bassatnight

Wonderful slapping! and you have a fully equipped wife escape den!! I salute you, sir!!!

Just bought an Aria SB700 from Graeme, top bloke, super smooth transaction!

Back in the hazy day's of the spooky old mid eighties a guy I was working with tipped me off about his brothers band looking for a singer. I was no singer, but was just desperate to be in my first band, I wasn't a bad lyric writer and of course an OK bassist maybe I could sing... a bit. Met up with my work colleagues brother; the lead guitarist and we got on really well. He loved my lyrics and thought I looked the part; fashion and hair wise, (this is the eighties remember!) I kept asking about the bass player as ideally that's the job I wanted and all he would say was he is a little older than us but he can really play. In my mind I was already planning to work on getting the bassist replaced by yours truly! We soon had our first practice session and two things were clear, the bass player was well into his thirties (ancient to a then 18 year old) and he could really play and was light years in front of the rest of us musically. I sang a couple of songs but knew I wasn't great but the others were supportive all apart from the drummer who I felt didn't take to me at all and it later transpired that he had a good mate that was a singer, they were living on planet Jam/Paul Weller and I was more Japan/Talk Talk fan but I just wanted to make music so didn't bother me too much. 2 weeks later I received a call from someone who said he represented the band (forgotten the bands name) and he said sorry but your out of "band name" the guy that tipped me off about them needing a singer later told me that the drummer said my voice was hideous and my pony tail ridiculous - but he knew someone that sounded like Weller that could replace me!!

Let me think; Japan, Simple Minds, Talk Talk, China Crisis and early Human League (minus the girls!)

Welcome aboard! I was born just down the road in WGC in the QE2 which I understand is shrinking fast...

Mark Bedford - Madness, excellent Fender P work and in particular the playing on the Absolutely album. Very melodic player. Colin Moulding - XTC, more excellent melodic lines and a great songwriter to boot! Derek Forbes - Simple Minds/Propaganda - Brilliant work with Simple Minds from the bands first 6 albums, both fretted and fretless - lovely rolling lines with some slapping thrown in.

Hi Folks, I need a couple of Bass shipping cardboard boxes for some pending sales - anyone know of a decent UK based supplier? Cheers, Steve.

Interesting that he has over a thousand positive feedbacks?

Awesome bassist. The late 70's/early 80's ''pop'' saw a ton of great bassists not sure later generations have come close. Nick Beggs, Pino Palladino, Derek Forbes, Mark King, Mick Karn

A couple spring to mind; Tears for Fears back in 1983 they had to play Pale Shelter twice due to a lack of material and seemed nervous hardly talking between songs and everything just seemed rushed. I'd seen Talk Talk a few weeks before who were vastly superior live. Japan 1981; I had recently bought their Genetlemen take Polaroids album which blew me away; particularly the bass playing of Mick Karn and the synths of Richard Barbieri but it just didn't work live, the keyboards were flat in the mix and the guitars too quiet (to encompass thre bass?) there seemed to be some anomosity between the band and a year later they split perhaps the writing was already on the wall?

Cheers guy's most helpful, I'll tap a few of them up. Kind Regards, Steve.

Hi All, i am thinking of getting a an all black refinish on my sunburst Fender P, any good reccomendatiions for a top refinisher? Cheers, Steve.

Thanks guy's I'll try Terry.

I have some pending work that I would like a pro to work on, I have tried to contact a couple but no replies can anyone recommend a good luthier that could take some electrics and neck work that I need doing fairly soon? Thanks, Steve.

[quote name='HowieBass' timestamp='1393960307' post='2386341'] @bassatnight - I've just noticed the three fretless basses you already have and I can't imagine bettering them even with the Fender P bass - you must seriously be into the 'mwah'!!! [/quote] I am very happy with my fretlesses, but this is more of a personal project, always fancied a LPB Fender P with an Ebony neck and all black hardware when one came up that I could upgrade I thought why not

Cheers folks, I may just stick with the stock bridge. Onwards and upwards!

Hi, I have a wee project on the go with a Fender P Mexican I bought for a couple of hundred of the Bay in January. I am not a big fan of Fender 'stock' bridge's and want something with more mass for better sustain (I need to add I am turning this fretted into a fretless) I have owned Badass and Gotoh before and although the Badass was marginally better it wasn't three times the price better! So for fretless work any recommendations on a replacement bridge? I must get some before and after pics up, she is lovely in a Lake Placid blue with black guard, I may sell on the rosewood neck but just picked up a mighty mite fretless ebanol so trying to make her sound as good as she is going to look. Cheers, Steve.

Just taken possession of a lovely Mexican P, the pups are OK - but want something a bit growlier, any suggestions on a pup upgrade? Cheers, Steve.

Wal could do a Mick Karn Signature, although you would need a mortgage! Derek Forbes, Fender P Pino may have a Fender P signature but he will always be known as a Fretless Ray man ;o) Bedders from Madness another Fender P? Les Pattinson and a Lake placid Jazz with block inlays? Come on Fender!!

Guy Pratt, Horace Panter, Mick Karn are well worth a read with your bass head on. Midge Ure, Julian Cope and boy George (was quite a read) with your general music head on