Bassfinger

I remember reading how he used to wash his hair in Lenor for the fluffed up 80s look,

Plenty of people would be happy to give him a good slap today.

4 hours ago, Cosmo Valdemar said:

Glenn Cornick wasn't it?

Cornick played on the original version, that was intended to be on Stand Up bit never made it. Hammond-Hammond joined the band in 1971, and played the reworked version that went on to become famous was reworked in '72.  But then the original version was itself remastered and has subsequently been re-released on various special editions and compilations, so you are pretty much correct.

That was played by Jeffrey Hammond-Hammomd, who wasn't really a bassist at all and who played all his lines by rote after having been taught them by Anderson and Barre.

Jazz.  More sex, greater immunity to illness.

My Sharona.  Not a difficult bassline by any means, but I find it really hard on my left little finger.  We always do Doctor Doctor (UFO) after that to give my hand a rest before moving on.

I'm not signing.  You buy cheap insurance, you get a cheap response when you really need it.

We've a large summer house.  It has tv, stereo, log burner, small fridge...if I have to self isolate I'll take a bass out there with my and have a very pleasant time.

On 12/03/2020 at 16:21, Monkey Steve said:

yes, this long pre-dates eBay - 35 years ago I loaned a mate a new record and he scratched it.  So off he went to Our Price to buy himself a copy...then took back my scratched disc to be replaced

Remember days of yore when people would order K Tel records off the telly on 7 day approval, rape them, then send them straight back for a refund?

3.

My much modded gear4music PJ.

My home made Jazz.

Surprisingly pleasant Bryce acoustic.

Steinberger spirit soon to be joining the fleet.

I did have 6 guitars, but I've more or less exclusively switched to bass now so I've thinned the pack down and now only have a wash burn D12/12 acoustic, a battered Yamaha Pacifica 112, and a Hohner Les Paul that I've had nearly 40 years.  I'll likely shift the Washburn and Yamaha in the pursuit of more basses, but the Hohner has great emotional value as my first moderately decent axe.

The deep irony is that the people who make the loudest noise on the subject are the ones least likely to buy a top end bespoke custom instrument anyway.

8 hours ago, Dan Dare said:

I take your point about the fact that the planet having bigger problems, although I think we should address those we are capable, as individuals, of dealing with as well as pressing society at large to do something about the bigger ones. If that means the only thing we can do personally is to try not to over-exploit scarce resources, that's what we ought to do. Add up all the small individual contributions and the total beneficial effect is large.

We ought to, bit none does.  have you given up you car, binned the internet, stopped buying smartphones rammed full of rare earth minerals...? Everyone talks a good fight, but no one actually does anything about it.  Ian Anderson wrote Locomotive Breath 50 years ago, and how right he turned out to be.

Give up booze, bin the mobile phone, don't waste money on holidays, start walking or cycling Instead of driving....pretty soon you'll have some money behind you.

None of it bothers me in the slightest, although I may be in a minority.  This planet has far bigger problems that society seems reluctant to address, so I'd happy buy a bass made from the last surviving Nagawagga tree, strung with a virgins pubes, with pickups potted from dodo egg whites.

As long as no human being is being exploted, eg, no child labour at the source of materials etc, then I dare not about the provenance or sustainability of the materials.  No one who burns fossil fuels has any moral right to complain, although in sure plenty do.

As regards "tonewoods", in 40 years of guitar and bass playing I remain unconvinced that the contribution they make to sound is either real or positive.  I've played some cheap instruments that sounded amazing, and some hideously expensive ones that sounded bland. The correlation is far from universal.

9 hours ago, Simon. said:

That makes me want to vomit...

Why does any citizen need weaponry like that?

The same reason I have a shotgun.  The same reason 8 people a day are killed on our roads and no one cares.  The same reason we all have kitchen drawers full of knives...

7 minutes ago, Kiwi said:

Asset management?

Indeed, although I'm kind of one step removed as my company is either a facilitator or a straightforward contractor.

Technically an industrial geologist, but in reality I've drifted slightly to the equipment side of the business and now deal with arranging finance, valuations,  calculating whole life running costs etc for drilling and support equipment.  Going to look at some gear in Denmark on Tuesday with a view to putting together a report for a French finance company.

The good news is that although I'm nominally full time I work from home a lot, and in practice I'm only working 12 or 13 days a month, so plenty of time for bass practice.

Love is the Drug, Roxy Music. Infuritaingly difficult in places.

I got as far as they "reached out..." and gave up.

15 hours ago, 4000 said:

To all those who say the weight doesn’t matter, it may not matter when you’re healthy, but if you develop spinal problems it becomes everything. And yes, balance matters, but if I put on a perfectly balanced 10lb instrument my legs still go numb. I used to be strong as hell, then my back went and that was that. Game over. Life changed in an instant. 

I do have spinal problems, but I'm a strapping lad and the weight doesn't bother me.  

Have you considered the mandolin?

My breakfast weighs more than most basses.

The way I see it, anyone who thinks a bass is too heavy could always play the piccolo.

It's a matter of perspective. I'm 6'5" and 280lbs.  I've never worn a bass that felt remotely heavy!

Other than when I was a spotty teen I never fancied being a muso.  I've travelled the world more than most successful touring bands, so I'm not missing out there.  Groupies would be nice, but in this day and age with all those nasty diseases about it's not a good idea, or being accused of rape years down the line.  Drugs on tap don't appeal to me either. 

So no, never seriously fancied it.