Stub Mandrel

I've always been someone who prioritises getting the best out of what they have got, and I agree the limiting factor, especially with playing a musical instrument, is personal skill. Unlike many areas, you can't buy success at playing an instrument*. But part of this is, after time pushing the boundaries of what you have, better understanding what can help you take the next step. As an example, I bought a huge TE combo because that guaranteed a sound I have always wanted - bonus is that it was silly cheap. That doesn't mean you might not get something just because its fun to use or nice to have. *Many years ago the partner of a sister in law had a Trace rig and Jaydee custom bass, I never heard him play it once although he did once let me have a go.

What's interesting is that everyone says how Leo got it right first time, yet that bass is pretty much there. The odd position for the lead coming out, relatively few frets and no strap buttons. Neither Tutmarc nor Fender put in a truss rod, but the Tutmarc neck looks more substantial (and the body is thicker). Otherwise, it's a short scale, through-neck bass with a pretty modern body shape...

There should be nothing simpler than Elvis Presley's 'That's Allright' (especially as the original doesn't have bass in it). I've finally drummed into my head that he only spends one bar on the IV when he does the final scat verse. What's the betting that when we practice tonight I play it like that and the guitarist doesn't...

To quote The Master: "Everything you thought was true is a lie." http://tutmarc.tripod.com/paultutmarc.html https://www.guitarplayer.com/gear/world-oldest-electric-bass-guitar-sells-for-over-23000

Well I would happily have swapped my Sound City 50B for a Cobra 90 🙂

I don't remember Carlsbro as anything exceptional. My mate who got me into bass had one like the one pictured above, I seem to recall. I've got a Colt 45 guitar combo, that I built a replacement power amp for, two channel, nothing exceptional but workmanlike enough. To be honest I've barely used it at volume and never gigged it (I've only played guitar live once...)

In my dreams....

The 100W PJB Briefcase amp says power consumption 160W on the back... it's not simple!

if you look on there back it gives the RMS output in volts at 4 ohms... that suggests if they are giving RMS output it's actual output rather than "burst power" that a lot of amps will use for ratings... so it might sound louder than you expect I wouldn't be so sure... the rating plate states that its power consumption is 160Watts. With an SMPSU that suggests it's around 150W continuous even if it its more at the peaks... another example of why a 500W class D amp and a 150W old-style TE like @stewblack's might sound equally loud...

Bit fo a Trace fan, eh? That meets my 'frighten the cat' approval test 🙂 , although I'm not sure my big rig would work vertically...

So you strike harmonics then press down onto the fingerboard? Sorry if I seem thick, I'd imagined fingering two notes then striking harmonics with my middle hand while plucking with my right (which obviously requires an excess of hands...) [Under threat of death if I plug my amp in at the moment 🤬 but despite being surprisingly easy to finger I'm guessing from the feeble amount of volume I'm getting with my technique this might not work for me...]

I bought a second-hand bass in G/G Edinburgh. It was silly cheap because someone had paid a deposit many months before and never returned and they just wanted shot of it. £130(!) with slightly chewed hard case, strap, straplocks and even a lead... Must admit my opinion of G/G has gone up a lot since a poor experience a number of years go.

Possibly they had a request from another store but the buyer backed out.

Who would have thought a crudely finished plywood box for transporting dried leaves could deliver so much?

Pretty please can you explain how he does that, the nearest I can get is just playing the D and G string hsrmonics at the fifth fret. 🙂

Horses for courses for me. I find the fretless sound better suited to relatively slower playing where the way the tone changes can come through, on faster passages you can't dig in the same way and some stuff starts to sound indistinct.

True, but you can say the same about mandolin and mandolele

Is it good for metal? Well, someone had to...

I'd get teh brickies to sign a disclaimer first, before starting the tatoos.

PMT are a pretty good place for trying things out. You know your playing is improving when they turn the piped music down... 🙂

I say they sound different, technique is different, feel different and the difference is pretty profound.

True of so many bands that it undermines the 'original member' argument pretty squarely.

On an unrelated note... your avatar always make me feel the need to do a wee.

Well the Landlord wouldn't let them play a third set despite all the punters wanting it...