ped

Gear4 music might have one in the warehouse and perhaps they’d measure it for you if you email. If not I can check one out for you when I’m next in the area https://www.gear4music.com/Guitar-and-Bass/ESP-Premium-Guitar-Gig-Bag/35BW

The centre block / neck support is moveable so I angled it a bit to leave more room for the tuners which I’m always worried about bashing.

Yeah it’s not cheap but I couldn’t find one cheaper that fits and has the semi hardcase build. ESP do one which looks similar but it only has one shoulder strap.

Yeah it feels really solid. Importantly it's plenty wide enough around the headstock for tuners etc which can be tight on some guitar bags. Full report to follow!

I recon you've been eating your cookies 🍪

Any short scale-ists out there looking for a case, I just tried and bought this one for my Mustang

Just an update on this. I don't necessarily want to gig with my 60s Fender case (maybe a thief magnet, and I don't 100% trust the handle!) and the aforementioned Fender Short Scale gig bag is very light and offers little protection for anything more than carrying around on one's back. I went to Gear4Music in York to try a case which on paper fits the mustang quite well - my bass is about 42" from strap button to headstock (I think the reissues may be a tiny bit longer due to more body behind the bridge) but I'm happy to report that the Gator Icon guitar case fits perfectly. There's a removable cushion at the bottom which would offer extra room if you needed it. I'll post a proper pic later but it's a great case, comfortable handles and straps, lots of pockets, rain cover, semi rigid, light weight... https://www.gear4music.com/Guitar-and-Bass/Gator-ICON-Series-Bag-For-Electric-Guitars-Black/5DL2

Great stuff. Make sure you try it with rounds, too. Very chocolatey sound 🍫

LeFay?

Alas, that I am not

Cheers yeah one like that would be great.. will keep my peepers open

I wouldn't mind an HPF to go under my desk for my bassboard. Ideally no footswitch, always on type job. Any recommendations?

Here's a track GTF did for charity (and their only cover except a Toto breakdown middle section in one of their songs) https://geniusthefool.bandcamp.com/track/blackbird

BTW the current gigging band is called Genius The Fool https://www.facebook.com/Geniusthefool

I'll tell Mark, he'll be pleased

Thanks, and yeah I think so - I'm not 100% sure of the setup as yet but it seems like a band that Mark has assembled around himself, which suits me just fine because as you say it makes things much easier - although he's already been open to suggestions and ideas from my own take on the existing songs and is looking for input on the new ones. There have been a few lineup changes over the years due mainly to people moving away etc but he's kept at it and now he's sourced one of the best bass players in the UK so

Thanks mate, exactly my reaction when I first heard it. One of the commenters on the Bandcamp says it's clearly the work of someone who's fallen in love with music' and it really shows. I've always wanted to be in a band with keys, too. Everyone has plenty of sonic space and the songs are really nicely crafted. At the audition the vocalist was using some effects on her voice to match the album and it was just a great sound and properly musical vibe. I have four new tracks which aren't on the album and two 'works in progress' and I love all of them.. the direction we're going seems more of a Toto sort of route, which is amazing, with some really chilled Pink Floyd thrown in.

Years ago I was at a studio that we frequently use for 'jamming' and recording the occasional tune with a couple of friends. We were doing a cover of Donald Fagen's Morph the Cat, as I had just bought a Smith bass (which I later sold to Scott Devine). Anyway it really got me wanting to find a band more local to me where I could play original music in a similar studio environment. I really like being surrounded by good musicians in that type of environment - gigging is great too but mostly I'm done with playing pubs and really not interested in playing covers band material. Not to put that down - but I just don't like the weekend warrior covers commitment and derive very little satisfaction from playing covers of songs which I on the whole don't like! So I decided I'd put up a 'musicians wanted' ad, or 'Musician available' not hoping really to get anything as my list of desires was quite narrow already, and became even narrower when I drew the line at any punk music and a preference for grooves below 100bpm. And it was three years until someone messaged. I'd actually forgotten all about it; instead I'd had a couple of jams with some people from work, but we were always missing something - vocals, someone to write songs etc. Anyway this bloke sent me a link to his Bandcamp. I was out walking the dog so I thought OK I'll have a listen through my phone just to get a feel - not expecting much. Well I was really impressed with the music and went home to stick on the album - half way through forgetting I was potentially joining the band but just enjoying it. I met the guy for a beer and had an 'audition' on Monday which went well (I learned 'Feel Like Letting Go' 'The Reason Why' 'Trick Of The Light' and 'Love Is Like a Rock'). The band use a beautiful studio with some amazing gear inside... the bass amp provided was an Ampeg PF50T with (I think) a 1x12 cab with horn which sounded lovely, and loud enough although it was pointing at my legs so next time I might sit in front of it. I was using my Thunderstangbacker which fits really well; favouring the neck a bit and I didn't take any pedals because I thought keep it simple! I just had a TU2 and MXR M87. Here's the album if you're interested. I just wanted to share because I'm really happy to have found a band like this, it's a really nice challenge to learn the songs and fit into an existing band, whereas in the past I've always been the driving force and felt like an uphill battle. The playing on the album is pretty nice, quite melodic and fitting, but Mark wants me to bring some more dynamics and feel. I've got six more tracks to learn for my first proper practice with them after their last gig with current bassist. Anyway, thought I'd share because I'm really happy!! Cheers ped https://markrowen.bandcamp.com/album/radiance

What about Serek basses?

Actually tempted

The loop pedal has arrived. I must admit, I don't think they sent me a new one... it has a scratch on the bottom and the faceplate was a bit dirty. I've messaged them to see what's up. Anyway it's great - I have the Mutron in the loop but it'll be really useful as a boost pedal or for guesting pedals on my board. The advantage of having the Mutron in the loop is that I get true bypass and a level control, because the gain control on the Mutron controls the sensitivity of the filter but it increases the volume, and as I like high sensitivity with a fairly low range it's louder than unity gain. Now I think I'm finally ready to build that pedalboard... I might put the comp under the board (only use it occasionally) and replace the TU2 with something smaller.

Actually quite a good design if you’ve ever tried forcing a set of strings into a box before but it’s not a concern if its done at a factory 😆

Interesting - I thought Elixir had patented the method of coating a fully wound string, making others coat the outer core before winding around the centre. Although you can see the Elixir patent online, I can't find any mention of the US Patent referenced on the back of the box of these strings?

I wouldn't have it myself but I think it looks quite cool on that bass. Not sure why the middle is black (is it like a stick on pick guard?) but it looks quite good in a way.. from a distance it's like one mahoosive pickup. Ah now I realised the neck pickup has been moved to Arpege position so guess that covers the hole

I guess technically it’s the same as plugging the mutron and the rest of the board into two plugs in an extension lead which would be fine