Boodang

Don't get me wrong, I own jazz basses and love them but in every case they would be better without that clumsy neck joint that stops your thumb around the 15th fret. I'm finally getting around to having a jazz made with a set neck (see build diaries) so upper fret access will not be a chore. But which would you prefer. This; Or this; My custom is a through neck and if there's fretboard then there's a neck behind it not a neck joint. When you go from this to a bass with a standard bolt on neck it really does feel clumsy, clunky and awkward. I'm sure there's a moduler cost saving element to it but this is a guitar not an ikea table and for me a bolt on is far from ideal. And how much is a Fender American standard? Maybe bolt on necks should just be banned!!!

A speeding ticket?!

Occasionally I get buyers send me their delivery address before payment, then after a few days and I haven't posted, they message to say they don't want it anymore. Not sure if they're ust chancing it or the reasons they give for canceling are genuine and they just got ahead of themselves. Still, the advert doesn't get changed to 'sold'until the cash is in. On the whole though, BC marketplace is a good place to buy/sell, everyone seems genuine and i only go ebay etc if I have to.

For the indie/metal bass you could always just cover it in stickers which would be way cheaper than a respray.

TC Electronic Spectradrive. Aux in, headphone, xlr, toneprint compressor and overdrive, and not a bad price s/h.

I've been listening to Miles Davis, Charlie Parker, John Coltrane etc for years and never encountered this problem.

So you could have had an Epiphone AND a Squier. It gets worse!

CALLOW... good word! & pup. Hmm, in terms of bass players I should of been aware of at the time... well, without being obscure, it's Eberhard Weber. Once I caught up with his playing it took me on a path where at least 50% of my playing is now EUB.

Well, no contest, Squier classic vibe 70's precision plus a set of strings it is!

Get cheaper glass and spend the difference on a bass!

Issues with my bass necks; NS Design EUB - truss rod needs adjusting from winter to summer. Sei custom - ludicrously thin neck needs adjusting everytime it comes out of its case. Squier Jazz - doesn't give a sh*t and never needs adjusting.

As a test, put your basses in a sauna then transfer them to the freezer and see how they get on.

Cliff Richard AND the Shadows... let's not forget them. They've been playing their movies on the old git channel recently (aka TalkingPics TV) and should definitely act as a warning to other bands. In one of them they jump from a moving train, throwing a Marshall valve head ahead of them... I didn't realise they were so robust!

Bad News the movie?

Is Elvis a band?

Led Zeps Song Remains the Same had some acting in the fantasy sections and that was cringeworthy... definitely to be discouraged at all costs.

That's why I'll only buy a car that doesn't have a computer onboard... of course that does rather restrict me to the classic car market.

If the music you want to do is quite niche, and given your circumstances, maybe the way forward for now is to write/record with like minded musicians as distance isn't so much an issue in these days of the internet. I have extended periods when I work away from the UK. During that time I bounce around musical ideas with the musicians I usually play with by sending them files I've recorded. It's a different creative process to normal but actually quite productive. The hard part, as always, is finding like minded musicians. Good luck and keep at it though, it's always worth it in the long run.

I've always hated doing pub gigs. Quality over quantity in terms of venues for me. Formed a band doing music I wanted to focus on with all like minded musicians (no mean feat as it turns out) and we only do proper venues and the summer festival circuit. Not so many gigs but each one is exciting. Also leaves more time for recording projects.

I was going to say this was the worst car for gigs but in retrospect it did remarkably well. Three piece, piano, bass, drums, plus PA.... it was a bit like a game of tetris to get it loaded but it did it without complaining. I wouldn't recommend it tho!

I've got a spare car on the roof! But it's a good point. Most of it I'm not going to cry over as it's all replaceable except maybe my custom bass which I wouldn't leave behind. As it happens (touch wood) the Volvo 240 has never let me down and I've had it for the last 12 years.

In 40yrs of playing I've never broken a string and yet I still can't help but take spare sets (plural) to a gig!

Looking through the 'what car do you use' thread and there seems to be a few people with small cars just taking one bass and one amp to a gig. So got me thinking, what do most people take... just the basics with no backup, or everything except the kitchen sink? I fall very much into the latter category and catastrophise at all the things that could go wrong. When I first started gigging I didn't even have spare strings, then one night the guitarist said 'what happens if you break one?'. Fair point, and from that point onwards I couldn't stop thinking about what would could go wrong. I usually bring 3 or 4 basses anyway but I also bring a spare amp/cab, obviously spare leads (usually quite a few), spare strings (each bass has a different set, so I bring spares for each), then there's my box of stuff with duck tap, soldering iron, selection of spare connectors (neutrix Jack's, xlr, jack chassis, 9v etc), spare psu's, fuses (various; mains but also the ones found inside the amps we're using), plus a few adapters (xlr to jack, stereo to mono jack etc), then a selection of extension leads, tools (snips, allen, screw drivers, etc), mains tester plug, multi meter.... I'm sure I've left some stuff off the list! Plus spare effect pedals for my favourite ones I can't do without. And I have even been known to carry spares for other musicians if I think they're not very prepared. Was in one band where I always brought along a spare snare and bass drum pedal, plus a spare mic for the vocalist. And that's why I need a Volvo 240 estate at least to get my gear to a gig!

Well, in fairness, there is a lot of 'Hot Tuna' involved.

Well, it's a personalised plate as my name is Mr Turbo!