I believe I speak for my entire Department of Audiology at the university hospital I work at, we train ENT doctors, when I say that if there was even a shred of cause to look in to this, it would have been researched and be part of the curriculum by now.
These price hikes have been in the making for years now. The damage to global goods markets done by Trump and Covid can't be overstated. And as UK steps away from Europe, Russia steps forward with their land grab in the Ukraine.
So many factors to consider all putting in their bit, like dominos.
Have a look at Flare audio
https://www.flareaudio.com/products/earshade
That said, please see a medical audiologist and/or a psychologist specialised in hyperacusis. It sounds a bit like that's what you're struggling with.
This Trace rig has been up a while and would suit every need, rehearsal room up to festival stage backline. Saves on a compression pedal too!
What an amazing looking bass! Absolutely smitten!
ANd lastly I found a pedal for some drive flavour, even has a tuner!
I'd be well happy with this setup!
LOXX locks forever!
I've tried most others but they all had their problems:
Musicman fell apart and dropped my bass
Schaller started squeaking and showed wear after not that many uses
Dunlop same, noisy after a while
Grolsch washers are a bit fiddly.
Zero issues in ten years of using LOXX.
Why would a noise gate be cheating but a bit of foam or one of those 'bass wraps' (I think that's the name) would be fine?
There's no commercial recording where the bass is uncompressed. It'd be silly to deny yourself any advantage in creating the sounds you're after.
The best cleaning job on my old SR5 fretboard I used nafta lighter fluid and 0000 steel wool to polish off all the grime from the previous owner.
A couple of thin Birchwood Casey gunstock oil coatings to nourish the wood and a bit of same brand wax for the back of the neck.
Not that many fans of Kustom amps though I'm quite fond of the brand. It'd be difficult for a brand to get their amps to market without any following at all I'd think!
Mind answering the other question first? Who all can you recommend that make interesting music as multi instrumentalist? That's what started this thread, the cool performance by Brutus.
Now it just looks like you're virtue signalling (I think that's what it's called these days) and reprimanding people for being impressed by a female musician.
Not that many people that are front person, drummist and lead vocals competently all at once.
Let's see you do better (really, I'd love to see your videos)