bass_dinger

Thank you for sharing that. I am so used to bass guitars and my Boss TU2 footpedal, and my 30 year old acoustic guitar without an inbuilt tuner, that I hadn't realised that acoustic guitar technology had moved on. @Jack ignore my anachronistic comments about tuners. But i think that the guitarist should go old-school with a 1970s beard, and a silver jumpsuit.

For myself I have managed with a small Ashdown Acoustic Radiator - very powerful for the size. There are a few on eBay for around £130 right now, and Ashdown happily service them. Avoid anything with damaged speakers, as replacements were no longer available when I last contacted Ashdown. Some Acoustic Radiators have a DI out, so your guitarist could just turn down the amplifier and use the DI out and stage monitors if he is feeling bold. However, given his lack of on-stage experience, I would not recommend it. He can also use the Acoustic Radiator at home, to get used to the concept of stage volume, of adjusting the sound of the amplifier, and of identifying and removing feedback. Add to that a tilt-back amplifier stand to point the sound at his ears, and a chorus pedal to soften the sound a little. Cables in various colours (so that your guitarist can easily set up: "the long orange one from the guitar, into the chorus pedal; the short green one from chorus to the amplifier.") Maybe a breakfast-bar stool, if he wants to sit down. A guitar stand for the guitar, because it's important to set it down without laying it on the floor, or for when he swaps out instruments. As for which guitar to use, let him test them all with the band first. It may be that (for example) his hand-made custom shop twin neck acoustic is less stage-friendly than a cheaper Tanglewood. He will also want to learn that the rich bass and soaring trebles of his guitars when played solo, may not be necessary in a band setting. Let us know how he gets on! Robert Edit. He will require a footpedal tuner, even if he has a tuner in his guitars. That's because the footpedal tuner can act as a mute switch, to ensure that the guitar's sound can be switched off to the PA, not just when tuning but to kill sudden feedback, or to swap out guitars.

The Uke bass is a very different instrument to other basses. It would be good to have a separate subsection for it.

I rather like that. Wistful, but positive.

A helpful basschatter shared this glossary back in 2020.

The neatness of an office, the tools of a workshop, and the accessibility of a spare bedroom. It's a good space to use - not just the desk, but also the whole room.

Not enough space? You could install a model railway on the table and still have enough room for a four-piece jazz combo on the floor space!

2026 is my only hope.... For now, I am so far Out that I am coming back In the other way round....

When can I sign up for the 2026 Challenge?

Now, with two PC monitors, a self-built rack unit (which also serves as a monitor riser), a new Behringer UMC1820 interface, and a new-to-me Behringer rack tuner. Those rack mounted units keeps the desk clear.

It could indeed be dirt. This video suggested that I can take the keyboard apart, and clean it. However, I am not sure that I have the courage to try it, yet.

Here's a basschatter who won't be entering the 2026 Gear Abstinence Challenge!

The case against Michael Mason was due to be heard at Leicester Crown Court, at 10:30am on 26th November. As the case moved from Leicester Magistrate's Court, to the Crown Court, it now has a additional and new reference (underlined, below, from the court listing below). "10:30am Michael MASON Leic Crown Sitting at Leic Mags Court #15 U20256478 (33JJ0821825)", taken from here https://courtlistings.co.uk/crown-court-listings/leicester#past-section and available for the next 10 days. The case has no status update against it, so I called the court for an update. I was told that the hearing was listed for a plea, and trial preparation; that Mr Mason entered a Not Guilty plea; and that the case has been adjourned until February 2026. I also asked the clerk whether I was permitted to share the above information. Yes - it is all a matter of public record.

Far be from me to persuade @SumOne to buy more gear and multiple keyboards... However, the idea of a simpler home piano, and a more capable stage piano, and a compact "workstation" keyboard, all doing different roles, would certainly appeal to me. In terms of what to buy first, the family can probably play the Nord at home, and you can take it to gigs too. However, the ES-60 (or similar) perhaps won't be robust enough for gigging, and may pick up knocks - not ideal for a piece of home furniture. So, perhaps keep the MPC Key 37, find a suitable secondhand Nord Electro 6 73, sell the CK-61, and finally buy a ES-60 at your leisure.

For me, I need a compact solution, to fit on a desk just 120cm wide. I need a weighted 88-key keyboard too, and the Kawai ES60 was highly rated. It also fits on (or over) my desk, as it is just under 130cm wide. The only issue is that the ES-60 has only USB midi and I have already invested a tenner in three 5-pin DIN midi cables . . .