Paul S

I go through the pa via a DI these days but when I used amps I always took a spare. One time I'd bought a Mesa Boogie Prodigy Four:88 and was looking forward to my first outing with it. Turned it on and a short while later during the sound check it packed up accompanied by an expensive burning smell! It transpired one of the valves blew taking half the pcb with it. Took my trusty Quilter BB800 out of the boot and the day was saved.

Early Dr Who. William Hartnell era, b&w.

Actually thinking about it, you could choose a Black Sabbath tune at random from the early albums and it will have a strange increase in tempo in the middle. Not that I care, I love those albums.

'Black Betty' is similar, I always thought.

Also 'Cities On Flame With Rock and Roll' by BOC

'Stay With Me' also.

I think the couriers are highly motivated - their families will be shot if the mess up. Then they will. A system that works but is perhaps a bit brutal for basses

Thanks for that. I was actually thinking of a ready made enclosure to save my pitiful DIY skills being tested any further than they need be. ... 🥴

Daft question #1. Would it work to mount this into an aluminium flight case if there was an appropriate size?

Damnation! You didn't sell the Alocasia macrorrhizos did you? 😨

My entry into the world of 5 string basses was actually having a need to learn how to play one. Before then I had tried a couple out of curiosity but not gelled so I didn't pursue it. Then my band changed direction and I needed to have a 5er as a lot of the new material has low notes. The best advice I was given was to shut away my 4 string basses and just use the 5er until I got used to it. It took a while but eventually I 'got' the whole thing - not just the extra low notes but the ergonomics of playing across the neck etc etc. It also made me rethink my whole approach to the neck of a bass as, up until then, I had convinced myself I only liked slim necks. So I firmly believe that is the thing with 5ers - you need to have a strong enough incentive to keep at it because it does need some reconfiguring of your mind. Or start with one from scratch, of course. A few years on and I now flit between 4 and 5 string. Truth be told I actually prefer playing 4 strings but having the 5er there is still a necessary thing for me.

And, just for variety, I always use TI Flats. The short scale ones are actually 32" but have always fitted OK.

yes, of course this was insured for £1000 instruments. Should have added that.

I was having this very conversation yesterday with the guy that does my tech stuff. He also makes guitars and ships them out all over then country. He says he researched it all as thoroughly as he could because, with all the other plates he keeps spinning, each guitar takes 3 months to build and he doesn't want to have to keep on re-making broken ones. He ended up using UPS and has never had an issue, costs him £50/60 fully insured.

A Fender Precision Lyte has a Strat sized and shaped body if you still fancy one.

I used Black Beauties and Neons for a while. I liked the sound, not as harsh as new uncoated rounds. They look fab at first, too. I play with a pick, am pretty rough, and the coating wore off in no time where I hit it. If you play fingerstyle then this won't be an issue, of course. But, also the back of the string where it rubs against the fret loses the coating - in itself not a problem but if you have to ever take the strings off then put them back on again it is impossible to line up again.

I assume you need a scooped EQ for this specialist item.

Me too. An '83. I've had it longer than any other basses (but still only 5 years, which says a fair bit about my revolving door of basses). But I'd describe it as being the bass I am least likely to sell. I never say never.

Didn't even know they made fretless spoons. Every day is a school day.

I don't see a problem. if I want it, can afford it, have room for it, I'll get it. End of. If it turns out to be less than expected, I'll move it on. If it is better than expected, I'll keep it and move on something else. Or not. At least I would have had the experience of playing it for a while. I call it 'curiosity' rather than GAS and certainly nobody else's business. Of course if it meant not being able to meet debts or put food on the table that is another thing.

Danny then went on to be a founder member of Thunder and now presenter on Planet Rock.

I'd say it is worth hanging on. It's been a while since I checked in but, back then, one of the guys on there was one of the founders of the whole Shergold/Hayman/Burns thing. Norman Houlder. He might be dead by now, of course.

That is lovely! I had one - my first proper bass! Sold it because it was heavy. There is a Shergold website that includes a forum. Hayman are basically the same and often get talked about on there. https://www.shergold.co.uk/forum/ I even bought a nos perspex bridge from someone on there. If they don't have one, they will know if it is possible.

Gives new meaning to 'Jigsaws for aged 3 and under'

You've seen me solder then? I have shaky hands that are getting worse (something called Essential Tremor, another story) and have decided to stop before I do some harm or burn the house down. 😂