Leaderboard

And here it is folks! What do you think? I wouldnt have minded a little more green on the aged pickguard, but I,m chuffed. Unfortunately, he wants his money now.😫

Banned Bands List - Russian Premier Spells It Out As the Kremlin's kleptocrat-in-chief I'm often asked: 'What did you do in the KGB, Mr Putin?' Until now my response has been to stab the questioner in the eye and get my chaps to finish the job, possibly in a deserted warehouse on the outskirts of Minsk. Or is it Pinsk? It doesn't really matter. Minsk, Pinsk, Omsk, Tomsk, they're all of a one. Nevertheless, the recent emergence of a list of baned (sic) bands prompts me to lift a tiny corner of the veil. Yes, it was me back then in 1985 with a Baikal transistor radio, a pencil and a sheet of paper. But please don't ask me why certain bands were on the blacklist. It was all so long ago and for the life of me I can't recall why - for example - Canned Heat drew my opprobium. Perhaps it was the maundering, rudimentary sitar that suffused 'On The Road Again' or - perhaps - the annoyingly diffident quality of Mr Alan 'Blind Owl' Wilson's vocals. Tant pis. One thing I can tell you: there was a band that didn't make my official sh*t list. And that was Dollar, the peppy pop combo fronted by Mr David Van Day and the frankly toothsome Miss Therese Bazar. You ask me why. Well, back in those grim Cold War years when we were only a tiny mis-step away from nuclear annihilation I would return each morning to my simple KGB apartment, frazzled from a hard night's work torturing dissidents. Flopping across the threshold I would change into something more comfortable (a sheer négligée and a pair of adorable kitten-heeled grey suede mules), drop the tone-arm on my copy of Dollar's debut album Shooting Stars and - instantly reinvigorated - I would jig around the living room to the strains of that unsurpassed slice of pop brilliance 'Who Were You With In the Moonlight?' (a question I have probably put to many, many people over the years, ha ha!). In fact, such was my appreciation of Dollar that over the years I must have acquired over 200 billion of them ($$, geddit?). So when I heard that Mr David Van Day was standing for election to local government it was the work of a second to pick up the phone and instruct my people to launch a covert, supportive campaign comprised in equal parts of kompromat, bot farms and plain old-fashioned ballot box stuffing. It was the least I could do for one of my heroes and I hope that Mr Van Day's elevation to Thurrock Council will in some way recompense him for those fallow years during which he was reduced to touring with Bucks Fizz and flipping burgers in his van on Brighton seafront. Now, if he can just send me Therese Bazar's number he won't need to employ a food taster for the rest of his life. Hah! Just kidding! Ciao, Vlad.

I am definitely more minging than most so I bring a greater opportunity for the rest of the band to score

Ten years ago: - fully prepared and learned the songs; - enthusiastic; - willing to bend over backwards to meet other people schedules; - always on time; - always bring a Fender Precision 'coz that iz wot the PROs play'; - keen to play and explore as many genres as possible; - always keen to come up with songwriting ideas, but equally happy to play exactly what is requested when required. Now: - I have a car.

Withdrawal symptoms I believe... For Fleabag, reports of alien abduction or being buried under the patio....people will be saying "do you remember Fleabag?"..."He used to be a regular contributor here years ago..." 😉😉 Welcome to the Andyjr Creations Owners Club.....

OK - all bagged up and ready to go: One final job before I did that was to pop some spare strings on to do an initial setup so that @fleabag has at least a head start. So that means MORE PHOTOS! Forgive the self-indulgence:

Probably just under £60K. Rotated in and out (as required) of very secure private storage!

Took some snaps this morning. You can see it's a real 'players' bass! I've got it set up just right now and have been really enjoying playing it. I'll record something soon! The neck is a really nice golden colour and it feels excellent. In terms of the grounding issue, tbh I'm not sure it's not just shielding that could be added; my lamp adds some noise and with that off it's OK - also the patch I was using on my VB99 was basically the one I use with my Smith (which is pretty much clean) so this morning I made a dedicated patch for the SB1 and after tweaking the limiter and amp settings for this bass it's fine. I may still get some shielding added at some point but with a bit of noise limiter on that patch you can only now hear it on long sustained notes and definitely not in a mix. Really pleased with it

The worst part is, I didn't really want it but at that price I couldn't resist ordering. And now that I can't have it, I want one!!!

