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In a taxi right now after playing four forty five minute sets in Amsterdam city centre. Absolutely crazy, great crowd. Did this gig last year and was worried there wouldn't be the excitement, but the excitement was just different. Knowing the venue, the route etc. And being a tighter band a year on... Absolutely brilliant. Now to sleep....

I’m sure we’ve all encountered guitarists who subscribe to this magazine. ‘F chord workaround: simply don’t play it when it comes around’.

My blues rock trio Toredown played at a new pub last night. Well, new to us, its the oldest pub in Ipswich built in 16th century - the Black Horse. Plusses and a minus. The minus - hardly anyone there! Lots of our regular crowd said they would come but only 2 did and there were at most around 15 people from the pub's regular punters. Nevertheless they got into it, as did we. Plusses - it is easier for me to get to than our regular place being just outside of the confusing one-way system. Guitarist and I got there for 7:30 but drummer (who has the pa) was held up and arrived at 8:15 - for a 9pm start. But the pa is such a quick assemble that we sound-checked and started bang on time. The owners couldn't do enough for us, room was already cleared (big space, too), free drinks, opened up the beer garden gate so we could park off-road, easy load in/out. No hold-ups or diversions on the A12, home by 1am. We have another one there next month and, I hope, more in future.

I was asked to write his obituary for Under the Radar magazine. If anyone is interested, it's here: https://www.undertheradarmag.com/news/former_smiths_bassist_andy_rourke_dies_at_age_59

Another standard local pub gig last night, but the crowd was a lot of fun and it was a much needed release. Off to play at a wedding later. 1b466115-f4c9-4984-b95b-e642717ff38f.mp4

Back in the MM game: Love it.

Just got home from playing the beautiful, ornate Ilkley Kings Hall and the more modern Solihull Core Theatre.... and both fabulous shows! Our band is really on fire now... it's amazing what a series of shows can do for cementing a band socially, musically and performance-wise.... Loving it! Next stops.... Swansea Grand Theatre, Eastleigh Concorde Club & Hunstanton Princess Theatre!

I look at my basses affectionately and have an emotional connection to them, especially my black Japanese Fender Jazz. I remember the day like it was yesterday my dad taking me to Nova Guitar centre in 1988 aged 18 to buy it for me. I had no idea what he was buying for me but it was an upgrade over my Tokai Jazz that I had at the time. I remember that night not being able to use it at my second ever gig, a civic hall gig in front of a few hundred and being devastated at not being able to play my new bass as the stage lights kept making it go out of tune. Now move on 35 years and it's still with me, incredibly beaten up but better than ever with bartolini pickups and a Shuker fretless neck. When I look at it, my entire music career is in that bass, playing at Brixton Academy, tonnes of recording sessions, two John Peel sessions, Radio 1 roadshows, Virgin Radio live sessions, 1000's of gigs and tours, recording my first album after getting signed, being in a promo video for ELO, tour dates with Paul Weller, European gigs and so much more. Most of all though, my dad bought it for me but passed away, never seeing any of my music career and what I achieved with that bass. So it may just be a chunk of wood but its a very special chunk of wood.

Can recommend. I got this and modded it out a bit. Lovely piece of gear, and cheap. Nice tone (bit noisy pickups, EMG solved that for me), very comfy neck even tho it's not the thinnest. Just inspect for ridiculous irregularities as soon as you get it. I got one where the bridge was not in the freaking middle and the strings were clearly closer to one side as a result. Bent tuners, crappy bridge screws, anything goes. But if you get a good one or don't care about bent tuners because you're replacing them, then it's going to be one of your favourite toys. Replaced all my HW (except the bridge, pending) with black, and the pickguard is matte, not shiny any more, I think it looks better that way.

Hi everyone! Just to let you all know the surgery seems to have been successful and I’m home now. Thank you for all the kind words, definitely why it’s my favorite community online!

Ok, unexpectedly, got my bass back from my tech quicker than I thought, after getting the body and neck etc back last week. Here’s a teaser. It’s stunning. : I’m still sorting things like pickups heights, setup, etc. Annoyingly I have worn out the centre detent on the blend control through repeated use, lol. I’ll work around it. It sounds fantastic with the Lusithand Double NFP and the original Turner pickups transplanted over and Andy’s neck on there. Great pickups and I’m always going to be a fan of this preamp. Spoiler…It does sound a bit different, but I’m not yet convinced the mahogany body has made a huge difference over using alder. It is different, and it is noticeable, but not the way a different fretboard wood or completely new neck construction was…however I will keep playing and get some Youtube recordings up soon.

