Muzz

That's just a bit sad, really; 'Look how crazy and wild and untamed I am, I'm spontaneously smashing my gear...hang on...just a sec...let me get the right bass...' 😁 If you're gonna do it, this is how it's done: 'Keith Moon was known for destroying his drum set. The most famous episode of this occurred during the Who's debut on U.S. television on the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour in 1967. Moon overloaded his bass drum with explosive charges which were detonated during the finale of the song, "My Generation." The explosion caused guest Bette Davis to faint, set Pete Townshend's hair on fire and Moon was also injured in the explosion when shrapnel from the cymbals cut his arm.'

PH's Hondo was in a glass case in PMT Manchester for a while, I think they might have been selling it for charity or summat...I've seen recurve archery bows with less of a gap between string and wood... 😕 😁

I've just looked at that, and I can't tell what 'Softness' means - is it that the Ultimate is highest tension and the Vintage is the lowest?

The bridge on an original Thunderbird is very close to the rear edge of the bass (and therefore the strap button), that one looks like it's been designed, like the Warmoth bodies of old, by looking at the bridge placement for a Firebird (and, as I said, with an eye to upper fret access), which on a bass pushes everything too far to the player's left. The forward strap button on the Thunderbird is place on the recessed (kinda) top horn, which puts it too far back for easy balance. I've always immediately moved it to the neck plate (on my bolt-on Frankenbirds), which can cause some 'flop forward' (fixed by the strap over the rear horn - oh, and no buckle rash unless you use straps with metal buckles, which I've always thought were stooopid things) or better still by a button on the left hand edge of the body directly behind the neck. Trickier on thru-necks, but some Hipshot Ultralites make all the difference to neck dive tendencies. On a side issue, why they changed from the original two-part bridge to the three-point thing has always eluded me...I've just this week had to re-seat and epoxy in the push-fit collars on my Fenderbird, which had started to lift out of the body...

The only thing I've bought this year has been a set of those new Markbass strings...whether they'll be the best or worst* remains to be seen, as my Elixirs on every bass aren't getting much wear; at this rate, it could be 2025 before I get to use them... 😕 * I know, I know; philosophically they'll be both...let's not split hairs...

Ahhh, the catchily-named ABM-112H-EVO IV-PRO NEO...can't think why I missed it...😁 The description is peppered with terrible grammar and looks like it's the same as the 210, but the 12" cab is apparently 'sealed to deliver powerful attack and clear definition as well as lower bass frequencies.', which seems...interesting...hmmmm...

I've just looked on the Ashdown site, and the Neo cabs are discontinued?

Could've been worse: you could have had a tattoo... 😕😀

Ohhhhh...I'd forgotten those...

You forgot those big flappy-paddle Fodera ones, too...

And this random scattering of...stuff... That toggle switch directly below the jack socket is the worst bit, tho... I tell a lie; it's the 70s rectangular socket above it with the two cross-heads; you'd think for a billion pounds* they'd get a round one that looked slightly more in keeping... * I'm guessing here, but I don't think I'm far off...

This hot nonsense...just one of the reasons I'll never own a Ritter...looks more like the result of a South Central drive-by...

Same here, mine are sitting in the packet. With things as they are, they could be there a while...

I've got a BigMan in one of my Shukers (with a Parallel/Series/split switch), and it sounds fantastic... 👍

Yep, worst part of the bass IMO

Yep, I agree - I had a bit of a thing a couple of years ago when I revisited some songs after I realised I'd been playing them wrong all along, so I learnt them right. The next gig the guitarist said 'What are you playing? That sounded rubbish...' 😕🙂

I really liked the barky middy setting on that pickup (can't remember which click of the dial it was)...surprisingly aggressive with a pick. If I had the money for a big static collection then I'd still have mine, but I ran out of cash and had to move it on...

Unless I'm in a tribute band (and I've never been, and am unlikely to), then much as above: the iconic bass lines (Good Times, Hysteria, This Charming Man, etc, etc) get played right, the rest depends on the band, the lineup (I do a lot of trio work, and that requires some filling/simplification, etc) and the gig, but most importantly how the song as a whole sounds. It doesn't do to get too hung up on it, though: if anyone on here's played the bass line to Superstition, then technically you're doing it wrong, because the original's not on the bass... 😀

I've always wanted an Ampeg Micro-VR stack for the house, just to pop it in a corner for 'How far away is that?' fun, although it wouldn't be much use to me for gigging; a bit too short for Richard and too long for D1ck... I'd also second the Helix Stomp idea, even if just through an existing amp, or even cans; perfect for endless faffing about with tones and effects...and if you get a really good Hysteria patch sorted, let me know; I've been collecting them for a while, and I've still not got a great one... 😕🙂 edit; well, the profanity filter ruined that expression...

The metrication of the UK has been going on piecemeal since the establishment of The Metrication Board in 1968, but still isn't fully metricated. The Board packed it in in 1980, and their final report said '...taken as a whole, Britain is far from being wholly metric."

I'm sure if I'm ever in the position again of needing big stage power (tho the Walkabout with two BF cabs goes ear-protection loud), or even if I had some spare cash to indulge myself, I'd have another M-Pulse - that bit more cleaner headroom would do it... Sadly, with things as they are, that may be a good way away... 😕

Oooo, yeah - this, but reversed, with the M-Pulse 360 in third; with a couple of efficient cabs, I never really had any power/volume issues...

Not quite begging, but that sort of thing can backfire spectacularly; we played an RAF gig once for a contingent of the RAF Regiment's Welcome Home from Afghanistan - these lads had only been off the plane that morning, so they were...giddy... We were playing on a stage in a huuuuge hangar with a big bar (tins, free, squaddies for the use of), BBQ, and a few other kinda stalls set up; for the encore, our singist said 'Let's get everyone down the front of the stage'. Ten seconds later we had at least 40 hammered squaddies ON the stage... To be fair, nowt got broken, but pretty much everything got a decent coat of lager... 😕🙂

If we're allowing tube pres, then the Walkabout is the best one. It's the best head I've ever owned, period...and it'll be the last one, too...

The Stormtroopers Of Death's seminal Speak English Or Die album has 21 tracks and clocks in at a whopping 27:09...I particularly like the calm soundscape of 'Diamonds And Rust (Extended Version)', running to 0:02, or, if you're in the mood and fancy something a little more indulgent, Hey Gordy will assault your ears for seven of your earth seconds...