Deep Thought

Not owned a true graphite necked bass, but my Shuker JJ Burnel has two graphite rods in the neck, and it never goes out of tune. It gets a tune-up at a gig or practice (and my band does neither very often!), and next time I check it it's barely moved! I'd have one of the Carbonlite versions like a shot if I had the couple of grand they cost.

They've always looked home-made to me too. And I've always hated the shape of the ? Mark 1 (the one with the short horns). The later one with the longer horns looks better, but I still don't like the over/under headstock. If I had the huge amount of money they cost, I wouldn't spend it on a WAL, but each to their own.

All I ever use-45-105 chromes. Have tried the stainless ones, didn't appear a lot different to the chromes, so I stick with them. Never had a problem with them. My local music shop told me a while ago that D'Addario made Fender strings too, and they do have the same coloured ends. Used them until they stopped stocking them, no difference. Another big thumbs up for D'addario strings.

Always wanted to do this myself http://youtu.be/5AywIL5_eYM

Yeah I'm the lead singer in our band. I'm not the World's greatest singer but I am loud. The drummer does a couple but he struggles to sing and play at the same time sometimes-so do I, I've just spent several days learning Pump it up by Elvis Costello, but I've pretty much sussed it now. Some basslines I just can't sing over though.

I've had my G30 for several years and swear by it-if I was buying another I'd get a G50, but that's only because the transmitter is metal and not plastic. I have a leather holder which I knocked up myself from an old strap, so I never use the clip. The battery compartment is, I grant you, a bit hard work to close, the latch is always reluctant to engage and requires a bit of pressure on the case, but it always goes eventually and I've got used to it. I have a small, lightweight amp and it removes the risk of pulling it off the speaker, plus the risk of stepping on the lead and damaging the jack socket, which I've had happen. I like the isolation from potentially dodgy electrics too, but it's just the complete freedom of movement I like. Only takes me a minute to set it up.

[quote name='bassist_lewis' timestamp='1437422845' post='2825918'] And Mr Brightside is actually quite difficult to play on guitar. [/quote] It's not a barrel of laughs to play bass and sing over either! But the place invariably goes mental when the guitarist starts that intro (providing he doesn't cock it up!), and that, at the end of the day, is what it's all about. It's also one of my favourites to play.

My wife is one of those people who says 'what do they sing?' If you mention a band, a sure sign of someone to whom music means nothing. She never likes anything she hears for the first time on the radio, although will profess to love it a couple of days later after a few listens-unless it's being played by my band, in which she will automatically love it, bless her, because it's me. She has been to see the Stranglers with me several times, including at the Eden Project last month, and always loved them.

http://youtu.be/0P3lhrwio-M Bumped into my mate in town, who told me I should go and buy 'Doolittle', I wouldn't regret it. Took his advice and he was right, this opening track blew me away!

Not a fan of the series, but I love the theme music to Star Trek Voyager. Other faves are Danger Man, Hill Street Blues, Marine Boy, and King of the Hill.

[quote name='ahpook' timestamp='1432981594' post='2786722'] I've just watched the clip and yes....their suits were fitted desert-fashion, I wonder who told them how to do it ? [/quote] What do you call the mouse shadow on the second moon?

I've got one of those cases-bought new in 1983 for the Westone Concord I I still have. I keep my backup Precision in it, and it's still gigging on a regular basis! That Ibanez is stunning.

I have my old Westone Concord, my first ever bass, to hand next to the sofa for home plinking. My Shuker is my main gigging bass, and as we downtune a semitone, I keep my Mex P in concert pitch for learning songs, and it also serves as my stage backup. I recently picked up a half-size six-string acoustic for £20 off here, which is also getting a lot of whilst-watching-TV use lately.

The Damned keep touring and I keep missing them. Would really like to see them again , I've not seen them since 'Strawberries'.

We did Green Day's 'Good Riddance' at a works retirement do once. Thankfully most people don't realise that's what it's called.

My immediate thought was 'that looks bloody uncomfortable to play'! I do like it though, although I guess 's a bit 'form over function', but you could say that about a lot of basses. I would curve the top layer down over the others where your hand rests, I imagine those layers would dig into your hand and be a right pain after a while. How are you supposed to fit a strap to those shackle things? I also wouldn't trust the way the shackles attach to the body, I could see the acrylic stuff cracking after a while. It's still really cool though, a big improvement over other clear basses.

I love my Shuker JJ, have no intention of getting rid of it, but I have a niggling itch to at least try a Rickenbacker. I seriously doubt it will beat the Shuker, but I can't help being curious, and the all-black versions I've seen look very, very appealing. However I'm not selling the Shuker to buy one, so it's not likely to happen. I also fancy a semi-acoustic, especially an Epiphone Jack Casady, and that might be doable one of these days.

[quote name='cameltoe' timestamp='1432564774' post='2782700'] Was that Tom? We've just recorded a couple of tracks there. He alluded to the same thing when talking about the bands he'd had in there. Nice guy. [/quote] Yes it was, and yes, he is. How did you get on? We had a terrific time there, although it was a long day.

A few years ago we did some recording at Sawmills Studios, where Muse recorded a lot of their early stuff. The chap who engineered for us had worked with them, he said they were the best rhythm section he ever had in there.

Headstock's a bit modern-looking for the style of bass to my eye. The Eastwood is definitely the better-looking bass to me, although I'm never nuts on symmetrical cutaways, I prefer the slightly asymmetrical shape of the Epiphone Jack Casady.

I like this version too-but that is damn good! [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-Op1Mng4oY"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-Op1Mng4oY[/url]

If it's anything like the acrylic Wesley our drummer bought on a whim, it will weigh a ton. The thing must have been made from depleted uranium.

I've never seen a Ritter that I didn't think was utterly hideous, and that, I'm afraid, is no exception. Rita for me, no contest. Except, sadly, she's not even half my age, and knowing how much the things go for, I'd reluctantly take the Ritter, flog it,and buy something I do want-like a Shuker JJ Burnel Carbonlite.

I'm the singer in our band, not out of talent but because I'm the only one who could sing and play at the same time! I think I get away with it, if nothing else I'm loud! These days I help myself out by not singing stuff that's too high for me, and by warming up my voice beforehand. Despite never having had lessons (I was horrified how much they cost!), I warm up, usually in the car, using some techniques I've picked up on YouTube and out of books. I generally start off with low droning and rumbling then start gently going up a scale, working my way up to my highest note, which isn't really very high. I do this with short and long notes, and it seems to work. Even though I have a fairly gravelly voice, folk are often surprised that I don't get sore throats after a gig. Interested how other vocalists warm up.