jrixn1

Can you use the rss feed (https://www.basschat.co.uk/discover/all.xml/) and filter it with something like https://siftrss.com/ ?

I played a mixed set for a while: rounds on the E and B, and flats on the A, D, and G. I can't remember for sure which brands, but it might have been Yamaha rounds and Fender 9050 flats. They blended well, both tonally and volume-wise - the latter through chance really, rather than anything I did.

Never used them, but I do really like Dunlop flats, which are are similarly-priced at £36.99 posted for the 5-string set, from https://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/Flat_wound_strings.html

Yeah, it quickly gets unclear. I'm no expert, but the above is general guidance for "rehearsals, training, pre-production and performance" - so that should cover gigs. But then there are more guideines to consider depending on the type of gig. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/performing-arts-given-green-light-to-resume-outdoors-on-july-11 says "Performing arts can now take place outdoors from 11 July with a socially distanced audience present" For (indoor) pubs/restaurants/bars, there are some general guidelines in https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5eb96e8e86650c278b077616/working-safely-during-covid-19-restaurants-takeaway-delivery-230720.pdf , which says: "Venues should not permit indoor performances, including drama, comedy and music, to take place in front of a live audience [...] All venues should ensure that steps are taken to avoid people needing to unduly raise their voices to each other. This includes, but is not limited to, refraining from playing music or broadcasts that may encourage shouting, including if played at a volume that makes normal conversation difficult." For theatres and music venues, there is: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/audiences-back-in-theatres-from-1-august which says that they can re-open but with restricted capacity etc. Update: apparently this is "postponed until 15 August at the earliest"; this postponement also includes wedding celebrations up to 30 people. To me, it seems that both the general guidance (e.g. no non-professional singing/wind/brass) and the venue-specific guidance (e.g. venue type, indoors/outdoors) should be taken into account. So, a professional husband-and-wife instrumental guitar duo giving a quiet recital outdoors is clearly ok; whereas a non-professional 10-piece punk choir accompanied by a trumpet player and a clarinetist, none of whom live together, performing inside a pub at such loud volume levels that audience members must raise their voices, is definitely not allowed. I guess most bands fall somewhere in the middle.

According to https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19/performing-arts#arts-5-1 , section 4.1: Singing, wind, and brass is limited to professionals ("i.e. for work purposes only"), each social distancing 3m. Other instruments: non-professionals: same guidelines as meeting people outside your household, i.e. outdoors: up to six people or up to two households; indoors: up to two households. professionals: use additional social distancing, barriers, get private testing, etc.

They are great; I had one, I loved it, but ended up selling it (because it wasn't a 5-string) - but kind of regret it a bit now. 1. Not sure, as I never adjust volume knob from full. 2. I think you'll be ok. Mine was around 4kg, which I believe to be typical, but wood density varies between each individual sample... buy online and you can send it back if you are unfortunate to get a particularly heavy one. 3. Mine balanced well. The thing about these current Yamaha BB is that the tuners are not great - I had two of them (434 and 735A) where a tuner went loose and started to rattle; perhaps a coincidence, but across the 30 or so basses I've owned over the years, this issue has previously only happened to me on one other bass ever - but then twice on these Yamahas. Googling it seems that I am not the only one - so be prepared either to dab some fine superglue into the tuner ear, or upgrade to better quality ones. Relating back to your question about balance - you could take the opportunity to upgrade to hipshot ultralites (or similar). But like I said, I didn't find there to be a balance issue in the first place.

Yep, look out for a Fender Rumble 500 combo. In fact, here's one: https://www.gumtree.com/p/guitar-bass-amplifiers/quick-sale-fender-rumble-v3-500-/1379640576 £360, and he even says he will drive up to one hour from Newmarket. (NB I don't know the seller... do your own checks of course)

Good prices on some other basses too; a couple I noticed in particular: Maruszczyk Jake, £899 https://www.bax-shop.co.uk/right-handed-bass-guitar/maruszczyk-jake-c4p-natural-electric-bass-guitar Lakland Skyline 44-64 PJ, £885 https://www.bax-shop.co.uk/right-handed-bass-guitar/lakland-skyline-44-64-custom-pj-candy-apple-red-laurel-fingerboard-electric-bass-guitar

Always good to hear both sides.

