Roger Phillips

Genius indeed. Saw him with L Shankar at Zeffirelli's in Ambleside years ago- also saw is father Ustad Alla Rakha with Ravi Shankar in Leeds in the late 1960s. Roger

What! No mention of Gibson's famous short-scale basses. I've three EB-3s, a couple of which are now for sale, not because I don't like them, I love them, but in my later years I wish downsize- don't want them ending up in my estate. I'm a Gibson person (got some Thunderbird "76"s too), but like all Fender aficionados- they'll have Gibsons, I've got a 1967 Fender Jazz in my arsenal. Roger

Just last year I developed arthritis in both wrists and ankles; with regards to the hands I visited my GP (was it carpal tunnel?). He ticketed me for xrays and when the results were back he confirmed I had advanced arthritis in the wrists. It's my six-strings I can't play now; my fingers just won't hold the strings down for chord work- thumb won't even clasp round the fretboard binding to hold the bottom E which is very depressing. All those lovely vintage Gibson's will have to go. However, I'm hanging on to my EB-3 and '67 Jazz as I can just about play them. My mother, recently departed, told me it's no fun getting old- she saw 102! Roger

Aye, I'd go along with Dad3353's comments. It's like a capstan and by the looks the holes are spaced for quarter turns. Roger in the South Lakes.

BJH; that takes me back 23 years when Les Holroyd's red Gibson Thunderbird "76" came on the market. I still have it along with a black one, sunburst and a white refinish; the natural one went along with same-colour Firebird, Explorer and V to North London around 14 years ago. That suite is now dispersed. Merry Christmas. Roger

All a bit off topic. Roger

1 Pastorious 2 ? 3 the late great Stevie Lamb, very much in the Pastorious vein; see "Youtube First Moves, Birdland. Roger Phillips

Owt by the late Jaco. But the first to mind is Chas Chandler's opening bars to the Animal's version of "We gotta get out of this place" Roger Phillips

Always been a sucker for Gibson shortscale basses. First one I bought (locally) was a late '60s EB-0 which had had a terrible refinish in matt maroon emulsion, but it was a Gibson. I took it to a local dealer to hang on his walls after I bought a slotted headstock EB-3; that was the one I shouldn't have bought. I then had an idea regarding the EB-0; I'll get it back with another refinish in mind. Back to Lancaster whereupon the dealer proudly said he'd got some money for me, merde. Colour was to have been 'Thunderburst', a sort of Silverburst variant. It's all part of the GAS; The EB-3 went after I got a '67 EB-3- narrower neck then a '62 -3, supposedly a one-previous-owner which I didn't have time to enquire about as time was running out to get back to Euston for my train back yam. Both these need to move on since I acquired my '65 in Pelham Blue (thank you Dave, hope all your cats are doing ok. By the way would you be interested in that red Thunderbird '76'? Also have a Medallion Firebird from a late musician). Don't start me on my six-string collection. Roger

Have you considered train; Google advance tickets (two or three weeks) on Trainline:- PRE to Carlisle then across to Newcastle. Not long ago I could do it from Oxenholme for around £13, bringing back home my EB-3 in Pelham Blue. Roger

Blimey, the last time I heard of CuNiFe was when I replaced all the brakepipes on my car- originals were all mild steel I think. Roger

Either the 1969 or 1970 Isle of Wight lineups, thank you very much. Creme d' Meths, aka Roger

I've used very fine wire wool, partly to brighten up the frets. BUT: either mask the pickups or ensure none of the wool gets near them. Roger

Was going to suggest Old Greys Yard guitars, but see they have shut up shop. Get a day ticket on the Tyneside Metro and check out Hound-dog Guitars in Whitley Bay. Coming back on the clock-wise direction there's various Cash Converters/ Generators in the Wallsend and Byker areas. Don't know if Curvy Sounds in Heaton Hall Rd. might have what you're looking for. Roger