Dan Dare

A pleasure. In basic terms, you need something with a high enough output. Some pedal type pre's may give that and enable you to drive a power amp directly, but you will need to check the specs. Your power amp will need something that gives around the same output level as a mixing desk. Here's a handy and brief article about line and mic levels from the Audio Technica website - https://blog.audio-technica.com/audio-solutions-question-of-the-week-what-is-line-level-and-what-is-mic-level/.

A pedal or pre that gives line level output (which is intended to be routed to the front end of a standard head/combo) will not provide sufficient output to drive a power amp sufficiently. Check the input sensitivity of your power amp. It will probably need around 1.75 volts to deliver full output. Full rack type pre's are probably going to be your best bet. They are intended to drive a power amp directly.

Thanks Bill. That's generous of you. Eminence is becoming increasingly available here and prices aren't bad.

That's very interesting, Bill, especially the reason why European manufacturers concentrated on the PA driver market. I understand that you may not wish to answer this question (I appreciate that you've done your research/experimentation in developing your cabinet designs and may well not wish to give away your knowledge), but could I ask which 10" and 12" drivers you favour for bass guitar (assuming they are mounted in suitable cabs of course)?

Are all the drivers in the one large enclosure, or is it divided internally so the 10s and 15 have separate compartments? If they're all in the one space, they won't be doing each other any favours. Peavey did a 2x10 plus 1x15 once with no internal subdivision. It didn't work very well (the bass player in a band I used to play in had one and it wasn't great). If possible, you might look at dividing it internally.

You should typically get a little more volume from a 4 ohm drive unit. But (and it's a big but) check the efficiency figures of the drivers you are interested in. They will say something like 98db for 1w at 250hz and will give better guidance as to how much output a driver will give.

In practice, that amp will only be capable of producing 900w for a couple of milliseconds (if at all). It was doubtless measured in a lab, run into a stable, non-reactive load and over a limited range of frequencies. In the real world, forget it. Claiming massive power outputs has always been the way of things. You'll be fine.

Gear 4 Music's own brand as far as I'm aware. Generic gear, sourced from one of the big factories in China that makes for Thomann et al. Economically priced and does the job. As long as you don't expect miracles, it'll be fine.

Any moment now, someone will recommend the Fender Rumbles. They're decent for the money and nice and light, but really, you need to go and try some kit. Find a well stocked shop (Bass Direct or similar), spend some time comparing and make an informed decision based on your preference, not anyone else's. Don't buy on recommendation. That's a major reason so much nearly new stuff appears in the marketplace on here.

You can make a pick more resistant to slipping by drilling a hole in the centre of it. Allows a bit of skin to skin contact and increases grip.

This. Switchcraft plugs are also excellent. You can save quite a bit making your own.

Churches are always hard work. The more grand they are - high vaulted ceilings, reflective stone surfaces, lots of nooks and crannies - the worse. I did sound in one last night and it was challenging. Certainly didn't need any reverb...

If it enables decent musicians (you can't be a duffer playing jazz - smooth or any kind) to make a living, I'm fine with it. Don't care for it myself, but different strokes for different folks and all that.

I agree Francis Rossi has the best claim to the name in SQ. More generally, bands are like companies (especially established ones). You wouldn't expect a company to cease trading when it had no original staff left working for it, so why a band?

At last. Sensible advice. Never mind all that practice your scales malarkey. Practice is for wimps. People won't notice a few fluffy notes. It's only a bass, after all. And you won't care anyway. Win, win 🤪

Oh dear. I shan't be bidding on that bass when it pops up on eBay...

Malcom Hine. In Edmonton. Google will find him.

If one is playing covers, there may be limited room for interpretation/personal embellishment, but by and large parts should be as the original. As for someone suggesting me where it might work best on the instrument, I'm not precious about that. If someone has a good idea, I'm all ears. There's more than one way to skin a cat and it's not out of the question that they may know better than me. Being willing to listen is what helps us improve.

So true. "Have you got a spare lead, Dan?" "Yes thanks". "Er, can I borrow it?". "Where's yours". "Haven't got one". "Why not?". "I don't need one". "Because you know I carry one?" "Ummm" (shuffles feet). "Here you are". Later, at end of gig. "Got my spare lead?" "I'll just hang on to it until I get another". "Yeah, right. Let's have it." "Aww man. You're so mean" Etc, etc.

According to Glenn Fricker (YouTube studio recording advice channel in Canada), we're c*+ts...

"Tinted maple neck"? Pretty heavy "tint"... oldslapper's right about the logo, too. I have a 1972 Jazz and the logo is nothing like that one.

I wouldn't think it would affect a spirit-based stain too much, but it may lift the grain/cause the wood to swell. This may not be such an issue in a dense hardwood, but will affect a softer, more open-grained wood (which I assume it is as it's stained). Are you looking to de-grease before applying a finish? If you wipe down swiftly with a cloth slightly dampened with white spirit, it shouldn't remove too much stain. Spirit based stains tend to sink into wood quite well.

The fishing on the Avon isn't bad, though. I come down from the Smoke to Britford regularly. Nice spot. Can you recommend any decent pubs in town? I like a pint before hopping on the train home.

I use 3 PJB cabs and like them, but you're right that he's rather full of himself. Shame, because his stuff is good and he doesn't need to resort to dissing other peoples' products.

True. If a band is merely a group of people who do it for fun, with no aim or goal (gigs, fame and fortune, sex, drugs, etc), then one cannot (and should not) attempt to crack the whip at them. They are paying to be there, after all. It's different if there is paid work at stake, of course.