Pair of RCF 735a , leave the sub at home.

Two. The one I mostly play and the first one I got. Which I still play sometimes so it doesn't get sad. I get attached and anthropomorphise things a lot... I don't think I could cope with having lots of basses, I think instruments die if they don't get played...

My last ‘audition’ went like this... “Phil says you’re the best bass player he knows? Are you?” ’yeah, but Phil only knows 3 people in total...’ the guy laughed, and we did about 5 years together. Phil lasted 3 gigs - still friends with both. Everything else I’ve done has been stuff I’ve started.

My lips are sealed, mate. 😀 edit: Oh yeah, that was Fun Boy Three. Same thing though. My version sounds more like the bananas. edit edit: I meant The Go-Gos.

When I get to an audition I aim to: have done my homework on the band, the material, the gigs; be honest with them about what I can or can't do, in terms of both playing and commitment; and be the solution they are looking for, not another potential problem.

This has been a fascinating thread to follow, thank you.

I have to get in touch with this lad. I have a vision.....a Shell Pink Sparkle stack-pot Jazz but with the post-'63/'64 neck profile but with the reissue circuit. I'd die a happy man and forget about that real '60 that was offered to me in '93 that I passed on......

Congrats to Fleabag on getting this bass and to Andyjr for yet another build. However, I must voice what I feel others might be thinking, what’s next? 🙂

Finally, here is the RTA measurement of the cab standing on the floor in my garage. It is the average of about 12 points in space and gives a good idea of how the cab will sound in a room. The rolloff at high frequencies is normal for this type of measurement.

this reminds me of an LP i have, called flash feerless with a comic inside, https://reprobatepress.com/2018/02/07/flash-fearless-vs-the-zorg-women-a-forgotten-1970s-comic-book-rock-opera/

Quick note to those who are troubled by this thread. I know we could cover any song with a trio, I work with a singer who does Bohemian Rhapsody on her own for example. Covering songs only by other three piece bands is just a gimmick. A bit of a fun way to choose a set. Nothing more. I hoped Basschatters would come up with interesting ideas and have fun doing so. This has happened.

Love this.

I came across this info a while ago which I found interesting Pre-Shape 1:+6dB at 50Hz and 2kHz, -6dB at 400Hz. Pre-Shape 2: +5dB at 100Hz, +3dB at 3kHz and -5dB at 650Hz.

God loves a trier 😂

Every single one of the songs that inevitably get mentioned as howlers on these threads are the ones that fill the dancefloor. maybe we bass players shouldn't be such snobs.

Don't confuse your personal preferences and prejudices with the audiences idea of a good song.

Well here's it finished........ I should have done this in the first place....... 😀

Just sent out a quick note regarding suggestions regarding the closest strings that match up to Elixers Polywebs. Trying to get back into playing Bass after many, many years (was never any good but love it). Just bought 2 Vintage Kramer’s 1976 450b & a 1979 DMZ 6000b...my favorites since I was a kid. Both are in excellent shape! Playing to Steely Dan, Clapton & most recently to Postmoden Jukebox (I’m old...lol). Soon to have Eddy Van Halen sign them but not sure it’s even worth it...not because I don’t want him to but because my son will lock them away! Glad to be here.

Sorry to hear that. Get well soon chap.

Dead right! By-the-bye, Ricky 4000 often does Bananarama covers in his set. He's too shy to post it here though.

Jim Stinnett's Real Bass lessons are worth a look: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTLM0C5Acp-0xi4ZEb-mSQg

I agree - here's my old Limelight Sonic Blue P, and compare the pickguard to the white paper underneath:

This one was also started more than 2 years ago .... now finally finished ...

TBH I expected you to be conspicuous by your absence for the next few days...thought that you'd be annoying giving your neighbours the opportunity to hear the new bass. Hope you enjoy the Nemesis.

Thanks Michael I have no problem being probed by a weird being

Watch this space, sports fans...

