toneknob

The Cinema Show/In That Quiet Earth. This is some pretty hot stuff even if I say so myself.

A couple of minutes of Afterglow

I have very few videos of the guitar, but here's one from 2008(!) with Liverpool-based tribute Carpet Crawlers, doing the second half of Los Endos. Plus the backs of many prog fans' heads. One or two more to follow.

Me in action with the Shergold at a tribute band festival in France in 2007. We supported Deep Purple. Janis Joplin was on before us. The generator blew at the peak of Genesis classic Supper's Ready.

Hi - everyone loves a Shergold bass from the 70s. This one comes with a bonus 12-string guitar! This collector's item is a glorious three-tone sunburst finish Shergold Cavalier Double is a rare and distinctive guitar, quintessentially British ("Hand Crafted London" on the scratchplate) and imbued with the spirit of the 70s. As rare as Shergold double-necks were, this 4-string electric bass and 12-string electric guitar variant was the most unusual combination of them all. This guitar has serial number 0027 (as shown on the rear of the bass headstock, see photos). Although the exact number of Shergold double-necks produced is hard to pin down, it is believed to be in the ballpark of approximately 30 to 40; so this is one of the latter models (Cavalier Double serial numbers start at 0001). The serial number decoder at the Shergold website dates this guitar to November 3rd, 1979 - so it is fast approaching its 45th birthday.

The guitar came into my ownership when I joined Genesis tribute band Invisible Touch in the late 1990s, when I purchased the guitar from the previous "Rutherford" in the band. I have since played with other Genesis tributes, all of which saw this guitar used on classic Genesis songs from the 70s. It has remained in my ownership since then, and since I stopped playing in Genesis tributes in the late 2010s it has seen very little use (and only home/practice/studio use). This guitar deserves to be out there being played!

The playability of both necks is amazing - the necks are flat and fast, and playing is free of buzzes, thanks to the zero fret on each neck. Both necks have a loud and clear unplugged sound. Tone is of course subjective, but the bass has a lovely round plummy 70s Englishness, while the 12-string chimes like bell with its own natural chorus effect.

This guitar has two sets of double pickups, and switching is enabled a three-position switch per pickup pair, which switches between bridge, both and neck pickups. Also there is a single tone and volume control per neck, along with per-neck on/off switch (so yes, you can have both necks "on" at the same time, or both "off" - but optimum setting is to have one neck "on" at a time; switching between one neck or the other on the fly is a breeze once you get used to it). There are two distinct signal paths from pickups to separate output jacks - one for the bass, the other for the 12-string. All controls operate as expected and are free from electrical crackle and interference throughout all settings.

All controls, electronics, and fittings are unchanged throughout my ownership (except strings), and as far as I know are as originally fitted to the guitar; from what I can tell this guitar has never had bridge or pickup covers, so these aren't missing (they were never there!), likewise there are no screwholes to show where they would have been attached.

The guitar weighs approximately 7kg, the case (see below) weighs around 9kg. The bass is of course heavy, but I have never suffered any back, neck or shoulder pain from its use. Good posture is of course essential! One of the slight modifications made to this guitar (before it came to my ownership) is the siting of the strap pins (see photos), which I believe assist in finding the optimum balance and playing angle for this guitar.

Shergolds are well-known for showing signs of crackling in the finish. Compared to other Shergolds I have seen, the crackle is fairly light on this guitar, and I have attempted to show as much of this in the photos as possible, but most prevalent behind both bridges, between the bass pickups near the scratchplate, and on the rear of the body at the end the neck joints.

Also clear from the photos are general dings and other marks common in a guitar with a good gigging history of this vintage. For full transparency I will point out the following if not visible on the photos: a light scratch on the back of the bass neck near the neck joint; small marks to the finish on the upper bout, forearm chamfer and top-facing surface of the top edge; one single dent approx 5mm across midway along the top edge, roughly in line with the 12-string bridge pickup. Having said that, the guitar is in excellent robust and gig-worthy condition for its age, and I am happy to supply more photos if needed.

