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Three gigs for us this week, all over the place too! First was in Stamford on Thursday night. The Corn Exchange is a great theatre in the picturesque town centre. Largely run by volunteers, it’s always a good place for us and we sell it out too,( although only seats around 400 so it’s one of the smaller venues we regularly do.) Great crowd and atmosphere, and I got to meet up with an old school mate who I haven’t seen in over 40 years! Last night we were at The Leas Cliff Hall in Folkestone, an iconic venue with views over the channel. Had a dreadful journey there though, with the M20 partly closed due to trucks being held there due to channel ferry cancellations with the appalling weather conditions. Really blustery all the way, I was struggling to keep our bus in a straight line a lot of the time. Anyway, we arrived a bit late but got soundchecked quickly. Not an easy place sound wise, but for the first time we flew the top part of the PA and it worked great. First time we’ve sold the venue out with 830 people in. There’s room for dancing at the sides which is great, some people up almost straight away! Really appreciative crowd, all in all a cracking gig. Today we’re driving up to Stevenage, so just hope the weather lets up.

Headlined the German beer festival and fireworks event at Alexandra Palace with the Joel Coombes’ Elton John tribute on Friday. Almost certainly the biggest audience I’ve played to, and a really lovely party vibe there. View from the stage was magic watching a few thousand people dancing and singing along. What a tremendous night out. Much smaller gig tonight at Leicester’s Musician pub - a fundraiser in aid of a well respected local musician and soundman. Should be a good night too though.

Last night was playing with Nine Lives at the Black Dog in Bridge of Don, Aberdeen. Usually this has been a bit of a damp squib of a gig with very low attendances (like single figures) but things were a bit better last night, double figures (!) like maybe 20 at peak. Just as well there were a few folk there who were well into it, they count double - up dancing for most songs, a few "FK YEAH"s after some songs, it all helps! Playing with a borrowed head (thanks to a local fellow bass player I've known for many years for stepping in and bailing me out after my amp died at rehearsal on Wednesday) and a single Markbass NY121 cab, it was surprisingly punchy! Using the Wunkay in OMG mode all night probably helped also... More fun tonight at Wilsons, slap bang in the centre of Aberdeen. Usually a great night there, looking forward to it.

Belle Isle club just outside Leeds last night, my this is a big club. An enthusiastic audience and a good night for the Glam lads after a 3 week lay off. Sadly 2 weeks off now as next weeks venue in Huddersfield has gone to the wall, fortunately busy after that though until into the new year.

Seriously now, it honestly makes zero difference what a shim is made of. I've shimmed basses a few times (before I knew how to set up a bass properly) and have used a playing card, breakfast cereal box, perspex, old credit card etc. There's this perceived thing about sustain. Let's address this first. How long do you let your notes ring out for? Ten seconds? 20? For the love of god, forget about sustain. I have no idea what music you play, but if you're doing anything where your tempo is less than say two beats a minute, you're not going to notice anything, if at all. Tone. Ack. Are you a solo bass player, treading the boards alone? Probably not. Any (perceived) change of tone from your choice of shim material will be net zero; you'll want to hear something and will convince yourself things are different, but they won't be. If you're in a band, any (perceived) nuances in tone will be lost completely. If you're playing live, seriously, nobody in the audience cares about your hardwood shim or whether you're apparently getting more whump/ponk/whatever.

Happy to be here, back to being active again!. (Mamayo is the name of my record label and 1st album), I'm here to talk bass and share my music as well as help anyone out who might have questions I might be able to answer - and to find answers to my own questions from all the wisdom here (bass players are the wisest band members, it goes with the instrument ).

