SpondonBassed

Spooky! at the time of posting both @PaulWarning and myself had exactly 2601 posts each on the panel at the side.

Yes. If we didn't keep him occupied he'd be out vandalising bus shelters.

It's a great way to keep the creative juices going. Respect.

I like your style. If I still lived near that there London, I'm sure I'd be doing the same. Twickenham was one mainline stop removed from the tube and my parents' flat had a spare room. I stayed with them for a few months when I came home from Ireland and got my feet on the ground here again. The nature of my day job then meant I was in and out of the home counties. It would depend on the contracts I worked until I settled on a long term one in Derby and bought my first house. I regret not using the public transport system to a greater extent but then I was a motorcyclist at the time. I'd only use the bus or train if I was out for drinks with friends.

...and arrangers.

(Puts a BIG umbrella up.)

Don't worry, it's fine to be seen as Mr F's kiss donkey. No shame in that. I would not recommend actually snogging a donkey however. If the relationship progresses well you will inevitable suffer a lot of discomfort and not just from the embarrassment. You'd also have to wear a nappy and carry a soft cushion around with you for the rest of your life. Have you seen the size of a donkey's?

When we still had the cats, one of them used to follow me wherever I practised in the house. She'd find a spot just off the ground where I like to believe she found the best bass tone. She'd be totally relaxed no matter what I was practising with. She wasn't deaf but as kittens they'd both found that my waist height living room speakers were the best perches from which to view the birdies through the window. They'd sit on them for ages either preening or gazing outside. I suppose they got used to the rhythm and volume of my music very early in life. Loud musical noises were of little threat to them. I miss her during practise sometimes still. Sorry, I got a little nostalgic. Carry on.

So you never dine? No wonder you are as thin as a whippet!

PMd

Oh wow. I take it he had some talent else why would the band have picked him?

Not being picky or anything but did he have a plectrum?

(Nips off to find a bucket with some degree of urgency) Sure. Knock yourself out.

Yup. Is that dotted maroon material lined up to wrap the next build with? I'm off! Heeheehee

I think so too.

I got all black hardware with my kit and, the way it turned out, I reckon you're going to be pleased when you have the right tuners. Yours has got a beautiful grain that is flattered by the additional features of the plain black pick guard and control plate. (I got black strap buttons too though.)

Forgiven, but you should know that the pancakes have gone cold and a passer-by has stubbed a fag out in the hoisin sauce.

That's worth remembering. Thank you.

That's all well and good but where is the duck? I hear no quacking. Heeheehee, great photo of a lovely looking instrument anyway.

May I suggest a broaching tool for forming internal splines without brutalising the job too much? A man of your calibre would find it easy to make one from an unwanted splined spindle of the same dimensions as the pot(s) you are making the knob for. You will be less susceptible to split knobs this way. (You boys at the back - STOP chortling. It gets smuttier later.) Assuming you make each knob as a capped hollow cylinder like @Norris's, in theory, this should work: Drill your wood cylinders to just clear the root diameter of the splines. Get an unwanted splined spindle made from mild steel as aluminium wont be tough enough. File the splines. You are aiming to make to make a taper from the end of the spindle to about 2mm short of where the splines run in to the plain portion of the spindle shaft. You want the pointy end to have a diameter just less than that of the spline roots and you want about 2mm of untouched spline going into the plain portion. Use a junior hacksaw to cut around the circumference of the spindle at 1 to 2mm intervals. It should end up looking like a thread tap. Meticulously remove burrs caused by the hacksaw. You must make each spline into a column of successively larger cutting teeth. If you keep your hacksaw cuts neat and perpendicular to the centreline of the spindle you should end up with a tool that can be used to nibble out bits of wood with an internal filing action. I'd suggest clamping the wood cylinder to your pedestal drill table. Mount your broaching tool in the chuck and use careful judgement of how much pressure you need to press down into the hole with and how far to go with each progressive stroke. Ultimately you should have perfectly formed splines and little internal stress within the remaining wood fibres. Alternatively, you could search the web for a proprietary broach for the purpose. Broaching Some Pictures of Shiny Bits of Tool Steel Some More Pictures of Expensive Cutting Tools PS: If you do the splines before you shape your wood it's easiest. Then the splines can help in that you can mount the splined wood blank on a splined mandrel (another unwanted spindle) in your chuck prior to shaping.

I know. You've mentioned before. I haven't visited it yet, sorry. I was just hoping to raise a titter at your expense.

I'd personally have no problem doing the extra for a band mate who's unable for whatever reason. In fact I'd happily look for disabled musicians to work with. The only thing stopping me is how to get away with placing my advert on JMB without offending someone. It is a very interesting topic to introduce. I mean, for the paying public measures are taken to make venues accessible to those who don't get about as well as they'd like. From my limited experience this doesn't happen for those backstage, certainly in smaller venues. My big drawback is that I gave up driving so I'm off to look at that thread mentioned in your OP again.

Actually... you could get four of them for a grand. I was gobsmacked. Amazon's Listing

Bassically, anywhere you lay your hat I suppose? I want to be you when I grow up Les.

I have two music rooms. One at the front of the house and one at the back with a scullery between it and the living room/kitchen area. My housemate practices uke in the front room and I practice bass in back. Two combo amps, four basses and a clutch of ukes are stored in the front room. I keep my bass of the day on a stand near the telly in the living room for finger exercising without amp. I have a further combo and ext cab stored in the back room. We're detached and I have no spouse. One day, when I've properly sorted out the last of my late Mum's vast collection of stuff, I hope to have the room to invite friends back for music sessions before I refill the place with my own clutter. I know when I'm well off.