Clarky

Sounds like a plan! That really is a very pretty sunburst, many congrats

Very pretty. So when are you painting it surf green?

Just back from the Alps (yes, this blow-up happened by email on my penultimate day of a family holiday - nice). Once again, I really appreciate all your messages of support and some really sensible advice

All yours Beedster (I had put you forward as a dep last year). The upside is you would be playing some great music.

Thank you all. Appreciate the advice and sentiments. I won't go into detail, suffice to say that when band members have played in bands for up to 30 years together its natural they will side with each other in any arguments/issues. I was effectively the new kid on the block and my input was clearly not appreciated. Anyways, I am sure Rattlin Bone will keep going and make great music, just with a different bass player. I hope for their sake they find someone as committed and into the music as I was

Well that's the end of me and Rattlin Bone (and the new spinoff VoodooVille). The usual stuff - band politics - and I felt it was best for me to leave. I am absolutely gutted as I really felt the band could have gone places and I got on with most of the members really well. I will always be grateful for being given the opportunity as a virtual double bass newbie and I learned tons about playing in a big band, controlling a DB live and general musicianship. I invested a huge amount in the band, in terms of time, emotion and money (you may have seen I have put up for sale the Bruce Johnson fretless I bought specifically for the retro/voodoo vibe of the band; and I may be selling more gear in due course). I am not sure whether to start looking for a new band immediately or to take a breather. I'm inclined to the latter as I haven't spent as much of my free time with my family as they deserve. When yesterday started I had no idea it would end up like that. I am very very upset that it has come to this.

I am out of UK at moment and back Sunday. Will weigh it precisely then. My guess is around 10 pounds, perhaps a shade under.

Oh and allegedly Sid Vicious was at my primary school in Kent when I was there

I was at my University college at the same time as Steven Hester and Nigella Lawson. Sadly I saw him and not her (he went out with one of female friends whereas the fragrant Nigella didn't stay in the hall of residence)

I bought a new one last week to take on hols. I have no problem tuning (just takes about a million turns of each tuner) but I have a problem with it staying in tune - each night the string (esp A,D, and worst culptit G) have detuned at least a semitone and sometimes much more. So how long is it before the strings stop stretching?

The advice above is all good. If the problem persists it might be worth investigating lower tension strings, eg, Innovation Silver Slaps (if you are using a piezo pickup) or Kolstein Heritage(if you need steels for a mag pickup). I used to have some high tension Thomastik strings and not only did they completely tire me out with minutes but the prssure required to hold down a note also lent itself to exactly the problem you have encountered.

Jez just sold me a Fishman Plat Pro preamp for my DB. All good, well packed and he even threw in a spare battery and connector lead. Very happy. Cheers Jez!

I use Status Hotwire Half-rounds on my fretless Wal and love them. Just enough resistance to stop sliding all over the place and feel worn in immediately. they are also very cheap (c.£20 IIRC)

Break a leg chaps - unfortunately I am being subjected to the latest [s]Harry Potter[/s] Daniel Radcliffe movie with the family tonight. I know where I'd rather be

[quote name='Bilbo' timestamp='1328818352' post='1533277'] This one is even pre-moustache.... [/quote] This one isn't [attachment=99601:kev_and_jeff_berlin.jpg]

Sorry but £45 for a device (Auralex) that improves your sound quality live is hardly a fortune. Bet the the average cost of everyone's rig (bass(es), amp, cabs, pedals) is many times that amount. As for making one, I'm betting most of us are too inept or can't be @rsed

The normal Silver Slaps (not Super Silvers, which are I believe higher tension) are perfect for '50s thud and are very low tension, and so amenable to slapping (I am told; I can't slap). They are very easy on the fingers and give a good thumping sound when played pizz style. Several BC'ers do slap, eg PaulKing, and I'm sure they will be along in a while. Also you might drop a PM to BC'er daflewis who is working with Innovation to develop new strings to get his opinion.