Marc S

Shwmae Craig, I'm just on the North edge of Cardiff - so we're probably not far away If you're at high risk of becoming a hoarder - better not hang around the marketplace too long.... there are lots of goodies on offer there Da Bo Marc

As T-Bay says - first, warm up with some noodling & stretching exercises Then for me, it depends on what I'm playing or which band I need to rehearse stuff for Sometimes I play along with my MP3 player, bass and MP3 plugged into my Vox Bass Amphones If I need to, or fancy playing along to songs on YouTube, I often use my little Roland Micro bass amp (not too loud and neighbour annoying) A day or two before a big gig, I usually run through a whole set, aside from songs I know really well If I made any mistakes on songs, I then usually go back over them, or any relatively tricky bits if the song

Croeso Judi, from someone just over the hill from you, a few miles away

Yes, it would be interesting to find out where these are being made. Those older CV's are just great quality construction. Indeed the bridges are a higher mass design than BBOT's - and the saddles are nicely machined brass too. In fact, even the pickups are really quite good, and the necks feel great on them. Overall construction is of a very high standard, and they sound great - punching way above what the original asking price might suggest.... The only thing I might change, if I had one again, would possibly be the tuners. They were OK and perfectly adequate for the bass, but higher quality tuners would be just about the only improvement I would suggest. When I first had my CV P bass, I also had a 2000's US P (which was also lovely BTW) and there really wasn't much in it at all! The US was slightly lighter in weight and the pickup was just a tad nicer. But having got both 2nd hand, the US wasn't almost 3 times as good - which was the difference in prices I paid for the two. As you say Jono, it may be that these new CV's are made in the Indonesian factory that makes the VM series. The VM's are also very good, in comparison with the Affinity series - but the older CV range are a cut above.... if not two cuts above If anyone gets wind of where these new CV's are made - I'd be very interested to know Must admit, I do like the look of the 4 string Jazz with maple board & black blocks..... stoppit! Must resist! ha ha

Cheers for the heads up Jono Bolton Not that I have GAS for any of them (must behave myself, as I'm trying to thin the herd!) but they do look good There are times when I miss my old CV Precision in Fiesta Red - that was one gorgeous bass! If these new ones are anything like that, they'll be amazing instruments Now there's a point - are they made in the same factory as the last CV's? - Can't see any info on that

Funnily enough, I usually think that a white pickguard looks "cheap" on a bass - especially on a black bass But white looks OK on a Rick, and it seems on most colours it looks OK, or good. White looks pretty good on a sunburst Rick, but the gold plate is definitely an improvement - so that's a yes from me

I couldn't possibly play that.... cos it's the left handed version

Yes, similar stories, though thankfully not for some time now. I found that as time went on, I got to meet more musicians at open mics and local gigs, who I got on with. Eventually, I started jamming with ones I "clicked" with. Oddly enough, it's mainly been the ones who have advertised for a bassist, that have been the most disastrous / ridiculous / puzzling, in my experience I once answered an ad, where the band posted some nice videos of pretty good songs (no clear images of band members though) The ad clearly said "age not important" "Ability, experience and own gear essential" And the first phonecall I was asked "how old are you?" I said the ad stated it wasn't important, and was told "It's not, as long as you're aged between 19 and 22!" "We don't want no kids, and we don't want no pensioners either" Remarkably, The ad had stated their influences were the Rolling Stones, Beatles, Kinks, Doors etc - so I said "So if Bill Wyman or Paul McCartney turned up.... you'd tell them to F*** off, would you?"

Definitely not for me. I'm not usually keen on spalted Maple either, unless it's dyed / painted (sometimes)

I can't tell from your photo - but is there a copper strip earthing the pickup(s) to the bridge? I'd still expect to see the jack socket earthed though..... Perhaps you ought to add one? Maybe then the slight humming would stop I've got a MIJ Jazz, and from memory, I'm sure the jack socket is earthed....

Thanks for posting this link lijbass. Haven't seen these around, but it's always good to know what's out there It seems that there are more and more options for small, lightweight bass cabs

I too have played DB through larger speakers, and just didn't like the sound. Through a 15" cab, which I was perfectly happy playing bass guitar through - the sound from my DB just sounded very "boomy". There was less clarity and distinction between notes, particularly the lower notes; open E, F, F# + G. But a "muddy" sound overall anyway. Now using the same amp head, and 10" speakers, and the sound had much more clarity and notes sound more distinct and warm, and well "acoustic" too. Actually, I also use a 12" cab for BG too, and even the difference between a 10" cab and a 12" is noticeable. I had a PJ 4 X 5 cab in the past (one of the older, heavier versions) and that sounded great with DB. For smaller gigs, I sometimes use my TC electronic 208 and that sounds good too. So whatever the science behind it... Certainly in my experience, smaller speakers are much better for DB, and funnily enough, I find the same with my EUB too - so it can't be all down to the acoustics of a DB. I recall reading (I'm sure it was on BC sometime back) that string dynamics and the length of DB strings also plays a part....

