Leaderboard

Old Bass Day. Having loaned this bass to my mates son while he was at university. It has come back to me. I’ve had it re sprayed and it is fabulous. I’d forgotten also how powerful the quarter pounders are. You can’t beat a good old Yamaha bass. It’s a BBN4ii by the way. And I picked up this amp cheap too recently. It’s a beautiful beast.

I was going to say this, they were huge at the time and a kind of bridge out of the prog of the time (like Yes, Genesis etc.) into punk. They were hugely influential to Punk. So many proto-musicians were inspired to form bands by seeing the Sex Pistols and other early punk bands but a lot of those early punk bands were heavily influenced by Roxy Music. In this influential sense they were very important too, I'm not sure the New Romantic nor the (I'm going to stretch my neck out here) very early Goth scene would have been quite the same. Without Roxy I doubt Adam and the Ants nor Siouxsie and the Banshees would exist for starters.

The things sellers say either in the ad or when you arrive to collect the bass: 1: “I’ve never touched the truss rod” - means; I’ve ragged the truss rod to the max and stripped the nut. 2: “it hasn’t been played in years” - means; It’s knackered. 3: “I’m not a bass player” - means; It’s Knackered. 4: “selling it for a friend “ - means; it’s knackered. 5: “I just want it to be used/to go to a good home - means; it’s knackered.

I’ve done quite a few oak necks now, it’s a great choice if you use a suitable board to start with (the same as any wood). If you wanted either a high gloss finish, or for it to feel exactly like a Maple neck then you might want to grain fill. However I prefer a more natural feel without grainfiller. But it’s not too noticeable either way. The grain is less pronounced than wenge which is frequently used with minimal finish. I built the bass below a few years back and it is a bit of a celebration of Oak…it is all English Oak - burr oak wings, 1/4/ sawn 3 piece neck, bog oak fretboard. Weight was a approx 6lb.

Well, as bassist in Roxy Magic, a well established Roxy Music tribute band, I feel I should chime in here... Roxy had a series of great bassists, most notably John Wetton and Alan Spenner of course, but check out the bass playing on their debut album. Graham Simpson's playing is killer all the way through, in that lovely fluid, early seventies style. "Roxy Music" turned fifty last year, and we did side one of that album (plus "Virginia Plain." of course) at most of our live shows in 2022 to celebrate. I loved playing a version of Simpson's bassline on "2HB," which is a bit of a forgotten gem. John Porter's no slouch either. His bass playing on "For Your Pleasure," especially on "Do the Strand" is outstanding.

Hey gang! Short version: Got a '71 P. It's in amazing condition*. B neck, 8.8lbs, balanced, resonant. It's a stunner. Long version: It's had one owner before me - an ex-pat Glaswegian, and professional bass player, who bought it new from a shop in Hamilton, Bermuda(!) in 1971. He was the resident bassist in the house band at the Princess Hotel on the island, and gigged it for decades. I suspect he may have used it to back some massive stars over the years, as it was a big venue on the circuit (no provenance of this, unfortunately). He returned to Argyll in his twilight years where it remained in its case, until he sadly passed away last year at a ripe old age after living a remarkable life. His family decided to sell it on, and I'm the lucky recipient. As you can see, it's incredibly clean. From talking to his family, it sounds like it never really left the hotel. Also in the case was a manual (with the purchase date, store name and price - $315 - handwritten on it), some REALLY old guitar cables, his strap and a back of old tortoiseshell picks. There's a mark on the back of the neck from a guitar stand, which I think will come off. There's also a sticker on the back with the hotel details on it.. I think I might leave this on, but I'm not sure. One of the tuner screws has been replaced. In addition to that, it looks like it may have had a refret at some point but I won't know for sure until I've taken it to be looked over by the legend that is Dave Wilson. Dave will also be looking at the mystery of why the bridge appears to have been moved to the 'E' side very slightly - I really can't see a reason why. If there isn't one, I'll ask him to shift it back. He's also going to pop the pickguard off to check the wiring, pots and pickups are original. It's been used so much, maybe something has been replaced, but hopefully nothing major. All-in-all, I'm VERY happy with it. It's getting gigged tomorrow night before it goes to Dave's. 🙂

This popped up in a thread on the fleabay a few days ago. I put it on watch and deliberated while doing some research. It’s a 70’s model 450B fretless. Going through many old forums it looked to have its original Schaller tuners original engraved picks ups (mighty mites?) and seemed in relatively good nick throughout the finish, knobs, switches and covers. there’s some marks but it is 40+ years old. I took a punt when no other bids dropped and lo and behold it arrived a few days later in a decent box I had a quick noodle and it sounds great, the pickup heights were all over the place but are sorted now and the action seemed a little high but I stripped the neck and there it was, the shim from thick tape plus it seems someone used blobs of something that set to lift the neck. I’ve removed it and the action is fine and it’s playing lovely. I’ll strip it properly the weekend and give it s good clean and service but my punt paid off and apart from having to replace the wooden pickup surrounds (we have a 3d printing shop at work) I’m well chuffed

Just soundchecked it. Ooooof.

