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Played 2nd on the bill in a 4 band/artists gig in Alderbury (village close to Salisbury). It was a fundraiser for a Salisbury Live event in June called Picnic in the Park. It was a social club and a good mix of locals, band members, friends and family in there, pretty busy and a good atmosphere. Our drummer did his solo act before we went on, he sings and plays guitar in his own band. Our set went well, some of those that have seen us before said we get better every time they see us... I guess the songs are becoming more familiar 😂 I enjoyed the night, the last band played covers but threw in a few curve balls that I enjoyed (I am the resurrection, who covers that?! Brilliant!). For the shoe fetish crew - a pair of scruffy Lee Copper Converse fakes. Normally I wear my Airwalks but wanted a change. As an aside, my 87 yr old dad watched me lace up a shoe today and told me off. Apparently they taught him how to lace up his boots during National Service so that you could cut the laces with a knife easily and get your boots off quickly if you needed to...every day is a school day 😁

In late 2011, Prince Rogers Nelson walked into Capitol Guitars, a modest music store in St. Paul, Minnesota. Dressed in dark shades and an overcoat, he browsed quietly, barely speaking. The staff recognized him instantly but chose to respect his silence. He pointed at a few guitars, asked about the tonal difference between maple and mahogany, and then paused when the owner mentioned a recent conversation with a local teacher. The teacher had said that students at Anwatin Middle School in Minneapolis were losing access to their music program due to severe budget cuts. Prince nodded slightly and left without purchasing anything. Three days later, a delivery truck arrived at Capitol Guitars. Prince had returned but not to shop. Instead, he gave the owner a handwritten list and a simple instruction: “Everything on this list, pack it and deliver it to Anwatin.” The list included guitars, drum sets, violins, keyboards, amps, microphones, and recording equipment. When the owner asked if the instruments should be marked with a donor name or message, Prince replied, “No names. No credit. Just send love.” The delivery created confusion at the school. Teachers and administrators at Anwatin Middle School had no advance notice, and the delivery slip listed only a phone number that led to a private voicemail. Music teacher Kenneth Simms opened the shipment, stunned by the quality and quantity of the instruments. He assumed it was a mistake. It took several days of asking around and comparing handwriting on the note that came with the shipment before a staff member connected it to Prince, who had visited the store days earlier. When a friend later asked him about it, Prince said, “That’s between me and the kids. Not for headlines.” He declined to make any public statement or appear at the school. According to Minneapolis-based journalist Jon Bream from "Star Tribune", even the school district wasn’t formally notified. They only learned about the donor’s identity after teachers pieced the story together. Those close to Prince knew his silent generosity wasn’t a one-time impulse. During his early years growing up on the north side of Minneapolis, he often spoke about the importance of music education. His mother, Mattie Shaw, was a jazz singer and heavily involved in the local music scene. Prince once said in a 1999 interview with "Ebony", “If I hadn’t had access to a piano when I was seven, I don’t know who I would’ve become. Music wasn’t a hobby, it was a lifeline.” Former bandmate Sheila E. recalled in her 2014 memoir "The Beat of My Own Drum" how Prince frequently funded youth centers and music camps without telling anyone. “He believed in giving kids a chance to create,” she wrote. “He didn’t want applause. He wanted them to play.” At Anwatin, the new instruments transformed the energy of the school. Simms recalled how students began coming to class early just to practice. A hallway that once echoed with silence after the final bell now hummed with guitar riffs, drumbeats, and laughter. “We didn’t just get instruments,” Simms told "MinnPost" in 2012, “we got hope.” Store owner Alan Geller, who kept the receipt from Prince’s bulk order tucked in his office drawer, shared later that the musician didn’t even ask for a discount. “He said, ‘Charge full price. They deserve the best.’” For Prince, who had often used his wealth to quietly support causes tied to youth empowerment, the act wasn’t about visibility. His friend Van Jones later commented during an interview with "CNN", “He believed that if you help a kid find their rhythm, they might avoid chaos. He never needed a stage for that.” The donation never became a national headline. There were no photo ops or ceremonies. But in a city where music had once saved a young boy from the streets, it was returned, quietly, to the next generation. Prince gave them music when theirs had been taken away and never asked for anything in return.