I should say that this build is very specifically for Alex's (s-i-l) playing style - it wouldn't suit many players, and especially players who need decent access to the dusty end...because this one will have almost none In order to get a better balancing guitar, I am bringing the whole scale rearward - quite a lot! And, so that Alex can at least reach some of the upper frets, I'm also moving the lower horn back. Yes - I know... that is one of the primary design features of the original...I told you it was only going to be 'essence of'!!! Finally, it is going to have some curves - and a slab of the figured ebony on top. This was an early sketch: I've opted for Alder for the back and this is broadly how the two sections are planned to look. As the saying goes, 'What could possibly go wrong?'

My first Jazz bass, liking the difference to my PBass In the new Candy Apple red colour

Debut gig for my latest band, Rival Falls, at Roosters Taproom Harrogate. Went really well and got lots of lovely feedback. great to be playing live after a couple years out. 3fb20f30-cab6-476d-82ff-1971fad2dc52.mov 403a589c-f657-4ce1-8f3a-01e0eb55a55b.mov

Also I find it about a million times easier to play than my Wal. The body shape, nut width/neck, how it hangs on a strap…. @Chopthebass picked a very lightweight African mahogany and he married it well to @Andyjr1515’s neck. It’s a joy.

I sometimes get that feeling too but then i ask myself what else would i do at weekends and would i miss it. Audiences in some venues haven't quite come back after pandemic so i'd give it a bit more time. You may have it unlucky that your friends had something else on. We've been caught out that way with the Punk covers band when a major punk band was playing round the corner ........... literally and everyone was there. It was a last minute gig they booked and it was too late for us to change the gig. We played to a handful of people but we just treat it as a paid rehearsal. Try and stay positive and give it a little more time for people to start going out again. Fri nights can be odd gigs too as i have my own theory that many people can only afford to go out one night a week if even that and a Sat night suits them better. Do you enjoy playing with this band and do you get along with them all. If the answer is yes then stick with it a while longer. Dave

I see there's YET AGAIN the 'Jaco only needed 4' debate going on. Its a fools argument. Does it matter? He's one player, one I don't personally rate if I'm honest, but each to their own. We wear different clothes, we drive different cars, we have different jobs etc. Why is there always an arguement that because one person played a 4 string bass reasonably well that we should all do it? If you don't want to play 6 string, then don't! I play 6 string, I also own and play 8, 9 and 10 string basses. I also own a 4 string bass! And a drumkit... wow, great... who cares. Play what you want! We have that freedom. Jaco played 4 - whoop for him.

Prepared for that, and apparently the travel on the tone knob is pretty limited to on and off , so I’ll change that pot to one with a more appropriate taper. I haven’t picked up a Talman yet , but they’re cheap and available. They also frequently have some neck dive so the tuners might well be changed out for some lighter ones. I guess the tuners , pot and pickup will be close to the cost of the bass… edit Baby Blue Sound … that looks good! I had seen this pic online and thought this might sound deadly. I’m not afraid of a good chunky neck. I have other basses with that Gibson style pickup and really love them. This is what’s inspired my interest. and another edit … just received word that one that had been sitting on kijiji is still available. It’s an hour’s drive away to Lunenburg on the South Shore , but might be a lovely drive. So it’s looking like this project is becoming quite likely.

Since my previous post I’ve come to the realisation that I needed smaller lighter instruments so have bought a couple of Fender JMJ Mustang Basses and I get a great deal of enjoyment playing these. The first one I bought I feel incredibly attached to already as I feel it’s given me a new lease of life in playing, realistically I probably would have had to stop playing in bands without making this move.

I had some Rotosounds bought online, they sounded terrible, felt horrible and lost what top end they had after one gig, definitely genuine 😜

You'll be pleased to hear that, with the latest forum update having finally satisfied Norton not to block the site for me on my system, that I've already started posting progress on this build on Guitarchat. And, as it's a 6-string electric, do feel free to ignore it here - I will fully understand My building has slowed down quite a bit - partly the pesky arthritis in my hands and partly the usual life's distractions - but there are one or two projects that have been on my list for years that I simply have never had the time to get round to. And this is one of them. It is a variation on the theme of the iconic Gibson Firebird electric guitar. 'Essence of' is probably a closer description as it aims to tackle some of the compromises of the original and is being built for a specific player and the specific way he plays. And that player is my son-in-law who plays the excellent Epiphone Firebird. And can I make something better than an Epiphone Firebird? Of course not...but I can make it different - lighter (maybe) - easier to fret in the specific fretboard zones he plays - better on the strap and over the knee - less (hopefully no) neckdive - less flat-bodied It's also a chance to use this type of ebony again for those of you who saw the build thread a year or so back where I used it last: So off we go!

