Nicko

Gear4music have similar own brand packages cheaper than the ones on Very at £140. Given that they're a music shop I'd trust them to sell something playable over Very. I have an amp going free in the marketplace/recycling section here if you can collect (London) - that way you can spend your whole budget on a better bass.

There's no way you need 1000W unless you are playing large venues and your drummer is going through the PA or if you are doing outdoor festivals. As suggested above I'd try the amp with one or other of the cabs and if it's still cutting out have it looked at.

Clearly Amazon share my view that the burnt orange is hideous?

Well done @Doctor J. My favourite by a funky mile.

Ooh - just had a look and your's looks lovely. I like the inlays. Mine is a bit less grand, a NY Stage - the cheapest model they made. Unbelievably I saw one on fleabay a few days ago for around £550 and it wasn't in great condition.

IME you are best of starting a new band. Most of the originals bands on the websites have unrealistic expectations of releasing a number 1 album followed by stadium tours and world domination, oh, and they want you to be under 25 and don't understand that this is not a career for you.

It's got a 4 digit serial number so I think it's mid 90s as they didn't start using the 4 digit format until 94. I still have the receipt somewhere - I bought it new from Project Music on the A4 in Hounslow.

I suspect that an Arpeggione would be easier for us bass players to master given that they are tuned like a guitar.

Oh dear! Are we expecting a Mr Miyagi themed entry to the September comp?

Thanks, the lyrics are semi autobiographical although it was at Heathrow that Mrs Nicko failed to meet me at the designated point. The story is much more complicated than the song and not only did I fail to get my lift home she'd parked in a car park and neglected to take payment with her assuming that I'd pay the charge. The end result was that I had to take a taxi to the airport to rescue her and the car. Good job I didn't live far away.

Some fine stuff this month. Well done.

OK, here is my entry. This song is about those people that you meet that show you a false front - and you never know what is behind the facade. I wanted to get a grungy feel - not sure if I quite got there. The technical stuff. Guitars are my ageing Patrick Eggle New York, through Amplitube (Fender Bassman 57 emulator at the start, Soldano SLD100 and a Mesa triple rectifier emulator at the end). Bass is my Fender American Special PB through Amplitube's Fender Bassman 300 emulator with a touch of overdrive. Drums are MT Power Drumkit. . All recorded in Cubase. In case you were wondering there is no autotune on the vocals 😀

A certain John Lennon of course used an Epiphone Caino - I wonder if Ringo, Paul and George asked him why he didn't buy the Gibson ES 330. IMO using the less obvious choice actually carries a degree of kudos and taste.

To be honest no one has ever commented on the fact that I was playing a Squier. I used to take the real Fender as a backup and it was kept out of sight in it's case. I must admit I check out the gear of any pub band I've seen just to see what they're playing. The only judgement I make is that some people buy expensive and play rubbish, and some choose alternatives and sound great.

That is something of a relief given that I've actually tried proper singing this month.

Me likey. I half expect Huggy Bear to be hiding behind the door.

Initially I just though it was a door photoshopped onto a pic. Even now someone has suggested its mirror it's messing with my head.

I assume that you will be donating that to the winner?

It looks like it might be a loose machine head which seems like a result compared to a damaged rod.

Did you solve it by adjusting the rod?

I've experienced a few rattles with my Squier 70s CV PB. There's a mechanical rattle coming from somewhere. I've tightened everything that can be tightened and to me the sound appears to be coming from the neck at around the 12 fret. I recently changed strings to some that are marginally lighter and it's a lot worse. Certain notes make the rattle more noticable so clearly its a resonant frequency - and if I get the rattle and gently pull the neck backwards it disappears. Although the neck seems to be fairly well set up with these strings is possible the truss rod rattling?

No. Its a complete lottery. You may get lucky but IME by the time you get to general sale it's too late. Find a friend with O2 priority.

It wouldn't be my weapon of choice (the amp, not the small penis) but I kinda understand high power heads. Its the high power small combo that confuses me.

I've played pubs and even small clubs with a 250 Watt head and a 2 x 10 and never had the volume up past half way.

Yeah I get that - isn't this just willy waving though?