bass_dinger

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 . . .

I just 5 minutes ago spoke with Rose Morris (the shop in Denmark Street) to ask if they stocked the Kawai ES60, to upgrade my old Kurzweil. They do - and I was also offered the option of Roland pianos (two doors down in the same street) and Yamahas (5 minutes walk away, at the main Yamaha store at 152-160 Wardour Street Soho London W1F 8YA). So, perhaps Denmark Street would be a good starting place for @SumOne?

Just to add, that my initial few months of lessons were spent undoing bad techniques and habits. I am currently frustrated by how unmusical I am on the piano. So, if you take piano lessons, do not be surprised to feel that you are going backwards, in terms of skills and ability to play. However, I am now at the stage of being able to improvise stuff without thinking about it. That's because the lessons have given me the necessary technique.

For me, it was worth it (in spite of my occasional grumpiness about things on this thread). I have benefitted from the discipline of forcing myself to work on aspects that I struggle with; of playing stuff that is initially beyond me; of getting ready for a gig wherein the audience (of one) will not just listen to me, but assess me. Again, for me, I was not very good at teaching myself the piano - I could not muster the ability to independently move the fingers on both hands, until I started lessons in August 2024. (45 years prior, I had learned to play a two manual organ; 15 years ago, we had a piano in the house. In spite of all that, I still couldn't manage an independent left hand, so I started lessons and passed Grade 1 piano seven months later). Importantly, I feel that there is a difference between the lessons, and the syllabus, and the exams. The syllabus requires that I (for example) play a D minor scale with both hands, perhaps using the recommended fingerings; or play three of 48 pieces; or listen to and sing back a phrase. The Grade exam will test how well the candidate does so. And the lessons teach how to work on the syllabus (and perhaps, how to pass the Grade exam). So, the Grades don't teach one how to play the piano - the lessons do. In conclusion, I could have had lessons, and ignored the exams. However, after 45 years of bumbling incompetence and failure, it felt like the right time to try something different - and that was Piano lessons, with Grades. It worked for me.

... or Air on a G string, by Bach. And Pachelbel's Canon. Sampled dozens of times by modern musicians, and he practically invented looping! But will he get a mention? Not a chance. Sķy Arts, pull your socks up, and make a programme for basschatters. "My 10 favourite pickup windings". "The Story of the Plectrum".

Depends on the instrument, and my commitments. Bass? Hardly at all now, because I rarely play with others. However, I have a gig mid-December, and I am working on the material, to be stage-ready for Sunday's rehearsal. So, I expect to put in about 3 hours over the weekend. For piano, I practice more regularly (because the lessons are my weekly gig, and I need to be ready, for them). That regular practice amounts to perhaps 30 to 60 minutes a day, and I am seeing a measurable improvement simply because I have targets and objectives.

This chap? https://www.thedoublebassroom.com/ Hmmm. Five-string double basses for sale....

Martin sold me a rack tuner - very reasonably priced, inexpensive postage and packing and very speedy delivery. He was politely forgiving of my delay regarding payment. Great seller.

With 48 different Grade 3 pieces to choose from, and a World Of Books account, I have found a few pieces that are both part of the syllabus, and great fun too. In other news, my neighbour's daughter is one Grade ahead of me, and has the same piano teacher. Dad handed me her now-redundant Grade 3 books. So, I have 12 pieces from the syllabus to try. I will nevertheless be working on other things, such as some pieces by Bach. As for scales, I will give them a miss for now. However, if I carry on at the current rate, I will be taking Grade 5 piano by March 2027, so should l want to aim for the Theory exams soon?

I use them on both of my 5 string Washburn XB925 basses (fretted, and fretless). The fretted bass came with a set, which I liked so much that I got a set for the matching fretless. I liked the grip and bite of them being round wounds, but slightly smoother because they have been compressed. A nicely tight string, but not so much tension that I have to fight with them. On the fretted, there is a good low B, solid sound across all of the strings, and a lot of resonance transmitted through the neck. The fretted seems to have thinner gauge strings on it, and I am still getting used to the instrument following a recent neck adjustment to give me some mwah. They were difficult to find - my fretless set were ordered from Holland, I think. And the set already on the fretted came with the bass, from Hungary. I am not a connoisseur of bass strings. I have never tried the main brands. So, I can't really compare them to other brands. However, I like the SIT strings that I have. Ooh, hang on! One of my Washburn XB500s has a D'Addario low B (0.130", I think). I prefer the SIT low B to the D'Addario.

This, from my piano teacher: "Congratulations Robert on passing your grade two piano exam with a mark of 117. Just missed a merit. Here's to grade three. Onwards and upwards. " So, I have passed, but I am inexplicably grumpy about the whole experience. I am already working on the grade 3 pieces. I will spend two weeks on each piece and then move on to another piece, regardless of whether the music teacher feels that I have used the right amount of staccato or legato in Bar 27. For now, I want to play music, not work toward the exam. Yours grumpily, Robert

I only now spotted this thread. I have a Workingmans 12 - I assume that it is an early one, as it has a 3-digit serial number. I used it at church - 250 seat capacity, drum kit. Although we have a PA, and the SWR WM 12 has a DI out into that PA, most of the sound was from the stage. It sounded a bit breathless and shouty because it was working hard to fill the room, and to manage the low B. However, the gig didn't demand lots of trouser-flapping bass - instead, it gave me the musicality and definition that I needed It remains a great amp, which I still use for gigs. No plans to sell it on And to think that I am only up the road from you - I am in Swanley, albeit 6 years too late. Sorry that I couldn't give you a demonstration when you were searching.

So, the answer seems to be "get something with more power, and more bass-presence, and turn it down at home" That makes sense - certainly, it is was what I did. My Laney 30 watt amp upgraded to a 100 watt SWR Workingman 12. I gave away the Laney when I realised that the SWR functioned as a band amp and a home amp too.

That's a shame. I was disappointed to read the very generic Reason for Rejection section.

"Move the pointy bit of your hat to the front, you poncy boyband pop-star!"

@basexperience looks both delighted and surprised to be surrounded by so many pedals! "These pedals are fantastic - and they are the same ones that I have at home! What are the odds of that?" I chatted a while, and was infected by his enthusiasm and passion for playing. And I was reminded that we play music, rather than work music!

Gary is saying "Without a cap on, I get an extra three inches of headroom." Or Chris is saying "Am I meant to be on-stage?"

I will be taking this to the local recycling centre on Saturday.

I will be taking this to the local recycling centre on Saturday.