Stub Mandrel

The problem is a simple one. Volume is the result of a whole host of factors of which power is only one. Amplifier power Amplifier transient response Line voltage Amplifier power supply Amplifier design Amplifier linearity Frequency response of the human ear Frequency response of the input Input impedance matching Frequency response of the amplifier (several parameters) Preamplifier settings Output impedance matching Positioning of the speakers Speaker driver parameters (several) Speaker enclosure parameters (several) and design Expectations of the user The listening room (many parameters) Listening position Absence of other sound sources or if present their nature And no doubt many more. It's kind of like comparing people's ability at sports just on the basis of the amount of calories they eat... any comparison is only remotely valid if you start with 'all other things being equal..."

I like this one, I've had it over 30 years, used to gig it regularly. I think its about 1987. Gave it some TLC earlier this year, replaced the broken pickguard put ashtrays on it (they had disappeared when i got it) (it's a split P-pickup under the chrome):

Now why on earth did that remind me of this? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFwXzPgqRoI

Note Firewater on Sauchiehall Street? We went there before seeing Phil Campbell at the garage last November. It's got a basement venue.

Good job I didn't see that a few months ago. Why stop at three stacks? I want QUADROPHENIA!

It's no coincidence that 10% of the UK was left without power when I was testing my amp...

Any food technichian will tell you Wotsits are Wotsits, they just change the packaging... 🤣

Sent me looking for reviews... I found this which is pretty telling?

And that is at the root of the problem. There is no ‘proper’ way of measuring them.

Bit of a mish mash... http://www.stubmandrel.co.uk/

Cheap way to fix the pickups... get a cylinder or even a small bulldog clip to support the pickup and tap the pole pieces down 3mm. I made a special punch with a 3mm spigot on the end to move then the exact distance. Ensuring you have the tight polarity, drop a 5mm diameter by 3mm thick neodymium magnet onto each pole piece.

A list like this needs to be encouraging people to get into making music. So there's a responsibility to make sure none of the suggestions are 'lemons' and that although £200 is not an unrealistic price for most people, sub £100 needs to be covered too to reach as many people as possible. I learnt electric guitar on a Kay - it's a classic POS - but it's actually really playable, once it was set up properly, so I think one thing to stress is the importance of making sure a bass is well set up. The best bass in the world is unplayable with loose truss rod and high action! I learned bass on a precision, but it was loaned to me. My first bass was a Hohner Jazz. Every Hohner instrument I've played (guitars, basses, harmonicas and a drumkit!) has been good value and quality for the money. I think today you are possibly looking at Squier/Harley Benton or Ibanez to cover the same range of quality and price these days. Vintage are supposed to be good for the price as well. I've been bowled over by my Fender Jaguar SS, I also remember how easy to play I found a Fender Mustang when I met one in the 80s. The Jag SS really MUST be on any list of beginner's basses. Probably worth you adding a paragraph to describe why each bass is a good choice. My golden rules would be: Try before you buy, make sure it's set up and if you don't feel 'at home' with it, walk away.

Bow down, mortals!

I played live at Hammersmith Odeon. I enjoyed it so much, I put it on repeat.

I must admit, I feel 'resigned to playing covers now. In some ways it's good - unlike back in 1987 when I could just play anything that was vaguely in key as long as I got the 'signature riff' right, there's no excuse not to learn songs properly - or at least try! This I am finding rewarding because I like being stretched and I am a big believer that you are never too old to learn. On the other hand, having a crowd cheer songs that you were part of writing and actually call for encores at the end is a real buzz. I will be honest though, playing own material is, 99% of the time, easier because no matter how technical it gets and how hard you push yourself you always really know the material, always know your technique is up to it, you can improvise if you want and most importantly no-one (outside the band) can tell you you played it wrong!

A few thoughts -not meant as argument, just adding detail! Seeing as my 4x10 has had the Celestions swapped out for Alpha 10A it probably hasn't got brilliant bottom end. An A/B with the 15" confirms this and I like the tone I get with them both regardless of volume (plus it LOOKS the part 🙂 I was just mentioning that to give people an idea of settings 🙂 Really I should have it on 8 (clips if I really dig in) for that bass but of course it varies from instrument to instrument. two reasons for that (1) obviously it makes swapping instruments predictable (2) the input gain really is 'gain' not volume and appears to be wired to have a non-linear frequency response so where you have it affects the sound; in another thread people mentioned how having it too low gives a poor tone. I may be wrong, but to me it looks like it's wired to give a 'loudness' contour and roll the treble off faster than the deep bass - this possibly leads to lack of presence at low input gains? I'd be interested in a second opinion on this: No doubt another element of the TE sound, but no, it doesn't affect total power...

I haven't used one of these, but by definition it's only polyphonic in poly mode.

I got kicked out of a band for being too widdly. Got replaced by the rhythm guitarist, because they just wanted root notes. What hurt was that they didn't discuss it with me first; maybe it was something else? Probably that I thought I was in a psychedelic rock band and they thought they were indy-punk? I don't know, but it was better than being told I was crap... but my advice is (a) don't try and be too clever and (b) sometimes friendships matter more than the music. Good news is my next band hired me because I was the first person they found who could play the basslines the guitarist had written.

Cut the body off and fit a teachest 🙂 Sorry! Nearest you'll get is flatwound strings, ideally several years old (not a joke), bridge pickup, tone right down and some foam tucked under the strings near the bridge to kill the sustain (not a joke either - some basses have mutes - especially old ones). My late mum's story was that when her brother and his friends used to play jazz, the first job was to smoke cigars to fill the room with dense smoke... probably why she got into skiffle.

Or even buy a body of the 'bay. I made a strat-style guitar with two humbuckers and a hefty Floyd Rose type bridge and it only weighs just over 6lbs because the body wood si so light, unfortunately also a bit soft so it should relic nicely...

You can always turn to eBay for inspiration...

Phew. I thought you had lost the plot for a minute...

remind them what a DJ costs...

What do you think about that Captain America? "Err ... Avengers dissemble?"

Severe case of bridge lift...