kevin_lindsay

The original Stingray Fretless is the one signed by Rocco Prestia.

Pino sold his backup Stingray Fretless (through The Gallery in Camden, London). He still has his original fretless 'Ray. Here's what his original looks like now(pic taken by his wife Maz late last year)

As Angel mentioned earlier, Marillion did a tour ("Saliva Tears Tour) before they had a record out. I was spending a lot of time Edinburgh in the early 80s, and used to go see loads of bands. So, I too saw Marillion on that tour when they played at The Night Club above the Edinburgh Playhouse - amazing gig. The band hot called back on stage for about three different encores. I also saw Funkapolitan at the same venue where I thought, "ooh, that bass player is great"! I chatted with him after the gig, and actually got to remind him of that when he borrowed my white Jazz Bass for a couple of weeks in 2018. The bassist? - Guy Pratt!!

I did manage to grab him before he got to the merch desk. I let him know that I emjoyed his set, and that I'd already bought one of his CDs at the merch desk. He wouldnt be aware of my faux pas a few minutes before that! Hahaha

Elvis Costello and The Imposters at the Glasgow Armadillo last night (Thursday 5th March). Great energy, and some of my all time favourite songs. However, Elvis' pitching was atrocious in some songs. Funnily enough, it was in his 'normal' register that the vocals would go astray. When he was pushing his voice into his higher / louder register, his vocals were great. Good gig nonetheless. Oh, and here's a tip for you all - if you're really impressed by the support act, and decide to pop out to the merchandise stand to let them know, and to also purchase one of their CDs - whereupon you see the guy and then say, "that was great! Loved the songs, and the audience really responded to you" - make sure that the bloke you're talking to is in fact, the artist, and not just a tousle haired guy from the audience that you've accosted as he was attempting to make his way to the toilets!!! Oh dear.

Stunningly beautiful. What a voice!!

Gone to Paul JH!!!

Teddy Swims. If you haven't heard of him yet, then check this out. Stunningly beautiful.

NOW GONE!!! Ever bought a DVD because you lost your copy, then find the original in a pile that you were sure that you'd looked through already??? Aaagh. So, that now means that I've got a spare copy if anyone fancies a freebie? It's a Region 1 disc!!!! - USA. (2 disc version) So, if you don't have a multi region dvd player, then you won't be able to play this one. If, however, you do have a multi region player, and want this fantastic film as a freebie gift, then just drop me a message. No charge - gotta pass the love around!

Incidentally, the old speaker cabinet behind the rack of basses _ that's a vintage Leslie speaker cab that I got off eBay a couple of years ago. It only cost me £30!! Bargain of the decade!!

The strings feel slightly softer compared to the same gauge on a 34"scale instrument. However, it's not as big a difference as I imagined it would be.

I wemt for the slightly heavier gauge flats as I usually use 45 gauge rounds on my basses. Flats in the same gsuge tend to have less tension compared to rounds of the same thickness, so I we t for a thicker string. They may be thicker, but they're nowhere near the Jamerson La Bella - they're industrial strength!!

I just bought myself one of the Fender Vintera Mustang basses to add to my selection. It's the first short scale instrument I've owned, and it's fun to use. I find myself playing more "busily" than I would on a standard scale length bass. When I got the bass, the Pau Ferro fingerboard looked pretty dry and anaemic. So, Ioosened off the strings and set about dressing the fingerboard. I scraped the board with a single edged razor blade to smooth off any raised grain in the wood, then buffed the board with super fine steel wool. The next stage was to apply lemon oil. This was left on the wood overnight to really soak in to the pores. In the morning I wiped off any excess left over. The end result is a board which now looks dark and lustrous, and feels super smooth to the touch. I've also received a set of medium scale La Bella flatwound strings to use (I got medium scale as short scale strings would only be usable on top loading short scale basses. The Vintera has the traditional "through body" stringing, so needs a slightly longer string length to accommodate this). I've also got a Nordstrand NM4 to use if I want (I mat also fit a couple of solid shaft CTS pots too, and a switch craft jack - just because I have a few unused ones in my "bass bits" stash at home. Oh, and the Hipshot lollipop tuners that come with the Bass are very cool!! Fingerboard - before, and after.

I played a gig in a nice bar once - two sets with a 20 minute break between them. I went to the toilet during the break. The cubicles had huge, heavyweight doors, which looked great, and spanned from the floor to the top of the door opening. Anyhow.... I went in to the cubicle and pushed the door shut, only to find that there was no handle on the inside - it had broken off!! It was then that I realised that there was no way for me to get the door open from inside. I waited until until I heard someone entering the toilet. I said, "hello, can you help me in here?". All I heard was the unknown patron turning on his heel and leaving the toilet!!! I tried texting my bandmates (who by now were all set up wondering where I'd got to!). As they were on stage, none of them had their phones to hand! Aaagh!!! Fortunately someone else entered the toilet, and this time I said, "hello? I'm stuck in the cubicle, could you push the door open from the outside please?". Thankfully, this this time the punter obliged!!

Every branch, the £5.99 price is the cost at any of their locations.

It's really good stuff. I was recommended it by my luthier friend Chris McIntyre. If he reckons it's good stuff, then I'm sold (anyone who knows Chris knows that he's a real perfectionist in guitar matters). Chris bough a bottle about a year ago, and uses it every day on instruments. He says it's just like the usual stuff you get on the little bottles from guitar care companies.

Fir those who use lemon oil to clean / nourish your rosewood and ebony fingerboards, you know how a small 1oz bottle of lemon oil polish from Dunlop is around £5-6? Well, you can get a 16oz bottle from TK Maxx for £5.99!! Bargain or what??? I've just grabbed a bottle from my local branch.

Paddy is the winner!!!

I put these on my Jazz Bass. Only been on a few days. (Incidentally, the pics are of the same bass, I just changed the scratchplate from parchment to tortoiseshell) If anyone wants them, drop me a message and I'll post them off to you.

I bought a set last week. They seem really sturdy, and the thicker washer type affair means securing your strap to the button is an easier (and more secure) method than onghe original units.

Paramore - "Told You So" from the After Laughter album. Justin Mendel-Johnson's production on the track is great. The doubled guitar and marimba hook is brilliant.

I received my own Doom 2 this morning. Another 3leaf pedal for me from the House of Spencer!