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This is where we're at, all sprayed and waiting for the two ebony ones to harden This is the surface as is now before sanding back, thankfully they came out pretty good in the end

Joanna is complete apart from a new nut and a bit of fret levelling, it's been a useful test bed and is shaping up to be a good bass. I had a spare neck and pretty much all the hardware sitting around so it's used up a few spare parts.

Jule Amps Monique tube preamp inte Vanderkley Spartan with two Hypex power amp modules, 2 x 800 W RMS in 4 ohms, then into an AccuGroove Tri112L... I haven't tried with my big TKS 2126 cabs, but I doubt it'll be worse...

I’m a huge fan of this series, but I only just came across this episode and it blew me away. Such a lovely groove.

Nope. Post Brexit I'd probably make a point of buying foreign gear

Apart from the handle (which I should be getting screws for soon), I'm calling this finished. Here it is at a festival gig last night. Outdoor marquee gig (festival) with PA support so no extension cab needed. Was more than loud enough for monitoring on a largeish stage.

M Del Var's map updated:

Alan’s almost finished, and he’s done a stupendous job as always. Stunning

Whilst we're on the subject of geography & hats, my guide to headwear of the British Isles... SCOTTISH HAT IRISH HAT WELSH HAT NORTHERN HAT PEAKY BLINDERS HAT SOUTHERN TW*T IN A HAT

For the avoidance of confusion I lay before you a map which indicates the location of the North of England.

Correct. It's an Americanism, because they're a bit thick and forget the first bits of words. Hence "neighbourhood" becomes "hood" (after becoming "neighborhood" because they can't spell either), "parent" becomes "rent", "suburbs" becomes "burbs", and "magazine" becomes "zine". American independence was actually a way of increasing the average IQ of the British Empire.

https://www.thedailymash.co.uk/news/arts-entertainment/wedding-band-decides-time-is-right-for-one-of-their-own-songs-20190706187214

Mrs Deedee bought me a Peaky Blinders style titfer a while ago which I may well decide to model at some gigs in the future. This decision will ultimately hinge on the position of my ever receding hairline weighed against the odds of the band turning into a northern Village People tribute band as a result of my selfish hat wearing. 🤔

None of them are that good, due to the flat shape and dirt getting constantly trapped/building up around the bridge and strings. Also, its quite easy to get your foot stuck in the cut-out.

I'm glad you asked. Musicians have for thousands of years worn hats. Thucydides remarks in book IV of his 'Pantechnicon': "Οι μουσικοί όλοι φορούσαν φρυγικά καπάκια. Θεώρησαν ότι τους έκανε να φαίνονται έξυπνοι, αλλά μοιάζουν με Smurfs" (trans: The musicians were all wearing Phrygian caps. They thought it made them look smart but they just looked like Smurfs) Lyrist and Flautist in Phrygian caps serenade man with stick The practice persisted down through the ages but the most influential manifestation of the musical hat came to pass when jazz musician Lester 'Prez' Young saw a wide-brimmed pork pie hat in a shop window and thought 'That would be a nice change from my customary straw boater which is looking a bit past it if I'm really honest'. That night Young wore his new hat to a jam session at the house of his friend Dexter 'Moondog' Van Buren*. Young's hat excited widespread approval, Van Buren observing: 'Ah mo gits me a hat like ol' Prez hyah, mebbe gits me sum jelly-roll too, Dad'. Lester 'Prez' Young with hat Young's hat became such a trademark that Frank Sinatra bought one and upon Young's death Charles Mingus composed the song 'Goodbye Pork Pie Hat' ** Subject to a certain narrowing of the brim the pork pie hat has remained pre-eminent among jazz head wear, outlasting trends such as the beret, the turban and the snap-brim fedora. The pork pie's high visibility among musicians noted for their technical prowess has made it an obvious choice for ageing pop and rock musicians no longer able to trade on their fading good looks or bodily tautness. The pork pie hat says to the audience: 'I may be a wrinkly old geezer who can't get it up but by Christ you will respect my chops and say stuff like "He's playing better than ever. It's called maturity, y'see" ' For older bass players the pork pie is not simply optional; it is essential. Nobody cares about bass players anyway and the older bass player is in the worst place of all: a non-entity with one foot in the grave. A pork pie hat adds a tiny hint of zing where none existed hithertofore. That is why bass players wear hats. Possibly / no / no / yes / possibly You do not need to acquire a hat. In fact, I would counsel a contrarian stance and advise you not to acquire a hat. But if you must get a hat either commit yourself 100% to the pork pie hat or seek out exotica such as a Native American War Bonnet or a U-Boat Commander's Sou'Wester with Kriegsmarine insignia You're entirely welcome. * Dexter Van Buren was an emigre middle class college lecturer from Croydon, England and given to affecting jazz patois. ** Mingus composition story is true.

Well Yamaha do mention that the strings are as above, so I’d be surprised if they do have a custom set on them. Since i posted this motoring I think ive got the ultimate set up for me and this bass now. I just cant stop playing it. 2.25mm on the E and .013 neck relief. No buzz unless i really dig in, and only on the E string, ive found I’m playing a bit lighter with this bass anyway, so its all good.....more than good in fact.

A few more little jobs done today. I'm just finishing anything that may cause scratches etc. before I get round to the final sanding on the neck. Drilled the holes for the neck and cut the neck screws down in length as they were long enough to go all the way through the fretboard. No idea why but one of the screws decided to snap! I was quite lucky as there was enough showing in the neck that I could remove it carefully with pliers. Any less showing and it would have been a nightmare of having to drill it out..... The screw came out without too much fuss and, most importantly, without causing any damage or scratches. I had another screw which I trimmed then fitted the neck. I've also made the cavity cover template a little tighter fitting so there is a little less gap around it (wasn't masses around the original, I'm just being picky!!) so I'll make the new cover tomorrow.