I can make one. It can be just like a "normal" thumb rest, but with only 1 screw. I can make it with a dent in the centre, so your thumb would be fixed in the centre location, or leave it flat. But if I leave it flat, it will mean you could find it might spin on the 1 fixing position. In any case you should fix it with double-sided tape behind it to stop it from turning. I'd make it from ebony, so it would be black.

Here's the 60-degree curve (30 degrees off axis). And the 90 degree curve (45 degrees off axis).

So you don't keep them all in the boot of the car

-

Here are some DIRECTIONS TO THE VENUE: The BIG FAT South-West Bass Bash is happening THIS SUNDAY, Sunday 7th, from 10am-4pm in the Memorial Hall, Cheddon Fitzpaine, nr Taunton TA2 8JY The hall is about a mile out of Cheddon Village a few hundred metres from the school on the edge of a small hamlet called Rowford. The safest way is to follow your satnav. If you don't have one, the easiest way out of Taunton is: head up Station Road towards the railway station, which will be on your right just after you pass under the 2 bridges. Just into the one-way system at the T-junction with traffic lights at the top of the hill, turn right but immediately keep left and turn left at the next traffic lights. You're now on Cheddon Road, which takes you right to the village hall entrance in a couple of miles on your right (it's on the bend at the junction as pictured below just after you pass the village school on the left). NOTE: Taking this route out of Taunton doesn't take you through Cheddon village itself. In case of need, my mobile number is 07770 946135 http://

I would suggest that this list is not way different to some cover band's lists NOW ! - easy to laugh, but there again if you're asked to do a gig for someones 60th birthday then this list (with a few exceptions) might still be spot on, and exactly what the punters would want..

I used to have this book - probably still got it somewhere... Some very interesting artwork, and none of it influenced by drug-use, no siree, not here! I particularly like the Janis Joplin / Big Brother & The Holding Company cover

Yep Chewie came from Build-a-Bear few yrs back when i was doing the Xmas shopping. Just couldn't resist having him. If you haven't done Build-a-Bear yet then give it a try. Great fun and i guess i'm just a big kid at heart It is a miniature replica of my Warwick Thumb. The Warwick being my most valued bass from a sentimental reasons. I like my toys. Just never grown up. Sorry to hear about the nerve issue but hopefully you can play the shorter scale basses without issue. The Sandberg is definitely a great bass to play. First gig with it on Saturday at our drummers birthday party. Should be fun. Dave

A guy dep'd for me when I was ill (and he knew how ill I was.....) and then moaned about playing in a blues band on Facebook as he apparently despises the genre. Needless to say despite being a good player he went down in my estimation to the bottom of the pile. Or even underneath it. It's just bad manners if nothing else.

Hi Sam, I quite like the EV's but the RCF's sound better and the 12" ART732's are lighter and cheaper so that's a no brainer. Having the 735's will mean for smaller gigs you can leave the subs behind and they are also lighter and cheaper than the EV's. The only other things I would look at in that price bracket are the QSC K series but the RCF's are currently the ones to beat. The only other thing to consider for a function band is something like the LD systems Curve or a similar line source system. They probably don't give any advantage in sound quality but the coverage is more even and they are quicker to set up and knock down. They look very professional and that is also a factor in your sort of market https://www.ld-systems.com/en/complete-pa-systems/?force_sid=22osc7lca2em2tbefnnbdg7875lsqfk2sgj210as4k9bnhe28hrig72kgocc7g6907sofe0uq9h0bqgov2eugb5c10fo8fn7ko2di51

Our guest columnist writes: No no no, Mr Skenkvar is incorrect. A Russian men vill do things wigorously -- such as pointing at vigs, building trektors, emerging wictorious against kepitalist foe -- but he vill never do them wiolently. There is no wiolence in Mother Russia, especially in KGB vich is really just a knitting circle and social club and definitely does not ever torture its wictims, errm I mean members."

OK - pretty much finished. I did the tweaks that @KiOgon recommended: I'll pop a set of spare strings on to do the final checks that everything is still where it should be and to get the starting positions for the bridge and pickup heights - @fleabag is going to fit his preferred strings, do the final set-up and fit the strap buttons but I'll make sure the basics are in place to start with. I'm pleased how this has turned out:

No you didn’t!