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St. Nicholas' Cathedral, Newcastle. It was the post-covid return of a regular Christmas concert, which raises money for the Sir Bobby Robson foundation. 800-seats, all sold out. Quite a few different singers from Tyneside, including Lorraine Crosby (who sang the 'I Would Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That) with Meatloaf), Jill Halfpenny, and the Canon of Newcastle Cathedral who, it turns out, is an amazing jazz vocalist. I MD'd the show, which has its own challenges as we can't get all the artists in a room at the same time at any point beforehand. It also involves liaising with the choirmaster over the arrangements. One of the artists had to pull out on the morning of the show due to ill health, so we had to quickly find two other singers to cover his songs in the same key and arrangement... a stressful morning, but somehow we managed it. As usual we had a Rolls-Royce team in to do the PA - the acoustics are a nightmare for amplification, so we keep the stage and FOH volume down, and spread the boxes around the room. Here's a clip of one of the songs, sung by Aaron from local up-and-comers Hector Gannet. He was one of the last-minute replacements, who we asked to sing the song that morning. He nailed it. Here's some behind-the-scenes shots I took.

Hasn't arrived yet but here's a taster...

Had a decent gig last night at the Rigger in Newcastle under Lyme. A49 had been closed much of the day due to an accident, and the usual poor diversion signing meant half the band didn't arrive till the moment our soundcheck was due to start (I was on time, being a bit anal I'd checked traffic before leaving 😁). We played well, a couple of Headstocks came to see us but due to being 1st on at a metal night there were only 20-30 there to see us. And despite a stupidly loud kick drum (why?) Nobody threw tomatoes or nuffink. Sound man liked us, said we sounded like some incredibly obscure math punk(?) band none of us had heard of. Still, we got paid, though our drummer somehow left his jacket and cowbell behind! Edit: spellcheck don't know what Headsticks are! And we also managed to take the other band's bass stand, due to over-exuberant sound bloke wanting to completely clear the stage...

I built a Synth pedalboard a while back, but it was single-chain, mixed digital and analog pedals and it sounded awful. Really noisy. So, a couple of months ago, I decided to completely rebuild it with a loop switcher and dedicated power supply. As it turns out, the Harley Benton stuff is amazing - I’ve got the FXL 8pro and ISO-10ACPro fitted. Built like tanks, the switcher is 8-loop with midi and 2 switch outputs for amp channel etc. silent. Here’s the output, front and back - and midi is fitted, the Future Impact thru-forwards to the midi host interface which then allows me to use all the patches on the Source Audio C4. The Cali76 is a brand new addition, it’s amazing. I drive the Midi side with an FCB1010 with the ROM swapped out for the Uno one, which makes programming the pedal much simpler. I’ve also got a couple of expression pedals which plug into the SYB-5 and the SA envelope filter. The SYB in particular is really amazing with an expression pedal, it completely opens that pedal up. The board is amazing now - silent, really useful sounds, highly configurable. The only thing I still need to add is a midi splitter so I can drive the filter pedal as well, but that can wait for now. I’ve got one or two other pedals I may put on another board, a black finger compressor, original Q-Tron (considering the bypass mod for that), a Markbass Super Synth (original - it was on this board but it demands 550mA and 12v which is just way too much for most power supplies). hand soldering the audio cables became quite soothing and meditative, I enjoyed it more than I thought I would. If anyone’s interested in the components I used, just ask. happy Xmas! Andy

Huge Thankyou to everyone for their help. Faulty pickups replaced and bass back working once again. Going to need a bit of setup, but back playing and sounding great. mike

Does a Jam night count as a gig? I found one at MacAfferty’s in Epsom so went to it on Thursday. The guys who I was supposed to be playing with (whom I had never met) weren’t able to go, so the band running it (Prime Numbers) kindly allowed me to join them for a couple of err………. numbers. I’d played both of them on keys in a band 25 years ago, but this was the 1st time on bass. I sight read it from a chord sheet. I’m playing it on my Ibanez Headless shortscale -it’s lighter when walking is involved and I’d feeling it would be cramped on stage (it was). The fret markers are luminous, but I didn’t charge them so I’m playing half blind so to speak - that was an interesting experience. i enjoyed playing. The night itself was good fun - the pub was full and the audience ( Jam Night, so I was part of the crowd for most of it) looked to be enjoying it. The video link is (courtesy of my daughter who amazingly decided she’d come out with her Dad 😀) to Make Me Smile by Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel. https://youtu.be/H3pvMX51Y2k

I went through a phase on skinny stringer where when I played barre chords I'd often inadvertently pull the top e string over the edge of the fret board. Never once did I think 'Ooh, that sounds good'.

