The fasting showman

[quote name='3below' timestamp='1430247400' post='2759530'] I found that Travis Perkins can supply birch ply - I was able to get 9mm sheets at a reasonable price to the depths of mid Wales. It was also well packed for transportation. [/quote]I found Travis Perkins very helpful too, the branch near me had a circular saw with fence unlike the vertical saws at the big DIY sheds; the cutting was bang on accurate and barely cost anything. Made the build very easy! Good luck, Martin

Just bought an amp from Phil, good communication throughout, happy with transaction. All good, many thanks.

[quote name='nick' timestamp='1429472309' post='2751740'] They are unfortunately a waste of time IME. Overpriced spares, and at the time I attempted to deal with them, didn't have a clue on technical advice for my 400RB that I needed. Shame as such great amps deserve a better distributor IMHO. [/quote]Well said Nick. There's a Talkbass contributor called Bstring who is very useful regarding GK tech info. I think if I'm ever fortunate to own one of these amps again (why did I sell mine?) and if I had to convert it to UK from US voltage I'd only bother to run the 300 watt section full range as most people do I suspect. This would make a replacement tranny easier to source as I'd leave the 100 watt unpowered. All the best, Martin

I'm from Lichfield, PM'ing you an amp techs number. Martin

How about 2 off Sgt Pepper? Lovely Rita and Good Morning are interesting lines at the front of the mix. Dear Prudence is a great line too.

Happy it worked out how it did James, I've got a few gigs now where I need my Sub! Sound great don't they? Toying with the idea of a Status neck for mine, Cutlass 1 on a budget. Martin

Glad it's getting used Ian! It's a lovely machine that's gone to a good home. Martin

[quote name='EssentialTension' timestamp='1422702449' post='2675758'] Other than cost, this might work well. I don't know whether the MM case fits but even with a bit of routing could soudn excellent and be still saleable. Bisonic/Darkstar style pickups are available from Curtis Novak. [/quote]Are they similar to the pickups in your Lakland? Probably a good reference then for what a big single coil sounds like. I always think P90s sound great in Gibsons.

It sounds like it's the phase cancellation inherent in the stingray pickup sound that you don't like, also a big part of the Fender tele bass mudbucker. That was the genius of the p-bass pickup design in that it is a humbucker but senses separate string pairs thus no phase issues. Do you like the sound of the MM pickup when coil tapped? A massive single coil pickup like a Darkstar but in a MM case could be good...no forget that, gonna cost way too much! Martin

Yes, I remember it well; Bruce Forsyth's 'You bet'. I also thought I'd dreamt it until I encountered another bassist that recalled it, a real cringe. I'm a big fan of Herbie Flowers, one of my favourite players, but it was really odd hearing him on contemporary late '80s bass gear; it didn't suit his playing at all, unlike the Jazz bass he has used all his career that sounds great to my ears. It proved that some basses and amps just don't work for some players, don't chop and change gear too much. A parable I've only started following sadly too late! Martin

The Harder they come, so many great songs on that soundtrack. Blue Collar - Jack Nitzsche / Ry Cooder, great to hear Howlin' Wolf in the songs used too.

I love everything mentioned but I'll add another favourite 'Things fall apart' by Cristina, Don Was on bass I believe.

[quote name='TimR' timestamp='1418900062' post='2634566'] It's difficult. I played in a band where the enthusiasm was a lot more evident than the talent. We got gigs and people danced. We didn't tend to get many rebookings though... [/quote]That's very similar, and I don't want to string anybody along into the new year. What we had was me sticking to the basslines verbatim with a drunk guitarist turned up too loud over the top. I don't really want to be associated with something that ropey, particularly if I am carrying it musically. Ego is a fragile thing at my age! Sorry for the derail. Martin

'The best party /function band' certainly wasn't the rubbish I was doing last Saturday, confirmed by the phone footage I saw. Bloody chronic. I need to start taking heed of other Basschatters and up my game band-wise. Martin

[quote name='RhysP' timestamp='1418858006' post='2634264'] It was all done in professional studios using high quality, often analogue, equipment by people who knew what they were doing, not knocked up by some herbert with a music "degree" from his local "University" (technical college as was) on a laptop in his bedroom..... [/quote] Spot on. I think FM / Digital synths have had a bad impact too in some ways, I love to hear how a Prophet 5 or a minimoog can blend against a band and not obliterate their surrounding instruments. Martin