I'm a terrible bassist and person if truth be known, I mean, I've been playing for 37 years and all my basses started with frets and these days, they've either all fallen out or simply worn away 😂 On a good note mind, when I started out as a mere teenager, I really struggled to carry my Carlsbro or Trace Elliot speakers. These days, I can easily carry my Barefaced cab, in either hand and one handed so all this playing has made me so much stronger and fitter these days, I must be like Hercules 😂

NYXLs 55-110, 12.95 a set on Amazon https://www.amazon.co.uk/DAddario-NYXL45105-Medium-Bottom-Nickel/dp/B01NAJH97M/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=1XBGIJ4NPJRXO&keywords=nyxl%2Bbass%2Bstrings&qid=1699095892&s=musical-instruments&sprefix=nyxl%2Bbass%2Cmi%2C73&sr=1-1-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&th=1

Whilst this is a very accurate statement, when taken slightly out of context, it sounds very odd. Well done that man for having an even smuttier mind than me Rob

It can't have said 'to Paul' because Lennon would have known that Paul was dead, died in the 60s. He would have put 'to Billy'

Oh my just spotted that òh I feel so embarrassed bloody predictive text can't believe it put seafood green maybe I should invent it 😅

Got a Blue Angels gig tonight with the punk band Emergency Exit so that'll be interesting as always. At least its not pissing down and blowing a gale like the other times i've played there. The very small stage area is right next to front door and every time the door opened throughout the night i got an icy blast on my neck. It got so bad i put my hoodie on last time i was there. I was absolutely frozen down my left side. Its not like you can complain to them Dave

What’s the charge for membership?

I have a similar Encore (same headstock logo so probably same era) and I genuinely consider it one of my best basses. Admittedly I have spent a couple of hours fettling it but it was still very good to begin with. Being new to all this you presumably don't know about setting up a bass to your liking (forgive me if you do) but it can make an OK playing bass into a superb playing bass, and it's not difficult if you're reasonably hands on. If you're able to, or live close to someone that could help, I'd set the Encore up to your liking, put the kind of strings on you like and give it a good clean and polish, then spend the saved money on an Nux Mighty Plug and some headphones for practicing. There's a thread on here about the NUX Mighty Plug, and lots about setting up a bass but ask away here and you'll get plenty of help.

Leica Virgin - Madge

If you are 8 weeks in and enjoying playing the bass, then I would go for it especially for £50 including the Peavey amp. You obviously like it! A new bass doesn't always guarantee that it will be "better" than the Encore. Though I'm not a massive P bass fan, I bought a PJ Encore a few weeks ago for about the same cost. Very well built, sounds like a Precision bass, plays nicely. I just pick it up when I feel like a change from my usual bass. In fact it plays better than a few more high end P basses I have owned previously.

1971 precision

I'm unconvinced by string-through, let alone semi-through.

Are you genuinely unaware how some of your posts come across? I read this thread purely for entertainment value as I could see your name was attached to it. @PaulThePlug interpreted your OP a little differently and was only trying to help.

Hurray for common sense! 👏

Park life. Bluuur

Jurassic Shift - Ozric Tentacles

I’d also check out @stevies LFSys cabs

I’ve tried the cheaper route and at low volume there’s not a lot of difference. As you increase the volume… different story. I’ve ended up with Barefaced cabs.

...nah... i think i'll leave it... i was in two minds about replying as it was...

Lots of options covered by itsmedunc, so take your pick.... I'll get my coat!

If your firewood pile is running low, it might be worth a punt provided bidding doesn't top 50p including shipping.

I built a CNC machine using a 3d printer. I enjoyed the 3d printing more than using the CNC machine. I did start writing my own software to drive it, as the CNC design software was a pain. I did give up though. I donated it and all the kit to the local school around a year ago.

A bit more progress. Have managed to work out how to drill the neck inserts in so I don't destroy the neck and accidently set off WWIII. One the side effects of that, is that I now have the right size for the neck heal module AND the bolt hole positions. So am running this test print off at 60% infill as this module needs to be as stiff as possible (cue @SpondonBassed and all Viz readers). This is not the complete component but I've cut it down just to check everything fits. To my mind the heel pocket is probably the most important bit of the guitar after the fredboard, though this is based purely on my guess @Andyjr1515 might well correct me here. Also have cut the backbone out of 15mm plywood. Despite my best efforts, whilst I managed to get a nice clean cut, one end of the ply is 86.6mm wide and the other is 88.3mm wide. So I can draw a straight line but I can't get a consistent width. I need someone with a table saw to make accurate cuts. In the interim, I'll use the plywoord as the load is along the length of the ply from the string tension, rather than the width. The plywood backbone would slot into a rebate on the back of each module and then I would anchor the plywood to each module with four screws per module. Not sure if this is a big problem or not. Will need to ponder it. You can see how it fits here, the neck pickup module went bang a few versions ago and I haven't fixed it This is without the backbone and this is with the plywood backbone. Rob

