Len_derby

I second this as a choice. I was very impressed with mine. Don’t be mislead by the low price (£79 + postage (before Jan 2021 though)). If you’re anywhere near Derby you’re very welcome to come and take a go on mine.

I love it when a story ends well, both the move and the new bass. Don’t we need a few more!? Thanks for the photo as requested. Ironically, we had sunshine too - only it was -1 degree with a hard frost. Enjoy the Hofner and France.

I’ve used one for the last couple of years. I don’t use any pedals so it makes set up and managing floor space a lot simpler. I do like to take it off once I’ve tuned up because I think they look a bit ugly. But, sometimes I forget, and d’yer know what? No one, in the band or audience, has noticed or said a word. And the gig fee had been exactly as expected. What Philistines.🤣

Given your budget I recommend scanning the Basschat amps for sale section. Also Facebook groups which can have some real bargains. My ideal top-tip is the Roland bass micro cube. Tuner, effects and rhythm/drum patterns included. However the cheapest price I can see new is £210.

Glad the move went to plan. For your NBD post could we please have some sunny and cheerful French scenes in the background? It’s a bit grim over here 🤣

Cheap n’ cheerful.

Fingers crossed for you.

Agreed Pete. It’s a monster track, both the live and the studio versions. Of the YouTube offerings this is the best one I’ve found.

Just a heads-up. DS Music in Monmouth are advertising a new one of these at a sale price of £299. lt looks lovely, but I don’t need another P. I spent some money in the shop when I went to Monmouth a couple of years ago. I try to do that in music shops when I’m out and about.

Well, the spelling and grammar appear to be correct. So not everyone on Basschat will be unhappy.

Me too. But based on his career so far it’ll probably be unexpected, unpredictable and will divide opinion. Gawd bless ‘im.

There you go.

A late contender for best purchase, a Harley Benton short-scale P bass. For £79 + postage it’s amazingly good.

Thanks for the heads-up. That was a good way to spend a Friday evening with a couple of beers.

Trees. Yes, deadly beauty. I’ve been crown-lifting a large silver birch. It’s always a surprise how heavy the branches are when they start coming down. I guess it’s the water inside that adds to the weight. Interestingly, I was recently talking to an acquaintance who is a hand surgeon (our kids socialise). He told me that one of the commonest non-trauma related injuries he deals with is related to dog walking. The dogs lurching and pulling on the lead causes chronic hand and wrist injuries. I must say I’ve noticed a recent trend for people to buy one (or more) expensive dog and seemingly not do any training whatsoever. That’s a different topic though. Hope the drummer comes back strong. Not rushing it will be important.

You may say that Douglas, but I for one was shocked at his knowing references to the ‘pink toothbrush’ on Two-Way Family Favourites. 😉

I’ve got a different take, because it wasn’t so much about the music or playing. It’s 1974, I’m 16 and starting to earn enough money to buy my own guitars. I treat them like babies and forbid my younger brother to touch them under any circumstances. The smart-donkey said ‘well, what if the house is on fire? Shall I leave it to burn?.’ I smacked him round the head (we were more primitive then). Anyway, I go to see Rory Gallagher for my first time at Derby Kings Hall. Here’s a guy with an American Fender Stratocaster - it looks like it’s been through the D-Day landings and at one point he drags it across the stage by its lead! I was horrified, slack-jawed but very entertained.

This is a repeat post of something I put in the ‘Cheap Basses’ thread on General Discussion. I thought it might be useful for anyone looking at this thread and is contemplating buying one. I’ve scratched both my cheap bass and short-scale itches by buying a Harley Benton 30” scale P bass. I consulted our own Paul S who is an owner of one, and he was very positive. So I did it. For £79 plus postage it’s remarkably good. It was adequately set up straight out of the box and just needed tuning. No rough edges on the frets. The bridge is solid and fully adjustable. Strings and pickup poles properly aligned. The pickup sounds good to me (bearing in mind the so-so round wound strings fitted). Tuners a little weak and perhaps heavy as there’s a slight tendency towards head-dive. However, overall it’s amazing for the price and I won’t hesitate to take it to band rehearsals and also gig it. I’m not planning to make any changes to it. To me, adding to the cost of the bass would defeat the objective of having a cheap bass. I’ve got enough higher-quality expensive ones already! To anyone considering a short scale - I now have a bass I can keep out of sight in the boot of my hatchback. Very useful for those times I have somewhere to go and need to park the car before and after rehearsals. I’ve added a photo of the shorty next to my US P deluxe so that the size and shape can be compared.

I’ve scratched both my cheap bass and short-scale itches by buying a Harley Benton 30” scale P bass. I consulted our own @Paul S, who is an owner of one, and he was very positive. So I did it. For £79 plus postage it’s remarkably good. It was adequately set up straight out of the box and just needed tuning. No rough edges on the frets. The bridge is solid and fully adjustable. Strings and pickup poles properly aligned. The pickup sounds good to me (bearing in mind the so-so round wound strings fitted). Tuners a little weak and perhaps heavy as there’s a slight tendency towards head-dive. However, overall it’s amazing for the price and I won’t hesitate to take it to band rehearsals and also gig it. I’m not planning to make any changes to it. To me, adding to the cost of the bass would defeat the objective of having a cheap bass. I’ve got enough higher-quality expensive ones already! To anyone considering a short scale - I now have a bass I can keep out of sight in the boot of my hatchback. Very useful for those times I have somewhere to go and need to park the car before and after rehearsals. I’ve added a photo of the shorty next to my US P deluxe so that the size and shape can be compared.

Sorry about the confusion but we side-tracked on to talking about Eric Clapton. He played for the Blues Breakers. Neil Young didn’t, as far as I’m aware.

For me it would be the early days with John Mayall’s Blues Breakers. Particularly the ‘Beano’ album. Very fiery electric blues playing. Plus some, but not all, of the Cream output. It’s all personal choice, but his playing seemed to make a step-change to become less special when he switched from playing Gibsons to Fender Stratocasters. His accountant may disagree.

The best, so far, has been a really nice Mandolin from @thebrig. It’s kept me entertained learning a new instrument during the lock-down. I even took away on holiday during that brief respite we all had. I got a casual job as a beach-clearer. The worst has been a new gig-bag. Bought in March, it hasn’t been out the house yet.

I’ve just sold a Boss pedal to Matt. The whole thing was concluded in just over twenty four hours, including postage across half the country. Thanks for a smooth bit of business Matt, hope you enjoy using the pedal.

‘If you’re bothered about being unappreciated, overlooked or misunderstood you’ve probably chosen the wrong instrument.’ Martin Ace.