Stub Mandrel

Went to see my brother's band yesterday so played the role of clueless roadie. Was a big night as his first full gig since having the trapezium bone taken out of his plucking hand. He was a bit nervous due to a bizzare accident the day before that had made his wrist very sore. Place was rammed, crowd loved it and he had a great time although at a few points he was in a fair bit of discomfort. I also got to drool over the bassist's CAR Bongo.

My thumbs go to the point where I was in constant pain. Two days of Boswellia (Frankiinsense) knocked the pain on the head. A couple of hefty doses of ibuprofen or a few days of boswellia deal with any flare ups. Since taking daily glocosamine and chondroitin I haven't had flare ups. While rest might help moving the joint is ESSENTIAL. I actually found playing the bass helped considerably. My brother mashed his thumbs up with guitar and mountain biking. Had steroid injections for the last several years, but had the trapezioid removed from his right thumb about three months ago. Recovery has been fast and painless (unusual - they say his guitar playing helped) they've encouraged him to do what playing he can as part of therapy after the first few weeks). Thumb is a bit shorter and only about 80% strength, but no pain and appears to have decent mobility. Playing his first full gig (he's done a few guest spots) since teh op toinight.

I am gutted. I wasted the last 30 years of my life not listening to this...

It's well worth getting a cheap component tester kit off t'interweb. LCR and transistors (FET and bipolar). So useful!

LMFTFY...

I know someone with a 4-string Bongo in CAR. They are under instruction not to sell it without consulting me first. I couldn't live with a white one though!

Some like ramps, some like straplocks. Some swap scratchplates and some swap knobs, I like adding vintage things like tug bars, the odd ashtray and now I've added these. What little additions or changes have you made to make your basses 'your own'?

I had to enlarge the hole in the pickguard and use some better quality foam behind the pup. Wiring is different but shouldn't be hard to get right.

But did it have girth?

It's rather good. Came well set up for action, had to raise the d slightly, but intonation was off. Feels a bit slicker than the mb5. Lots of rumble. Big difference between the pups. The active is not as extreme as some basses which is good. The flamed veneer isn't as spectacular as I had hoped, luck of the draw I suppose can't complain about anything for under £200. B stock, but well packaged still got film on control cover and pups. Some grubbiness on very tips of headstock. No other marks. Balance is great although lighter than I expected. Only tried with lekato strap, very comfy, no dive. Tuners very smooth. Strings feel a bit harsh but sound ok. Will probably replace soon.

"Just make sure it can't be mistaken for any of our other products."

Great bass sound:

Do they drink it in the Congo?

I'd already fallen from grace, but last night my bro sent me a facebook link to someone selling a Hardly bent-one '1950 P' in Fiesta red in my town. Only £105 new the guy aid £70. Bro forced me to go for it 'even as a wall decoration' but fortunately the guy had pulled the listing in the 30 minutes it too for me to cave in.

It was originally going to be a concept album about establishing a church on Sesame Street: "Pastor of Muppets".

I'd love to play that. My keyboard skills would be up to playing the epic intro through my bass rig 🙂

Orange Bass Terror on clean setting, you then have also the option of a bit of dirt if needed for covers.

Hush Child in Time Perfect Strangers

https://youtu.be/Sfpir_0HWmY?t=154

I can't help thinking basses are a bit like razors... You can keep adding strings/blades and each one adds a bit more, but at some point the law of diminishing returns must set in.