Stingray5

Now there's a blast from the past! I must admit to remembering these guitars having first seen them myself around the early 70's. If you've not already discovered it, the [url="http://www.toneshed.com/documents/microfretspages.html"]Toneshed[/url] website has a whole bunch of info on Micro-Frets instruments though they're apparently still looking for more pics and literature...

[quote name='Mike' post='325100' date='Nov 9 2008, 02:04 AM']Alive in America appears to be contentious, but I love it! Killing solo on Green Earrings, great versions of Peg and WB's Book of Liars....and new life breathed in Babylon Sisters. Some tracks were overdubbed in the studio, unfortunately, but still excellent![/quote] Hmm, I never thought of 'Alive In America' as being contentious; maybe I missed a previous BC topic on this. Good live album in my book, all the same.

I just happened to have 'Steely Dan - Alive In America' playing when I saw this post. 'The Nightfly' is an all-time favourite for me too. Still have the original vinyl as well as the CD and never get tired of playing it (or along with it). No offence tauzero, but +1 to everyone else's comments here prior to this.

Ain't she sweet!

Nice little TE collection there. Especially the 4x8 combo. V. rare! What's the power rating of that? The GP12 SMX pre-amp does it every time for me too!

Looks like this guy has adapted playing the 3-stringed Japanese Shamisen to his Fodera. Seems a bit pointless for this particular piece and you're right, it's still pretty messy all the same. Still, looks like he's having fun!!!!

Wishbone Ash / Focus / The Groundhogs @ Shepherds Bush Empire next week.

Recent discussion here: [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=28744&hl=insurance"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=...mp;hl=insurance[/url]

[quote name='Beer of the Bass' post='309617' date='Oct 19 2008, 12:45 AM']Eliza Carthy rocked! Did nobody notice?[/quote] I sure did. And she did 'rock'!

Depends on your budget and other requirements but years ago I used to have a mk3 Granada 5-door hatchback and I could lay any of my basses in their case across the back (boot). One of the cases was a long '5-Star' semi-flight case. My Musicman and Hiscox cases were also no problem. I then 'upgraded' to a Scorpio estate (what can I say, I liked those big old Ford executive cars!) which was even better for me personally. I now run a Mondeo estate (mk 3) and can load my TE combo, 2x10 cab, gig box and two basses. And that's without putting the rear seats down! My alternative choice would be the latest Mondeo estate or the Volvo V70 estate. To expand slightly on HeavyJay's question, I wonder what other BassChatters use (or would like to use) to transport their kit around?

[quote name='tauzero' post='309613' date='Oct 19 2008, 12:37 AM']Just to give a background to this: UK mains sockets are shuttered - you can't just stick something into the holes when there isn't a plug in. The earth pin is longer than the other pins - it is therefore the first pin in, and when it goes in, the shutter is raised on the other two pins. At this point, the earth pin is in contact and the tips of the other two pins are also in contact. There's plenty of room under the plug body for someone to slip a finger in. The old plugs had live and neutral pins which were solid, completely exposed brass, so it was quite easy to put a finger on the live pin and be earthed at the other end, and to die as a consequence.[/quote] Thanks for expanding on that, tauzero. I knew someone more qualified would probably be able to shed more light on this.

[quote name='beerdragon' post='309216' date='Oct 18 2008, 01:25 PM'][url="http://www.bbc.co.uk/later/artists/stephenstills/"]http://www.bbc.co.uk/later/artists/stephenstills/[/url][/quote] Thanks for the link beerdragon. But, oh dear...

+1 Tom Jones His song '24 Hours' was amazing. I missed the first part of the show and was gutted to tune in just as Stephen Stills was finishing up. Did I miss anything?

+1 for the GT-6B. As has been mentioned, if you're prepared to invest a little time, you can really configure a ton of sounds out of it with fx and/or amp/cab modelling. Excellent quality effects as you would expect from Boss though admittedly there are the usual 'just for fun' pre-set sounds that you wouldn't necessarily use on stage. (Or would you.......?!? )

[quote name='Kirky' post='308724' date='Oct 17 2008, 04:26 PM']All very terrifying - glad you made it through! Sorry to be a bit dim (no pun intended), but what do you mean by a 'sleeved' mains plug.[/quote] Look at the two shorter pins (live and neutral) of any of your mains plugs and they should have a plastic 'sleeve' wrapping, usually black, going about half-way up the pin. The longer 'earth' pin is not sleeved. To be fair, mains plugs have been of the 'sleeved' type for quite sometime now so it's entirely possible you already have them fitted. Worth checking though. Cheers.

