uk_lefty

Do what you're enjoying the most! I came very close to knocking guitar on the head a few months back to be a "pure" bassist then had an idea, recorded it with a few different guitar tracks and I am glad I didn't sell off my electric guitar and related other gear. For me these things go in cycles, I bet if you pick up your bass again in a few months time the guitar experience will give you a new perspective, and isn't that what life is about? Know what you mean about endless drills. Had my first ever lesson after 21yrs playing last month and though I'd asked for drills and theory I was told words to the effect you can pick up what you need to know by playing different and interesting songs that you like. Any other theory stuff might not be that useful to you. And after one inspirational lesson I agree!

I'd emailed Andy Baxter saying if he ever comes across one of these to let me know! Not sure it's ever going to happen, I really like the look and the idea of them though.

This could go either way. Pubs will go out of business and bands may be asked to play for nothing or a whip round, then again if the vaccine gets rolled out people could go crazy and live music may be what people think could keep punters spending. I know in my band of five two of us would play for free but two can't afford to, one wants the money but no idea if he could compromise or not. Difficult to call, but we are going to book a venue in our "home" area as soon as we know we can gig and just get out there with a private party. How we charge for that I don't know... Pay what you want type thing so people who are tight for money can still come along for the good time and put in £1 and those who are saving hundreds a month by not commuting to London can stick in a tenner or whatever they think? Who knows. I just want to gig, and see people without having to worry about how far apart we are stood.

They make a direct replacement for £100, and do a souped up replacement too in the same casing. I've got the direct replacement in my SB Elite 1 with a Kiogon loom giving me a third switching option and it does sound very, very 80s pop.

There's a lot of demand for unmolested Aria SBs at the moment, I wouldn't do any routing to that bass if I were you.

Thanks. I have thought of buying a synth pedal to loop in to the Boss. It just could all get a bit complicated, especially if I then need to add a switch and a Pog or something to make a chord... The boss does some harmonisers and can add a power chord but only certain keys and it doesn't sound great tbh.

Apologies if this has been covered before. I'd like some pros and cons of the Line 6 Pod Go currently out as I've seen some January discounts. I'm looking to consolidate and modernize gear where I can. In my new three piece I may need more effects than I currently use in my rock covers 4 piece. I've got a Boss GT10B that does everything I could ask for and more though where it lacks is 80s synth tones and to thicken out sound under a guitar solo, it's a bit basic on those fronts. I also may need to play guitar on a few songs and I have a zoom G7.1ut at the mo but I have rarely touched it tbh and I bought it as a toy for home use never expecting to take on guitar in a live band. Any views welcome, the line 6 stuff looks great but there's so many options I wouldn't know where to start. I'm also very aware my Boss is a great piece of kit and it won't go quietly.

What is everyone's feeling in using sine kind of f hole fitted semi acoustic bass, or even a Hofner, as an alternative? I'm very reluctant to buy an acoustic bass for all the reasons covered in thus list but a Warwick Star bass, a Jack Casady or similar seems a best of both?

But I think these things go up and down. Someone must surely remember soon that Fender QC was dire in the late 70s and then 1978 Precisions (they're always 1978 aren't they?!) won't sell for over 2 grand any more, surely?! It's a bit of a gamble as to what will keep its value and what won't I think. Unless its a special edition fender I wouldn't go speculating on basses.

I now have everything I've ordered except the body. The body may take until the new year, unbeknownst to me there was a 4 to 5 week lead time as its a custom order, so that's my Xmas holiday plans put the window then! I've received everything else but will restrain myself from fitting anything together until I know that the neck and the body will fit, while the measurements mean they should I want to actually have them in my hands, I don't want to tempt fate by drilling the neck for the machine heads and string post if its not going to work.

Firstly, what a beautiful bass. Understated excellence, love it! Secondly, I've never seen shielding tape under the bridge like that before, and notice you have it coming out the cavity for the screw holes for the bell plate too. Is this "best practice" that we don't see on basses made to a factory budget? I'm curious as I'm about to self assemble a bass and want to copy as much as I can from someone who knows what they're doing!

That is the most gorgeous neck I've ever seen. Ever.

Do I need a fiver... Yes I suppose so. For a long time all I had was my trusty five string fretless. Do you need a fiver? Yeah, go on then. 5 is 1 more than 4 after all. But 6 strings? 6??! Are you off your head. Nobody needs that.

Agree with you, I happily buy stuff of theirs like their USB mixer and mics and I know plenty that use their amps and PA gear with no complaints.

The plastic casing is supposedly ABS or something it another which is very hard wearing and hard to crack or snap, I've never had an issue with it. What I have had an issue with is ordering their chorus pedals only for them to not work, I've tried a few times a few years apart and never had one reliable which was annoying as I'm not much of a brand snob and would happily try more of their pedals. I think I was just unlucky though, twice, as I know plenty of people are happy with their Behringer pedals.

