TrevorR

That is a great bass tone. Lovely and clanky! Darned good playing. I must confess I was fascinated by all her MDing chat through the video - would have loved to,have heard what was going on across the talkback channel.

That’s pretty much my approach. Set the EQ on the bass at flat, dial in a standard “core tone” on the amp and then tweak slightly from there on the bass EQ as necessary using the minimum amount of cut or boost to achieve the desired sound. If I’m honest, on a 2 or 3 band EQ it’s rare for the tone knobs to be boosted at all or if they are only to around 2 at most on a “-5-0-+5” cut and boost control. Hard to think of a circumstance where I’d boost or cut all the way. I think most of my on the fly tone shaping is probably done with the pickup blend control and changing how/where I pluck the strings. Nice to have the EQ there for times when it’s needed. I never get sucked into endless EQ fiddling but end up with 3 or 4 particular fave tone settings for different types of song across a set. A punchy/rocky one, a mellow one, a funky one… I’ve also never felt the need for sweepable mid controls in a bass - too much room for error and dialling in a bad tone. A simple, well designed, fixed centre mid control gives me more than enough of a “punch” control in 99.9% of circumstances.

This resurrection inspired me to have a browse on Google Maps for the Addlestone ABC. Earliest it goes back to is 2008 when the building was already boarded up. Now redeveloped into some flats. Down near the station was The Guitar Gallery an independent little shop where I got my Wal Pro 2E back around 2001 after 18 months haggling the owner down to a sensible price! Now a letting agents.

I couldn’t have written that better myself. That’s my philosophy exactly. All of my basses get played out because I love playing all of them and I’ve always taken good care of them as you have. For example, this was my gigging set up for a decade playing in pub, function and wedding bands… Never had a qualm about taking my Wals out and they never had any mishaps with due care and attention. OK, for an open air gig in dodgy weather I might take my Frankenjazz instead, or I might take it just coz I fancy playing it. My most sentimental bass is my Aria SB700 - my first bass bought new as an 18th birthday pressie by my Mum and Dad. I’ll never part with it but, again, I’ll happily play it out (like at this 80s theme night from last year…)

Indeed. Though there is nothing quite like the sound of a proper grand!

Well, that was a fun time (NB genuine mode not sarcasm mode - realised it could be read both ways). In the end the guitar player and drummer couldn’t come - though another drummer stood in at the last minute. So it was just piano, bass drums and vocalists. I’ve always believed in just adapting your arrangements to what musos you have available, so that was perfectly fine. There was a nice “house” Warwick combo to use so it really was plug & play. It was a nice service we had the following songs prepped: Open the eyes of my heart Here for you A thousand hallelujahs Our Father (communion) Hallelujah anyway Praise We also had In Jesus Name prepped which was to be the response song before communion but the service was running long so we didn’t use it. It was fun playing in a stripped down format and the acoustics were such that it sounded good on stage with just a tine vocal-only monitor. Here’s a piccie of the office: The bass sounded nice on the stream as well which was encouraging too. It really is nice to be back playing in worship. Not sure when the next one will be. Looking forward to it, though!

It really is a bit of a brain-melt moment when you’re browsing through Amazon Prime for something to watch and you happen across a Jeff Beck live video with the guy you who hosts your jam night playing in the band - the amazing Nicolas Meier on guitar! Mind blowing stuff!

We joined a new church in January this year - our local Anglican Church (or at least one of them) - and been feeling increasingly at home there. It’s not been since the before pandemic that I’ve played in a service but I’ll be playing bass at the the church for the first time tomorrow, so this should be fun. It’s at the more relaxed evening service. The tone and approach to the music is a bit more mellow than I’ve previously been used to at previous churches, though it’s all the same sort of range of writers… Bethel, Brooke Ligertwood, Elevation, Rend Collective etc. Will be keys/piano leading plus bass, acoustic guitar, drums and vocals. Will be interesting to see how it goes. Very much looking forward to it. I’ll try to report back afterwards!

