure is the OP that the potential buyer IS in Glasgow, and not, say, the Ukraine or Nigeria?

You could try adding a spacer, such as a washer, behind the adjustment nut to give you more tension. I had a Fender Roscoe Beck that needed this, one washer sorted it nicely.

Oh there are some nice reviews here http://microphonegeeks.com/pro/live-microphone/

Hi everyone, My English is not so good so I'll try to do my best... 😱 I keep an eye on this awesome forum for years (I'm very active on Onlybass.com), so it's time to say hello So I'm Julien from south of France, playing bass for 6 years, double bass and guitar for 25 years, music is all my life. Cheers

Thanks all. It went pretty well I think. No obvious mistakes and I got on really well with the band. I also knew everything on their set list, above the 5 songs they'd chosen for me to do, and let them pick some at random so they could see I knew it. All gear functioned flawlessly and I showed I'm really comfortable using in ears. They had over 70 applications so I won't be holding my breath but at least I didn't let myself down in any way. Aaaaaand breathe 🙂

Talent, business and broad appeal?

I saw Cliff when he headlined Wembley Stadium. Cracking gig. He is of the generation who put on a show and entertain the audience. In reply to the OP, IMO it is because for some people being a musician/performer is not what they do, it's what they are.

Hiya We love France

Its been said before but worth re quoting..."You don't stop doing something because you get old, you get old because you stop doing something".

🤣🤗🤔🤨🤐 It's all in the nuances. Lol

Bloody foreigners, coming over here and stealing our women strings Horses🐎

Sounds like pete and ringo early Beatles all over again hah

Well the pickups ended up being delayed again from Bass Direct so they’ve kindly refunded me and I’ve found some in Holland which are on their way over. Meanwhile Mike and I have sorted the scratch plate design and Mike’s started on the neck and fingerboard:

Got the old girl out of her case and gave her a bit of clean. Not bad considering she's close to 40!

Thanks, Charlie. I find that using a good compression driver (with the right horn) in a bass cab makes a huge difference. Unfortunately, good ones cost nearly as much as the bass drivers themselves. On the rare occasion that I pop over to the dark side, I am always impressed by what Duke is getting up to. He's virtually the only person in the business who continues to push the envelope and provide practical solutions to the problems bassists have with their cabs. The particular problems that this new design tries to address are: 1. Hearing yourself clearly in front of your compact cab without having to raise it, tilt it or stick another cab on top of it. 2. Hearing the same sound you are sending to the audience (how else can you balance your sound properly?). 3. Producing a sound that does not change when you move around the cab. 4. Producing a sound that is balanced without needing a second cabinet to boost the bottom end. 5. Producing a sound that "throws" into the audience and retains clarity (i.e. doesn't become boomy) at a distance. 5. Having a flat frequency response cabinet that doesn't need endless fiddling with your amp's midrange controls before it sounds right. I can see that these are the kinds of things that Duke is also takes into consideration in his designs - so I feel that I'm, in good company.

I have just arrived home after visiting Stevie and hearing the cabinet with the with the Celestion compression driver. This time I also took my TC Electronic BC212 for comparison. The BC212 uses two Eminence 12 drivers together with a good Eminence compression driver. The Basschat 1X12 MK2+ uses a good Celestion Compression Driver and P-Audio Horn in place of the P-Audio Tweeter that Stevie has already described. I won't bore you with tecnicalities but suffice too say that the BC MK2 with custom crossover and the Celestion HF unit/P-Audio Horn walked all over the TC BC212 in every way. It was louder, it had more lows, it had real mids, it was smooth. Whether you were playing bass guitar or bass and piano the sound was chalk and cheese. In comparison the BC was harsh. Stevie and I both have test disks that have some basic bass guitar record without any processing and that is what we used to listen to the cabinets. That way we take the variables out of the equation. No variations in technique, no differences in equipment. Initially we tried the TC Electronic BC212 before I heard the new design. We both agreed it sounded OK. Then we played the same content through the MK2 BC 1x12. I had heard the Mk 2 before with the P-Audio tweeter and it was great but this time we had a reference. It may not have been a boutique bass cab but at a retail price of £400 new, the BC212 was a fair comparison. I should say that the original MK1 design was a good one. If you are looking for 1x12 without a tweeter, you probably won't find a good one that costs less that 3 times the price. When Phil chose the BM212 from Beyma he found a winner. Is it perfect? No it is heavy compared to some of the neodymium 12s out there but its all round performance is hard to match. Excursion close to the Eminence 3012LF but half the price and with more useable mids/highs. The original design goal Phil set was to produce a cabinet that could produce 120dB SPL and have a reasonable top end ,so as to compete with Animal (Animal is the codename for a heavy drummer). The MK1 did just that. Without losing any of that, the Mk2 design, whether using the P-Audio Tweeter or the Celestion Compression Driver, retains all that and adds the dispersion at mid-high frequencies that a 12" driver cannot do alone. It should also be said that a good crossover was the secret ingredient (I would say great but Stevie would blush). Add that and you have a small cabinet that is hard to beat even with a commercial 2x12. The secret is the dispersion. I am 6ft+ and even standing next to the cabinet, almost on top of it, I can hear myself. Many stacks are purchased purely so that the musician can here themselves on stage. Others are purchased because the single cab cannot "shift enough air. I suspect we will not have either problem with this cabinet. When I first met Stevie he demonstrated a (modified) Roland cab with a 1x12 tweeter that was properly crossed over and had added bracing/damping. We compared it to the MK1 and while we both agreed the MK1 had a better low frequency response, the extra that came from the Roland shocked me. It was what persuaded me to have a two way design. Today we compared that same Roland Cab with the BC 1x12 and it sounded flat by comparison. I have to thank Stevie, despite the fact that he has cost me money on what was supposed to be a budget cabinet build. I don't think I could buy a single cab solution, as well engineered, as this for the money I can afford to pay. That is a slight fib as I was going to build two, until I was convinced that one would do the job. I will effuse no more but I am going to build my cab in time for the South West Bass Bash on April 2nd, so anyone going is invited to try it and comment. I will also be playing through it at the Beer Festival in Bournemouth on the 16th April.