neepheid

Yes, but did you pay for it 100% yourself or was it part financed my others?

Umm, look where I live. There's the internet, couriers and road trips. That's a dangerous false sense of security you've got there. My top tip - stay the flock out of of Facebook Marketplace. That has been the source of many a "damn, that's a good price, and it's only 3-5 hours away..." shenanigans for me.

He's out. He bought it with his own money.

Also would just like to say that I am your compere and organiser for the year, but I'm not the boss. It's a trial by jury when potential transgressions happen, I'm just here to smack a gavel and shout "ORDER" every so often...

This raises an interesting question which I think needs some debate - and possibly an addition/clarification to the rules. I will stick my tuppence worth in, but I'm not the boss - everyone is free to chime in and contribute to the evolution of the rules (even you @Sean as the petitioner). My take is that "band" acquisitions shouldn't count. My reasoning is that you only own a part share of the item(s), it is a precarious part ownership (if you leave the band, you'll (or at least you should) get cashed out of your share and no longer own part of it), sometimes it's not even you driving the decision to buy band stuff, there may be times when you thought the purchase was unnecessary but were overruled (in a dictatorship band) or outvoted (in a democratic band). If the gear in question is "band" property (as in paid for from a band kitty of some kind) then you don't really own it, the "band" does. Of course, "band" acquisitions need to be things the whole band uses - lights, monitors, mixing desk, subs, backdrops/stage dressing etc. I'm sure some items will be contentious and I look forward to some twists and turns in the future. There's no such thing as a "band bass" or a "band bass amp", so dinna start with your p!sh Happy to hear other people's take on it.

Sounds good to me: 1) it's repairs 2) you engaged Jon's services last year, so it is considered 2025 business, doesn't matter if you actually pay for it this year. But: If the scope of works agreed in 2025 changes in 2026 to include any upgrades/additions, it's a fail.

Special effects budget has been slashed this year, sorry

It's that time of year again, the slate is wiped clean and it's time to pledge to abstain from the capitalist consumption of bass gear (or any music gear at all, if you're going hardcore). I would like to thank @Richard R for his sterling work during 2025, and for these well crafted rules which I will be copying wholesale The RULES Tier 1 Challenge During the calendar year of 2026 (01/01/26 00:00 - 31/12/26 23:59:59): - No bass gear purchases/trades whatsoever, be that amps, pedals, basses, accessories. Tier 2 challenge (should you play other instruments, engage in music production etc) - As above, but extended to your other musical gear Allowances in both tiers: - Consumables such as Strings (sticks, skins, reeds, batteries etc) Buying a set of new strings that happen to be attached to a bass is out. - Maintenance/setups that only involve work on existing aspects of your bass (ie no purchasing a preamp to add to it) - Breakages. If something breaks through no unusual intervention of your own, and is unable to be repaired, you may replace it. - Already committed purchases. If you have purchased something in 2025, you are able to take delivery of it within 2026. If you have put down a deposit on something before committing to this, which then requires a final payment within 2026, that single payment permitted. - Genuinely unsolicited presents, which you had no involvement in choosing. (So going out with your partner to play a bunch of bases, choosing one, and then them buying it for you would be a fail. But we would all applaud and cheer you and your partner and want to know what you got and why!) - Educational purchases, ie tutorial books, lessons, anything that furthers your playing is permitted. Buying a proper usb sound card so your on-line lessons work better would probably be OK. Buying one because you might have on-line lessons but haven’t boked any is definitely out. (A bit like the cops overlooking you speeding to take your wife to hospital to give birth, but they wouldn’t overlook you speeding to a date where you might get her pregnant!) Amendments: Without setting precedent for future years: 1.Normal cables are allowed this year, even if they aren't replacing breakages. (Wireless or any non-conventtional systems aren't) 2.Purchases made with music-store specific loyalty points are allowed. We could get tighter with the definition, but let's just allow if for now. (But I couldn't use the Amazon points I am racking up on work travel and hotels to buy a set of machine heads) 3.Asking for gift vouchers for a present then spending them on gear is still a fail when you spend them. Straps, plectrums and sundries are still OK. Grey areas: - PA equipment has been a Tier 2 fail, but if it’s for a band you don’t play in but do sound for then we can probably argue it’s OK. - There used to be a convention that things not in the signal path didn’t count. So straps, stands and the like were allowed. I'm cool with that - what do others think? - Parts for bitsas I think are out. MOST IMPORTANTLY This is a bit of fun. The idea is just to make us think "Do I really need it?" before buying something, and to maybe focus on playing more than purchasing. Nobody will get punished for buying another Fender, or even a Ric, it's your time and money to do what you wish with. So see how long you last, enjoy seeing how far you and others get, and let's try to keep the economy flatlined for as long as possible. The runners and riders will appear here: @neepheid @Suburban Man @knirirr @Machines @Richard R @Mrbigstuff @Merton @bass_dinger @Quatschmacher @BassAgent @Geek99 @Chienmortbb @barkin @Velarian @SimonK @Downunderwonder @Maude @Mokl @Jean-Luc Pickguard @Franticsmurf @lozkerr @tauzero @msb @FiFoFum @fergs40 @TimR @Mudpup @TrevorR @Grooverjr

Next year's thread appearing soon...

Happy birthday to you too! Well, never say never. If an old codger like me can still do it...

Issuing an album with The Inevitable Teaspoons. This entails me learning how to mix tracks. Have dipped a toe in the water but will have to do a lot more next year to get things moving. Still got tracks to record, so it's not just down to me, but if I don't buck up my ideas then I will end up being the blocker to it being released, and I don't want that. Lack of skills is a blocker, but that can only be rectified with practice, so it's time to stop pr!ck!ng about and get on with it! Practice more at home would also probably be a good thing. To that end, I do have a small amp (Joyo Vibe Cube) on order which should be a lot more immediate, a small enough unit to have out in the living room all the time ready to just plug in and play, instead of the rigmarole of taking my TC head out of its bag, draping cables everywhere for power/bass/headphones/aux in, being headphones only unless I also dig out a cab etc.

Are you planning on dying early or something? 43 == twilight years? I hope not, I'm 50 tomorrow, and I have absolutely zero intention of scaling back operations.

You may recall that earlier this year I took delivery of a Fazley "Hot Rod" bass. It was £84 at the time I bought it, and I was thoroughly impressed with it, especially considering how little it cost. It has of course since been modified - if my experience is anything to go by, expect comically bad pickups. Well, they've got to save money somewhere. Thankfully that's easily fixed for not too much scratch if you go to Warman or Tonerider and the likes. I stuck a Tonerider Duke in mine and it's a fantastic bass. I love playing it live, so simple, just play the damn thing, it's got naff all controls anyway.

Aye aye min, I'm not a mod - simply spending time here damn near every day isn't enough to rise to those exalted heights! I'll see you later on for the fitba?