Grahambythesea

Walk the line - Johnny Cash

It appears his family finally have it back. After a long and frustrating legal battle, Jaco Pastorius’ family have finally regained ownership of his legendary “Bass of Doom”, thanks to Metallica bassist Robert Trujillo. The news comes via a statement on Metallica.com. The bass, which was stolen from a Manhattan park bench in 1986, resurfaced in early 2006 in a New York guitar shop. The owner reportedly refused to return it to the Pastorius family and the issue was taken to court where it has been unresolved until now. Trujillo recently stepped in to assist the family in recovering the legendary bass. The “Bass of Doom” is Jaco’s 1962 Fender Jazz Bass that he used to record and perform up until the day it was stolen. It has a special place in the history of the bass guitar, not to mention music in general. The Bass of Doom is the same bass that Jaco famously ripped the frets out of with a butter knife, filled the gaps with Plastic Wood, and refinished the neck to convert it to a fretless. It is also the same bass that Jaco reportedly smashed after an argument in the mid ‘80s and was glued back together from over 15 pieces by his luthier, Kevin Kaufman. Trujillo has always named Jaco as one of his greatest bass heroes, and when asked about the situation, he stated, “I felt a strong sense that it was the right thing to do for Jaco, and the family, whatever it took.”

Nearly all my purchases have been for 2nd hand from private individuals via various websites. I doubt I’d have found any of them in a shop.

If you listen to JazzFM there are a lot of players, many of them very young, playing great instrumental music and not just saxophones! George Benson’s daughter plays jazz harp. Then there are the Surfajettes, admittedly very Ventures influenced, but often playing songs which are not usually instrumentals.

Whilst I agree that some guitars are works of art, I think often it’s the woods themselves that are most attractive and sometimes that is on the back side. I definitely would not want the Gretsch I’m afraid, too bling! May be this provided it was the back that was showing.

What’cha gonna do about it? - Small Faces

Country boy - Heads Hands and feet

I pretty much only listen to jazz, but don’t play it. I play in a covers band mainly 50’s to 80’s stuff, some of which I probably had never listened to until I joined.

Explain to me the grommets please. I play octave mandola (mandolin if you’re an American) but I have never heard of these and have no idea what they are supposed to do. I always thought going from mandolin to bass or vice versus was kind of strange, I only knew of Chris Hillman and Dave Pegg who did it.

Gone, gone , gone - Robert Plant & Alison Krauss

Crazy horses- Osmonds

Flowers in the rain - The Move

Even if you’re using a hard case, unless it’s one shaped to fit the bass perfectly, wrap the neck at least in bubble wrap. Some people suggest taking the neck off, but that may be ott or just not possible. A customs declaration has to be detailed, so the courier may not know enough.

The Carpenters a house band at Disney and got the sack! As commemorated in the song Mr Goodber. ( Have I spelt that right?)

I thought we’d left Europe! What else was Brexit for?

Slow boat to China- just about everyone who sings jazz or easy listening from Bing to Frank to Ella and everyone else

Heavy hip mama - Curtis Jones

Some of these sound over complicated. I use a Blackstar headphone amp. Just plug and go. It does have a rhythm machine built in so you can practice playing in time.

House of the rising sun - Trad. The Animals

That looks like some hefty mahogany beast.

I can hear the grass grow - The Move

Don’t you lie to me - Chuck Berry

You should check them out early Jack Casady’s made by them, all Epi semis. Martin Taylor had a signature model made by them and he’s pretty discerning.

Hot club of Cowtown in Exeter on 3rd May. Yeeha!

Private dancer - Tina Turner