Controversially, my first name is Paul and my surname begins with S. I know, a real man of mystery.

30 million album sales and near universal critical acclaim (especially for the early years) is NOT underrated.

Arrived this morning! Lovely bass and that buttery maple neck is gorgeous! only had a quick run through plugging into my computer and recording a line for the track I’m doing but it’s an instant improvement on my mex std jazz.

I was very much in the "seventies good-eighties bad" camp when it came to Roxy Music. That came to a grinding halt when I was asked to write a piece on the "Avalon" album for an online magazine. The band that recorded that record is a completely different one (in approach and ethos) to the one that recorded "Roxy Music" in 1972, and once you appreciate that, you can start to enjoy "Avalon" for what it is. My favourite Roxy album will always be their debut, but "Avalon" is a great piece of work. Just in case you're interested, this is how I tried to defend the indefensible... https://www.popmatters.com/roxy-music-swan-song-avalon

I've never made an oak neck, but I've used oak in a number of builds. The oak I've used (English Oak) has been actually quite nice to work with. Yes - tough, but pretty cooperative with all standard hand and power tools. It has a reputation for being heavyweight, but the lightest full scale 2xhumbucker electric guitar I've ever made (5 1/2lbs) has an oak back:

I can remember drooling over these on the Fender site in my youth! Did a great trade/cash with Will at Bass Bro's. Set up perfectly and such a great looking and classic sounding bass. Low B is clear too and sound just like a good P bass should too! Giving it it's first run out tonight at a dep gig too!

The Dickies...

I’m saying nothing…… 😶

Me too…. That’s how I know them 😆

I got dropped in at the Deep End in 1969, when the Singer spat the dummy, and walked away. I was the only one who could (passably) sing, so I was designated Lead Vocalist for the large number of Gigs we had booked. I went Home, concentrated on the Singing, playing nothing but Root Notes in the background, and gradually progressed. A week later, the first Gig arrived, and I had the Vocals 'off pat' in my head, so I was a bit more relaxed about combining the two. I found, as time progressed, that I could fit some 'twiddly bits' in between the less 'vocally' sections, and as time went on, my Skill Level continued to improve. A year later, it felt like I had been doing it forever, and I've been able to marry the two together ever since. I was lucky, in that the other Lads in the Band were just happy to fulfil the Gig requirements, and allowed me to do everything at my own pace. So-in short-Practise till you "get it". Not dreadfully easy, but well within everyone's capabilities. (Eventually!) 😉

Cheers! The shadow is actually surface marks at the edge of where the bridge used to be. if you look closely you can see the old holes for the bridge cover adjacent to the new ones (the previous owner used the bridge cover with foam stuffed in it). I can't work out why it's been nudged, as it's actually offset the strings. It's still completely playable, but I'm scratching my head as to why. The neck and weight are almost identical to my other beloved '71, but the 'new' one is definitely more resonant, and brighter. Old one is darker and rounder. Disclaimer: Can't say how that translates into the real world until I gig it.. which is tonight 🙂

I cannot think of a single person I know who underrates Roxy Music. Hugely influential across decades.

Just got the bridge today from the legend @Old Man Riva Im totally blown away by his generosity, he posted it next day delivery as well, a credit to this community.. Thanks Mick

She bangs - Ricky Martin I deeply apologise for knowing that this song exists and for reminding you that it exists.

I was once described as "the sort of scum that would eat roadkill". I decided I quite liked that, and decided to just wear it. It was pointed out that Owen Roadkill didn't sound very rock 'n' roll, and Jack was suggested as an alternative. I've used it on every forum I've ever been on.

"Not sure if its a genuine Fender" - 100% knows it's a moody as fook knock off that a dead cat would recognise as not being legit. "Got it in a house clearance" - a smashed to pieces unusable hunk of good for nothing fire wood.

"Lovingly displayed on a wall hanger, never been played" - it only fell off once, maybe twice. "Lovingly stored in its case, never been played" - tried a wall hanger but it fell off 17 times, the final straw being when it fell into the fish tank. "Lovingly displayed on a stand" - we used to have a dog, its only fallen over 317 times. The dog died recently. The bass might/might not have been involved in its death. "Great for metal" - this bass belongs on a metal grate, of a solid fuel stove, once its been cut up into small pieces.

