All Activity

Nope, definitely the Rolling Stones third era (the first being with Brian Jones and the second with Mick Taylor) for one photographed rehearsal of Some Girls in 1978, with Ronnie Wood, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts, Bill Wyman (with his Travis Bean TB2000 bass) and Mick Jagger. And if you don't recognise them, it's time for an eye check as it's more than obvious: Click twice on the image so see it in full definition. The rest of the unknowns have now been correctly named. And in Jailhouse Rock, press photo of 1957.

I recently had a Bow Quiver from Lawrie. Once again a great experience. Solid and friendly to deal with, and a credit to the community.

The photo is too small for me to see, but The Ronnie Wood band should be The Birds.

Toby Keith was great (his music still is). I'm pretty sure he was born with a hat on!!

Met up with Kim to complete a sale of a cheep 5 string. Hop man, a credit to the bass brotherhood!

Stood in with a blues band for a 45-minute support slot at a blues club. I don’t normally get nervous about performing but I was conscious this would be a more discerning audience than the usual gaggle of pub punters, plus the headlining band would probably be listening from the wings. As it was, I felt I acquitted myself pretty well, and we got good feedback from the audience. It was quite amusing when one of the sound techs offered me a hand onto the stage with my Barefaced cab, and I lifted it with one finger! I was surprised how many women there were in the audience. I expected a blues club audience to consist of 98% gentlemen of a certain age, but most of them seemed to have brought along their significant others.

@Sean that band sound like proper gaslighters!

When working out the bass lines for various covers, I’ll often reach for the classical guitar as it sits next to the computer and is less faff than plugging the bass in, turning the amp on, etc and its tone just seems to work for this purpose, like a bass but an octave up.

I have one of those crazy Yamaha silent classical guitars, beautiful quality, perfect for noodling, I've always had a classical guitar of some sort knocking about for some strange reason. I tend to write a lot of bass lines on it simply because it's the instrument I noodle on the most.

Katy Hurt was booked to play a private event last night, run by the same people who run the Buck and Bull pop up saloon club nights we’ve played before. Big marquee at Tweseldown Racecourse near Fleet, 200 guests, line dancing, DJ, bucking bronco… standard UK “country” themed night. Since this was essentially a private version of the Buck and Bull event, no expense was spared. Pro PA and lighting rigs and engineers made for a wonderful experience, plenty of soundcheck time so the onstage sound was crystal clear and devoid of all the issues from the previous week. The only real downer was the marquee had no heating so it needed the bodies in there to make it warm, it was very chilly in the run up to there being a party in full swing. Our normal drumming options were all unavailable so I pinched the drummer (and my brother in law) from my pub rock band, and he stepped in brilliantly. Being a private party, the crowd weren’t quite the same as the Buck and Bull clientele, and never really fully got going (vs them being totally up for it from the second we walk onstage at a real club night), but we had moments of fun watching some of the better line dancers try not to trip over the less good as we ripped through our two sets of covers and originals. So yes, in some respects a mixed bag but I was home and in bed by 00.30 and throughly enjoyed the playing bit. Basses were my trust ACG RetroBs, via Laney Digbeth pre, Trace TE1200 and Barefaced Two10. Shoes were DC hi tops Hat was Cavender’s of Texas 🤠

Found it! It's Johnny Heartsman. Bay Area blues artist.

Well, best gear is an ex aequo between a childhood dream and a vintage gem. First off a bass I've wanted to own since I was 12 (which is over 20 years ago): a walnut JB5 Custom by André van der End, a Dutch luthier. It popped up on a Belgian website and shortly after New Year I drove there to pick it up. It's heavy, it doesn't play as smoothly as my Lakland JO5 but I love it. Amazing feeling to own that bass now. I've replaced the black hardware with chrome since buying it. The other one is the 1973 Mustang I bought from the original owner. Excellent condition, excellent sound. Took it on tour to Germany in May and it fit perfectly into the Northern soul band sound. I don't think I've bought bad gear this year. Maybe the Optogate that I still haven't figured out how to use yet.

That guy with the Strat...I know that photo. At first I thought it might be Buddy Guy, but it isn't. It also isn't BB King. I have to google this extensively.

Get your daughter to tell the kids #8 is James Hetfield.

That is certainly what I have done in the past. Probably the best practical approach. The onset of saving settings does mean (in theory) it's a single occasion at each venue.

Gibson or Vigier? 😆 What's wrong with the fingerboard, can you not get a low action?

I thought we weren't allowed 'racey' or 'adult' pics of a 'suggestive' nature in case children were present. These are clearly 'top shelf' material indeed. Utterly superb. I saw you and your amps at the SW Bass Bash. Loved to have heard them or played through. Watched your build with admiration and awe. Now off for a cold shower. Rob

Hi I bought a shutttle max 9.2 from Nick super fast postage and the amp was exactly as described. Deal with confidence

Played Duff's bar in leicester last night with The Jam tribute What a great gig. Used the HW4003 thru the V4B. Mega

Ooh I forgot to mention - when I was making my final mods I added another filter cap in the bias supply and the 100Hz hum disappeared.