Marvin

I played in a blues r&b covers band a few years ago where I mainly used my Jazz bass. I'd got into the habit of using only the neck pick up. I thought it sounded good for the band. Then we played a venue where just using one pick up was bringing up the dreadful hum you can get. I played the whole gig with both pick ups on with the same settings on the amp. My wife recorded a few songs and the bass sounded very different to how I thought it would on those settings. It sounded almost like an upright bass. I was rather pleased. So that's how it's remained.

I don't play unless I'm in a band

Yes, so I can see the set list taped to the floor.

It'd be wrong for it to sit in a case doing nothing though 😁

I wish I was in some sort of band because I would definitely be ordering one.

Martin Chambers wasn't on the drums for The Pretenders, bit odd.

I'm currently watching Editors on iPlayer. I've seen them a couple if times in recent years and they are great live. There's nothing wrong with the mix, but there never is with Editors. I'm not sure the new material is working live and I'm still sceptical over Blanck Mass' work on the production side. But that's a very minor niggle to be honest, still a great performance

Mrs Marvin and myself went to see Dodgy at the O2 Forum Kentish Town, on their Free Peace Sweet tour last night. The last time we saw them was 10 years ago when they were doing their First and Last tour (they played all of Stand Upright in a Cool Place and all of The Dodgy Album) playing a small venue of no more than 100 people. Great musicians in my opinion, Matthew Priest is a great drummist. I couldn't fault the band last night and a great crowd made for a really good atmosphere. All excellent APART from the sound. It was woeful. Everything was drowned out for large parts by the drums and a booming undefined bass. And the top end, what you could hear, was shrill and brittle. Perhaps it's the venue. There is a banjo part in one song on the Free Peace Sweet album for which Dodgy got a touring player to just play on that song. Total waste of time, didn't hear a note. Perhaps where we were sat, up in the balcony. However, the O2 Apollo in Manchester is a very similar venue, and when we saw Editors there a few years ago the sound was spot on. If someone made my bass sound like the bass last night they'd get a bollocking (the bass in The Supernaturals, who were supporting, was exactly the same). It marred a very good gig. I know how good they can sound. On the First and Last tour the sound was brilliant. The mix was perfect, not too loud, you could hear the vocal harmonies and so on. Chris Helme, previously of The Seahorses, played a support slot which was very good. Which was surprising because I didn't really like The Seahorses... probably due to John Squires' constant guitar widdling. 😁

Being in a similar situation to the OP, I understand completely

Another one to add to the list of 'artists' that I didn't like that turned out to also be morons. Morrissey and Bobby Gillespie are high up on that list.

A legend, icon, a one off. Another huge talent who made music great leaves us. Really sad news.

If the gig is 'tonight' it'd have to be from the nearest store. So I'd probably go for the Ibanez GSRM20 Mikro in sunburst they've got for £220. Or the Ibannez SRMD200D Mezzo in Pearl White for £300. They've got a couple of Squier Jaguar with single hambuckers but I don't really like them, so it's Ibanez for me

Also available in black apparently

It looks like Mansons premises will remain a guitar shop https://www.devonlive.com/whats-on/shopping/exeters-legendary-mansons-remain-guitar-8374634

I've got a 3" wide padded Levys strap. Good strap, I find it really comfortable.

I've got my Sire V7 in one of these https://www.gear4music.com/Guitar-and-Bass/Kinsman-Hard-Foam-Electric-Guitar-Case-Black/C37?_gl=1*u2kyv6*_ga*MzA3NzY0MTc5LjE2NzcwMDc5OTQ.*_up*MQ.. I've used it since I got my V7, which was 8 years ago. To be fair, I haven't gigged for 5 years, but it's a good case all the same.

Should be put in the stocks and pelted with rotten fruit.

It seems quite unreal that someone who has been influencing and lauded by so many other fantastic musicians, for so long, is gone.

DHL seem to be in a state of complete chaos. I ordered a part for my car back in November, I received it yesterday. I picked it up from one of their service/pick up points. Even that was a farce. The confirmation code I was emailed failed to work. Thankfully, the member of staff allowed me to take the parcel and even said she was sick to death with DHL.

That got stamped years ago, probably a decade ago or more.

I worked for Royal Mail for over 20yrs. I left in the summer. I work in a completely different sector now. It's the best decision I've made in a long time. I could fill Basschat's server with my very negative opinions and experiences of working for Royal Mail, but life's too short and I'm happier at work than I've been for years. Royal Mail will go under unless it gets rid of the 100% confidence 0% competence managers at all levels...but it won't.

Harley Benton seem to be on a bit of a roll. I do like these, I just wish I had a reason to buy one. https://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_mv_4msb_gotoh_sb.htm

They look great. I bought a Sire V7 when they first came out, which for the money (under £300) was great at the time. However, if I was looking at the market now I'd be looking at one of these over a Sire.

Gigged one for a few years, not a single issue. That said, the amp to go faulty on me was an Ashdown...that couldn't be fixed apparently

I've got a Fender Universal A frame stand. Quite compact, good for offset bodied guitars/basses. It's not as compact as the Hercules mini stands I used to have, but it is much more stable. Not sure I'd say it's a favourite, but it does a decent job.