Paul S

Stew, I used to stick that old Trace head you bought from me through a Supercompact. Two if I was feeling decadent. Marvellous.

I was in a rock covers band a few years back and a couple of songs we played I found hard at first until I practiced enough not to worry. The triplets in in the chorus of UFO's 'Lights Out' I found took some stamina, especially as the drummer would invariably speed up. Also the bit after the breakdown in Iron Maiden's 'Hallowed Be Thy Name' at around 4.20-ish took a bit of practice until it flowed.

In the Third Degree cover of Mercy, around 2mins and leading into the breakdown.

I had one I liked, as it happens A double cutaway short scale with a P pickup in it. I swapped the stock pup for an Entwistle one and it was pretty tidy. Weighed 3kgs, too. The neck wasn't great - a little bit warped - so in the end I mated the body with the neck of a Hondo II 32" scale, with some jiggery pokery and moving the bridge back a touch, and have a nice little rocking thing now. But I'd get another of the Encores if one came up cheaply.

One of my favourites, I always look forward to it 2:50 or so towards the end. Great, underplayed song IMO. This, too - Carmine Appice. Pretty much all the way through the fills are superb. We play this in my blues/rock trio, great song.

I am the MC for the blues rock band and do most of the chat even though I don't sing. I do something that I nicked from Corduroy when they come to the end of the 2nd set. Scott (or Ben, or both) says 'Do you want more?' and everyone shouts for more. He then says, a bit louder 'You want one more? Audience shouts 'Yes, more!' louder. He then shouts very loudly 'DO YOU WANT ONE MORE?' Audience shouts 'MORE' even louder. Then he says 'OK, no need to go on about it'. Made me laugh when I first heard it and I do it at most of the gigs - at least those where there are people left at the end

I don't think hand size comes into it as there are female bass players a plenty who play long scale 5 string basses and who aren't hulking amazons. Try lots then play what you are comfy with.

It's only words. Anyone can say anything. What it fetches is the main thing.

I like the term 'mojo' - it immediately creates a mental image for me of a well used bass that has picked up a few scars over time without necessarily having to detail them all. Mis-use of the word is not good but you could say the same for any descriptive term.

Martin Turner. Still Blowin' Free. Also Julie Andrews.

Bet they all had the right gear, though.

Probably just jacked it in.

'If you are reading this then you know how great these (insert name here) are.' Nope. That's why I am reading this. Whilst I am here... 'Am I the only person who....' I always think - extremely unlikely. There are 7.8 billion people on the planet, most things have been covered comprehensively.

Yup. I need to convince that part of my head that sees new shiny things (actually normally old battered things) and can't resist.

Good luck Nik.

I wouldn't use the term 'Dream Bass' but when I get an idea in my head about a particular bass I get GAS something rotten, the only cure for which is to get one - however long it takes. The worst example for me are Westone Pantera Deluxe X790. Bought it from the Netherlands and I picked it up. As beautiful as it was, it was a shade too heavy and I didn't like the nasal tone. Yamaha BB5000. Bought from Japan. Just didn't bond with it - too heavy, too. Gibson Thunderbird - didn't look right, neck seemed very long. I fear the latest victim is going to be the Guild B-301 that I drve half way up the country to collect. Absolutely beautiful bass that sounds awesome but I don't find it comfortable to play. Still unsure about selling it but at the moment it looks on the cards. My basic problem is that none of the above are Precision basses. I love Precision basses. I love the tone, I love the look, I love the way they feel.

Gig tonight. Taking both these old Antorias but probably use the Precision. A previous owner had fitted it with a '75 Fender pickup and, basically, it rocks

First gig since September tomorrow for my blues rock trio. The Pickerel Inn, Stowmarket. In a barn outside, good space to set up. 8pm start to avoid being too loud too late. Really looking forward to it.

very much this. I'd conspicuously add Free and Cream to the list too and also say that live albums are the ones to listen to as there are none of the overdubs you can often hear on studio albums. ZZ Top are shockers for this but they still sound great live. Free, in particular, have so much space in their live work you can drive a bus through it - a model of restraint.

I don't see this as being quite the same thing. I don't spend time looking for new music either (also 63) but I find I am more tolerant of other genres when I hear them rather than just the heavy rock I grew up listening to. For me, anyway, it isn't so much an active choice but more of a passive acceptance.

I think being more tolerant and open to a wider rage of music genres is just part of growing up and getting older. When we are teens we are particularly 'tribal' with that gang-type mentality but I think the phase passes (edit - except for football, as above, and some other sports!). I cut my teeth in early 70s on heavy rock like Deep Purple, Led Zep and Black Sabbath and would tolerate little else. Nowdays I can find something to listen to in most genres/most artists.

The strat, in that case.