The above is from the same post of mine that you originally extracted my quote from. I've said what I do and for some reason you've tried to either say it's wrong, doesn't work, or something, I'm really not sure what your point is. Until I changed jobs last year I was doing 25k miles per year for decades in cheap, older cars with no problems, certainly no more than newer cars and it's usually far cheaper to fix any niggles than a newer car. The other stress free part of running an older, less valuable car is that if something expensive goes wrong, say a £2000 fix, then I can simply weigh it in and buy something else, if I had a £15,000 car then I would have to pay out and fix it. You cannot argue this as it is what I do, and have done for years. I also have no clue where this idea that a car or bass does, or should, earn you an income came from. For what it's worth my daughter does own a £30k car but she doesn't earn £30k a year. It doesn't earn her money other than allowing her to commute to work, which she did quite happily, safely and without any problems for three years in her previous car which cost £1300. A lot of youngsters whose dream of getting on the property ladder is unrealistic have resolved to buying what society deems the next indicator of success, an expensive car. Their thought process is if I can't afford a house I'll spend £500/600 a month on a car. Whether or not you think this is right it is happening.

Sorry just love posting pics of my rig...

Ok... A rant. sorry.... I was a member of TalkBass. You're all probably familiar with it. I posted a factual observation and was banned. I attacked no one. I simply relayed the findings of a specific amp. I was playing a gig with backline provided and was given an amp the should by all standards have rocked. It didn't. In fact, it bit the big hairy wet one. An 810! 600 watt stack that just sucked. I had a 212 with a Mesa Subway head in the car that would put this stack to shame. Anyway. Banned. So much for free speech in America. I was sent an email giving me the option to beg to be let back in. I chose to come here. I will endeavor to be respectful. I am a professional Bass player. Gig 3 to 5 shows every week and 2023 is fully booked. I own a "lot" of equipment. And I have gained a lot of experience in the music industry in the last 3 years. I feel sites like TB as well as BC should be open to experiences that we encounter. And if it's a bad one. Especially one that repeats itself, sharing these can help others be better prepared when they find themselves faced with them. Of course, the good should be shared as well. And when we find something that can help others, I feel we should share this. So, I hope I'm welcome here. I am willing to share my experiences. We are currently looking at a national tour next year. My first with a national act. Don't know when it will start or who we will be opening for yet. But mystery gives life flavor. Sorry. Rant over.

I recently picked up a Prunes and Custard pedal. It's fantastic for synth sounds but does a lot more besides. Here it is mixed with some clean bass. I love how pops and harder notes come through more cleanly so you can really have fun with little fills that 'poke through' the synth, even if you do balls them up. The track is 'Mile High' by Raquel Rodriguez, very nice groove I'll probably make a new topic about this but any tips on syncing video and audio in iMovie? I tend to take the video on my phone and record in Garageband then import both. It takes a lot of shuffling about and sometimes like in this video it goes out of sync at the end?!

To the OP How dare you come on here with your radical Talkbass refugee views and extra strings. We have our own problems you know and we don't need any more, don't you know it's illegal to come here anyway? 😏

Small beach gig last night, that quickly grew too large for the venue. Lots of people. Partied till 3am. Just now waking up to go do it again tonight at a larger venue. Been there before and we are well known. Crazy nights. I'll try to take some pics.

