Paul S

I use a TC Spectrodrive, which does all those things, straight into the pa. You can load it with different compression and drive patches, which is useful - especially for drive. The various patches range from downright fuzzy grind to a light boost, which is the one I use. Been using it for a couple of years now and I like it.

Necks on those Hondos are outstanding. 32" scale. But the body is HEAVY! I married the neck of one with the double cutaway body of an Encore short scale, after some jiggery-pokery with the bridge placement.

Cpoy and paste of this. Unbelievably good value. Actually I fib, I swapped the white pickguard for a black one.

I swear you have a different bass in every single picture. How many do you own? I ask out of curiosity, not being judgemental

hardest part must be deciding which songs to play.

Documented elsewhere, my blues/rock trio use a pair of RCF EVOX 8 units. 2 x vox, bass always go through, sometimes the kick drum, sometimes the whole kit. Guitarist is convinced he loses tone when he puts it rhough (he doesn't) so just uses his combo Maybe @Al Krowhas the link to hand as he expressed an interest at one point and came to see them in action. For the small pubs we play the units are coasting. We used them outside a couple of times and there was still plenty in the tank. I can't imagine needing anything more - anywhere larger and we go through a house pa. You can place them behind you and they don't feedback (they really don't - sometimes in some venues there is a little squeal from a certain frequency but this is tamed by adjusting the eq. Just like it would anywhere with any set up) so we don't need to use monitors. But, most importantly they sound frantastic - everything sparkling and crystal clear. For our band getting these was a quantum jump in our sound quality, plus they represent the quickest set up/break down of any pa I've had experience of.

Friday, not last night. Another gig at a tiny little music /Irish pub called The Shamrock in the heart of Ipswich. Copy and paste of the last time we played there - small but really enthusiastic crowd many of whom came especially to see us. Lovely place. We played well, went down well, got paid more than we asked and had free drinks all night. And I found a free parking spot close by A12 south was shut was on the return leg, so the diversion was a long a dark country lane which added 35 mins to the trip. Still, I smiled all the way home

I have a Peavey Foundation 5 sitting in a case doing nowt but am in SE Essex with no practical way of getting it to you or back again, short of courier. And for what that costs you'd be better off investing in a Harley Benton or a cheapie on eBay/Gumtree.

Might be worth measuring up a case for a 335 style semi-hollow guitar? I had one a few years ago and a number of basses I had fitted with room to spare, albeit none with big bodies.

Thanks for that Silvia, I agree it is worth getting a proper job done having thought about it. That lot looks good and in the grand scheme of things isn't a lot of money. The gig ink's 'skin it' page doesn't seem to want to work.

My band are going to get a kick drum logo. Seems there are various options. Getting a whole new skin with the logo printed is, I guess, the very best thing. At the other end of the scale you can get a vinyl sticker for 1/10th of the cost. Has anyone used the stick on vinyl? Any good? The old adage is that if something sounds too good to be true then generally it is - but vinyl stickers/wrap technology does seem to be pretty good these days. All opinions welcomed Muchas gracias.

One from last weekend. We had a support slot for a blues band called The Cinelli Brothers at Venue 16 in Ipswich. One of the best stage/pa set ups I have ever played (including some decent stages with a Bon Jovi tribute) even though it is mainly a wedding venue. We played well, went down well, sounded good. The Cinelli Brothers I didn't know but will seek them out if they are ever neqarby as they are totally brilliant. 4 piece multi-talented players. I though their bass player was good on the first number. Second number he played lead guitar and was even better. All four had strong singing voices. They played well crafted orginal that somehow sounded familar and turnjed in a high energy performance of Chuicago-style blues. Amazing band and a great bunch of guys. Anyway, here's our opening song 'Toredown' https://www.facebook.com/100002647479877/videos/411731264330822/ And here 'Blue Jean Blues' https://www.facebook.com/100002647479877/videos/364538542461222/

I played at Arnie's on Friday night! Which was a mixed affair and not exactly what I was expecting. People drifting in and out all evening - there were 6 pubs with bands that night. Took me 3 hrs to get to Dereham, not sure I'd be in a hurry to do it again.

Another vote for Danelectro. Longhorn is brilliant but the styling is not to everyone's taste. They do the short scale single cut '56 - I had one at the same time as a Hofner Ignition Club by way of a comparison and the Dano was a country mile better. Then again it was more expensive. Looks like they do a short scale double cutaway now, too. - bet that's a cracker.

I remember going to see Kid Creole and the Coconuts at some point in the early 90s. My expectations were low but they blew me away. August Darnell can't really sing very well but he has unbelievable charisma and stage presence - scantily clad Coconuts notwithstanding, it was hard to take your eyes off him. [/random memory]

Covered in barnacles but I just scraped them off 😁

I had a Westone Thunder 1a fretless and it was quality. At the time the 'industry standard' for value fret less was a Squier VM Jazz and the Westone totally outclassed it.

Massively talented guy. Here DH singing, playing rhythm and bass on 'Free Ride', which he wrote, too Great band - Edgar Winter can happily play keys, synth, drums, sax, probably guitars too. Rick Derrenger on guitar... never saw them, sadly.

You OK Andy?

My blues rock trio Toredown have a couple of gigs coming up We are playing our full set at Arnies in Dereham 9pm Friday 8th July as part of the Dereham Blues festival. It is usually a drag bar, apparently, so who knows what is going to happen. Then Sunday 10th we are supporting the Cinelli Brothers at Venue 16 in Ipswich. We are on stage at 3pm, playing 45mins I think. Might be 30.

Cracking basses, these. I had one and, at the time, also had a '78 Fender Musicmaster and a Squier VM Mustang. The VISTA knocked spots off the other two in every department. The pickup, particularly, was beefy and pretty aggressive.