@Geek99 @warwickhunt @Stub Mandrel @Bleat @Supernaut @Paolo85 @Maude @Reggaebass @Thump @Delberthot and others if I've missed you thanks so much for the help and knowledge really appreciate it right im going to bash the bass now for a bit 🤘😆😎

As a massive Beatles fan, this to me is just a gimmick. I'm gonna go stick The White Album on...

Great stuff ! Do keep us updated on the repair. And welcome to Capacitor Club

Oh you cynical old lot! It is what it is in the time that it is. A worthy job done well. I think it's great because I accept it by not expecting anything from it. Besides, nothing's gonna change my world...

After printing a few test pieces out, I have realised that I need to rethink the mounting holes as access is tight due to honeycombs and trying to keep the asthetic right. So the last two days, whilst in various boring video meetings, I've redone most (but not all) of the screw mounting holes. I have deliberately gone over the top for the number for mounting holes as it's a lot easier to take things out and test if the screw mount was needed, than discovering that the guitar was weak. It doesn't look any different but I feel a lot more comfortable that I can access the mounting holes and change things later. The downside to this is that to print most of the pieces I have to be there to insert nuts in at the right time. This weekend is busy, so it'll be next week before anything starts printing what I hope will be the first prototype. I'm also looking at fixing the guitar neck I brought. Its a Yamaha RGX-121DM, its thin, but two of the the heal mounting holes are a bit rough. I posted a request for help in another thread and people came through with some great ideas, the main one being to use M5 threaded inserts. I ordered some and then discovered they had a flange so they are going back and flangeless inserts are now on order I looked at the neck and wondered how I was going to drill the 10mm holes down into the neck when the front of it is curved, so keeping it steady may be an issue (it will be an issue, lets be honest). I don't have a drill press or a vice, but I do have a 3d printer, so in the best tool making traditions, I'm making a guitar neck holder that will hold the guitar firmly, but without damaging it, and allow me to make a vertical 10mm holes in exactly the right place. I'll screw the back of the neck to the top plate using the two good holes. The bottom has a slight curve to match the neck radius, it'll have a few layers of felt to proect it. The six holes on each side will be tightened finger tight to hold it all in. I can then use the drill guides, that's the vertical tubes, to make sure I have a vertical stroke on the hand drill. I don't want to use an electric drill and I don't want it to move. Printing this now then off to take the dog for a long walk to clear head.

Hope so Mick. Being northerners we sometimes think weather reports for southern regions are maybe a bit exaggerated, but you’ve had it grim down here just lately. Seen loads of trees down and the sea front last night in Folkestone was wild. Still blustery here today ( we are near Canterbury ATM) so hope things improve as the day goes on.

Any chance of a bit of Mr Blue Sky? 🤞

I get you. I was a Christian for a long time. When I played in worship bands, there were some good sessions. Unfortunately though, there were more haphazard, disorganised times than there were good times. In spite of this, I always remained a caring, professional musician & played to the best of my ability (which to me, means keeping in time & not messing things up). Now I’m an exvangelical/deconstructionist & see the bible very differently. However, I’m not going to say that you should too. It’s your life & I think as long as you’re not hurting anyone, etc, then a person should be who they want to.

An interesting bass coming up for auction at Gardiner Houlgate

Scandalous. Surely for a few hundred quid more you could get an actual retro bass from that period which would only appreciate in value. Unsure if these would even hold their value in today's market.

My 3 sunburst p basses