Strawbs664

Saxon started out with 2 bass players. Biff & Dobby Dawson both being bassists in their previous bands & neither wanting to give it up. Dobby, apparently, was determined to be the better, so practised endlessly and eventually, of course, Biff dropped bass & concentrated on the frontman role.

Well Frank Bello popped up in Calendar Girls with a couple of his Anthrax buddies. Still not sure what their appearance was all about...

Was just about to say that! Saxon - nothing grabbed me. Wheels of Steel = 747 Strangers in the Night, Motorcycle Man, Wheels Of Steel, See the Light Shining, Machine Gun!

Has anyone mentioned UFO yet? Southampton Gaumont 1985. I was 14, had seen Maiden & Kiss in the last year or two, so knew what to expect, but UFO took things to a new level. Still remember it as being fairly clear though with little distortion just mind numbingly loud. At 14, I loved it!

The Wurzels definitely don't have any original members left. They started as Adge Cutlers backing band, and the longest serving current member, Tommy Banner, didn't join until about the 3rd album I think. Pete Budd is the only other member that was in an incarnation with Adge Cutler - think he joined in 1970 or thereabouts. Also worth mentioning that they never had a "proper" bass player for years, with Gaffer Baylis playing mainly sousaphone.

Not YouTube but I found the following really useful when I'm looking to brush up on my 6 string skills. Easy to follow & a song to learn & play along with at the end of each lesson. I have a terrible memory for anything above the number 4 so anything that takes me back to basics is perfect. https://www.liveabout.com/guitar-lessons-for-beginners-1711865

That's too bad. I'm willing to persevere with mine but it certainly is a different feel.

I don't blame you. As @Cat Burrito said, it is cool as! Just wish I was close to being so cool as there is a definite mismatch when I strap it on 😂

Having suffered with Semi gas for some years now, I've been keeping my eye out for one of these for a while, and when one popped up "in stock" in the UK, I grabbed it before it could get away! And I'm smitten! Lovely thump & surprising range of tones available by twiddling the volumes to blend each pick up. Lovely high quality finish all round - can't fault anything. Only thing to get used to is that it's huge!😊 At least 3" longer from head to toe than my Fender P, and obviously a good deal fatter. It needs a completely different playing position compared to my "normal" basses, but it's something I'm looking forward to working on 🤗.

Lovely! I've had my eye on that Gretsch for a while but never quite got around to pulling the trigger! Would love to know how it works out. Time to source a new one now to drool over!

I'm in. Cool idea.

That's just showing off!

Anthrax spring to mind. Scott Ian (rhythm guitar) writes the lyrics while Charlie Benante (drums) writes riffs & music I think.

I agree the Chowneys look great and they are definitely on the list. I really need to get out there and try a few, but not so easy right now. And, even when you can get to shops, they don't seem to carry a huge range.

What a ridiculous idea! Only getting a bass when you know "what for" 😂

Skybone - what did you go for in the end? I find that I too have GAS for a semi and I'm leaning towards the Gretsch Electromatic, but it would good to know what those that have tried one think.

I once got rather severely rebuked for daring to play Pink Floyd's Money when trying a bass back in the 90's....

b) every time. If you really don't see any chance of improvement there's no point in stringing him along - it'll only get harder to tell him in the long run, and the truth is generally the best approach. Re-assure him that it's not personal and that it's purely because he's not at the same standard as the rest of you at the moment. Keep it civil & then the door is always open if there is a miraculous improvement in the future.

I picked up an 2013 EB5 a few years ago when they were on offer at GAK, as I think a few others on here did too. Wasn't expecting anything special, but it turned out to be an absolute beast (in a good way). The pickups are stupidly powerful and versatile. With the coil tap option you can go from a lovely growl to a more vintage tone with a couple of twiddles and clicks . And, it's ridiculously light! Much lighter than anything else I have. It's the only 5er I have, so took a little bit of getting used to but it's now one of my favourites.

I'd forgotten just how much fun that film is!

Surely Bad News & Spinal Tap count as real bands? I've seen at least one of them live, and it sounded like they played their own instruments & everything! P.S. The Band With Rocks In gets a vote from me.

I enjoy a bit of punk so it was a nice surprise to stumble across this last night. A great little documentary about what punk really meant to a socially awkward teenager in 70s Southampton (which sums up a lot of us, I would guess, except for the Southampton bit maybe). https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000d26p/chris-packham-forever-punk

MT & Wishbone Ash were a huge influence on me without me really realising it, so I love this thread. The first album of theirs I got was Live Dates Vol II, when I was about 13. Loved the bass sound on FUBB without really knowing I was even listening to bass at that age!

I think that's perfectly acceptable in the case of Mr Monroe. I nearly wet myself when he came on as a guest for Cheap Trick last December

The Levellers - Live at Glastonbury '94 ('cos I was there ) The Wildhearts - Diagnosis EP Michael Monroe - One Man Gang The Hu - The Gereg It's been a busy week or two - I usually don't buy much at all!