EssentialTension

There's a lot of wasted energy and time in the way those fingers are being lifted so far away from the fretboard. YMMV.

If you need one of those you must be playing bridge cables instead of bass strings.

When using 1-2-4 (or Simandl), you can use fingers 3 & 4 together as a pair. 1FPF on lower frets is both unnecessary and uncomfortble for most players. And don't forget open strings - there are four (or perhaps more) notes that are easily available in any position with no left hand fingering required.

Agreed the pickguard is too white. I took mine off completely.

Is that a replacement control plate?

I have the cheapest Hofner Club Bass with Pyramid Gold flatwounds. Fully hollow, 4.9 pounds and sounds great.

And will grandson be getting a chance to play it?

Does he mean that the speakers are not the Barefaced originals?

There are people who think The Clash weren't punk.

I'd be very surprised if they didn't fit. If you're worried loosen off the D and G strings and slip them out of the nut so you can test the new D and G in the nut slots.

... and Iron Maidens

I've had three PJ basses over the years and I have never really used the J pickup. When I've had J basses, I have never really used the bridge pickup. So the problem for me is the J pickup at the bridge - it's just not a sound i like or need.

I've bought Extra Long La Bella black nylons. I just emailed La Bella and they sold them to me direct.

Is 14 years later... a record?

If you wait a while you'll learn it works out cheaper too.

Congratulations

Some time in the late 1960s, the guitars were re-labelled Wilson rather than Watkins.

It's usually reported that Lynott used Rotosound Jazz flats but you can't go far wrong with the La Bellas.

When I was doubling bass guitar and upright bass I used a Radial Bassbone. I've played with a guitarist who had five white Stratocasters each in a different tuning with a label (e.g. 'open G') on the top horn. Until he got some electronic gismo that altered the tuning to whatever he asked for, and hence he needed only one Stratocaster.

If I fell into thinking a new bass (however expensive) was what would make me play better then I would give myself a stiff talking to and increase my practice regime.