Paul S

A few years ago I was in a rock covers band called The Wayward Sons (before we morphed into a Bon Jovi Tribute band - another story). At that time another band was using that name as well (we were first!) and they ended up being quite famous. Anyway for one gig we played over the pa the spooky version of 'Carry On My Wayward Son that I think had been used in one of those goth TV shows before kicking off with a shorterned version of Led Zeppelin's Kashmir (which again had been used as a TV theme for something), which then went into Rock and Roll. Went down like a Led balloon so we didn't bother again.

I see what you did there, Ben...

Sorry about this. He refuses point blank to come home. I stand by the back door shaking his packet of treats but will he come in? Will he heck. Too busy shark surfing with his favourite missile.

Funny how they vary - I bought a PB Shorty soon after they came out and straight out of the box gigged it. No sharp ends apart from the nut, tuners aren't perfect but hold tune, no truss rod issues at all. I changed the pickguard to black 'cos I don't like white ones. Then a while later I changed the pickup to a Tonerider 'cos I wanted a bit more bite and beef but, tbf to the stock one, it was a fine vintage tone. I'd buy one of these new ones except that my existing one has it all sorted. It is a mystery how they do this. Actually, no, it is a miracle.

That's probably an exact fit for one of those Cleartone Conversions...

As a person who believes scales are a piece of kitchen equipment, all I have ever done is copy and paste bass lines for songs I am learning. Whenever I have learnt a new song, I try to learn the bass line as it was recorded - if I can - the main bits and all the fills. Eventually all those fills and runs have kind of stuck so, if the occasion demands it, I can paste together what I know in new and appropriate ways. But, really, knowing how the original goes and copying it can't be criticised.

... and the damned things haven't been in stock since.

Basses are personal things. There are many reasons why I wouldn't go anywhere near that bass, weight is way down the list

Wow. Any chance the whole band would like to relocate to south-east Essex. Say, Basildon?

I would second this. I recently got one for my blues rock trio and it is absolutely spot on for the genre. It can sing, growl or thud.

I've still not decided what I admire most about MDP Cleartone Conversions. The quality of the luthiership, the accompanying prose (well, he is a published author) or the leap of imagination required to dream these things up.

If it is something a bit tasty you are after Maruszczyk do a few 32" scale models. There is a Jake (Precision) on eBay at the moment https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/276221082559?hash=item40500f3bbf:g:SNMAAOSwsHlldeTW&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAAA8N3fxSWRfGRpBDeV6P7LmugV3ClfujM1MDYun8s8vDbnOOj3wDx4enD%2Bg%2BzSrqbG39sHV3Syx%2Bfc2UrnsWVeiPWNhhsv1N1AiPv2Y5w07g3nkYwtAajEXYA8vdOsBPOQ%2BgEkHit4%2BarSroPMy0S3%2Fe3TFOijEWDbY57b52caCA9h125lr%2FjFIO2DAKTbYkW6GIV%2FkRHpZr8Ifczvpn4nEfn4b3BRbeQHvxDEnLWQJ6Mrn4D%2BmXpeWV44F1ArdNLzNpwy0AoIwh60qwmPYPocNjXm4YOg%2BzKr5Oa6baNRx3rvnYwkogaJkiTLW3nekujcOQ%3D%3D|tkp%3ABk9SR97giNCjYw I had a Westone Concord for a while. Perceived as a budget model but actually a damned fine bass. Superb pickup, really powerful. One on eBay at the moment (nothing to do with me) https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/276280325964?hash=item405397374c:g:RvAAAOSwHMtloU5g&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAAA0Fu%2BFFtPYqA%2FG8FsVyY0yT%2FgI4XBZtaqALUEovxa37ogt5oiE52A2fKNQ6DH1W5GNmjgxDqGKWaKPNQM3YbY9nitgWIb6fkBhJlWL8TScpbw420RHB0sIHm%2FVs0eDUDwgTCqUtxLWwju%2Fn6xgYdM0KmUPf5eAkjDqA0wyN5lgsV2J6C%2BYD53nDzVqxZ5jH2d%2BN93f2X2NaeQ2JPj9mi7mvpzFgjks8BdvQlJnldh6DzFVuhDCUaq8WrBMWe18YG1Y%2FxQamc6UBl6holqaUNoOa8%3D|tkp%3ABk9SR9zgiNCjYw Double cutaway body shape 32" scales would include Aria Pro II CSB series, Hondo HB1015, which often have DiMarzio pickups and always have fabulous necks (heavy, though)

Sorry! I thought this might be a thread about parliament. As you were.

Deep Purple 'Made In Japan' Highway Star Child in Time Smoke on the Water.

Now there's a belter.

Doesn't seem to - I just edited one of mine and it is still resolutely entrenched on page 5.

Probably my favourite bassist to listen to or watch is Mark King. I can't honestly say he has influenced my playing because I don't have funky fingers, but I love to see him. Not the slap particualrly, although that is a given, but his effortless fingerstyle weaving around the tunes, usually while singing. Next two haven't been mentioned I don't think. Roger Glover. Fabulously melodic bass lines, especially in the context of the early Deep Purple stuff. Chris Glenn. I saw SAHB loads of times in the early/mid 70s and would say he is the bass player that has influenced me more than any others. Nothing complicated (though he has the chops) just laid back and enjoying himself.

An update Courtesy of Jon @Bassassin I was able to fit a Schaller 460 bridge - absolute quality bit of kit that has really done the business. When I say 'I was able to fit' what I mean is the guy who does all my bits and bobs was able to fit. The Schaller didn't quite align with the mounting bolts, needing the old holes filling and new holes drilled, fitted with studs. Anyway, you'd never know he had done all that - Leighton Jeninngs is the guy and a complete wizard. Looks just the job, visually I'd say more in keeping than the Hipshot Supertone 2 point (which would have also required all the drilling and filling). More to the point it works!

Can't you sell that bass and replace it with one with a neck you like? Seems such a shame to destroy that lovely flame.

It was good enough for Jaco

Whereas I welcome it. When someone dies they are dead. They have died. This recent trend to say 'passed' is, imo, just a pointless euphemism that is simply ducking what is perceived to be an uncomfortable issue. Yet it will happen to every single one of us. Seems daft to me.

Aha! Could be where I have been going wrong all this time - I don't use them!

I've no plans for any more basses or pedals but I am after a set of lightweight tuners so I won't put my name down. I could go through some convoluted justification for them as one of the existing ones is rather clunky but I think that would be pushing it. Failure isn't a word I would use, though.

Radar Love?