kevin_lindsay

I've got a stack knob Jazz which I made. It's got the stack Knobs, wired in the modern version of the circuit. I initially had the original stack knob layout with the pair of resistors between the pots. Using that layout made me realise why Jack Pastorius changed his bass from stack to the later 3 knob style. With the original wiring, the bass has less output than with the modern circuit, plus you can't roll back one of the volume pots to get the classic Jazz Bass "honk". The modern circuit allows you to get the Jazz tones we all know, with the added facility to roll off the tone on each pickup, independently from the other pickup. Guy Pratt borrowed it from me for a few weeks, and really liked it.

Will do! It's gonna be a while to get it completed, due to the work required, and the cost of the hardware (e.g. the gold bridge assembly cost just under £170! The pickups will cost £200, with an additional £70 for replacement gold covers, and surrounds!) In the meantime, I'm making another P-Bass for myself - Seafoam Green this time, with an active EMG P-Bass pickup, and Gotoh "lollipop" tuners. Getting it together has allowed me to focus on something while being bored at home.

I'm in the process of making a replica bass, for which I need four gold plated machine heads. I saw a 5 string set of Schaller BM units on eBay (Brand new) that were going for a steal as they were in "3 + 2" left / right configuration. So, I bought them, knowing that I could change the orientation, to suit my requirements, in a couple of minutes. Ideal!

If you don't already know, you can actually change the orientation of bass tuning heads (left to right, or vice-versa) on Schaller Fender or Musicman style units. It's a really straightforward operation. I'll show you here how I've just changed the orientation from left handed, to right handed, on a tuning head I have in my stash. This one is from a set I'll be using on a Musicman Stingray. I'll change the orientation back to left handed, to allow it to be used on the lower side of my headstock. Okay, let's look at the procedure: 1 - Unscrew the retaining screw that holds the tuning cig in place. There's a washer that sits between the screw head a d the tuning cog. 2 - the tuning cog simply pops off - you'll most probably have to wuglle the tuning paddle to allow it to simply pop off. This will then cause the string capstan rod to simply fall out. 3 - there is also a retaining lug with a clear plastic film on top of it - this keeps the tuning paddle / wormgear in place when everything is assembled. 4 - turn the baseplate over. You'll see that the tuning paddle / wormgear sits on two nylon bushings at either side of the plate. The tuning paddle simply lifts out, and you can then place the paddle on the other side of the baseplate. 5 - you then simply reassemble the components: Place the tuning paddle / wormgear retaining plate in place. Place the string capstan rod through the baseplate hole. Place the tuning cog in place (it fits only in one way onto the tuning capstan rod as both items have a flat ridge that matches up). Insert the retaining screw through the washer, and screw through the tuning cog, into the string capstan rod. When screwed together, you may need to wiggle the tuning paddle to let everything settle, and then re-tighten the retaining screw. When everything is settled in place, and secured, you'll then have a tuning head in whichever orientation you require.

https://www.thomann.de/gb/index.html

I got a better price on the UK site when I placed my own orders compared to the Euro version

I only found out about the Thomann UK option a couple of months ago. I'd always used the Euro / GBP converted price site previously.

Nope, if you access the site by searching under "Thomann UK" you'll be charged the exact GBP price quoted. Here's a purchase I made a couple of weeks ago.

You can search for the Thomann UK site, where all the prices are in sterling. https://www.thomann.de/gb/index.html

Radiohead?

I'll go for Ultravox!

Whoever is next, their selections will be way better than my list of shame!!!

Haircut 100 is the correct answer!! Here's the sorry tale about seeing the others! Bros, Sonia, Sinitta - were on the same bill when Bros played at Wembley Stadium! (along with m as my others such as Inner City, and Double Trouble & The Rebel MC!!). I was dragged along by my wife at the time - bloody awful day of nonsense pop. Kriss Cross - one hit wonders who wore their jeans back to front. Absolutely awful!! They were supporting Michael Jackson at Wembley Stadium!! B*witched, Will Yojng - seen both of them on different tours when my friend Paul Turner was on bass duty! Culture Club and Belinda Carlisle were on the same bill last year, along with Tom Bailey from the Thompson Twins. Tom Bailey was great, Culture Club were good,..... Belinda Carlisle was woeful!!!!

Not Brotherhood Of Man - I saw them in Bournemouth as a kid on holiday with my folks. To make matters worse, it was a double headline gig with.......... Michael Barrymore!!!!!?

Here's some of mine only one is incorrect!!!! Sinitta Brotherhood Of Man Bros B*witched Haircut 100 Sonia Belinda Carlisle Culture Club Kriss Cross Will Young Aaaaagh!!!!!!!!!!

I've sat down to learn the bassline for Queen's "You're My Best Friend" - such a fantastic (and complex) line by John Deacon.

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.