The Jam Night I usually go to has moved back to its original venue (McCafferty’s in Epsom). We weren’t really able to attract a following at what was the new venue - various reasons I guess. Certainly there was never much of an atmosphere there. I think the original venue probably saw their takings drop by more than they were paying the band and certainly by more than the £50 pay cut they were trying to get the band to take. I’m pleased we’ve moved back as McCafferty’s is a much better music venue (and it’s walking distance from my house 😀). It’s a while since we’ve had anyone take any video of us. My daughter who was the main videographer has moved to Derby. My wife didn’t attend the new venue as often. Anyway back to the old venue so my wife came, and a mate and his wife came for the 1st time. They both took some video. We played ok, without nailing any of the songs. As it’s the 1st one back at McCafferty’s I decided on a compilation video.

Local Social Club in Sunderland called Steels on Saturday night, a bass playing mate sent me this pic. Big club but had a full house with a great crowd in 👍🏼

...and as it was a rainy afternoon got the drawers done. Not my best piece of woodwork - I may end up re-doing the drawers as while they do work there are a lot of rough edges. Also ended up riveting the bottom and back sections to the sides as screws were not working in the HDF. Also not happy with the lime green paint so have bought some fluorescent tape instead. Now just waiting for the tape and of course the black light to turn up...

@SamIAm - a sad loss. She had enough character to leap off of the pages of this forum, and become a real personality - honest, warm, engaging, funny. And not embarrassed to be in a ukulele band.

Rejoined the BB club yesterday - £799 in Guitar Guitar in the new ‘Crimson Red’, I’d have preferred the Sunburst but it’s preferable to Matt Black and I can live with it. I bought it about 4:30pm as the only one in stock was the Newcastle store which I’m near, so I picked it up and gigged it that night. It sounded excellent, more than happy with it - although I almost bought a BBP35, but I do prefer the option of an active bass

Late night wiring of my “Essentials” board. Saw a nicely priced 3leaf Audio “Youre Doom” in Ebay. Couldn’t let it pass!

Looking forward to our electric headline show in Swindon this Thursday, along with our fantastic handpicked special guest. Free entry.

Nope, definitely not graphite. Can someone pop to China and teach them how to correctly mount Monorail tuners, please?

I became a fan in 1982 after picking up the 12" single of Market Square Heroes in a bargain bin for 50p. It has Grendel on the B-side, which remains one of my all-time favourites. I saw them live in 1984 on the Fugazi tour at the Southend Cliffs Pavilion. Fish took a shine to me (well, I was 15 and pretty) and handed me a glass of coke which he'd been drinking from on the stage. I took a sip and found it was strongly laced with whisky. I kept the empty plastic cup for years with its dessicated whisky/coke residue, until one day my mum cleaned my room while I was out and chucked it out thinking it was rubbish. In the 90s I bought a second hand Aria SB as my first 'serious' bass because Pete Trewavas played one. (Not the exact same model but close enough.)

Just a teaser on the coffee burst. An old photo with a BB pin badge that our guitarist bought me as a little birthday gift. 😁

..and lots more progress this morning thanks to the black spray paint drying really quickly. Also managed to get the first coat of a fluorescent lime green paint on ready for the black light which I have just ordered, and fitted the runners...

Bit of Stevie Wonder, the arrangement from the film “Sing” Moises app to remove the original bass. Tone by Line 6 HX Stomp

I'm lost for words. So sad and a real loss. May I be so bold as to quote the final line of a beautiful post to Sam by @Dad3353 in the depression topic, a line which I think would echo all of our thoughts... "Thank you for your participation on this Forum; we are all the better for it."

I noticed there weren't any videos online yet documenting the changes to the Octabvre design, so i made a quick and dirty video to show the sounds.

I have the same as Paddy. Really impressed with the build quality and not too far away at all from a P35 imo

I’ve owned quite a few of Roger’s basses and I’ve always thought that it was this ability to sit so nicely in a live band mix that makes them special.

Just going on the sheer number of big name artists using Schecter, I've got to think it's not a lack of famous players that are a problem for them - though a lot do seem to be hard rock or metal players. I don't think I've seen a Schecter in a physical shop but still, I own two and a good friend of mine owns another herself. Mine are a Riot 4 Aurora Burst and an SLS Evil Twin, both lefthanded. They're both great instruments, particularly the Evil Twin. My friend has a C-5 GT in purple and it looks and feels amazing (for a righthanded instrument). I guess the reason so many manufacturers build Fender-esque instruments is because those general shapes are so baked into the cultural psyche that people expect them and so it's a relatively easy money-maker, especially if you can do it cheaper and with just a touch of modern features to put your own twist on proceedings.