Tiger Tours. Used these guys a couple or so times. They're based west London opposite Wembley Exhibition Centre/Arena/Stadium. They have mainly Mercedes Sprinters, all self-drive, various sizes from vans to splitters. All kitted out for touring bands. Check the website for a ton of info including rates. [url="http://www.tigertoursuk.co.uk/"]http://www.tigertoursuk.co.uk/[/url]

I use an RCD plus I usually go wireless depending on the venue/gig itself. (...also one less cable to trip over too! ) Not sure if this has been mentioned but one other thing to check is that your 13amp mains plugs are all 'sleeved'. I was playing a function at a college in Cambridge a couple or so years back and they required the band to have a PAT test carried out by an electrician before we even set up. A couple of bits of kit (mine and the guitarist) had older non-sleeved plugs fitted. The cables were hard-wired to the equipment so we couldn't simply use a different mains lead. I had a couple of spare plugs in my kit box but only one of those was 'sleeved', the other was an older type. The electrician would only pass whichever unit I fitted the newer plug to. Needless to say when I got home, I checked all my plugs were of the 'sleeved' type. One or two plugs on older bits of kit were not. It's a small point but worth checking and being aware of.

[quote name='Crazykiwi' post='299319' date='Oct 4 2008, 01:08 PM']I definitely admire them, but I'm probably a minority voice in finding their song writing a little insipid and lacking in passion. I've found myself listening to many of their tracks waiting for the climax or waiting to understand the point of the song and the light bulb never really flicks on. Undoubtedly thats more a reflection of my poor musical understanding than them as a band. Having said that, I love the bass tone on Aja. Something I've used as a benchmark for my own gear testing.[/quote] I kind of get what you mean, crazykiwi. When I first realized much of their lyrics included a lot of 'in-jokes' and references to their own school and college friends etc, it left me feeling ever-so-slightly left out. Rightly or wrongly, I later accepted this as simply a part of the quirky world of Steely Dan.

[quote name='bubinga5' post='299083' date='Oct 4 2008, 03:29 AM']Ahh..when i post i always know i will get a wealth of knowledge from my bass brothers .I will check Donald's album out...Yeah SD were so innovative..fantastic bluesy guitar playing.. , as a time in music, the 70' s never stop amazing me with these amazing people. Stingray5 i think i mentioned The Allman Bros, dont know if you have heard these guys.. i recommend an album called Begginings..Some 70's hammond rock, but some turns into Jazzfunk.. Very cool.[/quote] bubinga5, yeh I know very well The Allman Bros. Beginnings is basically the first two albums sewn together. Have a listen to 'Live at Fillmore East' (originally a double LP set) which includes a stonkin' 20-odd minute version of 'Stormy Monday Blues'. A lot of people bought the album 'Brothers & Sisters' for the bands biggest hit 'Jessica' (...hello 'Top Gear' fans!). Someone also mentioned Zappa -- another huge love of mine. Check out his version of the Allman's "Whippin' Post". Regarding Steely Dan again, my function band often sound-checks with 'Rikki Don't Lose That Number'.

Ah, one of my all-time fave bands, I discovered the 'Dan back in their (and my!) early days in the early '70's. They'd just released their 2nd album 'Countdown To Ecstacy' and the first track -- 'Bodhisatva' -- totally blew me away. I've been a major fan ever since. They were always considered a 'muso's band' - although more correctly a duo I suppose, with top session sidemen, not the least being Larry Carlton on guitar. Of course, as you've mentioned above bubinga5, the magnificent Chuck Rainey played much of those great bass lines. Great melodies, lyrics, vocals, chord sequences, musicianship, style - the whole package. If you've not heard it, you should also definitely check out Donald Fagen's solo album 'The Nightfly' - the best album Steely Dan never made! Right, I'm off to play along with 'AJA' again....

M.U. members get £10,000,000 Public Liability insurance plus equipment insurance up to the first £1,000 (register and add further amounts as appropriate). Not to mention a pretty decent magazine and diary!!

I don't have an mp3 but here's a link to 'Hey Baby' (Bruce Chanel) on Youtube. [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4w1Mp6Mce4"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4w1Mp6Mce4[/url] If required, you could use Ripzor.com to d/l the video (flv) to your system. Hope this helps.

Did anyone else notice the sellers of this item, thefamebureau, show their address further down the page as 21 Denmark Street, London. Isn't the Bass Cellar at 21/22 Denmark St.

So what hand do you wipe your bass with? Personally, I use a lint-free cloth!! (ok, it's an old joke... )

Yep - me too! Write left-handed but play bass and guitar right-handed. My son is the same - he's a lefty but plays drums (and some guitar) right-handed. I've tried writing right-handed with only a small degree of success, but when it comes to playing bass or guitar, forget it... definitely only a righty.