casapete

Comparison sites - obvious call maybe but they do vary a lot. I've found booking.com frequently offer the best deals, along with Trip Advisor. Both Expedia and Late Rooms seem to have lost a bit of ground lately IMO. My band used to use Travelodges all the time, but we've now found Premier Inn can often undercut them especially if booked far enough in advance. Keep an eye out on the voucher websites for promotions too ( Vouchercloud etc and even Money saving Expert ). If you're happy with guest houses etc then the local Tourist Office is often worth a call too.

Maybe not quite the same, but I spent years with a 3 piece brass section behind me including a trumpet. Definitely a contributing factor in my higher frequency hearing loss. Now where's that number for Claims Direct.....🤨

I've used Strings and Beyond for a while. Not as cost effective as a few years ago, but still worth a go, especially if you're buying a few sets to offset the shipping from the USA. They also currently are doing 15% discount off the whole store using the code TAXRELIEF. As an example, D'Addarios EXL170's here are around £23 a set. On the S&B site they are $20, then use the 15% deal to make them $17 = a shade over £13. So buying ten sets say, you could save £100, before taking shipping costs into account. BUT - do factor in that you may have to pay import duty on these. Even allowing for this, still worth investigating if you're buying a few sets - worth clubbing together an order with a mate maybe? They do all sorts of instrument strings as well as accessories etc. https://www.stringsandbeyond.com/

Carrying on from the earlier Scouting analogy, being prepared for me is always having a spare channel or two on the mixer in case of another one going down. This has happened a few times with me over the years. How about a compact mixer with channels to spare like the Soundcraft Notepad? I have an older version of this and it's brilliant. https://www.andertons.co.uk/soundcraft-notepad-12fx-mixer-scr0651?LGWCODE=SCR0651;56375;6335&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIm9K2wZjV4QIVEyjTCh20VQDmEAQYAyABEgLJpPD_BwE

Absolutely! Great interview, top feller.

+1 Seperate amp and speakers will give you maximum options and minimum carrying difficulties. Amp + 1 cab for rehearsals and small gigs, amp + 2 cabs for anything else. Plenty of lightweight efficient small cabs to be had, assuming your budget isn’t too tight. Another recommendation here for the Barefaced range.

May well be down to pick wear? In his later years Keith often plays over the neck/body joint with the neck at a more upright position than he used to. As in this performance - JJ Flash, Glastonbury 2013. This would also explain the wear on the body of the Tele above the neck.

The KR story is a good one which I always hoped was true! However, John Page, the director of the Fender Custom shop division from 1987 to 1998 stated in an interview with Guitar & Bass magazine in 2010 that this was not the case. Most accounts of the history of the Relic begin with Keith Richards. It’s a familiar story: Keith commissioned Fender’s Custom Shop to make replicas of his vintage collection in order to avoid any tour mishaps and then, on receiving the finished guitars, supposedly said ‘Bash ’em up a bit and I’ll play ’em’ – and the ‘relic’ was born. A Hollywood beginning, for sure – but is there any truth to it? No. ‘The “Keith Richards story” seems to have been a creation of someone in the media,’ clarifies John Page. ‘I’m afraid that it never happened"

I seem to remember people soaking them in tea or coffee? Maybe first use fine wire wool to take the shine off and make the plastic more likely to stain / colour. ( Obviously not hot beverages of course....☕)

Heard this on the radio, and reminded me what an amazing song and bassline it is. Love it.

I would have thought mid 70’s Quo would have gone down a storm, especially in the southern ‘boogie’ states. Maybe they had enough bands of their own doing that over there though? Robbie Williams because he’s a bit of a pink torpedo? 😂

Not sure about these , but here we go anyway. Status Quo Robbie Williams ( seem to remember a doc about him trying to break the US) The Jam / Style Council / Paul Weller ?

Zenta Festival 60's short scale, according to Google images. Some of this design had Fender style headstock like yours Andy, other a 2+2 job. MIJ Matsumoku? Think we need some input from bassassin to confirm.

Really? Looks like a Zenta / Audition early 70's Woolworths special to me, although the headstock decal may say otherwise?

Sounds like a lot of fun to me.....

Not having that mate, classic tune!

Currently down to 7. I have 3 x Fender Precision Lytes - main gig s/b one (permanently down tuned a semitone), white one for all other gigs (standard tuning) and another s/b one as a spare for either of the other two! The first two have the standard jazz pickup replaced with a Fender Noiseless. Also considering turning one into a passive with a new wiring loom. Due to a shoulder injury I'd be lost without these basses, especially for long gigs. Then I have a 63 P-bass for 'special' gigs. Had this for over 30 years now so a definite keeper. Washburn AB20 - acoustic electric for my acoustic duo. Danelectro Longhorn - for country & rootsy gigs. ( At one time I had 3 of these but foolishly sold two, including the blackburst one in my avatar) Countryman Uke bass - gets used occasionally for country stuff. I really do miss having a Musicman - had Stingrays for years but due to their weight just couldn't use them. If anyone has an 8lb MM (US Ray or Sterling) they're looking to sell then I'm your man!

Totally agree. I think it depends on the audience - if it's a 'listening' environment then anything goes with arrangements. I love to hear a new spin on a great song played by people who treat it with respect. However, if it's a pis*sed audience at a wedding or in a pub, they'll just want to hear the songs as they know them so they can 'dance' or whatever.

Whilst I agree in principle, I recently got asked to dep with a guitarless band (which I couldn't do as was already working) who told me their set list consisted of a fair few rock cover standards. Would have been intrigued to see how they coped with 'Alright Now' , 'Sweet child of mine' and 'Sultans of swing' in particular.

Stray Cats, although you'll need a great guitar player to cover some of their stuff. Some Stevie Ray Vaughan / Hendrix stuff too maybe? Same problem with the guitar job though. 😄

The thinking behind this I believe was that a valve power amp is as / more important in getting a great guitar tone than just a valve pre, especially if using pedals. Today there's a tendency for guitarists to get all of their sounds from before the power amp stage, yet most of the classic guitar sounds relied on valve power amps on full song. Having had a couple of Musicman guitar combos, I would agree that this design does make sense, but only if you can use them with the volume high enough to get the power amp valves working at a level where their sound reaches the 'sweet' spot. That's why a lot of die hards still use amps with no separate pre / master volume controls, going for all valve combos that can work at the levels they require onstage. Can work with bass amps too - Ampeg SVT3Pro has a valve front end and SS power amp - sounds good, but compared to a full fat SVT with all valve design and you can see why people still specify the 810/SVT rig for large gigs despite it being a 50 year old design.

I'm taking my daughter's partner to see The Bootleg Beatles next week. He's an Aussie and crazy on the Beatles, so hoping they don't disappoint him. I saw them a few years ago and was impressed so should be an entertaining evening. I think they're doing a section devoted to The White Album too.

Friend of mine has done some of their sound on this tour - says they still play LOUD! Enjoy the gig.