hiram.k.hackenbacker

I accept I might be in the minority here, but I am in my 50’s and have been playing gigs for about 40 years including some long stints in tribute bands. I still do theatres with my 80’s band and not once has a band I’ve been in ever paid a deposit to get a gig. Is this a common thing I’ve just not been party to all these years?

Have they? Bass Bros have a tiny percentage of stock that BD has, even taking into account the stuff that is in stock but actually isn’t 😂 Some are definitely turning to Bass Bros to move their basses/amps/effects on/part ex etc, but I’m convinced about all the other stuff.

Having wanted one of these for a while, I was quite accepting of the white plate. I do think it works better against the wooden pick-up covers. I'm preferring the tort at the moment, but having seen the plate is so easy to change, I can pop the white one on whenever. I have to say I was unaware they came in any other colour. What other finishes were there?

I've just noticed that the scratch plates go over the control knobs which are fixed on the bass. What a great idea that is. I don't think I've ever had a bass with that before. I also noticed that it has Luminlay front and side dots. Brough it in from the garden after taking the above photos and it was lit up like a Christmas tree. Given the amount of basses that have passed through Hackenbacker Towers over the years, I'm stunned I've never had these before.

Yes, so our guitarist informs me. If their basses are anything to go by, I’m sure the pedals are top notch 👍

I've been after one of these for a while and had recently contacted the manufacturer to enquire regarding availability. Tokyo responded just last week saying that the model had been discontinued and I had all but given up trying to find one. @AndyTravis came to the rescue after spotting this on eBay - I still don't know why my saved search for it didn't alert me. I think Andy may have beaten eBay's algorithms 😂. Anyhoo, it arrived late last night and was exactly as described i.e absolutely mint. Seller said he had played it twice from new. I can see no visible signs that it has been played at all from looking at the frets. Weighs in at bang on 9lbs and has a custom made tort pick guard on it, which I view as an upgrade on the white one they shipped with. Seller also included the original. It has a ridiculously low action on it and sounds the business. Convincing P and J sounds plus lots more in between. Pics to follow - I have to delete some apparently.

There are circumstances where you can apply to have the CCTV footage. Admittedly this isn’t one of them, but you can apply.

Why would that be then?

This is absolutely sickening and I'm in no way apportioning blame, but I do think sometimes we make it far too easy for thieves. For the sake of all being able to go and eat their breakfast together, the band have lost all their gear. I sincerely hope some of it turns up. It does happen.

I was in there last week. Great bass experience. What did you buy?

He didn’t write Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band though.

Yes, I’ve said it before, but I do think that SEBTP was a fantastic album - Firth of Fifth along with Dancing with The Moonlit Knight, The Battle of Epping Forest, I Know What I Like and The Cinema Show - glorious 👍

….although I do think that they, as a band, have a better feel for the music anyway.

Could it be something to do with the fact the The Musical Box make the effort to source and play with period correct equipment?

Supper's Ready was recorded for the Genesis Live release, but as you say, was omitted for various reasons. Test pressings were made of the double album including Supper's Ready, this being my digital version of it. The songs on the boxed sets had some re-recordings done I believe.

I remember closing my eyes for about 30 seconds during their performance of I Know What I Like the last time I saw them. A bit like that blind bass quiz that happened at the bass bash, I reckon even the best wouldn’t have been able to tell the difference between The Musical Box and the real deal on sound alone for that song.

I remember the Lyceum gig from the 7th of May being broadcast on the Old Grey Whistle Test. I taped it and wore that VHS out with repeated playing. This You Tube video is actually a combination of the 6th and 7th (video from one night and audio from the other) which kind of makes it all the more impressive. I wish they had pro-shot more of their gigs.

As good as Hackett is, and he still smashes that sound you want to hear, it’s the rest of the band that usually lets it down for me. I’m not saying this just ‘cos they’re not Genesis, but the feel is wrong for me. The best performance I saw was the Selling England Tour he did. Even then, I didn’t enjoy the vocals that much. Controversial I know, but I enjoyed The Musical Box more. That reminds me, I have tickets to see TMB again for a gig that has been postponed more times than any other I’ve had tickets for during the COVID years. I think it’s now early 2023.

I depped for a ska band the other week and I saw with my own eyes a trumpet player helping load out a drum kit!! I kid you not.

I understand exactly what you mean. I had the same reaction with the album that followed it - Abacab, but I grew to love it. I think Duke is closer to ....And Then There Were Three than Duke is to Abacab.