Not heard a Crazy 8, but I've been intrigued by them - I wouldn't mind hearing one Also - have you considered the Acoustic image "Upshot" - they're tiny, as the "cabinet" is round (not much bigger than the speaker) and are designed to be pointed upwards.... Again, I've not heard one, but folk rave about them. Now a Crazy 8 and an upshot is something I'd love to hear EDIT: Just looked, and from the Thomann website, it looks as though the Upshot is no longer available.... hope this is not the case...

One of my cabs, which I use for duos and acoustic combos, is an Epifani UL110. It's the best sounding 10" cab I've heard - lovely warm sound, full tonal range, and great with upright It's really lightweight too, at 11kg. I had a BF One10 and the Epifani was my preferred cab. Lovely controllable tweeter (you can dial it right out, if you wish). Although I mainly use it for smaller gigs, it can cope with bigger gigs and venues than you might expect, for such a small cab. I've also used it as an extension cab, to my MB 1x12, and it sounds superb with bass guitar too

Definitely make sure any extension cab is an 8ohm speaker. The amp head in the CMD102 is designed to run at 8ohms, or 4ohms If you run it at any lower impedance, you run the risk of damaging the amp head. If in doubt - don't do it.... I had a CMD 102p myself - great amp that was. Really loud when run at 4 ohms, with 2 cabs. I only sold mine, so that I could get separate units, and make an even more flexible rig, using various combinations (a couple of smaller speakers) I still use a Markbass 1x12 cab and a Markbass 102 Traveller cab. The 102 traveller is incredibly compact and lightweight. Great sound too

First of all - I'm really sorry to hear you are suffering with depression. But it's also good to hear that you've got the medical side of things sorted, and that you've been to your doctor I've met many people who have not sought out advice from their GP's or who don't really address their problems, and that's a far worse position to be in. Re the flu you've just got over - I've just had a cold, which lasted around 3 weeks! It wasn't awful, I've felt worse with flu - but fighting any such illness is draining physically for your body. So it's quite natural that you don't have the energy for other things in life. We all go through phases like that anyway. I'm sure it will pass with time. Dan Dare has a good point, re investing "all of yourself" into one thing - he's right that if something goes wrong, it can have a profound effect, but also you can be drawn in so much that you fail to see the wider picture. Of course, everyone is different, and we each react differently to a given situation, and what works for one doesn't always work for others. My advice to you would be.... small steps - in everything Don't "overload" yourself with practice / rehearsing. Try just doing 20 or 30 minutes here and there. Sometimes, I'm so busy that I don't get much time - so I just do a short spell of jamming along to one or two songs on YouTube. I really love the Firestick I got a few years back, because I can jam along with music videos on my TV. Maybe try a few songs you haven't tried before? Or perhaps a song you haven't heard in a while, but enjoy listening to - and don't beat yourself up if you can't work out every note... just work out what the root notes and structure to the song are. What songs make you feel happier, or do you just like listening to? Getting out & jamming with others can go either way - but I would recommend giving it a go... but perhaps you need to find a new open-mic or jam session - somewhere you've not been before? When going through a divorce (years back) I set myself the task of getting fitter - but I did things in small steps, each having a realistic goal... like jogging around a certain circuit. First of all, take a couple of attempts to complete the circuit without stopping. Once I was able to do that, the next step was to extend the circuit. The next was to reduce my time by 20 seconds, then by another 20... but each time, making the next goal an achievable one, rather than trying to jump too far ahead with unrealistic targets.... Whatever you do - best of luck with it. So many of us have been there, or near to where you are now. Let us know how you get on EDIT: Once you start achieving "other things" - things that only you have control of, you may feel more positive about playing music....

I "tweaked" the trim pots on mine, just on the one channel, not long after I got the amp (The channel I was intending for upright) But I've not noticed any movement since then, and that was some 2 years plus ago.... I can't imagine how they could move on their own. Check them again now, are they physically very loose? If so, then vibration from sitting atop the speaker cab could cause movement. But they shouldn't be that loose! Are they still making a difference to the sound, when you adjust them? If they're that loose - I'd be tempted to whip the casing off and at least have a look. Definitely leave the repair to someone qualified - but taking a look might at least let you know what it is that's going on.... If you don't know of any amp repair techs in your area - ask whether a local guitar shop could either do it, or who they recommend. Also, a post asking for amp techs on here may help Most of all - good luck, and I hope you get it sorted. They're great amps

Don't like the look of them much either. I do like their amps & cabs though

Squier VM's are great quality instruments, given the asking price They definitely did a version which isn't routed out though - at least they did a fretless version that wasn't routed Flog your bass and get one of the other versions... or buy a fretless, and swap the necks over? Or perhaps ask in the wanted section for a body? At one time, I was sorely tempted to get a fretless VM without guard - they look great