Old Horse Murphy

I met this fine fellow today and sold him my Guild Starfire I. The whole deal was as easy as it could be and he's a great guy too. Thanks Paul. Highly recommended.

Nice collection mate. The Jazz is a great bass and as you say, it would be nice to convert it back to fretted as the Barts sound brilliant in it.

So technically I'm out for 2022, 2023 and 2024. I think it's important to plan ahead.

I contacted Brian on Monday, shipped the original pickguard to him on Tuesday as he didn't have a template for it (new Stingray 5 Special), he received it Wednesday and he emailed me today with a pic of the new pickguard which was posted this afternoon. Top service 👍

It's not bad at all in fairness, but with lower tension strings there's more of a chance of it slipping off. I had a Stingray 5 HH a while ago and it was definitely like walking a tightrope so I moved it on. My natural Ray is absolutely fine though.

Well spotted! It actually came already strung with Flats, but after the laying it for a while it was suffering with a bit of the "old G-String off the edge of the fingerboard" due to the lower tension in the strings (and my sloppy technique). So, I flipped the strings around and the Natural/Rosewood (which doesn't suffer as much) wears the Flats and the Green Machine wears the Rounds. I also took time to try the black pickguard on the green one too and think it really adds to the colour scheme so I've ordered a replacement black one for it.

I have a Stetson. Do you think it would be good for Metal?

Before my back op (and certainly for the next few gigs) I used one of these which is just high enough for me to perch on when needed. I can also do the key-change stand up thing that Boy Bands do too as and when required. It folds own nicely too for transporting.

Very nice. I do like a natural Stingray with a black pickguard

Two that spring to mind: 1. We had a gig the other side of London and the drummer offered to help ferry across the PA that was stored in my garage. When we finally arrived at the gig, instead of picking up the mixing desk in its gig bag he'd brought our camping table by mistake. Fortunately the landlord had a spare desk, otherwise it would have been a four hour round trip to retrieve our desk. 2. A guitarist in a band I played with in Bristol had the disgusting habit of walking over during a song and letting rip right by me. He'd then saunter off leaving the smell behind him. One night he turned up with his brand new Les Paul and was cradling it like a baby all night. During the gig he sauntered over as usual, let rip and managed to follow through! The look of panic on his face was priceless. The Les Paul was swiftly unslung and propped up against his amp (or so he thought) while he clutched his buttocks and minced off the stage. Unfortunately for him, the guitar slid off the amp and he ended badly bending a couple of tuning pegs.

I think we met up and I gave you a Ray exchange for your P Bass. I could well be wrong, there have been so many basses and so many Services....

No Dingwalls I'm afraid!

It's funny, because the ones I'd hypothetically let go of first are the B2A (once it's working) and the Guild, purely because l don't think I'll use them anywhere near as much as the others. The next would be the Thunderbird which would basically leave me mostly with variations on a theme. Given my history of basses that have come and gone though, that pretty much sums me up! The Rays and the P basses are different enough for me with being strung with rounds and flats to justify keeping them (in my head at least). And then the whole ride begins again....

I have completely the opposite issue in that basses or guitars without contouring really causes me issues almost instantly with playing (some acoustics are the exception). Body binding makes it worse as I find the edges far more severe then (say) a slab-bodied Stingray or a Tele. I would love to own a 4001/3 again as I much prefer them aesthetically to the 4003S but my body says no sadly.

Weirdo! 😉

So do I! I blame you

My wife feels the same!

So after a quite honestly disgraceful 2021 of buying and selling, followed by an equally disgraceful January 2022, I've arrived at this lot: Back Row L-R: 2015 Thunderbird/Guild Starfire 1/ Hohner B2A (not fully working). Front Row L-R: Stingray 5 Special (strung with rounds)/ Stingray 5 Special (flats)/ 1989 US Fender P Bass (flats)/ 4003S/ Fender American Pro II P Bass (rounds)/ G&L CLF L-2000/ Custom Fretless. My Ibanez EHB1505MS is not included as I've put it up for sale. I spent a really nerdy day yesterday, cleaning and setting up this lot. I must say it was rather fun I'd really like to think I'm done and ideally would like to lose a couple, although for the life of me I can't decide which ones. If anything, I've got a hankering for a lightweight G&L SB-1 but we'll see...

I saw her a few years ago when she supported Joe Bonamassa on one of his tours. Great band

Yep, they're funny, unique beast that (to me at least) sounds like nothing else. Apart from the cranky trebly sound you get from it, which I personally don't like, they have a wonderful "fizzy" warm sound when they're dialled in properly. They've never been my go to bass but I know a number of basses who use one for everything, but I do love having them around. This is my 4003S that I added a black pickguard/truss rod cover to.

4 or 5 String?