I've probably said all those things at one point or another

Don't forget... "I don't know anything about basses.."

Roxy by Proxy... great name for a tribute band...

Plaudits due to all who play and sing I'd say. tra, la, boing, la-la, twang, etc.

My first impressions Re that the stock patches are a lot more usable than previous Zoom pedals I have owned. No wacky patches that scream, I have effects and I have to I use them. Tge oatcged all have song titles that are fairly easy to guess plus a year and those that I know sound fairly true to the original recording. I like the real foot switches tge paddle ones on the B1 ranges are not ideal for big feet and little stages YMMV. I like the fact that an expression pedal. Can be added but to me the best bit is the connectivity. Real DI out and a Zomm have realised that almost no headphones now come with a 1/4” TRS connector. I addition the headphone out it separate from the mono out. I have only had a few minutes playing through it and have not yet had a chance to go through the software and apps, To those that scoff the moulded polymer case, they are build like brick outhouses and nut B1 Four has done well I’ve 200 gigs without a hiccup. The faux carbon fibre finish is about the same as that on my car dashboard. That is not too convincing but if you are looking at that you should be playing.

Probably also Wire (who toured with Roxy Music), Magazine and some of the artier end of punk too. Even the Sex Pistols claimed early Roxy as an influence. Later-period Roxy had a massive influence on a lot of eighties acts, you can hear stylistic lifts in bands like ABC, Japan, Duran Duran (of course), Talk Talk, Simple Minds, etc. Chic took Roxy as an influence too. Good enough for me 👍

I’ve fronted bands while playing guitar and I find that easy, but for some reason I find it very hard to do it on bass, at least when playing with fingers. I think it is because the guitar part is usually more rhythmically similar to the vocal. Or maybe it’s just because when I started playing guitar I was a teenager and really wanted to be James Hetfield and just put the work in! If I play bass with a plectrum I find it a lot easier even for the same bass part. But with fingers… it’s like people who just cannot Pat their own head while rubbing their tummy. There’s a wiring problem somewhere! But whichever way works for you, the hands and bass have to be automatic. If you have to think about them you’ll not have the bandwidth to concentrate on the vocal. To quote Billy Sheehan “if you think, you stink!” Its a lot easier for songs you write yourself as you automatically write things that are easier for you personally.

👆 this. As the main lyric writer in my band, that title is hugely influential, in the sense of there's a whole story in those six words, an entire scene set before you've heard a note. It's an excellent inspiration to try and write lyrics as good as that title! And then, the song itself, an absolute monster.

My rig for smaller venues

I noticed it way later, but Roxy Music's bass lines and bassists have had a huge influence on my own bass lines... Love is the Drug is one of my favourite bass line and tune of Roxy Music, the bass being played by John Wetton IIRC. 801: so many memories coming back...

Try a noodle on Same Old Scene, may or may not be Gary Tibbs on recording although always when shown on Tv etc, good fun😎

I believe I speak for my entire Department of Audiology at the university hospital I work at, we train ENT doctors, when I say that if there was even a shred of cause to look in to this, it would have been researched and be part of the curriculum by now.

I’m a fan of most of their output, but think the first two albums are special. The debut album was a proper game changer, and so influential. Also has the great inner gatefold where you’ve got Bryan Ferry looking like a suave alien, Andy Mackay like a futuristic teddy boy, Phil Manzanera a glam hippy, Paul Thompson a teenybopper pin up, Eno like, well, Eno, and Graham Simpson looking like a geography teacher. Guess which one played bass?!

Cheers, all! Just made a quick murky vid. It sounds exactly like a P with ancient flats should sound.

My pleasure! Pleased it’s done the trick!

Did some cable management on my completed board. the good thing about these Rockboard pedalboards is that they come with lots of railing so that you can hide the cables from the pedals side and keep them all under. as an example, I cabled up the compressor directly to the capo input carrying the cable underneath the broadcast instead of around… same for the power cables etc. it may not be too obvious versus previous pictures, but this and a couple cable ties underneath and I’m a happy guy. it’s gotten bad now though, officially a bigger board than my guitarist, what has the world come to! all these hours ‘invested’ in pedalplayground have definitely paid off, everything fits down to the millimetre, Jesus! PS: I’m also hiding the voltage doubler (truetone) under the central pilar of the pedalboard - now it’s running at 24V 😊

"These are getting rare now", as if girt chunks of wood covered in three mm of poly somehow just fade out of existence.

My local music shop posted this on their Facebook t’other day. I’m not usually one for the flashy or garish, but a chrome/mirror finish is a different kettle of fish. Think I’d have to wear snooker umpire gloves if I owned this.