Have you considered Nova Guitar Parts? @Andre_Passini in Brazil is a member here. They are superb products with a proper ball-race to minimise turning resistance - essential with headless systems. Drop him a line - they are very reasonably priced, huge range of options and very quick and easy shipment from Brazil. I used them on @Jus Lukin's headless project: And yes - don't use Overlord of Music unless you buy two and use the second one to make one good one out of the two

There's a link to a Youtube clip showing him 'playing' the guitar fitted with this. Sounds like an 8 year old who's got hold of his big brothers electric guitar and is trying to impress his Mum. Utterly deluded. I really don't think other opinions are available.

My blues-rock trio Toredown supported Dr Feelgood at Venue 77, Ipswich last night. Freezing, -3C when I left home at 3.50pm. What should have been a 1hr 5 minute trip took 2hrs 10mins, traffic was a nightmare, got there at 6pm for the 5.30pm setp up 🤪 I needn't have worried as everyone was running late. The Feelgood guys weren't there either, nor was one of the sound guys. I toddled off for a chicken shish, came back whilst the main guys were setting up, although their singer was still not there. Anyhow, all was well. Doors opened late at 7.30, we kicked off at 8pm to a largely filled room. I don't honestly think we could have played any better and we really went down well. A couple of people said they came just to see us! Loads of great comments afterwards, notaby from the gig promoter, MC for the night, DJ and local music celeb, Foz, who said some really fab stuff about us when we had done. One of those real 'warm glow inside, still smiling about it' type of gigs. I didn't stay for all the Feelgood gig as I wanted to head off home before it got too cold/late. Journey home took half as long. Next one is the end of January. I love this band 😍 Awful pic from someone's Facebook page who was there.

Just seen these on Facebook. I really like the look of of this.

saw them loads of times but the standout gig was easily glastonbury 86 and even bob smith agrees with this one mainly because of the weather, the cure came on during one of the most cinematic reddest sunsets and as the gig kicked into high gear suddenly a full on dramatic lightening storm erupted directly above our heads ...the band played on with god now in charge of the light show, the whole effect was sheer gothic perfection.

Shame on them. Aren't we all entitled to an opinion? After all not everyone is going to agree with me. Not a problem, as long as they don't mind being wrong.

In that case. Hartke.

Keep it simple. I started my collection of tin foil milk bottle tops during the lock-downs. They each feature the beak indentations of various birds attempting to access the cream atop of the milk. My favourite one was made by a blackbird, as I actually witnessed him attempting it.

It's their money, they can spend it however they want.

It reminds me of Gulliver's visit to The Grand Academy of Lagado... "I was received very kindly by the warden, and went for many days to the academy. Every room has in it one or more projectors; and I believe I could not be in fewer than five hundred rooms. The first man I saw was of a meagre aspect, with sooty hands and face, his hair and beard long, ragged, and singed in several places. His clothes, shirt, and skin, were all of the same colour. He has been eight years upon a project for extracting sunbeams out of cucumbers, which were to be put in phials hermetically sealed, and let out to warm the air in raw inclement summers. He told me, he did not doubt, that, in eight years more, he should be able to supply the governor's gardens with sunshine, at a reasonable rate: but he complained that his stock was low, and entreated me "to give him something as an encouragement to ingenuity, especially since this had been a very dear season for cucumbers." I made him a small present, for my lord had furnished me with money on purpose, because he knew their practice of begging from all who go to see them. I went into another chamber, but was ready to hasten back, being almost overcome with a horrible stink. My conductor pressed me forward, conjuring me in a whisper "to give no offence, which would be highly resented;" and therefore I durst not so much as stop my nose. The projector of this cell was the most ancient student of the academy; his face and beard were of a pale yellow; his hands and clothes daubed over with filth. When I was presented to him, he gave me a close embrace, a compliment I could well have excused. His employment, from his first coming into the academy, was an operation to reduce human excrement to its original food, by separating the several parts, removing the tincture which it receives from the gall, making the odour exhale, and scumming off the saliva. He had a weekly allowance, from the society, of a vessel filled with human ordure, about the bigness of a Bristol barrel. I saw another at work to calcine ice into gunpowder; who likewise showed me a treatise he had written concerning the malleability of fire, which he intended to publish. There was a most ingenious architect, who had contrived a new method for building houses, by beginning at the roof, and working downward to the foundation; which he justified to me, by the like practice of those two prudent insects, the bee and the spider." Jonathan Swift - Gulliver's Travels, 1726.

