Leaderboard

It took a couple of goes to get the bridge in the correct position (good thing about there being so many fixing screws was that I only needed to use two for the first trial - enough for being able to fit the strings straight but un-tensioned. Those first two screw holes will need to be re-plugged ) but got there in the end in terms of the strings lining up correctly with the fretboard dots: And with that done, I could start on the bridge pickup chamber. Those who have followed my previous threads will know that I detest routers and certainly wouldn't willingly use them on something as old and fragile as this. Instead, I start with drilling the corner radii and positions of the pickup base plate and scribe a line tangential to the two corners: Next, I rough out - for a full humbucker I would use a Forstner bit but, for this extension to the existing Jazz p/up chamber, just a brad-point drill: And then next, out come the sharp chisels and mallet: Don't worry - the red next to the chisel is some silk from the test-strings I use for the on/off/on/off malarkey that is necessary for this kind of work. The blood from my missing finger is out of picture on the carpet And twenty minutes later, we have a chamber: Finally, a quick restring to check it does actually line up. Phew! So tomorrow, I will re-plug the two erroneous bridge positions, take out the P pickup and start thinking about both the fitting of the Thunderbird-ish neck and the surrounds to hide the gaps.

Some lacquering! I like to put a couple of coats on maple fingerboards before fretting. I don’t like the Fender method where it’s flooded with lacquer after frets are in!

That Kala Bass sounds well cool....

As someone with 2 Dingwalls, I did not need a 3rd (or the 2nd but let's not digress). However thanks @MattParkerBass for pointing this out on Facebook Marketplace. The cons ? Missing the pickguard (apparently it was stolen at a gig ?!), as well as the magnetic battery cover oh and it's a 6 hour round trip. The seller was collection only but was willing to hold it for nearly a week for me, so off I and the wife trekked on Saturday morning to central Cardiff. Picked up the bass and had a nose around the city, and left before the Rugby finished to avoid the chaos that would likely ensue. n.b. to Cardiff city council, you need to sort your bin men contracts out. According to the Dingwall FB Group, this is one of 66 in this finish globally, so that's pretty cool. I had a spare Combustion pickguard knocking about, so routed out the extra pickup gap much better than I expected to. Not sure the white will stay, but it's good for now, as is the pickguard off entirely. Dingwall are sending me a new battery box cover also, result. It's surprisingly different to the NG2 which is a bit lighter (fewer pickups aside) as well as a the NG3 being quite frankly louder with an identical setup. I think this and the D-Roc need to be keepers (please don't laugh @AndyTravis) - as they do everything for me sonically, ergonomically and aesthetically. We're on nearly 8 months for the D-Roc and haven't had the itch yet, so fingers crossed.

It depends on how tired I am (and motorway closures), but there is something quite satisfying and peaceful about driving home after a successful gig.

I love driving. I love driving on empty roads and I love driving at night, so driving home after a gig (good or bad) is no big deal for me.

It’s ok to not enjoy gigging. I have played most genres, in most European countries, in pubs, at weddings, festivals, functions. I’ve been paid well, paid badly and not paid at all. I enjoy the camaraderie, playing with other musicians, the opportunity to visit interesting places and meet some interesting people. But once on stage with an audience and having to perform, I lose all enjoyment. I’m not nervous, I’m diligent and learn my parts (and often others parts), I look good so I’m told, and hold my own with anyone I’m on stage with. But I don’t enjoy gigging. There’s nothing “wrong” with me, and I get a bit tired of the lack of acceptance that some people don’t like gigging. It’s nothing to do with not having found the right band/people/venue/pay/underpants/ burger relish or whatever. I accept that probably a majority of musicians here love it…good, I’m glad for you, truly. I hope you get many opportunities to do the thing you love. Just stop telling people that they should all be the same as you. There. Hope that clears that up (said the pharmacist to the bishop)

I must be totally weird...after reading all theses hate gig comments..... Im 65, been playing double bass/electric bass since the age of 8. Played in bands aged 14, been all over the UK gigging and loved every single moment...from the rough and ready gigs to the very top end big payers! I love the drive to and from gigs, setting up and ragging down it just ticks every box l've ever wanted to do. I really do understand all the things everyone detests about gigging but for me, playing bass has been a privilege and a totally pleasure.....

Miss Stiletto & Wine - Cliff

Little update. Almost immediate reply from Max at SFX and the Thumpinator is now winging its way back to him for diagnosis 😎

The Revolution Will Not Be Televized - Gil Scott Heron

Well in the end I bought a Sunburst 424... and wow , really pleased with it...

I’m sure Douglas doesn’t mind me correcting his mistake. After him picking me up on my casual use of the apostrophe many times, it’s a rare (but probably futile) opportunity to try and even the score.....😆

Doin good mate. Keeping busy. Let me know how the gig went Daryl. Doing a wee jam session spot this Sunday afternoon with guys i played with in 80's doing Pink Floyd, Alex Harvey and a wee bit of Hendrix. Had a short rehearsal with them tonight for an hour and it seemed ok. Took me back to my younger days LOL All the best Dave

Sadly at around the same time I was known as Purdy, although for much the same reason

The Beatles were just a second rate Oasis. Lennon would have been nothing if he hadn't ripped off the Gallagher brothers

I'm just having a think about the various (countless) pedals I have video reviewed over the years and which ones were notable for their flexible tones. I liked the GR Bass distortion, the EBS as previously mentioned. I tell ya a great pedal that you wouldn't usually associate with mid frequency drive: the Tech 21 Steve Harris pedal does a superb grit when you get it in its sweet spot. The Darkglass Vintage pedals on low settings are good and you'd do well to give Barefaced's Machinist a whirl as it has the ability to parallel blend fuzz, distortion and clean low end together. It's a bit pedal though off you need space on your board. The Orange Bass Butler sounds great and, well, if you have deep pockets, Neural DSP's Quad Cortex will do everything you want and a whole lot more, but that's outside of requirements!