When I joined the internets some 20 years ago, nobody would care if you did anything to a 1978 Fender. The consensus was that pre-CBS instruments were the gems, to be preserved in as-built condition if possible. Some early CBS-era instruments were also seen as good, but you had to hunt them out. Then the Overton window shifted. Stuff from the late '60s and early '70s suddenly had the potential to be good, on occasion. You had to find the one in ten that played as nicely as a hallowed pre-CBS gear. Interesting that stuff from the peak wilderness years of Fender is now considered valuable enough to cause some pause before modding. Then again, London's Calling, Rocket to Russia, No more Heroes etc is all stock '70s P Basses...

This an interesting interview with the most under appreciated member of Pantera. If you're not aware of his work, have a listen to this. The bass behind the guitar solo is absolutely brilliant. He does such a good job of backing up Dime's guitar wizardry

Saw them a couple of times in the early 90's when they were touring VDOP and Darrell was still a "Diamond", first time they were supporting Megadeth, then on their own tour with Gruntruck supporting. Savagery both times. That plec on the left was used to play By Demons Be Driven 😉

Saw them at a "secret" gig at The Marquee back in January '93. That was an insane gig. Nearly tripped over Dimebag's pedalboard when stagediving. Subsequently saw them several more times. They were amazing live. But I've no interest in seeing the new version - not because of it "not being Pantera" (I'm fine with the idea of Zakk Wylde and Charlie Benante being in the band), but entirely because of Phil Anselmo and his bigotry, and buying a ticket would be a tacit endorsement of that.

You mean you don't lift the needle off the record after each phrase then write it down? 😳 Or rewind the cassette? 😯 Sheesh 🙄

Vintage basses can be quirky. While some have brilliant elements they also have their own characteristics, whether to their age, their life up to this point or the material/build quality of that particular era. So I would say; think closely about what you do like about this bass and what you don’t like. Decide whether those things could be better met by another bass before modding this one to try to achieve that. As others have said, a 78 P does a very good job of being a 78 P. If that’s not the sound/look etc you’re after, then there are other alternatives. FWIW I’ve owned a 1970 sunburst P for the last 30 years. I don’t love everything about how it plays or looks but it does what it does. Personally I wouldn’t dream of swapping stuff on it unless it desperately needed fixing. I have other basses that cover other sonic and aesthetic ground and I leave the old P as it is. But that’s just my two cents worth.

Sounds like I’ll be selling the T-16 and Pearl then 😅

Love this 💜✌️

Men Without Bats

Thanks. They are really nice and so easy to play. I'am the 2nd owner, and as far as I know it was a standard order straight from a Swedish shop.

Another Al Di Meola guitar transcription, this is his arrangement of the Beatles tune 'In My Life' from his 2013 album, 'All Your Life: a tribute to The Beatles'. It is only a partial transcription as a second guitar comes in half way through and I was only interested in the solo element so I stopped. I thought I would post it on here anyway rather than leave it sat there doing nothing. https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/in-my-life-al-di-meola/

This isn’t exactly what you are asking for, but I just google the lyrics and paste them into Pages on my iPad so I can format them in a way that helps me break them down and read them. When I play live I just convert them into a PDF for quick swiping.

Apparently, Pete told Zak he was only researching alternative drummers for a book.

Average Shite Band

In terms of the TM style basses, I bought this last year. One of the Thomann 70th Anniversary Electra basses but a B stock item so really good value and, Brucie bonus, I couldn't find a single thing wrong with it. The only difference I can see between this and a full fat German-made bass is the matt black finish is solid rather than transparent so maybe the Alder body is not quite as good, the tuners I think are probably slightly cheaper, the controls lack the switch to split the coils on the MM pickup. The gunmetal hardware I believe is not available in Germany (maybe you can ask for it). The neck pickup is humbucking and the EQ does have the volume that you can pull to get the passive option with the treble acting as a rough and ready tone control. Plenty of options and actually a real Swiss Army knife of a bass and weighs in at just under 4kgs. Mandatory pics.: