Dan Dare

Oh and yes, bass - lead - amp for me, too.

A PA can be handy for originals bands. Established OBs with reputations may indeed "play venues with in-house PAs and engineers", but the key question is how often? Many OBs struggle to get more than a handful of gigs a year. Having a PA can be handy if it means you can play in places other than established gig venues. In the past, I've put on gigs in local pubs with OBs I've played in. To do that, we needed our own PA. It wasn't worth hiring in a rig, engineer, etc. We often made little to no money, but the idea was to build a bit of a following, get ourselves noticed and get match fit (which playing in rehearsal rooms doesn't do). Maybe it's different these days. Being an old git who no longer has aspirations to conquer the world, I haven't played in an OB for ages. I would if something musically interesting came along and they didn't mind the fact that I'm ancient, but I guess that's unlikely.

This. A mic' into your backline, combined with a naturally resonant instrument like an acoustic bass guitar or double bass, is almost inevitably going to suffer feedback and require some sort of notch filtering at anything other than low volume. Pickup into backline and mic to FOH is usually the best compromise. It means you won't hear exactly the sound you like from your backline, but it's workable practically. Driver size is not relevant. I use several C4s and/or 4Bs for electric bass and they have plenty of bottom end and are not "dry" unless I eq the amp to be so.

Yep. Everyone is review crazy these days. The minute you buy anything online, you are bombarded with requests to "rate us on Trustpilot", etc.

Do you find the rollers "creep" over time? I found I needed to use Threadlock on the one I had. Nicely made bridge, though.

I assume you've tried the serial lookup facility on the Fender website. The original pro Junior was introduced around 1994, so it's not going to be from 1991. The 3 was introduced around 2010. Although it's stated that it was produced until 2016, it's perfectly possible that end of production may have crept into 2017 (if Fender had parts and there was still demand, why wouldn't they?). Have you been able to confirm that it only needs re-valving? As that's such a simple job, I'd imagine the seller would do that, rather than let it go for nowt. Caveat emptor and all that.

When none of them played in the original?

A fool and their money and all that. Anyone who forks over 150 bucks for the "privilege" of hearing her tripe deserves to be robbed. I'd expect to pay less, not more, if I had to watch her too 😁

Every cloud has a silver lining

This is a fascinating subject. Google something like "psychological effect of keys in music" and you'll find plenty of really interesting stuff around on the topic of how keys and musical structures affect mood and emotion. Even Bach was aware of it.

You really need to lighten up. I appreciate that Scandinavian winters are long and dark, which tends to engender a gloomy disposition among those who live there, but it's summer at the moment, so why the long face? Yes, insults can be light hearted, although rarely, sadly, to those whose default position is taking offence. Still, I guess it shows how up to date you are. Accomplished players are just as capable of indulgence as bad ones. You like something. I don't care for it. Why not accept the fact and stop digging a deeper hole for yourself?

I really don't think that a group of (admittedly highly accomplished) bass players taking turns to show off their astonishing techniques (yes, I did watch the video you linked above) could be described as "exploring new territory", "pushing progress forward" or "out of the norm". Yes, the playing by each individual is remarkable, but pushing progress forward? Musically, they are working over pretty conventional forms, which are intended more as vehicles for them to showcase their abilities than to explore new musical territory. I'm happy to see great musicians making a good living and people enjoying it. Nowt wrong with that. If you enjoy it, great. But why not just state that you like it, rather than justifying your preference by claiming that your liking it demonstrates your superior taste and/or how original you are? My initial comment that you highlight above was intended to be light hearted. Life is generally more enjoyable when you don't take it, or yourself, too seriously.

You know, I don't think they actually play in a band together. A one-show get together, featuring a few prominent players isn't really what one would call a band. More a bassists' wankfest. Any further examples for us?

I suppose multiple bass players in one band keeps some of the terrible bassists out of other bands. Silver linings and all that.

I feel your pain, although tbf, you wouldn't have been hearing what the person mixing was. All you would have got from your position behind the main FOH speakers would have been low bass. I know that many "engineers" do emphasise the "wump" because, as Bill points out, they think that's what bass should sound like (probably because the heavily compressed and artificial bass on the records they listen to does), but it may not have been as bad out front with the higher frequencies (which are more directional and wouldn't have made it back to you) included. Then again, I may be being too charitable to the person mixing...

That's my point. There is no "best" or "most accomplished" musician. To make that claim with any credibility, one would have to have listened to everyone. That's an impossibility. By all means say "X is my favourite musician of our times", but "most accomplished"? Nah. If we stick with western music, there are plenty of jazz and classical musicians who could be claimed to be at least as accomplished as Prince. I doubt even he, with his reputedly enormous ego, would have made the claim for himself. If it isn't about "he's better than", why ask me to nominate someone better? Music (ort any art) is not an Olympic sport. Sadly, many try to make it so (best, fastest, most accomplished, etc) and demean it in so doing.

I assume you're asking me as I questioned the assertion that he was "the greatest most accomplished musician of our time". Short answer to your question. There isn't one and nor will there ever be. Evading the issue? Not at all. If one defines music as western, American-influenced pop, it could be argued that Prince has been one of its better exponents. However, the world and its art, music and culture is simply vast. Claiming that anyone is the best, most accomplished musician or artist of any time demonstrates the narrowness of knowledge of the person making the claim.

Hmmm. He was extremely good, but better than everyone everywhere "in our times"? From all countries/cultures, all types of music, etc? That's too bold a claim.

Rosewood may be more difficult to find on a Tele/51 style bass neck. They are usually maple. You can make a gloss neck satin by rubbing down the back of the neck with 0000 steel wool, but do unbolt it from the instrument first to avoid covering the bass with fine steel fragments. You'll never get rid of them, especially from the pickup pole pieces, if you don't.

Carvin appears to have re-launched. There is a current website. I don't know whether someone may have bought the rights to use the name/brand or whether the original firm is back in operation. I have a B1000 bass head which I like very much.

Noodling between numbers is showing off, pure and simple. Call it out for what it is, but be prepared for a hissy fit from the culprit.

Seems from your final comment it may not be for you. Some would find it an interesting prospect, but if you are someone who likes everything nailed down beforehand and has strict ideas of what is and isn't for you, probably not.

Take up fishing. I find it a great way to while away my twilight years.

Lovely job. Looks really pro'.

I think we're onto something. Diversification is the name of the game if you want world dominance. How about Scott's Car Repairs, or Scott's Open Heart Surgery?