Touch me I'm sick - Mudhoney

I've had one and like it a lot. For the money you get a lot of useful and usable features especially when compared to some other bass pre-amp pedals. The EQ is simple but very effective and will dial in petty much any sound you're likely to need. The centre frequencies don't seem to be stated anywhere but they feel like they're in about the right place, the bass EQ control is a little low for my tastes but I play short scales exclusively these days so the inherent short scale tubbiness could be part of the issue here, although I only use it for cutting rather than boosting as that helps to add clarity with a shorty. The mid control has a wide sweep and goes from scooped slappiness to a nasal grunt. The treble control is pretty much where I want it for adding clarity without getting brittle and even rolled right back it still leaves the tone with a usable amount of definition. The compressor feels like it's an optical design although this isn't explicitly stated anywhere. I'm not really a fan of optical compressors but it works well although it's not always quick enough (there's no Attack control) to catch big spikes, this could be an issue if you slap but it works well enough with finger and plectrum styles. The release is also quite slow and cannot be adjusted. It also has a clean blend for dialling in some parallel compression. The threshold control seems to have a limited usable range, essentially only really usable below around 9 o'clock with passive basses, I suspect a hot bass could be problematic. There's a single LED meter but you can feel the compression kicking in before the LED lights up so it's kind of redundant. It's not my favourite compressor but it does the job. The drive section is excellent, IMO. It's more of a warm and rounded pushed valve amp type of drive so if you're looking for a Tech 21/DarkGlass scooped clank look elsewhere. It seems to have an inherent mid boost (think Tube Screamer style drive) and a fixed clean blend, both of which work really well when playing along to backing tracks. At low gain it does a good 'hint of breaking up' sound and when pushed it gives a pleasing smooth distortion, neither fizzy or bloated. There's a toggle switch to change the position of the drive and compressor, I personally like to use to comp before the drive so that it can be kicked in for a gain boost. But using comp after drive gives a more controlled tone. The pedal itself is reassuringly heavy and feels well made and pretty much bomb proof with solid feeling footswitches. I'm not overly enamoured with the anaemic pissy yellow finish, the white lettering will make it a nightmare to read on a dark stage but the blue LED's in each control will help you see where things are set in the dark, but due the pedals colour scheme you'll need to memorise which control does what if you want to change things on the fly on a gig. In summary, I think the colour scheme is a questionable design choice, black lettering would have made more sense than white, IMO. But blue LED's are cool, they just are. The compressor is good but not great and the pedal itself feels solid and has excellent EQ and drive sections.

One of the most stupid/hilarious anti Harley Benton comments I've read recently (and they're almost all just cut and paste by people with zero real life experience) was a guy who says once he'd cut off and thrown away the awful strings it was a much better bass. The instrument came with D'Addario strings as standard.

Oh bloody hell

Accidents Will Happen ～ Elvis C. & The Attractions

My 74...

Here's a pic of my '72 Precision decal. Getting an exact measurement is a bit tricky as it's an italic script but I make it 7.5mm.

I will say that I expect to replace the silicon tips with Comply ones, as I found them to be the best.

Great clip. Nails all those "Is it the player or the gear" discussions.

I do Blue. Mostly recording for peeps, more remotely these days. Bass, b/vs or guitar (rarely). I LOVE this part of being a musician. I’m lucky that in a studio I don’t get “red light” nerves, and because of diligent prep tend to get my parts done quickly.

If you position the cursor over the heart symbol, you are presented with some emoji choices. You may want to select the thank you one for BigRedX to acknowledge that he answered your question for you.

That bass

I’ve been pretty selfish about what gigs I do and with whom I play. I’m retired , and don’t depend on the money. Not that you make a lot playing mid sized rooms. So if I don’t think I’ll have fun , I pass. And I tend to like the rooms I play. Generally know the regulars and staff, and am under no illusions in terms of what to expect. It’s still good.

Mr. Roberto ～ Styx

Sky Arts showing ‘Oil City Confidential’ in tribute at the moment.

That surf green one looks lush. I hate this forum.

Woodwind, I've read the posts here. I don't think anyone hates gigging. I think we all struggle with certain aspects of gigging. The only exception would be for those who have a real fear of being on stage. Who hates a well paid 40 minute gig with first class dressing rooms and sound and lights provided ? I struggle with the longer gigs. 3 hours is our limit and even 3 hours are tough for me at my age ( 69 ). I also struggle with places that book bands but don't understand bands or how to treat them. Blue

The guys who made the Matches?

Booked in for a visit to Zoot Towers on Friday 2nd December - whoop 😎

Flying to Finland stupid o’clock Monday morning so yet to work out when I can collect but… I would like my business trip to go by quite fast please 😀