This thread has reminded me of a late '80s classic-Dismasters; Small time hustlers Martin

Definitely mate. I can seem a decent player only when I'm playing with a good drummer. One of the bands in has a drummer that plays things differently every rehearsal, nightmare. Guess my situation is similar, thankfully we aren't just in one band eh? That would force me to bail out. When the drummer is one of the band patriarchs you really are stuffed. Martin

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1417160665' post='2617557'] First come first served and no pulling out from one band because another one offers you a better gig, it's the only way [/quote]Same for me, luckily the 4 bands I'm in vary between being laid back and generally fairly badly organised. I can't moan too much though 'cos they put up with me working mon-fri evenings. Martin

Good work Nick, sorely miss my old 800rb. I've never heard a better bass amp, cannot think why GK don't still make them. Wait 'til you play it through an SVT 810... Enjoy it mate, Martin

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1416451187' post='2610401'] Magic, my Dad took me to the Shea Show. I think the tickets were like $5.35 a bargain. I saw Paul last summer and paid 160.00 for 20th row in front of the stage, still a bargain in my book I still wear my Shea Blazer and Beatle Boots. Blue [/quote]That's a great gift from your Dad, Blue. I've often discussed with my peers (I'm mid '40s) how that Shea stadium footage that would crop up on TV throughout the '70s, pretty shoddy documentaries usually, influenced a lot of us to get into bands. I think it was the clip of them walking onstage to 'I feel fine', which I think was from another gig off the same tour, dunno. Even though we were born in the '60s we feel cheated that we missed the '60s if that makes sense. My 4 year old son enjoys the Shea clips too, I've had to learn a lot of early rock'n'roll from the '50s for a band I'm in and he's loved hearing those great songs. I'm sure there's something in the formative years of rock that communicates well to kids. The closer you are to 'Rocket 88' the better in my book! Thanks to the OP. Martin

I use a Faital 15pr400 in a DIY ply cab, similar in size to a Trace 1153 for most gigs and rehearsals. With a GK head or an Ashdown ABM it gets a sound reminiscent of the B15N with a JBL I owned around 10 years ago (i.e prior to being a parent), it gives lots of great low mid growl and punch to get you heard through the band. I'm not going for extreme low end though but that requires bigger gear I think. I'd stick with the Faital, quite high end gear in my opinion, for what that's worth. Looks like you've got a great cab to me just enjoy it. Martin

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1397651255' post='2426038'] It's a well-known fact that you can carry stuff further when you're pissed. The front pockets are huge, I've easily got room for my GK Fusion, mains lead, speaker lead, instrument lead, strap, Zoom H1, tripod, bass stand, torch, batteries AND two tins of beer. This without making the case strain or bulge in any way. The zips, stitching and handles are all top-quality, too. I fail to see how PR can make a profit on it, frankly. [/quote]I totally agree about not seeing how Protection Racket make any money on the 7051 gig bag, glad I chose it. I bought a GK MB200 this week and with the amp in the gig bag pocket, gig bag on my back and cab in my hands was able to do one trip from car to gig. A far cry from my valve amp lugging days! Playing in the middle of Brum tomorrow, so ease of load in is vital. Of the 3 drummers I play with, they all have used Protection Racket cases for years which is what made me choose the 7051. Martin

There's already some great mentions on this thread but please give Howlin' Wolf a listen...it doesn't get much better! Somebody who's lifetime encompassed the era of Charlie Patton to the Rolling Stones, to me his music has both soul and the aggression of Rock'n' roll. It's all there, great 12 bars and classics over 1 chord, 'smokestack lightning', 'wang dang doodle'. I never tire of his music, all centred around a compelling vocal.

2 for me also, both of which get plenty of use. '72 tele bass,de-mudbuckered (un-mudbuckered?) and now unrestored with the p bass rout exhumed, getting much use as a mongrel slab p bass. 'Tis the one in the Haynes manual for those that have that tome, still sonic blue and with more decals. USA EBMM sub, I think it originated from Dazed who did a fine job of stripping the neck back to bare wood, I didn't buy it from him though. Perfect covers band bass, so good that it meant that the business-case for me hanging on to my lovely trans orange 'Ray was too flimsy, sob! I think two basses is as much option anxiety as I can deal with. Martin