Happy Jack

Paging @PaulKing ...

What was your signal chain last night? And did you go into an input that has a Mic/Line selector button or switch?

Because Avon basses are vintage. And rare. Vintage and rare. Therefore valuable. Very valuable. I know a good investment when I see one. Why even this piece of complete nonsense sold for 74 of your English pounds. I'm rich, haha!

I will cherish that image ...

Dost tha' mean a leccy kit, or a set of 'flats'? This sort of thing: https://www.gear4music.com/Drums-and-Percussion/Pearl-Compact-Traveler-4pc-w--Hardware-Set/2O8Y?origin=product-ads&gclid=Cj0KCQjw6s2IBhCnARIsAP8RfAhX-iPCYMXmhrgq7jY2SXaFDpzK2aimObLClIhmaFTow3ZwdY851iYaAoqJEALw_wcB I played with one drummer who was purest stinky-poo, but he had one thing that impressed me, and that was his set of flats - the perfect halfway house between a leccy kit and a full-fat acoustic set-up.

This ^. Absolutely this ^. I have my own rehearsal space (i.e. converted garage) and the two main bands I play in both rehearse there. Part of my persuasion technique was to buy a half-decent electric drumkit, since my space is not 'properly' soundproofed and I have close neighbours. Even the most Neanderthal of the many drummers who have played the leccy kit over the years have ended up really liking it, to the point of being prepared to gig with it at smaller/quieter venues.

It probably works for kittens too, but I'd suggest steering clear of the RSPCA.

This also works for mittens. 😗

I was SO glad when this monster finally died, and now you've gone and revived it. 😂 Anyone feel like starting an entirely new topic where everyone can bicker about whether PA cabs are any good for metal?

I forgot to mention that! I no longer need any foldback for singing ... with the on-stage sound reduced by 15dB and my own voice sounding (relatively) louder from the inside, it's WAY easier to hear myself and to pitch correctly. Win - Win all the way.

Of course the real way to check whether a Precision is genuine mid-70s isn't to find the receipt, it's to discover that it weighs 11 lbs. 🤨

Really hard to work out what genre you were playing, despite studying that photo really carefully. 😉

Wow! I'm seeing no change already! It's amazing! 😂

I've had tinnitus for years (blame the V+H pipes on my old Buell, rather than loud music) and it's true that (1) there is no cure, and (2) it gets steadily worse over time. If you want to keep playing whilst retaining what's left of your hearing, check out https://www.acscustom.com/uk/ for proper moulded plugs (i.e. custom fitted to your ears) and their range of reduction filters. I have a pair of 15dB and a pair of 25dB. Once they're in, the effect is that you hear exactly what everyone else hears, but with the volume turned down. They're not cheap. You're looking at North of £150 for a pair and they can only be supplied by specialist outlets (including some large branches of Boots). Remind me ... what value do you place on your hearing?

More cowbell!

You guys need to get out more ...

Trans: It's not you, it's me. But really it's you.

Can we get a badge for this?

I've had both the original KK Baby Bass, and the Ampeg that it was essentially a copy of. When I was new to playing DB these things were an absolute Godsend, plus Kris Kedzior is a lovely guy to do business with. I used my Baby Basses at a raft of cool gigs (Proud Camden, The Water Rats, etc.) and they performed admirably, but eventually I reached the point where I just preferred the 'natural' sound of the DB. By that point, the practical advantages of the KK design (mag pickup, no feedback, easy to transport, built like a tank) were no longer so important to me.

And here's what it sounded like at its first outing, a dep gig at zero notice with a more-or-less scratch band. This band may turn out to be a decent side-project for me ... festivals and midweek gigs to fill the yawning gaps between weekend gigs. 😂

Just use worn-out strings as an excuse the p/x the bass against a new one.

One other thing ... the sales blurb for this bass claims that the rail pickups are to maintain output level when bending the strings. I can't honestly say that I've had problems with this in the past, but just so you can hear whether this makes a difference: FLATS Semitone bends at 5th fret.mp3 FLATS Semitone bends at 12th fret.mp3

I've now installed a set of LaBellas, as threatened, and the bass is complete. Whereas before it merely sounded great, now it sounds righteous. Here's a blow-for-blow repeat of the soundclips: FLATS Reverse P Open Tone.mp3 FLATS Normal P Open Tone.mp3 FLATS Mudbucker Open Tone.mp3 FLATS Reverse P Closed Tone.mp3 FLATS Normal P Closed Tone.mp3 FLATS Humbucker Closed Tone.mp3 And again the consolidated file: FLATS All Six Recordings.mp3

You've gotta love the fake fag-burn on the headstock under the E-string. What is that? A felt-tip pen he's used?