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So I had incredible GAS for a fretless Stingray bass. I was looking for one when I found this oddball at the London Bass Gallery: Sterling Ray34 body, Kent Armstrong pickup, fretless Status neck. It was affordable and I lóve the look. So it arrived today and I absolutely love this bass. Great sound, preamp sounds great... I might replace the pickup with something more vintage sounding (any ideas? Nordstrand? Aguilar?) but I'm very happy so far. It's currently strung with D'Addario strings which I don't really like so I ordered some Ernie Ball Hybrid Slinkies which should arrive tomorrow. Super siked!

Smx 1020 by VTypeV4, on Flickr Smx 1020 by VTypeV4, on Flickr This week I grabbed true bargain from the wonders of eBay.. Here we have a 400SMX, an 1153 & 2103H - classic Trace gear from the late '90s which still kicks a$$ more than 20 years later! I'll take it all to rehearsal later and see how it goes. I'd forgotten how good these things are despite weighing 10T..

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Picked up the bass today. Absolutely stunning in the flesh and beatiful to play.

I'm not a C4 owner - but what an amazingly generous resource to be providing for free to your fellow bass-players. Bravo mate!

@dodge_bass, @thisisswanbon, here is my tutorial patch: https://neuro.sourceaudio.net/preset/DyV1RQhBhF

No. None. I've whittled my collection from over 40 down to 5 basses (soon to be 4). It would be nice to still have most of the ones I sold, but I have recognise the fact that a lot of them were bought simply to own rather than to use. However owning lots of instruments has allowed my to work out exactly what I like about the ones I'm keeping and why the ones I sold didn't quite "do it" for me.

Got this..

Wonderful song , but on a point of order, that verse is by Billy Bragg (on the original Life's a Riot with Spy vs Spy) The extra verse(s) on Kirsty's cover were "My dreams were full of strange ideas My mind was set despite my fears. But other things got in my way I never asked that boy to stay. Once upon a time at home I sat beside the telephone Waiting for someone to pull me through When at last it didn't ring I knew it wasn't you" These were also written by Billy, but adapted by Kirsty. On a related note, I'd propose "There's a guy works down the chip shop, swears he's Elvis Just like you swore to me that you'd be true There's a guy works down the chip shop, swears he's Elvis But he's a liar and I'm not sure about you."

I always thought this was a clever little lyric from the late, great, Kirsty MacColl. I saw two shooting stars last night I wished on them but they were only satellites It’s wrong to wish on space hardware I wish, I wish, I wish you’d care

I’ve only finally gone and done it, as in written a book! It’s all about my many years as a bassist mainly in covers bands, what made me do it, how many basses and amps I’ve bought and sold (gulp) mainly on here, but mainly about the fun I’ve had, and funny things that have happened along the way. I’ve tried also to share some of the advice and knowledge I’ve acquired that might prove useful, IMHO, obvs, as da kids say. Ultimately though, I hope it makes you smile, and you find it enjoyable. A big thank you to @Dave Vader bassist and author of this very parish, who provided some wise words and guidance. He said he enjoyed it, as have a few other of my selected guinea pigs / test pilots. Some even said it was very funny indeed, but I’ll let you guys be the judges. It’s in Kindle format at the bargain price of £4.99 (link below), or paperback format direct from me at £8 inc. postage and packing (which is cheaper than it is on Amazon, although it’s up there too if you want to shop there). If you prefer the paperback format, PM me your name and address, and payment preference (Paypal or bank transfer), and I’ll advise accordingly. I’ll even write a signed dedication inside the front cover if you let me know what you want, which may be worth millions when one of my bands finally makes it big.........there again, most likely not! https://eur05.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.co.uk%2Fdp%2FB08CGY1V9X%2Fref%3Dcm_sw_r_em_api_wI0GFbPQ7NSBD&data=02|01||99808ebee8c844256c1608d86e0fd55a|84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa|1|0|637380361560219122&sdata=RmtiUEgYmJOF0HNZAVyeZ%2BFc4y818DMraO%2FBzpL9Z7w%3D&reserved=0

Spotted on Facebook Marketplace yesterday at 9AM, in my house by 2PM same day - I do love spontaneous purchases 2004 model in moderate condition, got it for a good price and has cleaned up nicely. Has a couple of drill holes where a rudimentary ramp was fitted, but I'll get round to hiding them eventually. Taking it to rehearsal tonight for a good blast .