The original case that came with this guitar is unfortunately no longer in use, having carried out its job of protecting the guitar when on the road. When that case was retired, I replaced it with a custom-made flight case, made by Gothard Flightcases (a google search will easily find their website). The new case is stronger and studier than the original, and is of course included with this sale.

Also included with this sale are two new sets of strings: an unopened pack of Ernie Ball Regular Slinky custom gauge roundwound bass strings (50, 70, 85, 105) and an unopened pack of Ernie Ball 12-String Slinky custom gauge nickle-wound guitar strings (8/8, 10/10, 8/14, 11/24, 17/32, 22/40). The wide and comfortable strap you see in the photos is also included in this sale.

For your further peace of mind, the (non-official) Shergold website helpfully includes a buyer's guide - google "Shergold Buying Guide" and you should find it easily.

The combined weight of the guitar plus case means that I am offering local collection only, although I'm happy to meet in central or SE London to exchange. This will require a completed order in advance; sorry, this isn't an opportunity to try out the guitar before committing to buy (although if you collect from my home, you are welcome to demo the guitar - but again a completed order is required). Thanks!

I've also listed on other platforms: Basschat gets the fee-free prices of £2350.

Please get in touch with any questions!

Just pop "who is Jaco Pastorius" into chatgpt for some familiar looking text 

This won't help anyone but after reading the first issue I decided to not get any more 

Thundercat last night at Koko, featuring indie bloke Damon Albarn for a few numbers at the end, including a smashing verion of Gorrilaz' Cracker Island

I once went for a curry with Kylie, she got upset when my rice turned up and it wasn't quite right

there were Tears On My Pilau

Here's the downside though after conversion from USD:

back to Basschat Marketplace then.

I've just managed to put together a nice $3.5k bass. I think I prefer the F Bass equivalent (of building a custom bass that is, and spending money I don't have)

The colours look a bit off though. Had to google what the actual finish would look like, turns out Seafoam Sparkle is not quite what I had in mind for a gentleman of my vintage

New Moon here, very easy to deal with although I've never had to make a claim. What I like is that you can specify home/uk/worldwide etc cover per item. I use them for all big ticket items (basses, guitars, amps, synths) but other bits and bobs (eg pedals, other accessories) are on the household contents insurance.

I've bought Bill's Tech 21 MP40. Great pedal at a great price, and next day delivery included. Top notch. Thanks!

Meanwhile this appears to be mysteriously still available

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1441261553406098/

DM on its way

Lily Collins I think.

Modern Standards Supergroup last night at the Forge in Camden. First time at this venue for me, quite nice!

As well as drummer Harvey Mason (an original Head Hunter, co-wrote Chameleon, which was in the setlist); sax Ernie Watts (played with just about everyone) and keys Neils Lan Doky (ditto), on bass was Felix Pastorius, who as we know is epic in his own right.

And the encore was "a little song my father wrote about where he grew up", Teen Town 🤯

1 hour ago, TimR said:

Music is an art. If you want perfection be an aeronautical engineer. 

So there's this 747 on a treadmill

The 80s Show (or The 80s Tribute Show in their URL) has already been done - https://www.facebook.com/The80sTributeShow

Best of your list though is Now That's What I Call '80s

(sorry for implied apostrophe pedantry)

18 hours ago, Delberthot said:

Give it long enough and every bass player who's ever lived will be in this thread 😀

So far I've got away with it, I'll check back in 100 or so pages of posts though

Stu Hamm 1-0 Flea as far as I'm concerned

18 hours ago, Hobbayne said:

Yes. Its a lot of notes played very fast. I'll probably get booed off now by Jaco fans. 😅

Boo, go listen to Joni Mitchell's Hejira

And joining us on bass tonight

1 hour ago, Musicman666 said:

300 quid a ticket ..jeez. 

Where are you shopping? I'm in Block A1 at around £100.

Assuming it's legit, first anounced gig is in San Diego in September: https://www.ticketmaster.com/beat-belew-vai-levin-carey-san-diego-california-09-17-2024/event/0A00605B216A46C9

Of the two newbies(! DC at 62, Vai is 63), Vai doesn't seem quite the right fit, but he's not new to guitaring and I'm sure if he practices hard between now and then he'll get the hang of the fiddly bits