casapete

Some do contain lemon and some don’t . Doesn’t seem to be much info kicking around regarding the exact content though, and the term ‘lemon oil’ is a very ambiguous one. Mrs CP is a clinical aromatherapist and uses pure lemon oils in her line of work, but I wouldn’t want to try using them on my basses. I think any of the reputable brands that are made for fretboards (Dunlop, D’Addario etc) will be fine. Like Frank Blank says above, I’ve been using mine for eons, in fact the small bottle I have must be at least 20 years old! Once a year applied sparingly does the trick.

Yup, that’s the one! Think it’s been cleaned up for DVD / Blu Ray release. Unfortunately doesn’t feature the acts on the VHS though, but brilliant nevertheless.

I’ve just got ‘The Legendary 1979 Concert ‘ featuring Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band. One of those rare occasions when the word ‘legendary’ is no exaggeration - the best concert I’ve watched for ages. The band are just amazing, and Bruce has boundless energy throughout. Jackson Browne and Tom Petty feature on one song too. Highly recommended.

I’ve got a gig on NYE at a seaside hotel. Playing with my guitarist mate and another friend on keys, backing a singer and doing some stuff on our own too. There’s a DJ on so will take the heat out of having to play too many sets which these sort of gigs can descend into! Money not amazing but am just glad to be out TBH, especially after last year being the first I didn’t gig in maybe 35 years! The hotel has a stage which prevents having to be too near the punters which helped my decision as well. Just wondering now if I’m going to fit into my dinner suit, it’s been a while.....🤵

I agree. However, I went to see Liverpool based singer songwriter Robert Vincent a couple of years ago, and he was using what looked like a 1970’s Eko acoustic guitar. ( I had a similar one back in the day, and it was very solidly built with a bolt on neck IIRC. ) And yes you’ve guessed - it sounded amazing in his hands. Maybe top notch pickup(s) had been fitted or some other trickery. Ive worked with a few classical players, and (like in other fields) there does exist the whole idea that a violin/cello etc can’t possibly be any good if it cost less than blah blah etc. As mentioned above, where that line is drawn is probably an ever changing thing, defined by rarity, desirability, tone and BS.

Used US Stingrays ( like a lot of other basses) do seem to have crept up over the last couple of years. You used to have your pick of a few around the £750 / £800 mark, whereas now they fetch around a grand. I guess this is largely due to them going up in price when bought new? Mexican Fenders are the same - Precisions / Jazzes as well as Strats and Teles were all around £300 s/h not long ago, now mainly £400 / £450, although some can be bought new for not that much more. Blame lockdown perhaps, or is it just good old supply and demand? Flip side of this is if you’re looking for a loud & heavy amp - they seem to be hanging around for ages at what were once considered to be giveaway prices. I sold an immaculate Fender 600 watt head and matching 6x10 cab during lockdown for next to nowt. 😕

I remember a few cottages in our village in the 60’s were without drinking water too, the residents had to go to a tap in the road near their dwellings. My bedroom window used to regularly ice up too, before we had efficient central heating. ( Just realised this is getting a bit Monty Python now - paper bag at t’bottom of the garden etc!). I sometimes worry that using electronic tuners may mean I lose the ability to tune up accurately by ear, so test myself every now and then. Can still do it within a cent or so, but electronic tuners just make life so much easier. Without a reference point ( or perfect pitch ) they ensure everyone is in tune with each other, so why wouldn’t you?

AWB still great - their singer is ex Tower of Power vocalist Brent Carter who has been with the band for around 10 years now. They sounded fantastic at Buxton.

Musicman - had a fair few Stingrays and Sterling’s as well as a couple of Subs. All USA models and all brilliant - well made, played great and with superb tone controls. I’ve just sold what is probably my last one though, can’t find one light enough for my ageing shoulder I’m afraid. Had a couple of great MM guitar amps too, top notch stuff from a great company. Fender - nothing really to add, other than for me they’ve made the definitive electric basses for nigh on 70 years. Still got my 63 Precision, but these days I mainly use a Japanese Precision Lyte. This bass has enabled me to keep playing long gigs into my 60’s without problems to my shoulder and back, and for that I’ll always be grateful. Gallien Krueger - Used many of their amps over the years, and still got my 800RB which (after my old SVT rig) is my favourite bass amp. Also currently have a 1001RB and an MB800. Never had any problems with their stuff, and can’t see me changing anytime soon. Barefaced - Had a Compact cab for years, and like my P Lyte it has enabled me to play gigs with much less hassle than when I had heavier bulkier brands. Love the fact they’re a UK company, and will be looking at maybe getting another of their cabs when funds allow. Oh yeh, honourable mentions also to Yamaha, Tech 21 and D’Addario.

