Steve Browning

This is the L-series Jazz bass I inherited, following the recent death of a friend in the US. The friend in question was Bruce Barthol, who played bass with Country Joe and the Fish. The bass itself is unbelievably filthy and the scratchplate covers up a couple of sizeable routs in the body. The tuners are Grovers and the pickups are a set of Bartolinis. It weighs almost nothing and plays very well. Not a Jazz player really, but I am suitably honoured to be entrusted with Bruce's bass and it will feature in the Psych Unit. That's a band being put together to play songs by the various US psychedelic bands we have backed when they toured the UK. I will take it over to @rumblefish for his appraisal, and decide what I will do to get it back into shape.

I so wish they did these with rosewood or laurel and dot inlays.

For me, this is what would stop me buying a Precision bass. It can't have; 5 strings Maple neck White body Black scratchplate on sunburst Jazz width neck

Do you have to like a track for it to be great? As the OP says. there's always an 'eye of the beholder' element at work. You would like to think that we, as musicians, could acknowledge someone's craft without necessarily liking their output. I acknowledge Malmsteen's technique, but cannot listen to more than half a second of him.

There are going to be a number of factors that make a song great. In some instances, it could be down to production. In others the complete opposite. Looking at the list below, I do see a common thread and that is the harmonic content, how the bass will move against the melody at times. A few that I can think of: Keane - Bend And Break Dire Straits - Telegraph Road (the Alchemy version especially) Sarah McLachlan - Angel Dire Straits - Brothers In Arms Anggun - Eternal (if you don't know this, do your ears a huge treat and have a listen - best in her original Indonesian) I'm in the Whitney camp as well. It's not a bad song but it is the vocal performance for me. Flawless control and immaculate use of dynamics.

Just slowly bend your knees and keep your back straight. You're welcome. 🙂

My aversion to maple boards means my wallet will never be troubled by a YOB bass. Fortunately.

I had a Sterling Sub and an OLP and put in Nordstrand pickups and Retrovibe Stinger 2 band eqs and both did the same job. The OLP was particularly good.

I joined the Beatles at 17. We were a college band in Portsmouth playing Clash and Feelgood songs. Eventually the local paper refused to print the name. I had been playing since the age of 4, but found my vocation on bass at about 14.

Bit of a list coming!! ENKI two bass case for touring (it's unbelievably good) Reunion Blues Aero gig bags for odd local gigs (and even normal ones) Harvest gig bag to just stick a bass in for a rehearsal Each bass has its own SKB FB4 hard case All bases covered there - pun intended! 🙂

Although I would caveat that to add that they would need relevant experience/knowledge. I am not sure how many high street accountants would have it.

... and the TT-800 is just awesome!!

Definitely check the payment arrangements. I have certainly had to complete forms in NL to declare that I pay tax in the UK, to avoid tax deductions there. Anything on the MU site? Might be worth joining.

A guitarist mate's account sent me a message, asking me to vote for him in a music competition. It was that aspect that made me drop my guard. He had been hacked so it was his account but not under his control - as is mine now. I provided the code requested 'to verify my vote' and I guess it was the recovery code for my account.

Yup. Silly enough, you empathetic chap, you.

Mains tester plug.

Been happy with my sound since 1988. Probably saved a fortune over the years.

It does look as though it's been taken down by Facebook, so that's something.

It would seem not. I've thrown in the towel with that I think. Dull, but there are bigger problems people face.

Bit of an update/warning. I am told that accounts like mine are often used to make fraudulent sales in FB Marketplace. Some here are FB chums but I would never sell through that medium. If you see an advert purporting to be me, please report it.

Bank doesn't seem to be affected. I had a Messenger message from a friend. He wanted me to vote for him in an online music competition (he is a musician). He said he'd send a confirmation code to validate my vote. Silly me, fell for it and provided the code. That was, it turns out, the code that enabled them to access my account and change the contact details. It seems only Facebook and Messenger (my bank is fingerprint log on) are affected. I guess you won't get the same thing if you don't use FB or Messenger.

Very true. More annoyed with myself really but so pointless.