NancyJohnson

Which ones?

I had a pair of Aguilar SL112s a couple of years ago and I was a Hartke endorsee too, so I have a little bit of background in each camp. I just felt that a pair of 1x12s was the way I wanted to go and once you get an idea in your head... Irrespective of the Hartke Hydrives I used (1x15/4x10/2x10 - sorry not the 1x12), I found them all quite bright and they suited my desired tone ('gritty/driven') so based off that, I wouldn't really expect a pair of 1x12s to differ from that significantly - it's simply what they do and they do it very well. I owned a pair of Aguilars, too - a bit of a vanity purchase - I just figured these would be a decent upgrade from a Barefaced Big One. To be honest, they didn't suit what I was doing. They were very hi-fi, quite a bit bassy and lacked a lot of the top end that the horns in the Hydrives (or the 6" Barefaced tweeter) provided. At the time, I just thought there was something wrong with them, but the horns were working in both cabinets, but the effect was very subtle. I sold them on. Right now, I'm running a single Darkglass 1x12. If I ever have the desire to go back to full time gigging/band, I'd probably get another one of these. It's quite lovely.

The left thumb was the first one...I had no idea what the problem was at the time; the joint just below the thumbnail was locked 90° and would loosen up or become unlocked if I pulled it straight. Pailthorpe had a feel of the joint at the base of the thumb and said something on the lines of it being a beauty and the biggest pulley issue he'd felt on a thumb. I think he was probably chomping at the bit to cut it open. (The photo up the thread was after that surgery; he literally cut about an inch in the wrinkle line around the base of the thumb to free it up.) I'm not familiar with the banjo-term! If it helps, I've not suffered any long term issues after each procedure. The Nordic thing is (apparently) something to do with Dupuytren Conjecture, which is more about the fingers becoming bent due to the hardening of tissue in the fingers. It was allegedly genetically common in Vikings (or if you like Swedish/Norweigan/Danish seafarers) - I have no idea how they know this - and supposedly as they pillaged and inter-bred with other non-Viking indigenous northern Europeans the condition spread and still exists 1,000 to 1,200 years later.

I've had one thumb and middle fingers on both hands. The little finger on my right hand locks overnight and triggers for a bit first thing in the morning. The little one on my left hand is just displaying the same signs, but it's very slight. Interestingly, my index fingers are unaffected. My doctor said as he'd fixed enough of these he thought he'd have been able to work out a pattern as to who is susceptible to the condition. He did ask me whether I had any Nordic ancestry (no!).

As I've had a few operations because of this condition/affliction I suppose a bit if clarity is required. Every tendon on your hands that controls finger movement passes through an A1 pulley, essentially a circle of cartledge/gristle in the middle of your palm. (imagine this to be similar to your ears or those hard bits you get in chicken wings.) The pulley can enlarge ALL OVER, thus becoming pronounced on your palm and also squeezing the tendon, causing the finger to trigger/lock. Also it's genetic. It has nothing to do with how you play or how you sleep. No amounts of splints, steroids or snake oil will cause the pulley to somehow revert back to how it was pre-enlargement. It will not shrink back. It will not get better on its own. It will not get better without intervention (which is a small operation under local anesthetic to cut the pulley to allow it to open up and allow free tendon movement). Steroid shots will, as Warren inferred- only give temporary relief (my doctor - Charles Pailthorpe (look him up) - said it's just like greasing a door hinge, WD-40 will work for a bit, but the squeak will come back). If it's causing you an issue, go to a doctor now and get a referral. If you're happy with it as it is and really looking forward to it getting so bad that your finger simply won't straighten unless you pull it straight with your other hand, then leave it be and take joy from the cursing you'll be doing because you wished you'd got off your lazy derrières and followed my instructions several years beforehand. Honestly, I have the t-shirt and I'll probably be getting two more t-shirts in the next year or so. (I'm trying for the full set.) Trust me, please.

Once I was able to afford them (post-mortgage), I was cleaning up Gibson Thunderbirds. Lots of them. Then I visited WH Smith in Reading and saw a copy of Bass Player magazine with Jeff Ament on the cover; he was holding a Mike Lull. It was as if someone threw a switch. I bought a Lull JAX-T4, then a Lull NRT5 - both oversized bodied. Sure I have other basses, but the Lulls are the main ones. I don't have any Gibson guitars at the moment.

I have a bit of hard earned money sitting in Premium Bonds, wife gave me the thumbs up to draw some of it down and buy something that might appreciate over the next few years. Having missed out on the Slash Les Paul 4 and the two Korina 58 reissues of the Explorer and Flying V, she suggested I should start small (I'm not looking to make zillions out of this) and see what happens. So I did what any bassist would do under the circumstances and spent a ridiculous amount (albeit a fair price) on something that I pick it up next Saturday. Not saying what, but it's not a bass. Quite excited. I definitely have my eye on something else that should be coming this year, too. I will be discussing this when I collect.

I posted elsewhere about these. They seem to be the torch-bearer for the old DR Hellborg strings...they're based in Venice. I liked the old DR ones and did pop them an email mid-December 2021. Got this reply from Giorgia Giacetti: HI Paul yes, you can order the strings directly but not through the online store as after Brexit freight costs have increased and duties and taxes are unpredictable. So you can eventually provide us with your full address and official order and we can issue a Proforma invoice for the prepayment.… They didn't quote a price and honestly seemed to think it's better to do business by cutting an invoice for up-front payment rather than quoting prices/shipping etc.

