basexperience

I've still got the parts from my original bass (1988) - a Hohner Arbor, which was originally in a flake metallic white. Humbucker at the bridge and a split coil on the front. Wasn't a bad bass, did well with it for a couple of years while I started trying to crank out Iron Maiden 😄 I recontoured the body because I was obsessed with Ibanez's (which I couldn't afford) and it didn't come out too bad, but I didn't seal the body that well and it is a laminate body, so it's got plenty of cracks. Haven't looked at it in years - it's in the loft with the neck(!). The body got a fretless totally flat Warmoth neck on it (a beauty, now lives on a nice allparts body) and it didn't do the neck justice at all for a very long time. Next bass (which is still in one piece) is a beautiful, extremely light 4 string Aria GTB-2J (secondhand from a friend in 1990, IIRC) - ironically also in metallic white. I still have it and it's strung very very light (30-90) for ridiculous slap and tap stuff. Early 90s, I got a Hohner B-bass V, which I put an OBP-3 in several years ago. I still have that too... bought with inheritance from a wonderful grandfather. I couldn't part with it, although I don't play it much at all now: it is wonderfully playable, though. After that, things got a little out of hand (I think I have 15 now...) - but I know it'd be some kind of world-ending event before I sold the Aria or the Hohner.

I've got a V7 Mk 2 in swamp ash / maple - it's a heavy beast, but with a little extra setup I did it's become a go-to bass. The preamp does have plenty of capability of unusable tones, and the sweepable midband is probably way too complex for most, but in terms of playability it's an excellent bass, and as a first 5-string, I'd recommend it. Hardware on that bass is good if it's like mine (it's a 2020 model secured new for what now seems like a ridiculously reasonable £463) - build quality great, and those rolled fretboard sides are incredibly comfortable. The only mod I made was replacing the plastic knobs with silver metal knurled ones - I'm not a fan of those black plastic ones. The colour on that bass is killer, what a gorgeous finish! I'd go for it.

I have this stunning Maruszczyk, which has always looked amazing but now plays amazing thanks to @Manton Customs 🙂

As a noob, can I say THANK YOU SO MUCH GUYS! That was just lovely. I managed to miss the guitar shows this year, and that really did feel like a little show! everyone I spoke to, everyone I didn’t - please connect. I love this organisation! Also: Costco chocolate cake rules. @jonno1981 - lucky you! I used to live in crowthorne, these days I’m out near Hungerford!

It's a monster, and I may be able to bring a cab for it, but I could maybe bring my Trace V4 amp in its Zilla head form (used to be a combo). The thing is ridiculously heavy though. Otherwise, I'm thinking I bring the SRAS7 hybrid bass, maybe the Ashbory silicone string bass too. Some curious! I reckon my new filter pedalboard might be interesting to some, too.

Shite Lion Average Shite Band The Shite Stripes Shite Zombie Great Shite Barry Shite Motionless in Shite Shite Wolf Plain Shite T's The Shite Mice Shite Elephant Shite Witch The Shite Tie Affair Shite Trash Debutantes Shite Wizzard Shite Denim Shite Lies Couldn't resist. My favourite is probably the shite stripes, but Barry Shite is such a good comedy tribute name

Willie Eilish Talking Herds Shitney Houston

Exactly! The loop on the HX stomp was the clincher, but there are other ways - like a pedal switcher with a couple of patchbay lines on the back of the board (I used to run a switched on my huge board), hell, you could dedicate 2 external send/return lines for extension boards to isolate them. Advantage is, the send / return is going to have good level, and on the stomp I get to put a limiter / compressor / reverb / whatever on the other side of the board. Currently I have to run the creative board (the freeze / slicer / looper) after the filter board, but it works...

W-o-W!!!! How's that XS100? I've been looking at that and wondering about it

Oh man, I remember sound control <sniffs> - got my first bass in the one in Dundee!! Visited the one in Edinburgh. Bought my first decent amp in Dundee, TNT150 and a 2x8 bright box which I still have. All way back in the late 80s / early 90s.

Do you have scope to improve fitness? I know I do - last night I did some jumping and realised I was getting breathless - I know I need more exercise, so it's time to strap the knee up and get back on the bike...

Never say never: personally, at 55, I've got more choosy about the gigs I do, but I couldn't stop it. Load in / load out can be mitigated almost entirely with modern lightweight cabs (or going ampless if you can) - now, if the appetite has waned a bit, cut back the gigs a bit and recharge with something else (hell, gardening...?!) I practice more, explore other genres, record more and jam on Jamulus a lot (which generates more leads for recordings and gigs hehe)... but don't say never again on gigging: you'll come back to it. That's only my opinion mind!

Popped out to see some old friends at a new venue - the Millhouse in Thatcham (near Newbury). Jam night, up for three songs including Let’s Dance / David Bowie. I love playing that song. Enough to make a howler happen at the start of the second verse haha I think I got too into the vocals 😂

Just completed my Filter board extension for the HX loop. It works just how I wanted!! This is with everything hooked up - no digital noise, we seem to be up and running! the sounds on offer from this lot are endlessly creative. I started making the filter board because I had much loved pedals I wasn’t using: now I remember why I love the QTron, the funk face and the Soundblox envelope filter. The SYB-5 managed to fit, and the new pedals - the digitech, the lovely prunes and custard clone I bought from @LukeFRC and the B-tron, all have something to bring. FUN! And the Drolo Kiwami is BONKERS (another great BassChat purchase from @Lunoxx!) . I repaired that one by replacing a gain knob, fiddly but so rewarding, that thing makes the maddest noises! https://www.basexperience.co.uk/new-bass-filter-pedalboard/

The Reading Costco is my local, it's a good one for cakes! Maybe a tray of those delicious croissants for anyone coming in from London? 😉