colleya

13 minutes ago, Skybone said:

Could do with playing more and with "constructive" practice.

I found that signing up for one of the SBL courses has improved my practice.

I'm practicing more because I've bloody paid for it and the stuff I'm working on is more focused.

Get the ball rolling properly with my band Tea Time Funk Club

I think we've got something really good going and they're a super talented bunch.

This year I want us to find the right venues and get our foot properly in the door. We've got 4-5 bookings already so hopefully things will snowball from there.

Personally, I've been working hard on my playing and practicing a lot more, so I want to keep that up. Gigs in the calendar always helps me with motivation in that department too.

Double gig bag.

Fancy strings.

Plus my present to myself - a couple of SBL courses that I bought back in November. Time to bite the bullet and make a conscious effort to improve.

11 hours ago, Paddy777 said:

I had a VM5 with a Nordstrand preamp and it sounded fantastic - had tone control in passive & active and was much better than the stock pre. John East stuff if pretty hard to come by at the mo, bot sure what’s going on with him but almost everything is showing as out of stock on his website and he’s not responding to emails, BassDirect dont have any in either. You can get 4 pot Nordstrand preamp in 2 and 3 band, which would be my next choice 

This is really helpful, thanks!

Does anyone have any experience with swapping the preamp in a VM5?

I bloody love the bass, it plays like a dream but the tone isn't as 'alive' as my Fender jazz 5. It feels a little sterile to me.

I'm thinking of popping an East pre in there and was wondering if anyone else has done the same. YouTube has an example done on a TT but no VM.

Cheers!

@dmccombe7 you have, but thanks for taking the time to say so again.

Very lucky to have chanced on a band with some very talented individuals, plus two of them can mix audio and make my bass actually sound like the tone I've got in my head.

On 19/11/2025 at 07:04, colleya said:

Unheated.

 

Well, it was bloody freezing, but it scrubbed up quite nicely in the edit.

Can't upload the clip to here for some reason, so here's the link to the instawotsit version.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DRhlyzXjFx1/?igsh=MW5iOXRiMGZoejVvOA==

2 hours ago, walshy said:

Yes, just bought the Ultimate Accelerator Pack 

I nearly went for that myself, but it was a bit much on top of the funk accelerator in one month.

Would be very interested in your thoughts on the fretboard accelerator course. That would be next on my list.

I'm usually almost pathologically resistant to paid for courses.  However after years of playing in rock/indie I joined a funk/soul band and felt painfully exposed.  Phrasing wasn't right, felt awkward and not in the pocket etc etc. 

I bit the bullet and realised that spending money on a new bass/amp/pedal wasn't magically making me a better player (still fun though) so I signed up

Three weeks in, I'm pretty impressed.

I like the structure that releases a section a week rather than full access to everything.  Resources, videos and backing tracks are excellent quality.  The live sessions are fun and focused.  Feels well scaled so far - lots of stuff I've seen go from root notes to 7/8 mixolydian Swedish folk fusion leaving a massive 'how the hell did they do that?' gulf in the middle.

Am I motivated to practice more? Yes

Is my practice more focused? Yes

Is my timing improving (probably as a result of the above)? Yes

Is my phrasing improving? Starting to

Can I do stuff I couldn't before? Yes

Could I have learned most of this stuff for free piecemeal on the Internet? Probably

Do they send waaaaay too many emails? Good lord yes

Was it expensive? It felt it, but if I break it down into 14 (the length of the course in weeks) then probably not really.

Has the rest of the band noticed? Very funny (but it's only week 3 so I still have hope)

If anyone else is doing the course then I'd be interested in how you're finding it.  If you're thinking about these courses then hopefully this might help a bit.

Unheated.

Excellent little class D amp from GR bass.

Sounds really transparent and plenty of oomph from the 350w - used it on gigs with no trouble.

More recently used as a preamp and DI straight to the desk.  The DI is superb.

- 350W RMS 4 ohm, 170W RMS 8 ohm

- Headphone out, mute button, deep & bright buttons and an aux in for practising to backing tracks etc.

- 1.3kg W19 x D16 x H4,5 cm

- Comes with a GR carry case.

A little bit of scuffing to the 'Pure Sound' text on the top from the application & removal of stickers.