I find Weezer incredibly hard work but I persisted like the sucker I am up to 2016's 'White Album' afterwhich I bailed out. Reckon Pinkerton ('difficult' album #2) is the best one of the output I'm familiar with. All subjective, of course.

I'm surprised that as MTV put it out live on YT that they didn't leave it up. I suppose indicative of the fact MTV are more if a general (rubbish) entertainment channel now rather than music. This show was probably the most music they've played in yonks.

I don't like FF one bit, but I do find Dave Grohl charismatic and while he has something, musically it's not for me. That said, yesterday's tribute show was a wonderful thing...aside from the changeovers and some of the between-set tributes, it didn't drag and there was so much joy. It was just a pity they didn't bring out Kiss Guy for Monkey Wrench and give Wolfgang another song.

There's so much conflicting commentary, it would probably be easier to just tune to EADG and find a new singer.

I don't want to pour scorn onto this project unnecessarily - and not wanting to disappoint - but you've done your measurements, right? Sometimes simply screwing everything together doesn't work. The bolt-on Thunderbird neck pocket is fairly deeply recessed into the body and granted I'm only doing measurements off the photo above and concluded what I've posted below. Assuming the short scale length is 31/32" (if it was a four string), won't the bridge be hanging off the back of the body? You've effectively lost 2-3 inches off the neck length, you're using the existing neck pocket rout and to compound things, if you're going with a five string the low B will require an even longer throw than the assumed E-string scale. The reason the Thunderbird/Fender neck hybrid worked was because the two instruments shared (pretty much) the same scale length and the Fender neck is fairly easily accommodated by the Epiphone rout.

It's exceedingly difficult to just choose one, I have a top five that I'm more than happy to dip into and listen back to back with equal joy. Funnily enough four of these are from the 70s, when I was an impressionable teen. Pony Express Record came 20 years after Sheer Heart Attack and is equally as bombastic. If you give a damn: Queen - Sheer Heart Attack Rich Kids - Ghosts Of Princes In Towers Japan - Obscure Alternatives Aerosmith - Rocks Shudder To Think - Pony Express Record

About 20 years ago there was a wonderful surfpunk band from Los Angeles called Summercamp. They were signed to Maverick, the label Madonna set up. They spawned two albums (one unreleased) and the individual members have all gone on to do other stuff. So this morning it'll be the Summercamp albums, vocalist Tim Cullen's solo LP, The Playing Favourites, The Pen Fifteen Club.

I've read this a couple of times now and it still isn't making any sense. I'm assuming that you're saying there's two schools of thought; #1 the nut slots need to be cut in the centre of each string diameter (and equidistant) and #2 the slots need to be cut to accommodate even gap spacing between the strings themselves? If you look at this image (first one I found), the gaps between the strings look fairly even: ...let's do this metrically and try to keep it simple. Assume the equivalent string gauges for a 5-string set are 40/60/80/100/125 inches - so roughly 1.0/1.5/2.0/2.5/3.0 mm, the 3.0mm B-string would have a 1.5mm radial overhang from the centre point. Assuming you wanted the strings to have equal gaps (let's assume a 1cm gap), the math would point to the nut slots moving .25mm less per string from B-G. So you'd have the B-string slot, the B-E distance would be 11.25mm, E-A 11mm, A-D 10.75mm, the D-G 10.5mm. Visually, different string gauges (going back to imperial here) for any of the strings within the set would be fairly indistinguishable; for example an extra light E might be 0.090" up to 0.110"), but I doubt whether we'd really perceive a .020" difference if we were using a balanced set of strings (ie 30/50/70/90 against a 40/6/80/100 set or .050 to .110s) To be honest I've never really thought about this; we should be playing more and not worrying too much about stuff like this!

I haven't been to Reading for maybe 20 years. Purgatory. Most of these festivals are like a three/four day live version of ...Later. Much better to see a band you actually like in a sweaty little club rather than stand in a field and suffer 150 that you can't bear. Back on OP; Bring Me The Horizon. Not really my thing although I'm more than familiar with the genre. I did tune in for about ten minutes. The live show looked great (obviously lots of £££ spent on the stage) and the band were decent enough. I just couldn't bear the vocals. It just seems so passé swearing every five seconds as well; it's just not shocking any more.

I remember when Slade used these, so I do have a soft spot for them. Aren't purchases like this all about the chase and haggle? If he's come down £100, offer him £525 and walk away. Inevitably they'll come down again, then meet them halfway. There are some ridiculous prices out there for 100% original ones. Just stress it'll need refinishing etc. and look at it from the project perspective.

Secondhand or Harley Benton. Update what you don't like but don't expect any great return when you decide to sell it on.

I stopped for a while about 25 years ago, just got tired and dispondent with the whole nonsense of trying to write, create and do band stuff. There was one key moment where I questioned why I was bothering with it all; had a fire sale but hung onto an old Precision bass just in case. I came back slowly. 2000/2001. A neighbour knew a (very good) drummer who had a lovely home studio, so we had a chat, I bought a Bass POD and we we just jammed at his place with everyone on headphones.

We're all wired differently, but sometimes GAS is so immediate those seven steps go out of the window. A few years back I wandered into WH Smith in Reading and by chance saw Jeff Ament on the cover of Bass Player holding his signature model. It was like someone threw a switch. In seconds I knew that my (eight or nine) Gibson Thunderbirds were toast and so last year and that Lulls were the way forward. In seconds. Logistics aside (build time/delivery) I think within 24 hours my order was in and I'd listed several 'birds here for sale.