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Change of personnel is always a strange one. In the Live Tribute Show we changed our Jerry Lee Lewis / pianist a couple of years ago. The original guy was blind and obviously relying on older parents (with medical issues) to drive him all over the country for gigs. He'd lost a lot of confidence over the years apparently, so he bowed out a couple of Christmases ago. As a result, our new 'Jerry Lee' kicked the whole show into touch with not only his skill, but his enthusiasm. We've also gone through quite a few drummers. A large part of my job has been training new drummers on the fly during shows! But even they totally changed the feel of the overall show. Luckily, the current drummer is a top session player from Milton Keynes, so we've again landed in a good place. Mick, your situation is indeed an odd one. What sort of level/audiences do you play to? I'd say the promoter is working on their own personal taste and your wife has the right idea. Surely going more mainstream with a female vocalist (I assume she's very good?) will lead to more work and a bigger audience over time? Anyhow, I hope it all goes well in the long run for you guys

A few times Mick. My old function band went through a few personnel changes over the many years I was in it, and it was always the singers changing that people commented on. When they complained, I’d ask them how many people came and went in their office for example. For some reason people always seemed to prefer the previous singer every time though! In the main though it didn’t seem to affect bookings at all - so long as the quality of the band wasn’t compromised then agents and clients were happy. My previous band now has a new singer and despite some initial concerns, is doing a great job fronting them, with some people saying he’s as good or even better than the original guy. With your band the change is more obvious, with some preferring the ‘blokey’ line up. I’d say embrace having a female vocalist - why does that have to be seen as a sell out / commercial decision? And if it means more gigs / success then what’s not to like?

Spoke to my brother earlier. His band closed out the local free festival, Cadstock... daily attendance is about 4,000.

As the title says, whatever happened to the Music Man Stingray Through Neck models? I remember all the promotional stuff with Joe Dart etc, but never saw one for sale or can find a used one now. I guess they probably did the usual American maker tactics of pricing them crazily expensively above the standard range of Specials and no one bought them!

I use lemon oil for fretboards and polish the frets with Nail Buffer Pads. I picked up a few at a shopping centre when out with my young beauty mad daughter. They use them to polish and buff finger nails very gently! On frets they are amazing, do not damage the fretboard and make the fret wire highly polished and smooth !!

Maybe <gasp> he didn't switch in the pre-shape!

Mostly 45-105, so nothing outrageous. Somewhere, a long time ago I thought I read something about Ric recommending low tension strings (maybe even TI Jazz flats?) to avoid the tail lift. I could well be wrong, but that's probably what put the strings causing the tail lift I to my head

Me and my monkey - Robbie Williams

What gauge strings? HW will typically have used real Ric bridges, unless told otherwise; now that they are discontinued, it'll probably be Allparts. Some like the Hipshot bridges, but I've found an apt location for one of mine (and that's an Allparts on the Hondo, which now has strings and screws in the Treble pickup). ...

Mid-cut on the amp. If you want to sound like Geddy Lee, push the Treble Tone knob in (Modern). If you want to sound like Chris Squire, pull the Treble Tone knob out (Vintage). A touch of distortion is good. If you want to lose the pickup Vol controls interaction, go for Rick-O-Sound and run them competely separate. A low enough action to get a touch of fret buzz helps too.

Epiphone and Squier until I die! I've never felt a need to put a bass's big brother's clothes on and steal his ID to try and go to the pub or something. I was going somewhere with that metaphor, then I got lost. My basses are what they are, what they were, and what they'll always be. The only time I've replaced a decal it's either been like for like (when I restored an old Hagstrom), or gone down the comedy route (put "Fecker Imprecision Bass" on a bitsa). Apart from that, it is what it is.

My fretless (Licensed Mighty Mite neck).

there was some talk 24 months ago of Gibson relaunching graphite Steinberger with Ned involved the reason always given for why no more graphite Steinberger's was cost cost cost the second hand , or used, market reflects this - everything I see for L2 or XL-2 is serious coin. It might not be possible for Steve to "price" into this market

The problem is when someone who doesn't know gets it, maybe someone isn't as honest or they shuffle off this mortal coil and the estate gets sold.

Just as a retort: I understand a bass with more than four strings, I just don't care about them, or personally see a need for them in my line of bass work. I also think they look a bit wrong and for all the finger position choices they provide, on the other hand they also limit my choices in basses I can buy/play - sticking with four strings my cup runneth over. Many ways to look at it. My viewpoint is only one in a sea of opinions.

Not a copy, but all for something ish... Harley B PB50 Modder... Bitsa P... Squier p

Only 6 strings - pah!

@Kiwi, I didn't really have a brand in mind. You've covered the main ones. My view was totally bespoke neck to my own specs. I'd imagine that the Fender and MM necks will be the main thing for most people ordering. I remember playing your graphite necked series 1 Alembic when you gave me a lift to one of the bass Bashes and really liked it. Maybe we're past replacement necks here, but how about full basses a la Stienberger? Status Stealth or Buzzard? Full on one piece instruments? I've probably pushed the boat out too far there.

The website has had over 800 hits today, 200 individuals. That's not bad, is it? Does that make me an 'influencer'? 🤪

These are a thing too. They just stick on with suction cups. No idea how good they are mind. https://thumbfin.com/