Rayman

I hear you 100% HOWEVER…. Like many young women for example, who believe that they have to have perceived “perfect” bodies, because of the way the media portrays “attractive” …. Which we all realise is nonsense…. I believe many new young bass players believe that in order to be “desirable” as a player, they have to be able to perform, frankly useless (IMO) fretboard gymnastics, when all they really need is a few root notes to get everyone up dancing. I DO get your point, I just think that expectation for young players is going in the wrong direction, just like MANY aspects of life. only my opinion of course, and yep, I’m old

So as an update to this thread, I‘ve bought another one, identical to my first one. I absolutely love the first one so much, I decided to get its twin. It’ll get the KiOgon loom, just like the first, everything else will stay stock. The “cheap” pickup sounds absolutely amazing with the loom, absolutely no need to upgrade anything. It’ll probably need a fret job like the first, and will definitely need routing out for the new loom, again, just like the first. I dunno, none of my other gear is getting a look in at all. I love these things. Am I mad?

I haven’t mate….. I ended up pulling the tweeter out and running without one all together. However, I‘be been suffering with horrendous pain in my shoulders the last few months, which is still under investigation, but it’s stopped me playing at all for now.

I want to see a complete reset of YouTube musicians. I’m utterly sick of fretboard gymnastics and tricks. In MY opinion we need to go back to basics, and encourage young players to learn simple grooves, a la: Tina Weymouth, Robbie Shakespeare etc….. real bass grooves, that make people smile and want to dance. Surely the whole point? It was when I started in the early 80s. There are too many “look what I can do” musicians on social media. It never was about what you can do mate….. it’s about the song, the whole song and nothing but the song. Sorry for the rant.

Brilliant, thanks all

I’m after a small rig for small/ medium sized gigs, and there’s a couple of used options around 200 quid…. Eden Nemesis RS 320 1x15 or Hartke HA350 + 1x15 cab Any opinions? I’m looking for lightish and loudish

Janek Gwizdala next, followed by Toro-Y-Moi. Anyone who hasn't heard of them, check out the album "Mahal", it's a groove fest.

I haven’t seen him him live since he was with JEM, a long time ago. I’m dragging Mrs Rayman along, who is more a Korn kind of girl, so it’ll be interesting for her! Ticket sales are a bit slow for Manchester, so it’d be nice to get a few of us down there, it’s only 25 quid

Anyone going to the Stoller Hall gig in Manchester on the 23rd Aug?

Yeah I had a GWB35 many years ago. Now I hate it when there’s a big gap under the strings.

Pretty pleased with my latest ramps, made for an Aria Integra and a Yamaha TRB1005. I’ve always fitted ramps to my fivers, I just find them more comfortable to play. Black plastic, 8mm for the Yamaha, it took some work sanding off a couple of mil. The Aria has a matched piece of Ash, took a while to match the colour of the stain, but we got there or thereabouts. What do you reckon?

Awesome thanks for that

Awful plastic rubbish

Ok mate thank you. Maybe I’ll try TC and see what they say….

So the Rayman (amp killer) strikes again, I’ve lost count of how many tweeters and amps generally I’ve destroyed over the years. The latest is the 1” tweeter from my TC BG250 1x15 combo. Its a pathetic looking plastic component, which I want to replace, question is, can I just drop a 300W rated car stereo tweeter in there? Or does it have to be like for like?

As others have already said….. the later budget models have lead people to believe that Aria aren’t exactly top end. I’ve had a couple of older Integra models, both Korean, 90s/00s, and both absolutely fabulous. My main two basses now consist of one of those basses partnering my Yamaha, and I love them both equally. While the Yamaha was considerably more expensive, the Aria was only 200 quid used, they’re both equal in terms of sound/playability and I love them both. In short, find a decent one (same with ANY brand) and you can’t go wrong.

Oh I LOVE hip hop and funk….. but not ALL the time….. I love me some cheesy pop….. and some dirty metal

Technically we’re not married Well….. we’re just not married period, there’s no technically about it. I could just throw her out tbh

Home practise, for me, is quite a personal thing. It's me time, after a day at work, I like to play my bass, to unwind, to get in the zone, and breathe again. Sometimes it's out loud, sometimes it's through phones..... However....... I'm finding Mrs Raymans' insistence on me playing out loud, so she can hear it, along to some funk or hip hop stuff she likes, as opposed to any rock or pop that I might want to play to, IRRITATING! IT'S MY BLOODY TIME NOT YOURS!!!!! So yesterday I was about to put the phones on and dig in to some pop, when she says "No play out loud, I want to hear it". ........sigh..... ok...... so I start playing along to some pop, some Gwen Stefani as it happens, (actually great for pop groove practise), and she groans and pulls a face. "I hate that stuff.... play something I like" 😣 IT'S MY TIIIIIIIIIIIIIME !!!!!!!!!!!! It's doing my head in.