Hi All, a both emotional and technically briliant arrangement performed on guitar...

The BB2004

Hi. I am Alan from East Cheshire. I own and run heavy machinery in the agricultural sector. Long time lover of all heavy bass guitar music but never quite got there with playing or owning one. Life long piano player and I do own an old Japanese RG550 but it has never inspired me enough to be any more than an occasional noise maker. I’ve now got a bass, a humble second hand squire p-bass, and I love it!! It makes the sounds I’ve always loved in music and I’m loving learning how to play it.

Current incarnation of my board. The tuner might not be the sexiest but it works so it will stay for now. The Bassballs should be changed to something I can get more control over but it gives me that some extra funkiness when I need it so no hurry with that. The Drop is the latest add, don't want to carry an extra bass or detune for two songs so this one saves the day.

This may help some with temp relief. I have had it for over 40 years (mine is a high pitched whistle) which I believe was caused by testing/running Burman Valve amps at very high volumes, in a small studio! What would the older me tell the younger me. . . . . . "Turn it down a bit, squire!!" This works for me. Doesn't last very long but it does give some relief and reminds me of what my hearing was like, pre 1978!! https://trudenta.com/this-simple-trick-may-help-with-tinnitus/

Joni Mitchell - Hejira “I know, no one's going to show me everything We all come and go unknown Each so deep and superficial Between the forceps and the stone...”

Finally took this to pieces to finish the last couple of bits off and ow it is complete!! Here's a few pictures of the finished bass:

Hello Mark Brian Ashcroft was indeed in the Last Chant as the bassist. He was left handed. Sadly my brother Brian passed away in 2010 leaving me many good memories. I would be interested in buying the case off you if it is for sale. I bought the Precision Bass for Brian after working in the Middle East for a few years. Nearly died when he painted it matte black. Get in touch if you want to sell. All the best Neal Ashcroft.

Great concert - Californication tour

The great thing about this phase of a build is that you can see progress very clearly. - Neck now flush with body - Neck thread insert installed - Ferrules for neck bolts installed - Neck bolted on to test it Weight, with cavity for battery, pickups and controls still to be done, a tad above 3800 grams. I think since I am installing a few bits as well, weight will end up at 3850. Not bad.

This is it...this is the holy grail! Shipped over from Sweden, this is a 1970 Orange Matamp OR200. As used by Jimmy Page and many others back in the day. I believe they were only built for a few years and they don't come up very often, so I snapped this one up when it became available. Fell in love with these back in my teens when Weezer's original bass player used one on their first couple of albums and been after one ever since. The UPS guy was pleased I was in to help him with the box, but out of the box it's not terribly heavy...the two handles make it relatively manageable. Not had chance to really crank it, but just take my word that it sounds really good 😁 Anyway, pics...

Thanks a million for this man! The fact that you've not only spent your time on this but are so willing to share it is hugely generous and very much appreciated!

Cheers!!! As a very broad generalisation, Delano’s are more ‘hi-fi’ (not sterile though), Sandbergs more of a tilt towards vintage sounding but modern enough, Black labels - more punch to them, a real little jab to the guts (in a good way) and slightly higher output. None of them are a bad option, the Black labels go very well with the Superlight basses, as the lightweight need a little more ‘mass‘. The Sandbergs in my MarloweDK for me are perfect - fine on their own, enough poke to make any preamp/preamp pedal come alive but subtle enough to allow sound sculpting, as opposed to for example G&L MFD pick ups which are so powerful, they are difficult to tame, Black labels are not in this category. Delano’s are their to allow you to sculpt also, but will always be a bit more modern sounding. When I had my VS4 with Sandberg big pole pick up, passive, it was great, but wasn’t quite there - not sure if it was the pick up or the whole package, put it with the M pick up on a VM - different kettle of fish - great combination, really gives that clarity to allow the P biased sound to cut through, which is where it wins IMHO Sorry I can’t be more specific, but hopefully it gives you a sonic territory to go with.