To me it seem the webpage is partly an article about flatwound strings, and partly an Amazon affiliate landing page; the prices shown are presumably just whatever some various sellers' prices are set to today.

Thanks for making this thread sharing your experience and I hope you manage to resolve this one way or another. I had a Maruszczyk Jake (bought used) and it was really lovely instrument; but after reading Adrian's replies here, there's now absolutely no way I would ever order a new Maruszczyk bass.

The current ones are pine but previously I think they were basswood or alder. I don't know if pine is less dense than alder?

I'm not sure if you bought it new from a retailer or used from a private seller. If new, you can send it back for a refund for any reason you like. You'll have to pay the return postage but the retailer's refund will include the original outbound postage cost.

Rehearsing increasing the risk of transmission, regardless of whether you're a professional or not - but it also allows the working musician to do what they need to do to earn a living, with all the benefits which come with that, both to the individual (does not starve/get evicted) and to society (tax revenue etc). So it's a balancing act between the increased risk vs increased benefit. In the case of the non-professional group, you have the same increased risk, but with no corresponding increase in benefit. (BTW I'm not judging anyone who does or doesn't choose to rehearse; like the OP I'm just trying to make sense of the guidelines as written.)

I agree that it's not completely clear. Compared to going to the cinema, I suppose the government feel there's additional risk of transmission particularly from singing or the playing of wind/brass instruments. Looking at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19/performing-arts#arts-5-2 it seems that singing and playing wind/brass instruments should be limited to professionals, with extended social distancing (3 metres if "face-to-face and without mitigations"), and then (contradicting itself), "avoiding singing face-to-face even when following the required distance".

N.B. The above guidelines are for non-professional musicians, as a rehearsal would count as "socializing". If however you're a professional musician rehearsing for work purposes, then the guidelines from https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19/performing-arts apply, which are more like workplace guidelines. In which case, in summary yes you can rehearse - but read that doc.

Or to put it another way: If your group is from one or two households: you can gather indoors or outdoors If your group is from more than two households: you cannot gather indoors you can gather outdoors up to a maximum of six people.

According to the govt guidelines, no you cannot. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-outbreak-faqs-what-you-can-and-cant-do/coronavirus-outbreak-faqs-what-you-can-and-cant-do Search that page for any mention of "indoors" and you'll see that they repeat the two-household rule everywhere.

There are various "the box" brand speakers, passive and active; I guess you've got one of the active ones. If you're already happy, then no you don't need to buy anything else. I do all my recording and live gigs without a bass head. I have a pre-amp pedal with basic EQ (which you have the equivalent in your Mackie). I don't really use much adjustment though since I enjoy the sound of my bass already "as is". Then from there straight into a powered speaker (not a "the box", but a different brand - but the concept is the same). I used to have a bass head but I prefer my current system without one.

Which section is in 5/5?

Unscrew the control panel and examine the back of the jack socket. It should have one longer "leg" with no wires connected to it. Bend that leg in gently with your finger, just a little bit, so that when a cable is inserted, it will make a firmer connection.

It's a "prize competition". https://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/for-the-public/Fundraising-and-promotions/Commercial-schemes/Prize-competitions.aspx If you have any doubts whatsoever about trustworthiness, why not instead use a big-name online casino and stick £5 on the roulette wheel; keep going until you lose, or you have won enough to buy a bass.

https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?geo=GB&q=pickguard,scratchplate

See https://www.talkbass.com/threads/scrap-lumber-bass-vs-alder-bass-can-you-tell-the-difference.743932/