If I was in the market for a mid-priced P I would definitely be looking at the Bass Centre’s Bass Collection range. Some chums have them and they’re very impressive. https://www.basscentre.com/bass-collection-power-bass.html Mind you, this Neil Murray signature also looks sweet. A bit higher priced than the price range you’re looking at but still. Mmmmmm… https://www.basscentre.com/british-bass-masters/bbm-snakebite.html

Certainly looks like it! (Edit) According to Google… Dave Lee Travis was a host of the German music show "Beat-Club" from 1966 to 1969. He replaced the original host, Gerhard Augustin, after eight episodes.In early 1969, Travis was replaced by Dave Dee, of the band Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich.

It was fab to see you there, Dan. A good evening all round. And you did a darned sight better on Spain than I ever could have done. Nicks a crazy good guitarist (he was in Jeff Beck’s band for a few years 😲) but, as you’ll have seen a lovely chap. I do love the jam. Great playing and zero ego. Look forward to seeing you again some time and hopefully more chance to chat if I’m not babysitting a very nervous lad about to do his best Mick Jagger to Jennie’s Carly on You’re So Vaiin.

Yes, I was quoted 18 months to 2 years back in January - which was why I just got the one I’d tried in Wunjos that had inspired me to try and order.

Jocky Wilson Said - Denys Midnight Runners *sorry, I mean “Jackie”

They weren’t too shabby in their choice of bass players in the 70s… John Gustafson, Alan Spenner, Gary Tibbs. Not a bad roster!

And don’t forget, he was the bass player in the punk/new wave band “Breaking Glass” with Jonathan Pryce on saxophone. 😉🤣

All just idle speculation on my part… I know that I have neither the tools nor the talent to build or rebuild a bass. Tools I could buy, talent not so much!! 🤣🤣🤣 Agreed, the new body route you took for your spare neck is the correct one.

Will be interesting to see if it does get resurrected. I must confess that every time it’s surfaced I have winced but wondered what I would do if I was any good with woodworking tools (which I absolutely am not). I’d be tempted to cut off the sides leaving a wide central rectangular core with the neck and pickup cavities. Then get some wings of a contrasting wood added - either something pale like a figured sycamore or dark like wenge or cocobolo. Make a kinda thru-neck plus wings kinda look. Wonder if anyone will eventually manage to make something of it.

And my chum, Jo playing the acoustic guitar and keys behind Milton. Mike Stevens (MD - acoustic guitar, far right) has certainly gathered a fine collection of musicians around himself. Seeing most of this lot as Jeff Lynne’s ELO later in the year. If you get a chance to catch their side band “Big Horizon”… they’re fabulous.

Given his brief will have been “engage John in conversation about his life, career and collection to give us material for an interesting video” and all he got back was monosyllabic or single sentence answers, no wonder he was trying to inject some energy into proceedings and feed him with leading questions. Feel a bit sorry for him trying to drag any kind of response out of Entwistle. I’ve interviewed a few people like that and it’s hard work to get any useful material.

I’ve used this one - AirTurn BT200 - for years… https://www.gear4music.com/Woodwind-Brass-Strings/Airturn-2-Footswitch-Controller/4TIM?origin=product-ads&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAAD_kjLQyRn_48VhlWsbHiz6Yp6vKc&gclid=Cj0KCQjww-HABhCGARIsALLO6Xz3aZcuZU21HsgPgx24XnfWMog9wZ6Q_ic4oNOhdKED6KVtP_dSUxEaAlVjEALw_wcB

One of my all time faves!

A chum’s wife couldn’t make it to Postmodern Jukebox at G-Live so he offered me her ticket. I do love PMJ’s videos where they mash up modern hits with older musical styles. However, live they took it to another level. Such a fun, fun night out. Not bad seats, either!!!

Looking forward to this evening… asked by some chums to play bass on Kayleigh/Lavender by Marillion and Thin Lizzy’s Dancing in the Moonlight. Should be fun!

Love it!!!!

My Bitsa (or Frankenjazz as I prefer to call it) has been a bit more bitsa’d… new scratch plate to accommodate a Catswhisker neck humbucker and a Catswhisker 2+2 Jazz humbucker in the bridge… luvverly!!! Sounds fabulous!