Bassfinger

I bought a Jazz body from Ebay. "Maple", they said. "My arriss", I said when I received it. I'm not an expert woodologist [new word, (c) Bassfinger Enterprises 2019] but I suspect its basswood. In any case, it's one piece, no joins or evidence of bookmarking anywhere. It was also infernally cheap at a score, and well shaped and finished. I rubbed it down to smooth it fully, and braved the spiders and startled hobo in the shed to look for unguents to colour it. I have shotguns and air rifles and found half a tin of mahogany tinted danish oil which hadn't congealed solid, so out that same. Further rummaging revealed a can of gloss polyurethane that the hobo hadn't sniffed so I snaffled that too. The danish oil worked fine, but seemed a bit more orangey in hue than I recall. Perhaps it had aged, or maybe the hobo had wee'd in it? No matter, it looks ok so I wiped on 3 coats on the body. I let that dry a day and used 800 grit wet and dry to rub it down wet, almost but not quite rubbing through on the edges, body contours, and bits where high wear might be expected. I then rubbed a final coat all over so the whole thing is done, but the colouring is now noticeably thinner in the high wear areas. Faux wear, tres trendy. 4 coats of spray poly, which is currently still hardening. Once its cured properly I'll buff that to a glossy shine, again with extra attention to the edges etc. Seems to have darken the colouring slightly, which is good. Careworn rather that roadworn. And that's where it's at now. Once the buffing is done I'll post up another pic. I've plumped for a cream scratchplate to go with the aged look, and the vintage style knobs. Undecided as to pick ups or machine heads as yet. I like the look of pickups with rails rather than individual poles on a Jazz, so will keep my eyes peeled. Bridge will be Wilkinson because it's cheap, very neatly finished, and only £8.99.

Bought this neck off ebay, second hand but unused. My arriss is it a G&L, although it looks nice. Jazz width, rosewood...its an odd one, cos the frets are nicely done and the fingerboard well finished, but the tuner mounting holes aren't all well spaced and E is well out of line with the corresponding groove on the nut, which I'm not happy about. The pic doesn't show this to good effect. But there you go, can't be too fussy for 13 sovs. Plan is for a jazz type build. I want a sort of relic'd patina look, but I want it to look well used, as if its worn though years of loving use, and not beaten or abused is if it's been in a blender with a pit bull and a breeze block. You know, that warm kind of look that develops through years of handling where the skin on your palm wears things gracefully and makes them shiny. I don't want to spend a fortune. Bass is still early days for me having recently converted from geetar, and I'm saving for a proper Steinberger, and simultaneously trying to pay off the final dregs of my mortgage. Add to that that I have the fine craftsmanship ability of a Glaswegian blacksmith who's half cut on single malt and angry through being forced to work overtime, and you can see that this could be challenging. More pics to follow as this progresses.

I like the G&L. Traditional, as youd expect from something that Leo himself was involved in, but with just enough going on above and beyond the comparable Fender offerings gs to make them interesting. Wouldn't be upset if Santa bought me one.

Shes crying because her Mum bought her a PB for Christmas instead of the JB she wanted.

I'd tell them to get bent, with 3 possible responses... You entered into a contract to move parcel of ABC size. If they then collected a parcel of XYZ size without referring back to you then that's their problem for making an unsolicited co,election and delivery. Or... The parcel was the correct size, and their records are faulty. It's up to them to prove otherwise. Or... If you din't sign anything when it was delivered just deny all knowledge any any oversized parcel.

A pick player, like wot I generally do.

I could probably make more as a busker, and wouldn't have the commute to worry about.

You southern mainland Scots lightweights. When I was a kid in Voe it was a 40+ mile round trip on our bicycles to get to Lerwick, which barely passed for civilisation back then. And "roads" was a very optimistic term for many of them - many were farm tracks with ideas above their station. I never even laid eyes on a bus until I was well into my teens.

I nominate Phil Lynott. If not the best Bass Face, then certainly the meanest.

Indeed. I consult on projects, some of which are occasionally worth tens of millions. No one ever asks for my NI number prior to hiring me. Daughter #3 is an accountant. I'll ask her if there is any lawful use for someones NI number when doing business.

I would politely tell the chap "no". You're under no obligation to provide it, and he has no lawful use for it should you supply it.

They're an equal opportunities employer - they give jobs to guitarists and bassists.

Blimey, the PRS only pay 27 gees.

Waiting for an Alibi.

I listen. The sexual innuendo of Jethro Tull, the navel gazing of Yes, the deep and dark lyrics of Josh Homme. Conversely, a load of stuff is just disposable pap, a mere something to bounce along with the tune, but doesn't mean it's any less entertaining.

You're never too old, old, old, to Rock n Roll, oh oh, if you're too young to die. Go find a band. I've 10 years on you and I may be about to become the new bassist for the local pub band Enter the Hamster. Justification to buy a new bass if ever there was.

Mine is far from exciting. Today the neighbours were out so I cranked up the volume a bit for my hour of practice. To wrap it all up I slipped Sultans of Swing on the gramophone and played along with an imaginary John Illsley for a few minutes. Note perfect, well in the groove, and just enjoyed blasting through one of my favourite songs. Chuffing marvellous.

The guitarist makes a decent fist of replacing Jon Lord's keyboard part. Bravo.

An absolute pleasure.

Being away so much cost me my first marriage, but Mrs Bassfinger MKII was, at the time, a copper so understood long hours and crazy shifts. She's since retired through Ill health, and i've sort of move partially sideways in my field away from actually geological work towards the planning and asset management side of things. Instead of contracting I've settled on a full time employer who are really good. I don't get to go away so often, and when I do now it tends to be more Western Europe rather than the Americas or the Stans. I still do a little consulting, but not too much these days due to potential conflict with my full time employer, but 50 euros an hour plus expenses is a good crack when I do take on a bit on the side. I'm 51, heading for 52, and I've shovelled enough away in recent years that I'm knocking it on the head 2 months past my 55th birthday which is when my mortgage will be paid off. I won't be buying a private jet or a racehorse, but I won't starve either and I can spend some time with Mrs Bassfinger and my dawg.

Just mentioned this in another thread, but it fits the bill here... Wonderfully modest but effective bass effort from John Illsley.

Its rather different to their earlier works. Slower tempo, country and blues tinge. First class musicianship and top drawer production.

Alas, a better player than he was a brawler.

On Every Street by Dire Straits. Some wonderful delicate tones, beautifully restrained...I'd forgotten how good it was.