Dan Dare

Consider yourself fortunate... I've rarely seen a more obvious lash-up. I thought about messaging the seller and calling b/s, but as it's such a poor fake, there's zero chance of anyone being suckered.

Update. Order arrived on time on the day promised. Very good price, too and free delivery, so I'm happy.

You can. Have a look on eBay. It could be a bit pot luck as to whether the sizes you want are available, but you should be able to mix/match once you've done the maths.

For "big hands"?

I think the price may signify it's a wind-up.

I have to add Mavis Staples to the distinguished names above.

I'm exactly the same, having started on the violin. I have to think about it when reading the bass clef. I reckon it might be because the G string on the bass is in the same place on the stave as the E string on the fiddle, leading you to think, when looking at C in the bass clef (which would be A on the fiddle), that it's your open D string, which of course it ain't. Drives me up the wall sometimes.

Despite the image it attempts to portray of itself as bargain city, Amazon is frequently anything but. As always, it pays to shop around. I'm afraid it's also the case that we are royally ripped off in the UK - prices for strings (and much else) in the US are much lower than they are here. I found the article itself very helpful.

This isn't helping my confidence at all, you lot. I've just ordered my first thing from them. Supposed to arrive tomorrow. Not expensive, so not the end of the world if it doesn't show, fortunately. According to their website, they're based in Folkestone (Kent Coast), so not a million miles away from me if I need to go and shout at them. Fingers crossed.

It can be tricky as a melody instrument player to work out chords/structure in the early stages. If you are used to playing linearly, you have to teach yourself to think more structurally. It doesn't take long for it to become second nature if, as I'm sure you do, you have an ear. It's so long ago (50 years) that I started learning that I can't remember how long it took to become proficient at it. I started out playing the violin/fiddle and was drawn to the bass (possibly because my pals needed a bass player in their band - isn't that the reason many of us start?). One thing I found very helpful was to learn some piano and guitar. Not to any standard - I wouldn't dream of playing either in public - but it got me thinking in the right way and realising how everything fitted together. Some theory lessons helped a lot, too.

Given that both are combos, the 'mis-matched drivers' point doesn't apply, as each has its own amplification and eq. As you say, if you run a signal from one to the other via the tuner out, you can eq them separately.

I like something soft, but with fine air spaces.

I know I'm a member of Obsessives Anon, but is anyone else irritated by four tuners on one side of the headstock and one on the other? 2+3 looks so much better. Right, now I've got that out of the way, I'm off to repair my spec's with Sellotape 🤔

Is it the future? God, I hope not.

Surely there's no either/or. At times, roots and simplicity is needed, at other times, inventiveness/solo playing. The jazz or orchestral player's mindset - we should play as part of the ensemble when appropriate and stretch out when appropriate. It depends on the material, of course.

They were developed by someone who had previously designed for Marshall and Vox, so they should work. Never heard one in the flesh. The Chinese company that owns Wharfedale backed it financially. See https://www.albionamp.com/page3. They also released a similar range, designed by the same person, under the Wharfedale brand name (the speaker cabs were identical, bar the logo on the front). They didn't catch on. Andertons bought a warehouse full of them a few years back and sold them off cheaply:

Good to see Rowland Emmett is alive and well.

I think it's just rarity. Many cheap instruments get abused or chucked, so the few that survive in good nick are rare. I suspect there are also plenty of people who cannot afford to collect vintage name instruments, so they turn to oddball stuff.

To paraphrase Mark Twain, rumours of the death of the amp have been greatly exaggerated.

You will need an active speaker if you wish to drive it with your Mackie. A mixing desk won't drive a passive one. If it's only for home practice/recording, I'd use headphones. Something with a decent bass response like Beyer DT770s would be a lot better than a cheap active cab. Little point in buying a bass head if you don't intend to use it for any other purpose. If you are practicing to tracks, you can route them and your bass through the mixer, set the balance to suit you and do it whenever you wish without the risk of disturbing neighbours or family members.

All of the above neatly illustrates the minefield that is vintage Fender instruments. With their bolt-together construction, any and all sorts of shenanigans are possible/likely.

Agreed, with the exception of the "mostly untrue". Frequently untrue would be more accurate. There are, sadly, people of both sexes out there who don't like the fact that their partner has a hobby or interest that doesn't involve them.

Exactly. I did think of messaging the seller, but why bother if he can't be *rsed to do some homework.

3x10 always struck me as being a good idea. Most of the weight of sound of a 4x10 and plenty enough for any normal situation. I had an Epifani and it was excellent. It was only the fact that it was a little bulky - although light - and therefore difficult to get up the narrow stairs to my flat that caused me to sell it.