It's so small that I removed the feet and mounted it on my pedal board with velcro.  I put those feet in a safe place....... is anyone already ahead of me here?

Guaranteed that they will only turn up after I've sold the thing, but if and when they do then I will post them on.

£280 posted 2nd class standard or you're welcome to the basschat standard collection/try out/waffle about gear/brew/try all the other gear too visit to Sale, South Manchester.

I'd agree with all the comments about practice, but be kind to yourself too.

If you make a mistake then you make a mistake. I make loads every gig, and that's without an emotionally loaded situation like it sounds like you'll be in.

I'm really sorry to hear about your brother, but I'm sure he'd be unbelievably proud of you. Everyone there (and here on BC) will be rooting for you too, break a leg.

Another excellent basschatter.

Bought a pedal from @jezzaboy. Arrived next day with possibly the best packaging job I've seen.

Highly recommended, thanks!

21 hours ago, Jackroadkill said:

I once left a band by going to the toilet during a rehearsal and escaping through the toilet window.

Did they not get suspicious when you took your bass with you?

Noticed at half time that one of the PA tops wasn't showing the little blue power light. Waited until the rest of the band were looking the other way before flipping the switch on the back.....

"Join a band" they said.

"It will get you closer to the ladies" they said....

19 hours ago, dmccombe7 said:

Enjoyed those, great singer with a very nice voice.

Dave

Thanks Dave, she's quite a find.

I used to do a bit of noodling over the intro to this, but now I resist the temptation to get in the way, stand back and enjoy.

50 minute afternoon spot at Ellesmere Port Summer Jam today. Only our third ever gig. It's a slow ball to get rolling right now but we're getting there.

No amp/cab, just a HX stomp in and IEM straight from the desk. It always sounds fine at rehearsal but I need to do more work on my gig mix as it's never as well defined.  Thinking about that diverts my focus away from what I'm playing, so I need to get it sorted.

Played well, pretty happy all round. Sun came out and people listened. Nice things were said afterwards. Unfortunately the wrestling show had finished by the time we got off stage so my plans for a top turnbuckle band pic were scuppered.

Here's a little phone clip of Macy Gray. Of course, our friends & family managed to catch the bit where I trip over my lead, nearly stack it then hit the wrong note.

And some Jamiroquai with added photo (video?) bombing.

9 minutes ago, Dazed said:

Could i have these please 

Yes. DM me your details.

Excellent condition lightly used Mic Mechanic vocal pedal.  This is the V2 version.

Affectionately known as the 'talent pedal' by the rest of the band, has a lovely inbuilt EQ that sweetens up the vocal.  Also has onboard echo, reverb and pitch correction.

Price includes UK postage, but no power supply or box.

Jim dunlop flush mount straplocks.

Very good condition.  The female part of the lock is designed to sit flush in the body of the guitar.

Dunlop describes it like this:

"The specially designed strap buttons are installed flush with the guitar body leaving nothing protruding when not using a strap for playing comfort. The strap secures to the button with a 360 groove and ball design allowing the unit to rotate without catching, the strap can be easily attached and removed from the guitar when required using the push button and interchangeable strap buttons allow the same strap to be used with several guitars. Case hardened steel skin for guaranteed long life and the system has been tested up to 800lbs of pull."

Price includes UK postage.

6 minutes ago, MichaelDean said:

I told them to put you above the puppet show!

I'm only going for the wrestling!

We've got a Sunday afternoon slot at Ellesmere Port Summer Jam on 3rd August.

Not played this one before, looking forward to it.

First time at Matchbox in Warrington. Absolutely huge room.

Sharpening up the short set for our appearance at Ellesmere Port Summer Jam on 3rd August and messing about with phone cameras to try and get some clips for the band socials.

https://youtube.com/shorts/3K7Fehhf_To?feature=shared

Great straps these. The short version is 3" wide and easily adjustable from 40" - 46". Super comfy.

This one is in decent nick, all the main strap ends, sliders etc are in great order. However, there's a little bit of bobbling on the outer grey fabric and the stitching on the pick pocket is coming away. Hence the price.

Collect from Sale, South Manchester or a couple of quid postage.