Mister RLP

No comment...

Mrs RLP has asked me if I really have £40 spare...

So tempted. I'm up in London on 5th for a pm meeting...

Even more confusingly her name was Mr Cat...

+1 One of my students at school managed to grab one of the last new Highway One P Basses on sale a few years ago. A very nice bass especially with some TI strings on. The best p-bass I've played is my Matt Freeman. I genuinely feel it's better crafted than the MIM and the USA pros that I've tried recently (IMO). They feel a bit chunky and possibly not worth £1200+. Lots of people have suggested I sell what I have and buy one USA P bass but I really haven't found one that feels as comfortable. This can't be right, can it?

+1 Dave was fantastically tolerant with me today trying out MM basses. My go to guitar shop.

Tried a Rickenbacker 4003S in Andertons today. Looked great. Very McCartney. Always wanted to try one. All good until I started to play. Very disappointed. I used to have a 73 Jetglow 4001 (and a rather scary cat) so I like Ricks but this felt odd - especially after trying a couple of the new MM Stingrays.

So, like a few Basschatters I popped along to Andertons to try the new MM Stingrays. Got a pass for the day. Yes! As always, the staff at Andertons were friendly and helpful - without being pushy. I've shopped there since 1984 and it's still my go to shop even though I now live on the South Coast. Managed to get a free two hour parking space over the road. Result! Thoughts: The necks are fantastic. Smooth and well fretted. Easy to play. The hardware (black matte) is spot on. It sounds just like a MM should. The ones I tried (yellow and blue) were so light!!! The yellow was the lightest - about the same as my Matt Freeman p-bass. Wow. The blue one's neck was a bit chunkier - but only slightly. The yellow one just felt right. Tried a few other basses too - in comparison. A Fender Pro P-bass - nice but not as nice as my p-bass. Really. The Ibanez SR2605-CBB was rather good as was a G&L Tribute Kiloton which was rather powerful - even though it was passive. Nothing however was as good as the yellow Sitngray. In reality it is a more mellow yellow in colour. Looks more acid lemon in piccies, though. GAS-wise, although I would love to add one of these basses to my collection, there's hardly any GAS as there is no way that I can afford one of them. (Normally my GAS is around basses I can just about afford.) The Stingrays are so off the scale of affordability that I came away having enjoyed playing a few really good basses. Went and bought McCartney's new album in HMV (extended version) and listened to it a couple of times on the way home. I rather like it...glad I gave it a go. All in all a good day.

I like to think of them as worn in rounds...

+1 for the Mono Sleeve. I liked the Vertigo but the Sleeve is lighter and more streamlined. Toploading and just right.

+1 Mick Karn. Very drawn to other fretless players like John Giblin.

Loads. But when I listen to the playback for the musicals I do I can’t hear them because bass in in the mix. Not as obvious as you think. Also bass parts for musicals are odd and so playing some wrong notes can actually sound right...