fretmeister

3 times per week for an hour is the wrong approach. You'll retain far more practising for a shorter time but on more days - particularly for reading where the most vital element is doing it all the time. Just like any other language. 15 minutes per day, every day will be far more beneficial. Don't confuse learning music with learning a tune. They are different things. Find somewhere that you can leave your gear and a stand set up all the time so you only have to switch it on. Then read every day. All your individual aims will happen automatically as you read different types of music You'll play different genres, different key and time signatures, get used to where all the Bs are on your fretboard and deal with phrasing, time and groove just by reading music. If you've never read then a basic book on sight reading such as Stuart Clayton's Beginner one is a good start - then something like this: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1848493584/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1 They are short phrases of a couple of lines each. Very easy at the beginning, betting gradually more difficult. It's a Double Bass book - but just ignore the bow information. You'll improve massively in just the first week. I spent the first 20 years of playing not being able to read a note. Now I'm playing in an educational trust jazz ensemble and I'm sight reading (ish!!) new pieces every week at rehearsal.The above process was recommended to me by the music teachers at the trust. It works and it only needs 15 minutes per day.

Lovely. Fernandes usedto make some excellent guitars.

It's definitely a marketing fail if we notice a Ninja.

The DG M900 will do it. I use mine in a big band. I turn on the drive but have it really really low so adds a bit of wooly thickness and then EQ to the room.

Depends entirely on how often the rehearsals are, and how good the gig pay is. And of course whether the other members actually prepare at home so rehearsals go smoothly. That being said - at the moment I get annoyed I have to travel for 15 minutes! But that's because rehearsal is on a Saturday morning and I'd prefer to be in bed.

That looks great! Let me know when you get bored and want to sell it!

I'm quite happy with Class D, and I only ever judge an amp with my ears and not the spec sheet - I was just curious as to whether it was some new tech that was worth thinking about. I've never thought the 500W heads were under powered, but as the 800W is only about another £60 it got me wondering about it. I've got a Tecamp Puma 300 and a Darkglass M900 and I seem to be using the Tecamp more often and then using pedals if I want dirt. The DG does do a great clean too, but I'm wondering if I fancy a change.

Aside from the BSW I use the MXR filter into a Brown Dog Gated Fuzz. that is glorious!

Digitech BSW.

Can't see any mention of a VM version.

Just heard from Bass Direct TT4 will be £1475, and there is a 5 string at £1599 TM4 at £1495 and the TM5 at £1625 That sounds pretty damn good to me!

Are they hum cancelling? Not actually fussed, just curious. My favourite true singles are the Aguilar 60s wind.

I'm looking at the Little Marcus models. The 250W and the 500W don't mention anything really, but the specs on the 800W and 1000W mention a MPT power section. Is it marketing crap or is it something worth considering? is the 500W A/B or D? I seem to be moving away from overdriven sounds in my old age!

I've not tried the black labels yet. I've had Delano and Huessell (sp?) in the Sadbergs I've had.

I know a luthier who was once asked to repair an aged bass.... To remove a ding. Customer wanted only the official dings and not a real one. I make no further comment!

Plenty of guitars as well as basses have it. Be difficult to age a graphite bass in that manner! But then again EBMM and Ricky don't do it, presumably because their bosses either don't like the look (even though they have been around long enough) or they don't want to add a grand to the cost of the instruments to do the job right. It's still just another finish.

I don't understand the hate they get. It's just another finish option. Buyers either like it or they don't. No different to not liking sunburst or Nuclear Yellow Ibanez colours. But it takes longer to do, so it costs more. Green with pink spots wouldn't get such a reaction despite it probably appealing to even less people than an aged finish.

Specs from their facebook page: California SL TT4, blackburst SL = SuperLight Body: ceder Neck & fingerboard: Norway maple Pickups: Black Label Electronics: 2Bd EQ Aluminum machine heads, control plate & knobs Weight: 2,995 kg Will be matt finishes (and maybe aged) only as apparently Cedar isn't dense enough for high gloss. Looks very nice to me!

Sandberg told me prices are up to the shops, so I’ve sent a message to BD to ask. looks very nice though! I really want to try one.

Easy!