Bassfinger

In terms of fit and finish they're an even match, although the Sire typically does so for less cash. That being the case it's going to come down to budget and your tonal preferences, and only you know where the needle lies on your own particular scale. You're going to have to try them, if you can. I personally use a Sire P5 and D5 as my tools for live work. Reasonable finish, the tone suits my needs, they each set up well, and if one got stolen or damaged it wouldn't be too painful to replace. A nice Goldilocks choice - just right,

Mark Knopflers playing is, to my ear, simply magical. I'm also a fan of Ricky Scaggs on guitar and mandolin, an incredible flat picker.

Not found a bass line yet that I couldn't master given sufficient time and determination, and that's with two fingers that don't work properly.

The worst bit is he, like Savile, was hiding in plain sight and most folk were suckered in.

I have advised Andertons that in the event of my death they must not let my wife sell my basses for what I told her id paid for them.

At least its unsinkable.

Usually in the second row on the left. This gives me a view of our rhythmist on my right, who is the main person I take my visual cues from, but also affords a view or the drummist in row three in the middle. It varies with venue, but that's how we usually arrange it. I also do backing and occasional dual-lead vocals, and it affords the crowd a view of my ugly mug. Exception is when I'm on mando. We often do Country Roads as an encore and, stage etc permitting, I will wander out into the crowd a little.

That's quite alright, don't sweat it.

People are quick to moan, but I also like to be quick to praise where it is due. All sorts of grief with the DHL (Damage Handling Loons) over the delivery of my new Fender Precision after a phone dall from DHL to tell me theyd damaged it. George at Andertons was cool, told me not to worry, they'd sort out any damage. Just get it delivered then make an assessment and let him know immediately and he'd sort it. Fortunately the hard case and bass within were fine, it was just the packaging that DHL had mullered. I phoned George back to advise the bass had arrived undamaged, and thanked him for his reassurance. I mentioned that G had been cut a little short and as I tried to tune it beyond F it just slipped round the capstan. Well, not 20 hours a later a full set of spanking new Fender 45's drop through my letter box, fortunately delivered by a different company who didn't manage to drive a forklift over it. I'd have been happy with the one string, but a new set was a very pleasant surprise. Even better as I actually quite like Fender rounds. So top marks to Andertons. Reassuring on the phone, poised and ready to help refund/replace if the bass or case had arrived damaged, and super generous with the strings when I only needed the one. Well done. If anyone from Anderton's is reading this, thank you. You'll be top of the list next time I get a tax rebate that the missus doesn't know about and I go bass shopping.

Indeed, you're right on the money. T'was a cheeky swipe at the outrage threads about neck shimming can incite. I was most definitely not being unkind to @Tobe in any way.

Oh my word, that's torn it! 🫣

Although not halfway in a straight line sense, Northampton is more midway in terms of likely journey time, A45/M45/M1 for you, M1 for them. My Wife's a Cov lass and my office used to be not that far from Watford, so I know first hand Northampton is the sensible journey-time mid point. In that vein, Stalkers is good, should be able to sort the gear you need. Audioworks not so well equipped, but is a nice place to be and has a lounge to chill in and the owner is a pleasant and helpful chap.

Any short scale.

No. My Ma had made me have private tuition and I was already quite a skilled piano player and moderately decent guitarist buy the time we did music lessons ar school. That's not to say that I didn't enjoy the lessons and showing off my knowledge.

By chance I was watching a Rick Beato video today and he touched on the subject. He says that as an already avid listener and player of music his music degree didn't fundamentally teach him anything he didn't already know about theory. All it did was teach him the formal names of the different phenomena.

Yes and no. I bought a '68 precision, my birth year. At the time the late 60's models were a fair bit less expensive, so that seemed a good era to aim for and my birth year a happy coincidence. And having bought it I took it apart to clean and set up and it appears to be a '69 model, so close but no banana.

That looks really lovely. Tempted myself.

Er....

"Proper channels" is any form of lawful response I choose. Provided its within the law, no one but me gets to decide how I should choose to respond if I were ever in that situation. If factual social media posts are what I choose, that's my business. If factual reviews on tripadvisor are what i choose, thats my business. If I decided to go via the MU (which I actually suggested, if you read back), that's my business. Self appointed arbiters are of no interest. If its legal and I decide its appropriate, then its proper. If folk have a problem with that, then best not to cross me to begin with. It really is incumbent upon venues to behave themselves in the first place if they are likely get wobbly over any response their behaviour may prompt.

One needs to remember that the truth cannot be libellous, no matter how harmful it may be to someone's business.

The breach of contract described doesn't sound remotely shaky. If the truth hurts the business, well, that's the nature of truth. They don't get to cherry pick the genuine and verifiable facts that end up in the public domain, much as I'm sure they'd like to. A savvy new owner will quickly capitalise on the change of management/ownership to underline the past and kick-start things anew. It will only linger like a stale fart if they choose to let it. And to be honest, better a live venue disappear down the U bend than keep shafting hard working musicians. I don't want to see live music at the cost of people being effed over.

I've done a couple, one for a band run by an old work mate and a few for a rival band on the local circuit we're friendly with. Each time I get them to nail down the set list, key, any flourishes or changes from standard, that sort of thing. They way I see it I'm helping them out of a tight spot and if a guitarist or the like is going to go off at a tangent and leafe me floundering then I'm not the man for them. Fortunately getting all this out the way beforehand has worked...so far.

I never normally get nerves during a performance, and certainly never imposter syndrome- confidence has never been an issue for me. The only time I ever had a dose of stage fright was the first time I played mandolin live. Was just about to start and it suddenly all closed on me. Nothing to do other than grit my teeth and get through it, managed it without any massive musical clangers and been fine ever since.

There is a bassist in a local rock covers band who has only one leg who plays sitting down, presumably to avoid falling over and the like. He manages just fine and no one seems to think any the less of him for it.

you'll forgive my typing, which is dreadful at the best of times on account of not having feeling in all my fingers. Ezbass adroitly observed the error. In short, unless you want to build one for the joy of building it, you'll get better results spending a few quid more on a ready made one.