Marvin

Thankfully you've seen sense, pickguard all day long...don't even know why you asked

Last night my blues band played the town's Art Centre. This may not sound a particularly big deal but for me it was one off the bucket list. The venue isn't big, but it has a good reputation and has had some very good artists and bands play there...the likes of John Martyn (obviously when he was alive), Andy Fairweather Low is there again soon. The first time I went so see a band was at this venue, I was in my teens and went to see a band called the Cult Maniax, ironically last night, my first time playing there, our guitarist was in the Cult Maniax. This was a ticket event, we didn't sell all tickets but the venue were very pleased with the turnout, I think we out sold a much better known blues band a few weeks ago. It was a great gig. When we finished the first song we received a massive cheer. I think this really spurred us on and gave us confidence to not just play the songs but to entertain as well...if you get my drift. Post gig I had people come up to me and say how good they thought it was, never had that before. This was the first time the band had played an established venue having to sell tickets (we usually play pubs) and we were all really chuffed with how it went.

I bought one of the first V7s from Thomann, one of the ones with the signed neck plate. I've never had an issue at all with mine. The only thing I did was to buy a replacement neck plate so that the signed one sits in a box on my music shelf. It's my go to bass and sounds great, plays great. Yes, it's not the lightest of basses but it's not an issue for me, I carry a weight on one shoulder for a living . The tuners do the job they're designed for, they could 'feel' better, however, I can't grumble, the V7 stays in tune, and I only paid £280 for mine. I checked out a MIM Std Fender Jazz before I bought the V7 and I have no doubt at all I bought a significantly better bass. It's the only bass where when I opened the box I literally went 'Wow!'

Thank you everyone. Our singer's wife bought him the Shure Super55 Deluxe. It arrived in time for rehearsal on Thursday and sounds very nice. He's really happy with it. Thanks again.

Looks like a cheap bitsa to me. Probably a Squier Affinity body with a cheap neck and Fender decal put on.

I use one of these https://www.amazon.co.uk/chord-CPT-01-Chromatic-Tuner-Pedal/dp/B0176UV9OC Works really well, big bold display, accurate and no 'pop' when you switch it on or off. Can't ask more for £26.

Thank you. Very useful and detailed information and advice. @BigRedX thanks for the insight on the SM55's durability. The singer in the band I'm plays a lot of guitar so doesn't do much with the mic, although it's still handy to know, thanks.

The wife of the singer in my band wants to buy him a vintage style microphone, one of those chrome boxy type looking ones. I said I'd ask you fine people for advice as to some guidance on which one to buy, as I know nothing about microphones at all. Thanks in advance. EDIT: this might actually belong in miscellaneous etc, apologies

Currently it's a blues band ...that also does the occasional country, soul, ska, reggae and rock'n'roll number 😎 It depends on the venue, but generally it's blues, if it's a pub we're playing then we'll chuck in some of the above.

I suppose it'd have to be my Squier VM Precision bass. I wanted a bass that could take a few knocks at venues where I knew my gear might be 'exposed'. I bought it for £150 s/h from Rich Tone Music. I wasn't expecting much to be honest. After I tweaked the set up it's been a brilliant bass. It's got great tone, lots of output...it's just a cracking bass. I shouldn't like it because I never really liked the amber/natural see through finish, but I actually love that bass.

I like Fenders, but this just seems a case of some new colours and putting a spaghetti logo on the headstock instead of the cheap looking black one and increasing the price tag. The only difference I can see is the claim that the bodies are hand finished to original specs, so basically you're paying a bit extra for someone to sand bare wood.

I can't play fast and I can't play with a pick... 😎

Basschat is the best place to buy and sell on the internet, no doubt. Ebay and gumtree, I've had time wasters, con artists and unfortunately bought duff gear with no comeback. Facebook can be ok, but that's usually the more local music/instrument sale pages. I think it's the communication between buyer and seller that's key on here, and that's as a result of it being a forum where we all, generally, get on. You don't get that level of communication and trust elsewhere. And where else would I buy cables (@obbm) and wiring looms (@KiOgan) ?

My band played a charity gig on Saturday at a golf club. We started quite early, around 7.30pm as the teams playing golf had been on the go (drinking) since 9am. It was a good crowd and we were asked to do 3 encores...and despite it being a charity gig we were paid, and a bonus for doing more than one encore

I use a Schroeder 212. It's plenty loud enough, it says 800w on the back, I don't know about SPL but it is loud even with a 350w Tonehammer amp.

Saturday night we played another very small pub. The owner loves music, he's in a band himself which played before us, so it's still a good place despite its size (or lack of). It all went well. We don't play rock and pop crowd pleasers, we're a blues band, so it's always nice when people like and are complimentary about what you're doing, despite probably not knowing 60% of your set.

My wife has one in her work bag, I'll pinch it later, cheers

The Aguilar Tonehammer 350 is a great little amp, incredibly small, light and great tone. BUT!...the blue lights on the front. My word, how bright do they have to be. Every photo of me playing a gig has this blue ora consuming the stage/playing area. I'm seriously considering putting a piece of tape or thick card over the lights

Encore P4 Blaster, not a single redeemable feature, complete junk. The only other bad bass was a Harley Benton 6 string bass. But this was the fault of the owner not the bass itself. The strings had never been changed and had visible lumps of gunk on them. Also, it had been tuned to standard guitar tuning. The B was therefore now an E etc, and the tension pulled the neck around so much it was now effectively a multi string bow! Otherwise, I don't play other people's basses or wonder into music shops and play basses, so limited experience ☺

First band i joined, when i started playing again 10yrs ago, the guitarist really couldn't stand the singer. That band lasted four gigs before he walked off. Mostly though it's all been friendly, if not friends. The only band I don't talk to at all are two brothers I was practicing with...they really were the most unpleasant pair I've met in music. They spent most of their time slagging off local bands. That was 5yrs ago I left, they're still in their garage and I've done quite a few gigs since 😎

I've never really bought an expensive bass so my experience is somewhat limited. The most expensive bass I've ever bought was a £400 Yamaha, it had the most uninspiring tone of all the basses I've ever owned. I like all 3 of my current basses, for different reasons. The cheapest was £150 s/h the most expensive was £280 brand new

This could be a really good thing. Ampeg is an iconic brand that has been allowed to wither a little, if not a lot, of late. You can see that from how few replies there are in this post actually. Hopefully Yamaha can put some new life back into it and give it some of its QC ethos.

Just under a mile. We practice at the singers place which is just outside the town. No neighbours, great cups of tea and I'm home in a few minutes...absolutely fantastic

The open mic my mate runs has a sort of house band, if you could call it that. Him and his bandmate might do the first 2 or 3 numbers. But they get people to put their name down if they want to play and they'll call them up to play during the night. It sounds a bit regimented but it's a good night and very popular as most people get to play. If not many people turn up then the 'house band' sort of fill in the gaps. Jam nights are a bit more of a free for all it seems. The night I go to is 'run' by one guitarist and you go up and join in if you want. That's my experience anyway, it might be different elsewhere.

I'd be inclined to go ask for a refund myself. That said, if it's the 'long distance retailer' I think it is, then I had to return a faulty item to them. They were very good. Very prompt and the issue was fixed. All told, I think it was less than 2 weeks to sort out and that included transit time. It was much better than the service I received from a local music store. Still, I'd go for a refund.