bassatnight

Played a gig in 1987 at a cricket Club in Knebworth Hertfordshire in the audience was Mark Hollis from Talk Talk who was a nice bloke and very unlike a 'pop star' Talk Talk were pretty big at the time. His advice to us was just stick at it and if you wanted fame just copy whatever is popular for your first album as that's what we did! 1989, Golf club Welwyn Garden City, Kim Wilde, her father Marty and her brother Ricky although to be fair growing up in WGC you used to see them around quite a bit she was always very friendly and one fo my funniest moments was seeing a friend try to chat her up in a night club in WGC only to have his tie fall in his pint much to her amusement but more so ours!

For many years I have toyed with having another crack at trying the dark side of the 6 string variety. A guy at work is selling my dream semi acoustic a Rickenbacker 360/6 He let me borrow it over the weekend and frankly it was awsome. He wants £950 for it but this may be a dream too far, now I have in the past paid twice that for a Bass but I am fair player after 25 years on the 4 string, but a guitar no more than a slightly advanced beginner (I can play 4 chords) so tempted..... Must resist.... What do you think?

Geert, The book is well worth a read. It's a little sad that Mick uses so few pages on his Bass playing and instruments but his whole attitude to playing is so refreshing. People ask me about strings and I always reply I use whatever is lying around or whatever I get free. Also funny is his story of people wanting a 'Mick Karn' fretless Wal but I'll leave that for future readers...

Read the book a while ago, and it did leave a bitter taste but I am sure Mick had his faults. You might also argue Sylvian was really the only one who continued to have success after Japan Split, I am pretty sure he wrote all of his solo stuff. Richard Barbieri did say that Sylvian wrote 90% of Japan's music but seemed to take nearer 100% of the royalties. I guess if they didn't like it they could have just walked away. We have all been in bands it happens all the time, some peole just put up with it for a 'Quiet Life' sorry couldn't resist. Mick was a genius as far as I am concerned. Try playing Art of Parties or swing...

I'll have to dust down my Jupiter 8, I think I even have the Hungry like a wolf Sequencer settings still! I even have more hair than Nick Rhodes! lol

That's a peach Clarky! I may be trading my fretted Custom for a fretless very soon!

omg, a true Bass pioneer. I will toast him tonight whilst admiring my Wal Custom sitting proudly in my front room. RIP Pete.

Cheers guy's, I love my fretted Wal and it woul be a last resort to change her. I have played a ton of fretlesses but the Wal is by far the sweetest I have played I just love that woody sound. Might look out for a fretless Thumb. I missed out on a Wal Fretless a few weeks back for £1,500 at Bass Direct but it was the cheaper passive pro and I though £1,500 was a little steep. I then thought sod it and it was sold! A wal Fretless neck would put me back some £850!

Welcome! Famous musicians from Welwyn Garden City? Does Alesha Dixon count!?

Ok so here's the deal, I want a Wal fretless but have a limited budget of £1500 so do I go for something else or get my fretted mk1 defretted? Tough call!

Cheers guys, have mailed them both for a quote!