The build is over! Took ages getting the Walbuckers, but well worth it. The range of tones available from the Lusithand preamp is staggering. I really didn’t know what to expect, as I’ve never owned a Wal or experienced multi-coils. It weighs in at 9.0 pounds, which is just about right, and no sign of neck dive. I’m looking forward to gigging this!

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/115807085347?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=3EBG3m-QQAW&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=Lr5GXN8gT0-&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

My personal subscription...

I'm 69 and been doing this at one level or another since I was 13. I think about throwing in the towel occasionally. The thing is , I really can't. I'm retired and I depend on the supplement income from gigs. Plus If I quit I'd have nothing to do. Blue

Home Grown Blues Festival Tomorrow Sunday 5/21 3:00 @ Foundry 45 Kewaskum WI Maple Road Should be a fun gig,10 bands 2 stages and fantastic weather Sound and lighting provided. Blue

Wise words Dave, I’m sure we’ve all had gigs where the turnout has been poor for whatever reason, it’s easy to focus on those but always best to try and remember the good packed out ones and just acknowledge the low turnout as a blip.

Last night we played the Palladium in Bideford, a proper Music Venues Trust place that hosts the likes of Soap Girls, Undercover Hippy, assorted Levellers solo projects, that sort of thing. A decent low-end venue. To 10 paying punters. Two months ago we played for the eighth or ninth time in Camden and it was a good crowd and a blast but, being based in North Devon, a backwater for original music, that's not really a viable regular option for four blokes in their 50s with day jobs. We're all old hands and what we're doing - a sort of indie, punky psych-rock'nroll thing is great. Random strangers keep popping up on Twitter to tell us so and the streaming stats are good; this is the best band I've ever been in. But I'm really quite down about the whole thing this morning and not sure if I can be bothered to go out and do these gigs in our local area when even our friends can't be bothered to come out. For the first time ever, I'm actually starting to feel like chucking it in. Sorry - self-pitying whinge, I know.

Glad it went well. I had a hernia repair at the beginning of the year and once the initial 'ow, ow, ow' was over I thought I could get back to at least rehearsing (sitting down). But no, it was too early. Listen to your doctor and only start back when he gives you the ok. The risk of further damage and an extended (or even worse, permanent) break from playing is not worth it. I was fortunate - my bandmates took the opportunity to have a break as well, and when I was getting to the point of returning, I had visits from them just for short jams and updates to break me back in gently.

The Klos arrived yesterday and is 7lbs 10oz and balances perfectly. Lots to like, only quibble is not much space between the end of the neck and the neck pickup. (Apparently they will make pickguards to suit with the neck pickup further back) No complaints with any aspect of the fit and finish of the bass and it plays great. I believe they are plek'd before final inspection.

all different ones, they are the ones that didn’t make the cut. 😄Sound wise they cannot replace my big one. big board for reference:

This hit me so hard. My post from Instagram yesterday...

What a great gig! Really nice to meet @johnbiffaand @Oldman this evening. The sound at the venue was really good, the bass sounded rich and detailed which highlighted John’s excellent clean playing. Like Oldman’s wife said, it’s infectious to see musicians so clearly enjoying themselves. Thanks for the heads up and I’ll see you again no doubt.

Grab n Go board when I am too lazy to carry the big one. 😁

I would change the drummer to one who remembered the right tempo to count songs in and could play at less that 100% volume and not use his crash cymbal every 2 beats. I know he speaks highly of me too. I’d also drop the obsession with finding lesser know tracks from well known bands - we are a pub covers band, so we need to play what people know!

Been a tad busy this week, but last weekend was fab. Just a local boozer where I’m squished into a corner, but my uni course is so intense it felt amazing just to feel like ‘me’ again for a few hours. This weekend is a double whammy so I’m looking forward to that! here's a few pics from Sat.