Dear friends, attached a few pics showing the adjustment range for string height: min 6,50mm / max 22,00 mm Intonation range : min 8,00 mm / max 26,00 mm😉😎

I'll find it. The guy recommended by @nige1968 kind of answered my question in this video right near the end. He explained how modes and scales and chord tones offer many, many varied possibiliteis (he's talking about squeaky little toy instrument soloing - but it all applies to real instruments too) and IF YOU HAVE TIME (my emphasis) you can explore as many as you want, if the chords are thrown at you however, you have to think on your feet. In other words, no one can glance at a complex chord sequence and instantly know all the modes and scales and their application, but take your time, work stuff out, and you'll start recognising patterns. I was asking for a quick fix to something for which there is no quick fix. @Reggaebass here's an example of the kind of video I mean (can't find the specific one I referred to - I'll keep looking)

Ian Dury - so many to mention, but three classics: Van Gogh did some eyeball pleasers. He must have been a pencil squeezer. He didn't do the Mona Lisa, That was an Italian geezer. I could be a lawyer with strategems and ruses I could be a doctor with poultices and bruises I could be a writer with a growing reputation I could be the ticket man at Fulham Broadway Station Shall I mourn you decline with some thunderbird wine And a black hankercheif?

Lucky me, I've found an original Fender Victoria case:

Back when I was a youngster in the late 1970's and just starting out on the bass, Yes epitomised overblown pretentious prog rock. Or so we were told. Listening now without the fashionable prejudices of those days ( which still proliferate), at their best, Yes were super- hip. Tracks like Heart Of the Sunrise, Close To The Edge, Roundabout ect still sound fresh and fearlessly experimental. I would venture that if a new young band with a contemporary image came on the scene today and made those tracks they would be lauded as creative geniuses. Modern bands like Muse or Radiohead cannot get close to the virtuosity and invention of Yes in their prime, and back in the early 1970's Yes were their cultural equivalent. Jon Andersons' lyrics are definitely a bit strange though, I must admit.

You'll get a VM4 but it won't have the Black Labels as standard. Can't say i've seen one fitted with them. Its the VM4 i have and its a fantastic bass to be honest. A good condition VM4 2nd hand will typically cost £1000 upwards. Mine was £1200. Not sure what you paid for your VS4 but additional £500 to get the bass exactly as you want it doesn't seem so bad. Of course you could sell the VS4 to help finance the VM4. Some hard decisions needed i think but good luck with what you decide on. Dave

So emailed Alan at Synergy Distribution regarding my upgrade idea and he gave me a breakdown of what I would need. New Black Label pickups: £250 New Scratchplate: £39 New Preamp: £135 So £424 all in + Labour is probably another £100. I was a bit surprised I would need a new preamp, I thought I could just add another volume to the existing 2 band preamp that is in the Electra. Since I am willing to spend some money a couple of routes that I see - Do the upgrades since I do like the feel of the bass and they would only make it better Buy a new bass with a Humbucker set up Sell the Electra and save a bit more for a California VM4

My listening tonight https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p08rs7y8

Have you found someone to pass the torch to yet?

That's a really cool bass! I think that some folks have now realised that a bass doesn't have to be huge to still be a bass. There was a classic, weird little bass back in the 60's/70's, not quite sure when, which was regarded as a wonderful bass for recording when you needed that big thick short scale tone, the Airline Pocket Bass, which has recently been reissued by Eastwood >> https://eastwoodguitars.com/collections/bass/products/airline-pocket-bass That's a 26.5" bass, and they haven't struggled to sell them. Modern pickup technology, modern strings and considered construction have made it possible to create super usable, yet compact and easy to play instruments that sound great! I hope we see a lot more of these wee beasties! Are you going to make yourself another one like your last one? Cheers, Eude

I have my late father's 1937 Selmer Balanced Action tenor. A lovely instruments, that I can get a scale of C major out of!!

"He had slyly inveigled her up to his flat, To view his collection of stamps; And he said as he hastened to put out the cat, The wine, his cigar, and the lamps:" from "Have Some Madeira M'Dear" by Flanders and Swann

this is actually quite true, Covid means no gig, and lately when I want to have a go with them thick string guitars I just reach for the Zoom B1on and headphones. 😅😅 Although lately I recorded some collabs using this board as the Stomp is my only interface atm so I reversed the signal, Noble first in the chain going to tuner then effects then to the HX Stomp. Thanks for the pedalboard love everyone! 👍🏼

If you pass through my soul tonight Gather all his troubles Tomorrow's long eternal night Gather for tomorrow "Love Under Will" Fields Of the Nephilim...their definitive track lyrically and musically to me

On request, some pics of my battle scarred black Spoiler

Roly Wynne , Zia, - Ozrics Mike Howlett - Gong

PJB Double Four- just excellent.