Maude

I think there's enough choice of string in low tension, high tension, flat, round, half round, steel, nickel, tape, long scale, short scale, etc, etc these days that whatever style of string you choose you won't be particularly limited. After years I have settled on the type of string I like that suits my style and sound. I now just concentrate on my playing.

For me it's not so much that I can't play them, more that they don't suit my playing/gigging style. I have two acoustics used at home with Fender tapewounds on which are very low tension and no problem but I would have to change my style if I gigged with them. I'd rather change my strings to suit me rather than change me to suit my strings.

I just can't get on with low tension, high flexibility, floppy, call it what you want strings. I have Chromes on P bass and like them. You'll need to play them for a while before judging them as they feel quite grippy (correct technical term 😁) for a while. I use D'Addario half rounds on my main gigging bass. They give me a fairly high tension with flat-like fundamental but with some decent top end, a very good compromise for what I do.

He doesn't want to relic it.

I haven't tried any jazz for while, I'm going to have a listen and report back in a bit.

Another successful outing for The Dastardlys last night. Only a smallish social club which is a converted old stone built school, really nice. Easy load in and out, kept the sound low which always seems to make things sound better and plenty of people up dancing. It's an annual booking there so hopefully we'll be back next autumn.

Tin Soldier is one of my faves to play from our current setlist, so much energy. Sorry, thought you'd wrote Small faces, still the same bassist though.

^This^ The old infra-red ones worked well, bluetooth is hopeless.

Have a look at the last picture folks and never ever grumble again about basses in shops with the action too high. 😂

I was going to say could they have gone slightly microphonic. Usually only older pickups though isn't it? More modern pickups potted in wax don't usually turn microphonic do they?

What bass is it, or more to the point, what pickups are in it? Peizos can be more sensitive if you tap near them.

Had a great night last night after nearly a month without gigs due to bandmembers holidays and a bereavement. The Dastardlys played The Kings in Exeter and we had a great turnout. The great thing with this band is that you can see who's there to see you and who's a just the pubs punters, lots of Mods, Skins, and Rudeboys, plus some other 'characters' :D. Easy load in and out, bit of a strange area to play as there's a raised area with a post in the middle that obscures us from each other but it was all good, our soundman got plenty of compliments on the sound which made his night. Here's a clip that's surfaced on Facebook, mobile phone recording so not the best but it's OK, hopefully the link will work. Down in the tubestation at midnight

I do like a zero fret and assumed the lack of them in general was down to build cost. Just seemed as you'd built for it, a lot of work to get rid of it. Just curiosity really.

Can you imagine the ad for the job? Must look like Paul McCartney. Must be willing to be shot.

You mention using old solder, I seem to recall newer solder having less lead, or something, in it making it harder to melt, elf 'n' safety an all that innit!

Oh, me, wrong again, well I never 😆

I've never got on with Jazz type basses...... until I fitted a pair of the Entwistle JBXNs. I wired a series switch in as well and that really sounds good.

Not a bass but I was buying something from FB and had a wierdo to contend with. I work in Plymouth and the item was in the city somewhere but he wouldn't tell me where he lived. Lots of bizarre messages later he tells me to message him when I'm nearly there and he'll give me the address, NEARLY WHERE?! Long story short, I get the address out of him but he will be out, his parents will be home though. I arrive at a very rough area and his mum answers and invites me in, the place is filled with boxes of stuff and she's yapping to me like she's never seen another person, telling me about all the stuff they buy and sell, I can't get away. Her husband arrives home and looks surprised to see someone in his house, she explains I'm buying a VCR, he hands me the box, puts his hand on my shoulder and ushers me firmly out the front door. The VCR didn't work properly but I wasn't about to go back and tell him, they were like the McGuires in Shameless. I'll put that one down to experience

Why have decided not to go with a zero fret?

This exactly. Just before I scrolled down to your post I caught myself looking at the picture with a glint in my eye. If you'd have described it to me I'd have probably baulked at the very idea.

Because it's cute apparently 🤣

I honestly think if we lined up our three 'guitarists' most punters wouldn't know which was which, electric bass, electric guitar and twelve string acoustic. But then why would they? I'd probably know nothing about their hobbies.

Just to add to Grangur's excellent advice, I've found electrical work so much easier since getting a decent soldering iron. I used to use a cheapy 30 or 40 watt stick type but bought a digital soldering station when Maplin had them half price. The extra power means the pots don't get overheated. With a low power iron the posts act like a heatsink and the solder took ages to flow nicely, with more power the solder flows almost instantly and the pots stay cool.