I use a clip on tuner ( gasps from some folk on here...🤣). I don’t use any pedals at all, preferring to keep stuff simple and let the amp take care of tonal adjustments if needed. If I can’t get the amp/ cab to sound right without pedals then the rig isn’t for me. Understand some may need certain effects of course, especially in a covers band where it’s necessary, but all my gigs fortunately just require bass straight into amp sounds. (I did actually use a pedal on one dep gig earlier this year, borrowed an octave pedal off a mate as we did Peter Gabriel’s ‘Sledgehammer’. )

It’s only been open around 18 months, and situated on the first floor of the buildings on the West Pier in the harbour. I’ve played in Scarborough a lot over the years - before playing at The Lookout we played at The Tidesreach cafe on North Bay which was run by the same chap. Then used to do Thursdays at The Indigo Alley in town, with some fantastic players. The pub stated outside ‘ Real music and live ale’ , a great gig!

Played a small acoustic gig at one of my favourite venues last night - The Lookout on the Pier in Scarborough. The bistro venue was fully booked, and it's one of those gigs where everything is great - audience, staff, small house PA etc etc. Looks like we have a monthly residency there in 2022 so happy days. (The second picture below is what I can see behind me when playing!)

Although I agree that I could probably use the same bass and rig for my 4 different gigs, I choose to have different stuff just to ring the changes (and make me think they’re more suitable!) Main theatre band - Fender P-Lyte with GK 10001RB head and GK Neo 410 cab. Country band - Dano Longhorn, GK 800RB amp into BF Compact. Deps / functions - Fender Jazz bitsa, GK MB800 and BF Compact. Acoustic duo - Washburn AB20, either direct into Yamaha/Bose PA or Fender Rumble 100 combo. (All amps into PA via either Sansamp or using amp’s DI.)

Agree with Hellzero regarding possible causes. From my experience, passive basses don’t usually reduce in volume if there’s a fault, they are either working or not! Same goes for leads - crackling and intermittent on/off but not usually drop in volume. With active basses then batteries and circuit boards can cause issues like you describe. I’d get your amp looked over by a good tech, it seems the most likely suspect.

Now on Sky Arts, Phil Collins ‘Going back to Detroit’. Bob Babbit and other great players playing in the studio.

Charcoal toothpaste! Made by Colgate, Arm&Hammer as well as own brand versions by Morrison’s etc. Black paste but not sure how effective it would be for your pick guard.

I probably do mine around 4 times a year too, depending on amount of gigs obvs. Just replaced the first set since lockdown. Always love a fresh set of D’Addario EXLs. Somehow I don’t think players on here who use flats will be participating in this scheme though. 🤣

Needless to say UPS Customer Services at Dewsbury didn’t ring me at 9am today as they faithfully promised. After lots of emails / calls made by both me and the buyer of my bass this morning, UPS have just collected it. What boils my p*ss more than anything these days is the complete lack of communication, despite having the option of phone call / text / email - no excuse for not keeping the customer up to speed in my view. Sure, we all know the problems facing many companies with logistics at the moment, but all the more reason to keep people on side by letting them know what’s going on (or in my case not).

Guess it depends on usage as you point out. Maybe it could work if other band members / mates who play bass etc get involved too?

Happened the same to me today, only with UPS. Waited for them to arrive to collect a bass, supposedly between 8am and 1pm, no show. They then rang me to let me know it would be tomorrow, although couldn’t say when. Supposedly ringing me at 9am to give me a time. Not good.

It's obvious then - it's your sax player who's been stifling creativity...😆

A mixture for me too. Basses - USA (Fender, MMan), Japan (Fender), Korea (Washburn, Danelectro) Amps - USA (GK) China (Fender) Cabs - USA (GK), UK (Barefaced, Loud) Pedals - USA (Sansamp), Japan (Boss), China (Behringer) Cables - UK (obbm, Cleartone)

Got this email this morning - looks like a great idea. https://www.stringsdirect.co.uk/newsletter/preview/649/16535

It is just one of those great classic albums. Brilliant songs, vocals and musicians, and somehow doesn't sound it's age too. Definitely one of my favourite songwriters, she's written (often along with co-writer and ex-husband Gerry Goffin) so many memorable songs.

Think he made these before embarking on the solid state Sessionette range, which were / are good amps too. A friend of mine had the 15/30 valve combo, and I remember it sounded great. https://www.award-session.com/pdfs/Award-Session History0003.pdf Since obbm has retired, I will continue to use ClearTone cables from Award-Session. Fairly priced and use top quality components. I bought some from him maybe 20 years ago at a guitar show and they're still going strong. https://www.award-session.com/cleartone_cables.html Apologies for the slight derail OT.🙂