GLWS - I would have bought it if it was a 5 stroke

You know what they say about men with big hands...... ....they need big gloves

I’ve only had one Stingray, still have it. I love the fat chunky neck. Mine is a 3 band, love it. It’s the bass I left beside the couch. The first thing I’d pick up. Burst , rosewood. Classic.

These two are becoming my go-to.. they cover pretty much everything and couldn't be less alike! Celinder J-Update Fender Thunderstangbacker

Hi guys, Status bass incoming, a series 2 (or could be an Empathy) headless 4-string in very good condition. Pics to follow (and will pose with a 2021 Jaydee)

Love my TM4 Hardcore Reserved Custom Order

Just because someone is a tutor, even one accredited to something or other, does not mean they're any cop at it. Even if they are superb, they aren't god, they don't get to say what is correct, and any that are bold enough to say so are likely of a closed mindset and will be slow to progress themselves, if at all. The mass produced electric bass is a relatively recent innovation. That being the case, who is anyone to say what is right or wrong? Not me. Not Geddy Lee. Not Derek from the small ads who is advertising his bass lessons. I've had formal musical training - not on the bass - and without being immodest I can truthfully say that I progressed (before smashing my elbow) far beyond the abilities of my guitar tutor, and despite that still wouldn't deign to tell even the newest guitarist what is correct or otherwise. I might say, "give this a try", or "have you thought about doing it that way, see if it works for you?", but I am in no moral position to tell anyone that is the correct method and thus the only one worthy of consideration. I'm just not that arrogant. Watch, listen, learn, try it, practice it, critique it against that which you're trying to achieve, and then either adopt it, modify it, or discard it. None of us should be blind to progressing our playing by learning, and none of us should rigidly accept convention either. None of us should suppose that just because we favour a certain way of playing that it is "correct". If it gives you the sound you're after, if you can do it and make it work, if it doesnt hinder some other aspect of your playing, and if it doesn't give you an RSI, then it's correct. Simple as that.

Trouble you a trouble me - Ini Kamoze

I have answered one of life's great questions: is it a good idea to use a slice of agate as a knob. The answer is no.

This totally. Back when I had a VW Transporter (T4), passenger door pockets would regularly sell on ebay for around £60-£70. Most T4s came with a double passenger front seat and no door pocket. The more expensive Caravelles and such came with a single passenger front captains seat and a door pocket (in general). People would swap their double seat for a single captains chair and then pay aforementioned price for the "ultra rare, hens teeth door pocket" on ebay. If you rang the dealers they were about £20.

Most of us managed to survive unscathed. Truth be told most beginners give up simply because learning any skill/craft/art requires time and effort.

Yes I touched on my view that spending money on an appreciating collection makes more sense than spending it with on a depreciating car. Then you picked it up and ran with it to planet Tim. Let's just get back to bass collecting.

Always The Sun - The Stranglers

Our band leader, Del, was given some of their strats. He reckons they’re pretty decent for a budget guitar. He gave one away to an audience member when we played Alford and unbeknownst to us, the audience member turned out to be a luthier! Bit random!

Girl's Got Rhythm - AC/DC

Well let’s just get back on topic then shall we 👍 I had a girlfriend 20 years ago who’d spend Saturday shopping with her friends, often buying clothes she couldn’t afford, and Sunday on her taking those clothes back. It seemed a morally bankrupt way of doing things to me, pretending she had money she didn’t, but she was quite content about it saying she just liked the buzz of the buy but not the keep. Doesn’t seem so bad now?

Whoooooosh !!!

Having taught myself bass I have a rather odd technique, which consists of either slapping, picking or strumming with the thumb, and popping, picking or flicking with 2-3 fingers... Works for me!

Don't chuck the old pickups. If you ever sell the instrument, it will be worth more if you have the originals to go with it. If you're getting drop in replacements, I wouldn't even get them re-wound. Just keep them as is

I used this last weekend, street party in Clifton. Noble preamp, MB 250 Blackline, a couple of BF one10s, and a Nash PB63. Sound guy loved the Noble.