tauzero

I have a 5-string Kala SUB, 20" scale, which comes with Pahoehoes on it. It's been on the back burner for a little while after I initially tuned it up, but I've now started up with it again and spent the last week or ten days tuning it at least once a day. Strings finally seem to be settling down, but they've been even worse at settling than the silicone strings on my Ashbory were. So I'm looking around for possible alternatives. I don't want any of the metal-wound strings (nylon core or metal core) as they don't have the same tonal character as the rubber ones. The Silver Thumpers are interesting but, although Aquila tell me they make a 5-string set, I haven't been able to find one. And Thundergut 5-string sets are for the 23" scale of the current Kalas, not the former 20" scale. So, any suggestions for alternatives to the Pahoehoes? Does anyone know if Thunderguts will work on a 5-string?

I was on a cross-channel ferry many years ago where the on-ship entertainment was a duo with either a very limited drum machine or very little knowledge of music, who did "Delilah" in 4/4. I listened to it with a sort of horrified fascination.

My wife used it when she got a tattoo, many years ago. I suddenly got a rash. Turned out I was allergic to the bloody stuff.

There's a guy in a blues band in Birmingham who can't use his right hand (I presume from a stroke), but continues to play bass by using hammer-ons and pull-offs with his left hand. If I'd closed my eyes, I would never have realised.

I think it's 18 albums with H and four with Fish. I'm taking a little break from them though as the Marillion tribute band I was in, which was rehearsing towards the first gig, decided that they would dispense with my services (I don't think they yet have a replacement).

I'm the same. I periodically think I CBA with it any more, then get there, get all set up, start playing, and it's good again. My most recent extra smile was on Tuesday, when we did a guest slot at an open mic night with an eye on getting a few gigs at the pub in question. Our percussionist normally does a harmonica solo in "Three little birds", but just as he came up to it, realised he didn't have the gob-iron in question with him, so I stepped in and did a kazoo solo.

Just the one, and I've never heard him play - a Warwick JD Thumb. JD = John Davis. The best four-string I've ever played.

Everybody's got to start somewhere...

Sei Flamboyant 5 unlined headless fretless with a shallow lightweight body and Roland hex pickup built in (would be nice if Roland did pickups for specific numbers of strings). Although, as the idea of a signature model is that it sells loads, it would probably be more sensible to go for a Status Stealth to a roughly similar spec, as they should be able to turn out basses quicker than Martin Peterson.

There's another alternative - two feet at the front and one foot in the centre at the rear. Triangles are stable (hence three-legged milking stools).

Three to point out that the extended range light bulb isn't just about the infra-red.

And too many headstocks.

Six to debate whether a knowledge of electrical theory would enhance one's ability to change the bulb.

I started on guitar, and still play a bit. I think I'd keep with my original path, guitar then bass, but not taken the odd year of three out here and there, and been a bit more positive about switching to bass - I still nursed ambitions of being a guitar hero, and it took me a little while to start acknowledging to myself that I wasn't actually that good.

Line 6 aren't exactly bending over backwards to provide information, are they?

Jobcentre. Or behind the counter at McDonalds.

I read that second sentence and thought "no, you don't chill port, that's just white wine". Oh dear.

Same here, and a Fender Precision, and then find a convenient cellar and lock them all up there forever.

Tecamp Puma 900 is also worth looking at if you can find one second-hand.

Which is why I didn't protest. At all. If we finish up doing more sophisticated gigs than pubs with an audience literally at arm's length then I'll suggest using my gear again.

I found SRM450s made a quite reasonable noise but I had terrible reliability problems with mine. Sold them and bought RCF ART 732s (I think) instead. For some reason, my main band are using the percussionist's Peavey mixer/amp and Behringer passive speakers instead.

How well does that work over wireless?

My main calling is rock, across a fairly broad spectrum. However, I've done quite a few years in a ceilidh band (I still do a barn dance once a year with an ever-varying scratch band which I just turn up and play with), and my current main band is a rather eclectic covers band doing a wide variety of 80s (new romantic, punk, ska, reggae) which not only would I normally play, I wouldn't normally listen to it either. It's fun and we entertain - it's always nice to see a positive reaction.

I wonder how much denser than an untreated hardwood like maple that would be.

Eee, us old ones had it bad.