ped

That’s a Bassmute. You can switch the foam mutes to touch the strings at the flick of a switch and have two positions (one more tightly pressed than the other). They are great fun. It takes up a bit of room so wonder if a single piece bridge was chosen as it might take up less space. A two piece and the Bassmute might have interfered with the rear pickup position perhaps.

Lots of great designs to gawp at there, thanks!

You’ve got to try one! They’re great, so handy to have and they open up your playing in new ways. I reckon I play mine as much if not more than my big toys!

I don’t remember if I met him but all the guys in marketing and the amplifier design end have left. I’m not sure if there’s anything underhand happening, just that I think TC are closing the Aarhus factory/office I think so lots of guys who worked there are not willing to relocate and their jobs are basically up for grabs. I might be wrong but I think that’s what my friend said. I’ll ask him for more details.

Owned by behringer now. All the people I knew at TC have left over the last couple of years.

I can completely understand the feeling of wanting to give up with it - but often I find it's modifying/adjusting/fixing a bass which makes you feel closer to it in the end, and once sorted it will all be a distant memory. Try and forget about it for a week and come back to it fresh when you see Jon. At least he's agreed to have a look, it would be much worse if it was a custom from abroad and you face the endless 'dunno if I can sort that' sort of comment from so called repairers you might get in contact with (most of whom are qualified for no more than a re-string)

Tbh I think it’s just an automatic response bot

Thought I’d have a crack at asking Mayones about the bass. They’ve never once answered an email I’ve sent so I thought I’d try their super keen social media intern team:

So what do you use? What’s your routine? This is what I tend to use - Smith polish in my Smith bass as intended - I tried to get the partner wax for the untreated Morado fingerboard but can’t find it in the UK. Sadowsky said he uses the Planet Waves Hydrate on Morado so I’m going to give it a try next time I re-string. My Wingbass is a Tung Oil finish and only needs a wipe with a damp rag so that’s easy. The Vigier has a very worn lacquer finish which has gone satin in places. Dunlop 65 works well on it, it seems to go on smoother than the smith stuff. The fingerboard is cleaned with a bit of WD40 to make it shine (don’t worry it’s not wood!) So what do you use?

Well we know why he charge so much, to pay his lawyers! Honestly I think he’s worried people will try a faker and realise how much better quality they are. Its a real shame because by bullying people like us he only damages his company. Hopefully someone with more sense takes over soon.

Been there many times. When I was a teenager I got smashed on apple sours and threw up on the night bus home. Haven’t touched ‘em since.

I pictured you slowly screwing a silencer onto a pistol when saying that 🤭

Apart from the colour I think the Firebird X looks cool!! But then I’ve always liked basses with synth engines etc in them so there you go...

@charic you might like this 👍🏼

So if it's not gonna be fretless OR fretted, what have you decided!?

She's beautiful. Very intelligent and just the right amount of naughty. Here she is with her fave 'big ted'

I love using headphones. Cranking up an amp at home shakes everything and becomes annoying, and smaller amps always sound a bit pokey to me. I prefer that nobody can hear me, too! The Baseboard is the best thing I bought for home use. I really miss the 'feel' of the bass when I don't have it.

Sure mate it's something which had evolved over many years but I've been using it without any change now for about five years. Basically it's a bass into a Roland VB99 which acts as the 'hub' (although I note the Line6 Helix etc can do the same job probably). The 'hub' receives audio from my computer and acts as an audio interface. It also pumps the bass output into a TC Electronic BH800, which powers a Tecamp Bassboard. The hub also sends a signal to my headphones. So at home I have an office chair on my baseboard in front of my computer, one monitor sits on the TC amp, I have my headphones on and can play along with anything on my computer, be it Youtube, Spotify etc. Using the VB99 I can control any effect and play synths too. Bloody love it. The reason I say it's like my own little world is because I get complete isolation from the outside world - the bass board makes you feel like you're in front of a massive stack and I get the purest and ideal sound from my headphones (wired Bose AE2W). When I've done any recording, either at home on this setup into Garageband or at an actual studio, I know the exact sound going to desk. I've also played with the VB99 live and have for each patch a 'live' setting which normally has a different 'mic' setup on the speaker sim, plus some changes to the reverb and a quick access EQ. The setup is really good for listening to music, too - I can adjust the master on the TC to provide a bit of 'feel' when listening to music. One of the VB99 setting turns all the inputs off and a small amp (next to the TC) powers the HiFi speakers. Sorry, I went on a bit there! Here's a pic with my studio assistant running some diagnostics

The Hercules mini is REALLY stable actually, Its feet are wide and it holds the bass low to the ground so the stand tipping over is very unlikely. The 'pad' on the back is really grippy and I feel it's far more stable than my cheap 'cradle' style stand which supports the neck. I bought one for my mini bass as it fits really well (nothing else did!) but can use it with my other basses too.

Was it an acoustic? Could have been a Gillett perhaps? Friends of the forum and lovely people I think they’ve displayed at folk festivals before http://www.gillettguitars.co.uk/range/bass-guitars @Gillett Guitars