hiram.k.hackenbacker

Sax player in my 80’s band has one. Wicked piece of kit. So many sounds available.

Admittedly I know nothing of Letts or his basses, but one would assume there must be some happy customers/owners out there somewhere? I watched one of his build videos on YT and there’s some huge red flags throughout. Not quite MDP standard, but still worrying. Are they old videos reloaded or are they new to his channel?

I wish I could help you out mate, but I don't possess such a bass. I'm sure there will be an offer here soon enough.

The odds were stacked against last night even going ahead. Our keyboard player had to pull out due to illness leaving us within a week of the gig with no option other than to cancel. Keyboard players (decent ones) seem to be like rocking horse poo around these parts. We decided to enlist the help of a guitarist to fill the hole which meant binning about 50% of our set for guitar orientated tunes. One midweek rehearsal behind us and we got away with it. Went down very well. Same again next week as a two guitar band.

Try The Swan in Hatfield Peverel. It’s not a huge pub and not usually over busy. We’re playing there next week. I don’t know how far in advance they get booked tho.

So are you looking at hiring the space in a pub exclusively for your band/guests or getting your band a gig in a pub at the same time as your 30 guests turning up?

My Ric came with a sticker on it and I removed. Instantly devalued it by 50% 😎

My SLO was £1900 new in March 2017. Likewise, my Special was £2.2k new in Oct 2018. It will be interesting to see how much they are charging in 2024.

I’m just trying to remember whether the SLO neck was a costed option when I ordered mine. I don’t remember having to pay extra, but I may have misremembered that over time. Although I welcome the availability of options, it will come at a hefty price. I remember trying to order a white Stingray with different coloured hardware. They absolutely point blank refused to do it.

Mmm. SLO’s, but no HS configuration? That Brûlée finish looks 🤢. Talking of which; white pick-up covers on the Candyman also 🤢. In fact, the only one that looks remotely interesting (to me) is the BFR Moonbeam, but it’s not available as a 4 string. I dread to think what the RRP’s will be.

I accept everyone is different, but for me, at that weight, I’d be OK with it as long as the balance was OK. One thing my back will not tolerate is a weighty bass that is also unbalanced. I know you can offset some basses with a decent strap, but I’d rather have a bass that doesn’t have a balance issue. For that reason, I think I’d have to try it in person. Hope it turns out positive for you.

Well, they’ve reached Dingwall HQ. Shipping imminently.

What do you think? I really like mine.

A Dingwall Lee Sklar Mk2 would be perfect. Had a Mk1, but it needed (for me) that third super fatty to move the playing position slightly forward.

Fantastic basses, although fairly hefty. The case with mine weighed considerably more than the bass itself and that’s saying something.

Am I the only one who came here expecting Alembic content? 😎

My friend is not quite sure what the delay is. He enquired with the supplier only this morning and they're not sure either. Just keeps getting put back. My, er, his hands, appear to be tied on the matter 🤷‍♂️.

Asking for a friend: he ordered a bass in the 1st quarter of 2023 and it hasn't arrived yet. Is he out for 2024?

Yeah, I hear ya. I’m not sure how I now stand regarding the 2024 abstinence challenge 🤷‍♂️ Ordered 1st quarter of 2023 and still a no show.

From what BD have said this morning, they still have no definitive date for the Rio's. They did say the date had been pushed back and that they keep asking when they're likely to arrive, but nothing so far.

Unless it happened this morning and they didn't know it was coming, I think it's unlikely. I've been in contact with BD this morning.

I don’t even think they’re that much cheaper. I’ve had a look at shipping options a few times when I’m sending stuff I’ve sold on eBay and the price difference is marginal. Certainly nowhere near what it used to be. That said, our Evri courier is fantastic. She always goes the extra mile. I quite often see her driving about in her car and she lets me know if she’s coming to us or if she has anything for us. Our local drop-off shop is a bit of a nightmare. Parcels everywhere in the aisles and it’s one of those shops that gets full of school kids before and after school as well as lunch times. I’m not surprised stuff goes missing.

Just thought of another one as I was listening to some tunes on shuffle.... Album: The Band by The Band Sequence: Across The Great Divide > Rag Mama Rag > The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down

Looks much the same as a previous version to me. Money making p!55 take.