Paul S

Be aware that not all pickguards have the same screw positions and the replacement might not match up exactly. Been there, done that There are a couple of eBay sellers who supply a downloadable template for you to check. Names escape me for the moment.

My situation would be a different category as well - once I bought Barefaced cabs I haven't felt any desire to try anything else*. I bought a Compact soon after they were released, added a Midget, replaced those two with a Supercompact and now have two of those. *slight fib, last year - might have been the year before - I was looking for a lightweight, powerful combo but found none to my liking.

5. Buy a Yamaha BB424.

Washburn - Force 8 or Force B? - I think these are quite nice. £129.99 start, collect only from Slough. [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-Washburn-Bass-Guitar-Made-in-Japan-/132317078999?hash=item1eceb665d7:g:z6EAAOSwZcZZrFzq"]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-Washburn-Bass-Guitar-Made-in-Japan-/132317078999?hash=item1eceb665d7:g:z6EAAOSwZcZZrFzq [/url]

Thanks Marc - yes, it is very good indeed. I am even half considering moving on the BB5000, despite the lengths I went to get it, and getting another BB425. Just hits the spot for me.

It is very sad indeed. I am so looking forward to seeing Steely Dan at the O2 in October but pretty sure it won't seem the same without Walter

I have broken a string before now so always like to have a spare bass to hand. Plus I don't think you can rely on anything with electrics to not go wrong so, personally, I wouldn't be without a back up. 3 gigs after acquiring it my Mesa Boogie Prodigy Four:88 packed up with an expensive smell of burning - luckily at the sound check. I had a spare amp in the car so used that. Such is the 'gear lottery' For my little band I use a Hohner B2V as back up for my MM Sterling 5 as we play tiny venues and it takes up no space whatsoever. It is unlikely anyone watching would either notice or care about the difference in tone should the need ever arise. For my new Bon Jovi tribute band I use my Yamaha BB5000 and have decided to keep hold of my BB425 as back up, mainly because it looks much the same and, with bigger venues, I have more space to keep it nearby. Truth be told I actually prefer the BB425, even though it isn't 'as nice', but I guess tribute bands are as much about the image as anything else!

Well, I am probably not best placed to answer these questions I am afraid as I have only ever used single speaker Barefaced cabs - first, some years ago now, I bought a Compact, then I added a Midget, which kind of tightened up the sound a bit. Then, looking for a 'one cab solution' I replaced these with a Supercompact, which really does actually sound like the first two played together. I am not sure how a Supercompact, which is a 1 x 12, compares with the other speakers you mention but I couldn't be happier with what I get out of mine. Secondhand, one would set you back £450 +/- .

I occasionally team up my Orange TB500 with my Barefaced Supercompact and it sounds fantastic.

Saw the band back in the day - great guitarist, great songs. One of my faves is 'I can't Wait Much Longer' http://youtu.be/npTd88r51LY Early stuff with Procol Harum - nice groove on this 12 bar 'Whiskey Train' http://youtu.be/u-RN2JV8hV4

I see an interesting topic of discussion - appropriate choice of music for various people? For my own I would choose 'Burn' by Deep Purple.

I read this as Zimmer frame on bass and thought 'what a good idea'....

Starforce bass £50 bin - cheap, no? Pickup only and 'a little buzzy' but I seem to remember reading on here they are half decent? [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Starforce-7008-Bass-Guitar-/263174708541?hash=item3d466f5d3d:g:I8IAAOSwjuBZpXru"]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Starforce-7008-Bass-Guitar-/263174708541?hash=item3d466f5d3d:g:I8IAAOSwjuBZpXru[/url]

I find it a very mellow organic vintage tone, doesn't really do aggressive. So really what is says on the tin. For a 4 string I actually prefer the Fender Original as it has a bit more variety but on 5ers the choice is not so great.

Warren, yes - exactly right on all counts. I'll email you!

I have been reading a bit about the nuts and bolts of back projections as one of my bands is (hopefully) going to be moving out of pubs into larger venues and would like to incorporate back projections as part of the show. We are looking at very simple set up - just a single back projected image. One of the guys has sorted out the images which can be transmitted via powerpoint on his lap-top to a projector. From what I have read it seems back projection is best, shortening the throw distance by using a mirror. Lots of online stuff for making back projection screens (looks like Spandex works just fine) But I'd love to hear some hands on practical stuff! Can it be done on the cheap, why things work or don't work in the real world etc. Muchas gracias!

I have something very similar that Andyjr1515 knocked up for me - a Sterling 5 with one of those Aguilar 60s pickups in the sweet spot. I retained the MM humbucker but don't actually ever use it - that Aguilar pup is umptious.

Brings to mind this joke:[color=#FFFFFF][font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][size=3] A guy ends up wit[color=#222222]A guy ends up with an older woman at a bar last. She looked pretty good for a 55-year-old. In fact, she wasn’t too bad at all, and he found himself thinking she probably had a really hot daughter. They drank a couple of beers, and she asked if I’d ever had a “Sportsman’s Double”? “What’s that?” the guy asked. “It’s a mother and daughter threesome.” she said.[/color][/size][/font][/color] [color=#FFFFFF][font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][size=3] [color=#222222]As the guy’s mind began to embrace the idea, and he wondered what her daughter might look like, he said, “No, I haven’t.” They drank a bit more, then she said with a wink, “tonight’s your lucky night.” They hopped into a taxi and went back to her place. When they arrived back at her place and they walked into the front door, she turned on the hall light and shouted upstairs “Mom… you still awake?”[/color][/size][/font][/color] [color=#FFFFFF][font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][size=3] [color=#222222]Except not even remotely funny.[/color]h an older woman at a bar last. She looked pretty good for a 55-year-old. In fact, she wasn’t too bad at all, and he found himself thinking she probably had a really hot daughter. They drank a couple of beers, and she asked if I’d ever had a “Sportsman’s Double”? “What’s that?” the guy asked. “It’s a mother and daughter threesome.” she said.[/size][/font][/color][color=#FFFFFF][font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][size=3] As the guy’s mind began to embrace the idea, and he wondered what her daughter might look like, he said, “No, I haven’t.” They drank a bit more, then she said with a wink, “tonight’s your lucky night.” They hopped into a taxi and went back to her place. When they arrived back at her place and they walked into the front door, she turned on the hall light and shouted upstairs “Mom… you still awake?”[/size][/font][/color]

Sorry, I thought you said you would have to get a prescription. They deliver to your door nowdays, you know.

A Yin Yang for people who like direct thinking?

I've just acquired a Mesa Boogie prodigy four:88 and would say it is a league ahead of anything else I have owned, which includes Ashdown, Mark bass, TC Electronic, Eden, GenzBenz, even my beloved old Trace Elliot. I've never had an all valve head before but now know what the fuss is about. Valve pre-amps don't come close, really. The beauty of this model is that it is compact and relatively lightweight at 14kg. Controls are straightforward, too.

I have a brace of them - been using Barefaced since the Compact started and find these Supercompacts the best i have tried by a mile. My new-ish Mesa Boogie prodigy four:88 is, for me, the perfect head to drive them along too.