I was looking for a good Music Man for a while, that needed to have a lacquered neck. I don't like the oiled ones as much.. Today I went for a drive to pick up this 30th anniversary model! Its such a beautiful bass... Tommorow I'll be done with the set up and give it a spin. I haven't heard it with proper fresh strings yet, but it sounded great already with dead rounds. So I guess flats would sound great too. First I'll mount a set of fat beams for full Stingray aggression

Now there’s a bold statement! In other news, my Dingwall Super P is having some work done at The Gallery in Camden (replacing the original tone knob with a Tonestyler) so the BB735a has been promoted to “main bass” position. Just been playing it for the past half hour and my god - I’d forgotten how good it was. It still has the stock setup and strings as it played so well out of the box...and I’m in zero rush to change anything. The action is actually slightly higher than I would have it if I were setting it up myself but it just works! The Dingwall better watch its back I’m currently in the market for a passive 5 string Jazz and, to my shame, I was actually contemplating selling the BB to raise funds. Not gonna happen now. The Yammy is going nowhere in a hurry.

Nice map! A bit of detail added. 👍

They could use a hacked PayPal account. My advice is whenever selling via Gumtree, only ever use cash on collection. They come, they try it, inspect it, pay cash and leave. Always have someone else in the house with you too.

Here's your answer! Well played, Mr. Clarky.. I'll do something ASAP.

Now *that* is what I call a blog post. Sort of Mr Abusing after anger management. Probably just wants something about bass in there — can we shoehorn in something about Alfred-Lord’s secret double life as a gypsy punk single-bassist? Or maybe Armitage plays cajon?

This intrigues me as I feel the direct opposite about gloss necks. Playing them makes me feel like I’m wading through treacle! Goes to show, different strokes for different folks.

“UK Prime Minister makes alternative travel arrangements after refusing to use Eurostar for crunch Brexit talks”

My black 1991 SB-1

That's because there's a DR distributor keeping price high in UK. Probably cheaper to buy Abroad.

This is a question all about setup and nothing to do with the bass itself.

Superthunderstingcar

Alas, i fear I'll be grazing my nuckles on the inside of my coffin lid by the time the post becomes vacant. Plus, I suspect that in these more enlightened times the Powers That Be would prefer to appoint someone more relevant to today's society than an ageing reprobate like myself. My guess is that it will be that Diseased Rascal chappy (I may have misheard his name but you'll know the one i mean. Stocky cove, fond of hats, appropriately enough....)

The guitarist in our acoustic band did a gig in a metal WW2 ARP helmet and another gig in a proper army pith helmet. If you're gonna wear a hat do it properly. Oh yeah, I forgot about the Fez!

Come on, this is bass chats Needs a new bass, cab and amp

I think this fella is great. Just cracks on and has a great selection of basses too. I particularly love the sound of the T40 Peavey he uses on this one:

I don’t think i’ve ever even owned a single piece of British made gear! I live in a world of Far Eastern cheapness.

I'm not sure if 100% british is possible at all any more, but if you're a luthier or pedal maker, or in any way involved in the production of music gear, it would be really good to get an idea from you of what it would cost if everything in your product - literally everything down to the last screw - was produced in England. I'm guessing British steel is prohibitively expensive, we're making insignificant amounts of it compared to most of the world. The biggest manufacturers of steel are China, followed by the EU, followed by India, so after the russian trollbots get our country back, components which previously came from the EU are likely to come from places like China and India, and quality will be a thing of the past unless you're willing to pay custom shop prices for everything. Whilst wages will drop, chinese products are likely to go up in price, but not in quality (we all know QC does not exist in China). I think within a few years we'll look back at today's Fender Custom Shop prices as a relative bargain.

Or the toxic York air

How did I know it was one of his before even looking at the seller?

Before I moved to Newtone strings I used DRs most of the time, I always got mine from these guys >> https://www.ebay.com/str/Bass-Specialties/ Don't think I ever paid much more than £30 including shipping from the US for a 6 string set. Never got stung for any import tax either, unlike when I bought some custom La Bellas, but all that might be down to the package value maybe? Still, even with tax they're still cheaper than buying in the UK. Madness... Eude

I love hats. On stage off stage, all the same to me. Always loved hats. Caps, beanies, bobbles, pith and other helmets, pork pies, trilbies, sun hats and fedoras. Love them all. Anyone who tells you hats are bad...... Well, they just have a different opinion from me that's all. No less valid than mine.

The great danger with wearing a hat is that one may be mistaken for Greatest Living Shakespearean Actor and 24 carat wänker Sir Mark Rylance

If you really think you’re in a position to pontificate on worker exploitation while paricipating in a society getting fat on what is little more than the slave labour of others, then “oh dear” indeed. That must be a very high horse! Not advocating it here while paying to sustain it there is, of course, most noble and not in any way hypocritical. Well done you! 😂

Call this my Smash and Grab for when I need to be in and out fast. Ashdown set for maximum boom, TCE for bright and middley. All bondage strapped Hannibal Lecter style to sack trucks and ready wired up. Even guitar hanger attached to the trucks. Wheel it in, plug it in, hit a few notes, turn the volume down on the TCE if it's too toppy or down on the Ashdown if it's too bassy. End of the night bass into gig bag, unplug extension lead, wheel the whole lot out and it was like I was never there. Particularly good for violent venues and festivals where getting in and out with maximum speed and stealth is of paramount importance.