Stub Mandrel

The top one is my practice rig at home. The bottom one... I had to park over half a mile from the city centre venue, and I had PA support so it was just a monitor (hence up on a stool).

I don't know exactly why, but I have never 'got' Rics. I suppose to me, the various design elements just don't look like they go together. But that's just me.

I saw Alice Copper supported by Bobbie Dazzle on Tuesday at Cardiff Indoor/Motorpoint/Utility Company Arena. The sound for the support was awful for the first part of the set. Dominated by drums especially the snare, vocals weak, bass inaudible. My ear for a mix must be getting better as by some miracle the snare was tamed and everything else balanced to get a decent (tough not exceptional) mix by the end. I imagine their sound engineer is still getting used to huge venues. Sound for Alice was exemplary, as you would hope.

Is it good for metal?

Gratuitous green and red 🙂

Rumbled! 🤣🤣🤣🤣

Prejudice is not one sided

Well as I said, taste is subjective.

You mean the traditional design Fender adopted?

I realise anyone stating 'best bass I've ever played' is opening themselves to scepticism (but every bass player has played a 'best bass ever' even if they've only ever played one). I do find the rash of "have ever tried a bass that isn't a Fender" comments both patronising and a touch pathetic. In my own experience, I've played a lot of basses and my love for a 'different' feel means it's hard for me to call any if them 'best'. I do know that I've met many disappointing ones, and a few of those were Fenders but plenty have been 'elite' brands whose reputation didn't meet my expectations. It's so subjective though... more than once I've been offered a try of someone's pride and joy and found it totally alien to my tastes.

And a video of my first song with the guys. VID-20250727-WA0006.mp4

Sounds like a break is exactly what you need. Then maybe hire a rehearsal space with lits oftime and no pressure to set up the whole pa from scratch... everything set to defaults before you start.

Photo from last night. Should say we got lots of dancers later.

Perhaps they are meant to, like Rush's rotisseries.

My first gig with the Fortunate Sons and with a neat twist of fate at my 'home venue' of Penarth Ex's. It was also bass player Andy's first gig on keyboards... he did brilliantly and being a bassist he kept out of my octaves Long story short, we had a very good attendance, I made a few flubs - came in late for one song, first bar in wrong key for another and huge random bang in My Sharona... but no-one seemed to notice, so and and audience very happy. No photos yet. Fender Precision & Jazz, quecha approach shoes, GRBASS cab and orange terror.

My first gig using a pa with multiple monitors and a little mixer for each of us. Feels ott to me but works well.

My phone adds a wrong file extension when downloading from basschat. Rename it as something.pdf or use a pc

It's difficult, but it's a skill and can be learned. Like you strumming an acoustic and singing is fine but... I'm getting better at it and the bands I'm know my position - give me a microphone and I will do what I'm comfortable with. I started about 40 years ago doing the 'yeah's in Moni Moni. Ironically I'll be doing them again tonight! Some songs are easier than others and it's not always obvious what will work. The very regular pulse of Heroes but I struggle with the 'by the wall' etc. Yet the other day I was singing the chorus to Jean Genie while improvising fills... I think the problem is they often use similar parts of the brain, especially if, like me, you 'hear' the melody in your head to play it more than remembering a fingeting.

The wiring of the switch in the diagram makes no sense whatsoever, I imagine it's in error.

The 'cheap as chips' option is an Orange Crush 20, 8" speaker and decent sound. What I use for home now is a Joyo Badass 50W with a PJB C4 cab. Sub in an Elf for the Joyo and it's ok for rehearsal with a drumkit and just loud enough to gig (with pa support). My guess is the GRBASS Cube would be awesome.

Or... Space Cowboy.pdf

You can just create an account (free) and ignore the app requests.

That twisted neck puts me off. Would need serious luthier attention. AFAIK decal on varnish is right for early 60s. Don't know about 64.

https://www.standard.co.uk/showbiz/air-ambulance-ozzy-osbourne-dead-last-moments-b1239711.html

The story is now going round that Thames Valley Air Ambulance battled to save him.