neepheid

That's pretty annoying (and I conceded that it was noteworthy if it was unplayable), but I appreciate your not extrapolating that out to cover the entire output of the whole factory.

I can only speak with clarity about my one recent G&L Tribute (an LB-100, bought in Dec 2021), but nothing springs to mind about ones I've had in the past. The only flaws I found were as follows: Furry nut slots - yeah, a bit untidy, I picked away the swarf because it bugged me. Shielding - fscking awful, partially daubed shielding paint in the control cavity. I lined it with copper tape. Knobs - I don't recall them being askew - I replaced them with flat tops because I think the dome tops look cheap - just a personal preference. No fit, finish or fretting issues on mine. As far as setup goes, I really don't care - I do my own setups anyway. I don't expect a bass to arrive set up for me so I don't think it's fair to list any setup issues in a critique of a newly arrived bass unless it was so far out of whack as to be unplayable.

A dangerous flirtation with failure (only within the context of this thread, of course!)

Ooh, that sounds good, what have you got? Hey! Wait a minute! Ahh, you almost had me.

F next year, a year off is more than enough! I will approach 2023 like I haven't learned a thing from this experience

Less than two months to go, who's still in?

Quite a few of our usual venues have given us dates for next year. Playing some places for the first time before the end of the year so hopefully will get some repeat bookings from that too. We haven't had a discussion about putting up prices, but it's a weekend warrior type thing, not a money spinner.

I can't put my finger on why I prefer older BBs versus the latest ones either. I had a BB434 but I didn't keep it, it didn't give me the same feeling as my older BBs (300, 350F, 450, 614). It's more than just the reverse P pickup (the 450 and 614 had the standard P pickup and it still felt like a BB), it's the body shape, the ergonomics, the aesthetics. The new ones seem a bit streamlined and homogenised to me. Can't explain it any better than that.

Teacher's pet

Classy - the John Player Special of basses.

I know, but I never learn...

Mmm, free beer.

Sorry, you asked about practice setup. I have two. Proper, head down practicing: Yamaha Sessioncake SC02, headphones, mobile phone or laptop for Spotify/other backing tracks/drum tracks etc. Lazy, audible practicing: Laptop, Bose Soundlink Mini bluetooth speaker, Epiphone Jack Casady unplugged - loud enough if the backing is not too high. Look ma, no wires!

Blind panic learning songs the night before a band rehearsal sums up my practice "routine". It is routine in the sense that it always happens

Lots of things in this world aren't necessary, that doesn't invalidate them. Getting back to a point raised by the OP - no, I'm not jealous of virtuosos. I'm too lazy to put in the amount of work required to acquire these skills and I'm comfortable with the concept of reaping what one sows. They've clearly put the hours in, I'm pleased for them to be pushing the boundaries that lazy bass luddites like me can't even fathom how to approach. If my reaction to such playing is cold, that's because frankly I'm a bit lost. I'm good at other stuff. I'm an expert in a different field. I'm OK at playing bass, which is a boatload better than the vast majority of the world, and as long as it's enough to keep me from getting sacked from bands for incompetence, job's a good 'un.

Careful what you blame for that, now.

The Mariana Trench of my talents continues to reveal new depths.

Can't slap, won't slap. Doesn't seem to have affected my membership of bands.

You have a formidable legacy to live up to, all the best with it.

In lieu of obbm, the last time I needed leads (short XLRs because I was fed up of hiding 3-5 metre ones when the connection was less than a metre away) I used https://www.designacable.com/

I think you took me too seriously. Sorry my attempt at humour missed the mark - you can't win 'em all.

Yeah, ad nauseum Audiophile - someone who talks so much about listening to music you wonder if they have any time to actually listen to music.

Yeah, because it never happened, we've always been at war with Eastasia etc.

Hmph, don't get me started on "promoters"

Pillar drill + forstner bits. Never had a problem with breakout if the headstock is clamped to a scrap bit of wood underneath.