So long time session/jazz guitarist now writer producer, starting to get bored with Zoom calls to Seoul at midnight and endlessly staring into this… plus virtually everything I play these days is 2/4/8 bars, looped, processed and massaged into a three minute K-pop song or ten minute house track by various clients..I have a few basses I use for occasional tracking so I decided to dust my main tracking bass off and head down to the local blues jam last Thursday. Total hoot, despite my wanting to turn everything into a James Brown or Meters track, much fun was had. I was hooked and importantly, was on the opposite side of the stage to the atonal wannabe shredders gurning their way through tuneless and aimless solos, displaying their freshly learnt from YouTube “licks”. Yes I truly hate badly played blues guitar solos at shrieking volume played by middle aged accountants pulling those dying-from-constipation grimaces as they tunelessly bend notes ad infinitum…I need to sit down for a few minutes, mother. Have decided that my own live playing henceforth will be restricted to 4 strings and finding tight drummers to lock my groove down with, Bootsy style. Current basses are : 1998 P bass Lyte Deluxe ( bought new) , Squier Mustang stock+ Labella flats and Hohner B2A And this which is also going to receive the bridge pickup from this 1999 Mexican lined fretless J bass which I bought for a session in 1999, used once and put in its gig bag for 34 years due to its horrible ( to me ) colour and back breaking 12lb weight. The neck and neck pickup will be headed to the gorgeous light alder body on the right later this summer with another 62 Pbass pickup. I’m a dedicated short scale player now having used the CV on a couple of dozen paying tracks since Xmas 2021. And my hooley at the jam last week. And then there’s this… Sorted an acquaintances one out last year, with Staytrem hardware, La Bella flats and US pickups/electrics and used it with the local Orchestra for some Bond and Morricone nights last year, total hoot. Also made its way onto a K-Pop tune doing the 60s bass octave doubling thang with a foam mute. This one is fresh from the box and is pretty much unusable with a grinding vibrato, weedy strings and emery grade frets plus a fretboard liberally smeared with buffing compound: And it took 7 months to arrive…will make a nice summer project and will join these studio only “ fairy dust” guitars that need similar upgrades. Next jam is week on Monday run by wonderful a local blues harp player, Hugh Budden, who seems to have paying gigs every day of the week. After that there a regular schedule of three jams within a thirty minute EV guilt free jaunt, a month. No amp but have my beloved bought new in 1988 Polytone (jazz guitar use) for practise and mostly play through my Logic/Krk8 rig (above) for practise, using these as DIs. If it gets serious I might buy the Quilter 800 and the wee Ampeg SVT-210AV that Hugh and Harv used at their medium sized pub jam on Thursday, truly terrifyingly loud to the extent I dropped the volume as I could not hear the drummers kick drum. And teeny tiny to boot, my aging back don’t need no grief. In the spirit of not hiding anonymously behind an avatar, here’s what I look like should you ever encounter me and need to rapidly cross to the other side of the road: And here’s what my bass playing sounds like: Some recent rejected loop/beat ideas including some seriously uncoordinated tenor sax playing/arranging, my new thang for 2023 Nice to be playing actual songs with actual people in actual venues again. Look Momma, I iz a four string fool now! Peace, A

If you haven't already tried one you should absolutely get yourself an Ibanez Mikro Bass, the GSRM20B version in Weathered Black finish (basically open pore matte black) and black hardware even looks pretty damn nice. I love mine to bits, it's really such a great joy to play with its' just 28.6" scale length, and the quality is generally pretty amazing for the money asked. You should be prepared to swap the stock pickups and electronics though, but if done you will get a not only great playing but also genuinely great sounding bass.

https://youtube.com/@russellnewton8794 That should be a link to a few YouTube videos of me playing 8, 9, 10 string basses. They're all pretty old though! And I'm glad to say I'm now significantly 'smaller' than I was in those videos. I think there's one playing a 7 string guitar too (the forbidden instrument!). Pay no attention to the other random videos of Kurt Angle, Pat Sharpe, Tim Russ and Mr Heckles!

As an aside, the BBC archive is well worth subscribing to…. Some superb stuff, not least John Noakes ascending Nelson’s Column. I have to say, it does look a tad phallic they way he’s playing it. Some wag has suggested renaming it the w@nkaphon…

It kind of reminds me of Les Claypool's Whamola

No you haven’t

I'd change the drummer. Twice.

Exactly how I feel about my 'keeper', bought new in '76