Mudpup

Or maybe "Hi Kenny, doing much for the next few weeks?" "Sorry Pete, I'm a bit busy watching Strictly and Eastenders" Hmnn - maybe we'll give Zak a shout and see if he picks up.....

I've always liked the Gator Pro Go bags. Tons of storage, tough as old boots and great protection

This was a contributing factor to why i packed the band in a few months ago. We had a LWB van full of PA, lights, drums and random bits of guitar gear which travelled to every gig with the drummer. I would always be at the gig to meet him and we had a 7pm target for everyone to arrive to help unload. Everything was in wheeled cases and we had a ramp but it was still heavy work. The guitarist was incapable of turning up much before 7.45 wherever the gig was - not for any personal reasons, he just didn't do on time (unless his kids needed a lift or he had a work appointment of course) The problem wasn't helped by the singer deciding to travel to every gig with said guitarist as he only lived a mile away "and it saved taking 2 cars". Consequently it was almost always myself and the drummer unloading the whole lot and it was really getting up my nose. They arrived one evening at 8pm (for a 9pm start) to find me and the drummer sat on the wall outside the venue - Whats up? Are you both ok they said. Yep, abs fine thank you we said - just waiting for you two to unload the van. Icy silence......

Reality check....is it really going to save the venue? If it's genuinely due to increasing costs and declining numbers it's not going to save it. One single gig where they've saved a few hundred quid by getting a freebie is not going to turn a venue around. Morally it's nice to be able to pay something back if it's to help a genuine venue but it's unlikely to stave off the inevitable

The Cort A series basses are amazing. Both in value and playability. Nice scoop....

Yet another glowing review for Gary's luthier skills.... He replaced the Tone Pump in my bass with an LHZ one. Quick turnround, easy to deal with and lovely to have a chat with too! Thanks Gary 😁

The Dutch Tax authority is after them according to this. They'll be the first to get paid if there's any value left in the business. It'll be the staff next in line and suppliers and creditors will be at the bottom of the list. It's interesting they say that C19 caused them issues - I thought most hobby businesses did very well whilst everyone was stuck at home. You couldn't buy any home recording kit anywhere as it was all sold out. I guess the lack of gigs would have cost them some strings and utility sales though. And then they say a fire in 2023 was a problem - surely they were insured for that?

Suppliers can be a mercenary bunch. If it's a choice between A - kissing all your money goodbye or B - kissing all your money goodbye and maybe make a bit of profit back by continuing to supply some will take the second option. Especially with a company capable of doing some turnover with them.

I have a feeling it will pop up again under another name in the same group and leaving all the supplier debt with GAK

You have to cease trading i believe even if its just temporary until the process is underway

A friend in the biz just told me that GAK in Brighton has just gone pop...... Sad times

Snagged a gig bag from Lee All amazing thanks, arrived real quick Recommended!

Thank you. Susie was a borrowed singer that night and she's awesome. It was the first time we had played the song as well. Just learned at home and hoped for the best at the gig. Worked ok, I'm really quite proud of it

It's hard to describe. If I played harder with a pick they sort of got less dynamic and didnt open out . It was through headphones so the difference was quite pronounced. The Barts through the same phones and played the same way just got bigger and gnarlier. They were less polite I suppose. The A4 Plus can be found used for about £400 and is a bargain. The Ultras are still quite pricey used I think.

I tried out the Cort A4 Ultra with the Fishman pickups a couple of years ago. Absolutely loved the bass itself - the neck was perfect for me (kind of jazzy width but with a flat d profile that felt sublime and instantly comfortable) the bass felt light on a strap and the body shape is really comfortable. Just didn't quite gel with the pickups/preamp though. I thought I would but they seemed to have a bit of a compressed dynamic to them. The sales guy suggested I try the next model down with Bartolinis in it (A4 Plus FMMH) and I ended up buying that one instead. It was an amazing bass and I would have another one like a shot. The sound was really alive and just worked for me - even though people slate the Barts I really liked them in that bass. They seemed to have a more open sound than the Fishmans. Here it is below in action...you'll see what I mean as the bass is quite high in the mix even though it's just camera phone footage in a pub