hiram.k.hackenbacker

It's really smooth, almost effortless to play in fact. So perfectly finished IMHO. I do love a nice piece of flamed maple.

Yes, it’s been on my list a while along with three others. One of them I very much doubt I’ll ever get my hands on. One is easily ordered, funds allowing and the last one, as fate would hate it, has just popped up on FB 🙄

I'm finally back in the Alembic fold after a fairly long absence. I have wanted a Spyder for some considerable time and had all but given up on the the chances of getting one after an initial quote ran into five figure territory - and it didn't start with a '1' either! It's a limited run of 50, but they have been available for over a decade and Alembic still haven't made all of them yet. Also, they have not been made sequentially either. The last time I checked the following were still available, although I think one of them has been commissioned since: 22 of 50 27 of 50 28 of 50 29 of 50 35 of 50 48 of 50 It's bit of a beast and I accept it's not for everyone, especially those that have bad backs, but I have to say it doesn't feel that heavy. I think part of that is that it's well balanced. It's 10 years old this year and has been a Case Queen for all of its life. It's set up ridiculously low and really is everything I hoped it would be. That said, I haven't put it through my gig rig yet, so I have that to look forward to in 2020. The case is an absolute monster (see photo for comparison with a standard size case) and the bass in its case weighs just under 42lbs.

Great memories mate 👍 Yes, I think it was Rita. My wife would remember. She’s great with names. I’m better with faces 😀.

The first time I went there, many years ago, there was a lady there who had been working there since it opened. The tales she could tell believe me and a lovely warm genuine person. I actually quite like the food. The wings we had in Tenerife were divine.

Forgot to add this one from HRH Tenerife. On close inspection this Stingray looked completely knackered. The saddles were all at different heights and there were chunks missing out of the fretboard. It is also kept in a glass fronted cabinet which gets a proper full on dose of sunshine throughout every morning. Bit of a shame really. There were no basses of note in the HRC Tenerife (different place altogether). There were a few that had been 'signed by', but had no history with the artists named.

Oh yes, I'm aware of them, it's just they're more than a little bit different from out lot 😀

Yes, an unfortunate co-incidence 😀

All the ticket money and donation buckets have been tallied up and we raised just under £5000. Very pleased with that, as are The Lords Taverners.

Ha ha. Glad it's not just me then. Looks like they're over here March 6/7/8th. I'm gigging on the 6th & 7th, so looks like it will have to be the 8th for me if I'm going.

Excellent. Definitely up for that.

Yes, that's the one I've bought. £2 on eBay 👍. Also bought the live album with additional DVD from the end of that tour. Looking forward to watching that. Love a good road documentary. EDIT: Yes, would love to hear/see that recording.

Yes indeed. Very cool thing to have been able to do. How on earth did he swing that?

I was on holiday in Tenerife a couple of weeks ago and we stayed at The Hard Rock Hotel. I saw a video of a band performing a song that I can't get out of my head. They are called the The Hold Steady and the song was Stuck Between Stations from 2006. I was somewhat bemused as to how I had unintentionally avoided this song/band for such a long time. In fact, none of our group of four had heard of them. They are still going apparently. Any fans of them here? I've bagged a couple of their albums for peanuts off Music Magpie, one of which has the aforementioned single on it.

Kate and her band attacking the title track from her album 'Trophy'. I think that J knows it's been played after that session!