Dan Dare

I've got this one - Luggage trolley ALU 125 (ravendo.com). Definitely a cut or two above the usual folding trolleys, with a decent sized platform. Folds completely flat. I got it from Parrs (see Workplace Equipment | Workplace Products | PARRS). From memory, it was £100ish, but it's solid and taller than many folders, which I like as I'm reasonably tall and don't have to stoop whilst using it.

Sensible. I do try to get my onstage sound the way I prefer it, but I appreciate that it won't necessarily work as well as I might like to believe out front in conjunction with other instruments, voices, room acoustics, etc. It's the engineer's job to make everything work well together in the PA. So I try to give them something clean to work with. The obvious problem with mic'ing cabs is spill from other sources, especially drums.

I agree with Lozz. I'd go for the Hartke as it's well within budget and will do the job. No sense in spending a lot more when you haven't had a chance to try and compare to see whether the extra expense is worthwhile.

If you did so in the last few days, remember it's a bank holiday weekend and they may not be there. A 12AX7/ECC83 valve is cheap - see Watford Valves :: Valves - 12ax7 - and simple to replace, so not the end of the world if it's faulty.

That's me to a T. 4 basses and one cat.

I'm 67 and champing at the bit to get out there and start doing it again. First gig in the book is July 22nd. Bring it on.

A pleasure. If you're a MU member, you get insurance as part of your membership.

Don't pay too much heed to us. We all like different things. Go to a decent shop or two and try plenty of stuff.

Might it be a little naive to expect a major artist to always play the instruments he/she endorses? Sires are excellent for the price (I reckon you'll struggle to do better) and, as far as I'm aware, are presented as such by Marcus Miller and the company. They don't claim it's the finest instrument you can buy. It's marketed as a professional quality instrument (which it is) for a good value price (which again it is). A pal has a Sire P7, which I think is the equal of my MIM P/J that cost rather more than the Sire.

I agree the D'Addarios mentioned above are a good choice. I like Ernie Ball Cobalts on my 5, which have similar gauges and are quite bright/clean. What rig do you use? To reproduce a low B cleanly at volume does take some doing.

I have a similar sized PA to yours and occasionally hire my self out (or did, until all the lockdown/covid nonsense started). Like you, I always end up doing sound in the bands I play with and having the rig gets me more gigs. More people want me to play for them because it comes with me (for a small consideration, of course). As for viability/demand, it depends on your local scene. I generally find that the size of rig we own is not quite large enough for bigger, better paid shows. I get a few jobs, but it isn't likely to pay off the mortgage. That's fine with me - I already have the rig, I enjoy doing sound and it's a paid night out. You may find you need some extra monitoring. I have 4 monitors, which I'd consider a minimum - people expect individual monitors these days (and often individual mixes). I can give them 3 mixes, so I run stage right and left and rear of stage, which covers most modestly sized situations. How many channels on your mixer? 16 really is the minimum you'll need for all but very simple bands/jobs. As far as advertising goes, how would you go about hiring a PA if you needed one? Advertising wherever you would look would be a good place to start. Have some cards and maybe small, inexpensive flyers printed and put the word out among the people you play with, at rehearsal rooms, local music shops, etc. I get most jobs via word of mouth, but I've been doing it for a while and know a lot of local musicians. Some may ask you if they can hire your rig minus you and provide their own engineer. That's a definite no no, unless you go with it and keep an eye proceedings imho. If you're providing PA and monitors plus full backline, you'll likely struggle to transport, rig and operate that (especially breaking it down and transporting it home after a long day/night), so I'd factor in the cost of taking/paying an assistant. Mics get hammered. I don't use my best ones when hiring myself out. I take out mainly old 57s and 58s and let people chew, dribble over and tread on them and leave my decent ones at home. Take a very long extension cable, plenty of plugboards and a good quality trolley. Edit: Forgot to mention. You'll often need a PAT test certificate and I'd get insurance. If one of your cabs falls on someone's head, you could be sued for a lot of money.

Selling it for a chum.

He's still calling it a Fender in the title, but has added a couple of semi-literate comments. Caveat emptor. Hopefully, people won't be fooled.

Just roll up pieces of foam and stuff them in the ports. Cheap and enables you to experiment whether partially or totally blocking them works best.

A shame it's collection only in Sheffield. For a tenner, I'd buy it for a laugh. When the jam I play in the house band at gets up and running again, it would be great to have it to offer to those "Lend us yer bass, mate" types who turn up without an instrument.

If you don't mind collecting it - in Bilston, so Midlands, which is where you are - this - Trace Elliot Bass Amp, GP12SMX, AH400SMX | eBay - is on the Bay at the moment. Looks in good shape - even the sliders have all their knobs. I was tempted for old times sake (I had the AH350), but mustn't buy any more gear.

Don't forget tone polish - Rag-Time: How to Clean Your Guitar for Better Tone (gibson.com).

I'm thinking of trying some different strap buttons to improve my tone. Any suggestions?

It's inevitable that people will be appreciated best when they are at their most active, which Paul M no longer is. He was always very musical and inventive. He's done all right. I don't suppose he worries about whether he's appreciated or not.

That's because it is (not that exact one, but the same model). Have a look at Gibson Style U - Wikipedia for history.

I like it. Certainly has character. Wouldn't be surprised to see it make a decent price. Vintage Jap stuff is quite collectable.

Headstock shape looks really off.

Beyer DT770s work for me.

If you don't want to spend too much, have a look at Musicman Bridge (wdmusic.co.uk). Looks a solid item. I've bought several Gotohs from WD and the service has always been good.

This is it in a nutshell. I've had a few instances of people on eBay offering to pay me via PP and then "sending a courier". I simply tell them to give the "courier" the cash and he can give it to me directly in exchange for the item. Oddly enough, they never agree to the idea. Wonder why?