There's a tanglewood violin bass back on, this time available for postage.

Nice pun!

What an absolute dipstick this guy is. I hope you get your money back and that he gets his comeuppance for being a liar and a fraud. The leopard has not changed its spots, which is rather stupid. Give him a deadline to refund you otherwise go to the police. He's taken the time to do a screenshot of the so called failed delivery, probably the same screenshot he's sending to loads of people whose money he has taken, so he has the time to go to online banking and refund you. If he isn't doing that he's either keeping your money or he's already spent it, both are good reasons to report to the police.

Resolution to the list of issues with the neck is a partial refund. A refund of enough money to fund the machine heads I need for the bass. That should be all the bits ordered except the wiring loom, but so far all I have in my possession is a neck, a bridge and some shielding tape. I can't really do much with those three!

https://www.ikea.com/gb/en/p/flintan-office-chair-vissle-grey-80336838/ Here it is. No arms!! I'm sat in it all day 5 days a week for 9 months and until I was actually looking at it just now I thought it had arms...! Its almost like it's become part of the furniture... These are very good value IMO.

I got an ikea office chair for 60 or 70 quid a year ago and its great. A lot sturdier than it looks, will give you the product name once I'm in my garage/ office/ studio/ man retreat/ store all household crap in here dad won't mind room. It has arms but they're easily adjustable. Also been working at home in this daily since covid, no issues.

I don't know if it's because of the Basschat and Facebook group influence (I'm a member of the Aria SB Facebook group) but Westone basses and Aria SBs seem to have rocketed in price in the last few years. Again, I think enthusiasts like to talk up the virtues but once you put something out there on ebay you really see the value, or indeed whether the market wants it at all! For lefties it's even harder. There's a gorgeous fretless Ibanez that's been on ebay for months. It didn't sell at 600 quid, I was tempted but could not justify it, and now it's at £1,200 or nearest offer. Have been tempted to message and say "I'll offer you £500 because you couldn't offload it at 600 a few months ago!". If this bass were right handed I think 600 quid would have been a very good deal.

If I stick with this neck it's not the end of the world... But I did buy black hardware and chrome would suit this better.. Jinwan got back to me quickly with an apology saying they'd look in to it but in still waiting for them to suggest a resolution.

Well, another parcel has arrived... The neck! Its not quite what I was expecting. It is left handed, it is a Fender shaped maple neck with pearl blocks and white binding. However, it's not got a painted black finish and the nut is glued in upside down! There's also a slight bit of damage on the fretboard. It's come all the way from China so I don't really want to be returning it, have sent the seller a message to see what we can work out... Other than those small mishaps it seems OK as far as necks go.

For the benefit of my mental health I have decided to build a bass I don't need. So far I have purchased most of the items on my shopping list and I'm starting to receive packages. I'm already learning things... The build: I don't have woodwork experience and most DIY I do ends in disaster, but I want to learn. I'm good with IKEA furniture and I've soldered pickups in before so I've bought mostly components that I can screw together. Body - the most expensive part is an Ash PJ rear routed body from Guitar and Bass build. I got a good deal I think, and it's being made for me right now. It will have all routing and screw holes done. Why PJ? Just fancied it, I don't have a PJ at the moment. I'll finish the body with Crimson Guitars cherry red stain and finishing oil to a matt finish. This is actually the first stuff to arrive off my order list! Neck - I bought a lefty black jazz bass neck off ebay from Jinwan having read they're OK. It's all painted black, rosewood board with white pearl block markers, white binding and some kind of nut already installed. Lesson 1: should have bought a 2nd hand neck with nut and tuners already installed, would have saved time and money. I'm kicking myself now I'm seeing Fender necks with tuners for £100 and I was mulling over a right handed neck anyways for 80s rock-Ness. Pickups: I've bought Entwistle PBXN and JBXN pickups new, about fifty quid. Have heard they're very good pickups, though I would have preferred a more prestigious brand to come up second hand I just got impatient. Lesson 2: be patient. Bridge: 20 quid for a hi mass Retrovibe bridge that doesn't really look Fender ish but looks good to me. That's the major stuff done. I totalled up what I'd spent and gulped a little. I wanted to keep the cost lower than a Sire. Well, depends which model Sire and whether you go new or 2nd hand, but the costs are mounting. Still, hoping the process pays me back in experience. I've got some spare bits like strap buttons and even a spare loom put of an old bass should I refuse to spend any more. While the components are modest I'm regretting not being more of a scavenger for 2nd hand parts already, but even so, I am hoping this can come out quite nicely and teach me a thing or two. Photos and musings to follow as I progress...