Old Horse Murphy

This:

The best laid plans and all that.... Anyway, after managing to get down to three basses (P Bass, SR5 and Fretless) I called in to PMT Cardiff to buy some strings but on the way in my wife spotted this gorgeous US G&L CLF L-2000 in their B-stock section and said "ooh, that's a really nice finish on that bass". I hadn't actually seen it at that stage but on closer examination she was right. Not only was it a lovely looking bass, it was also a really, really decent price too, especially as the only thing I could see that was slightly wrong with it was a very minor lacquer chip near the truss rod access on the headstock and a tiny bit of a lacquer ding on the bottom edge. Other than that it was spotless. I spoke to one of the staff who told me they'd had it hanging around for a while but had only just put it up for sale and would I like to try it. After play it for 10 mins I fell in love with it. I've had a couple of G&L 5 Strings before but this was the first 4 string I'd tried and it's something else. It's a lovely light weight and the electronics sound amazing- more organic than say a Stingray, but equally more hifi than a P Bass. The neck is lovely too. The guy could obviously smell blood in the water as he offered an even bigger discount than on the ticket but I decided to be sensible for once in my life and walk away. About an hour later on our way home my wife asked me why I didn't buy it and I explained that I couldn't really afford it or justify it at this moment in time. She told me to use some of our savings if I wanted to, so when I got home I called the store and asked them if they'd accept an even lower price for it: they wouldn't but reduced what they'd offered it to me for even further and threw in free next day delivery. And here it is. So anyway, as I was saying I'm at four basses, which is obviously far better than three

Very cool. Where are you putting the plunge pool?

We've introduced a knife throwing routine. The guitarist stops and fiddles around while we take it in turns to throw knives at him. The audience loves it

I lusted after a Strat in a finish called midnight blue (dark blue metallic) that Fender launched in the late-80's when I was around 15. I finally managed to get hold of one in the early 2000's and it didn't disappoint. So I sold it....why do I do these things?!

Thanks. SR5's are my favourite looking basses and I do love a bit of natural. Re how long, that's a good question. I hope it's for a good long while as I really don't need any more (want is a different matter!) I actually used to feel really bad about having instruments sat around doing nothing, so to narrow it down makes me happier in a strange sort of way and I hope to use them all regularly.

Thanks! I've actually got one bass amp and cab setup now (Ampeg PF800 and one of the GR Bass AT212's) but there's quite a busy pedalboard which is unlikely to change. I've got a few guitar combos although the one I'm using at the moment is one of the new Fender Tone master Twin modelling combos which has made my Hot Rod Deluxe completely redundant! I use one of the HX Effects units (brilliant things), so I'm not too stocked up on black boxes at the moment

@Sibob should be able to assist I think

Following on from the @Bobthedog thread last week about consolidation, I think I've finally reached as consolidated position as I can myself with regards to guitars and basses. A few months ago I found that I had in excess of a dozen guitars and basses and honestly, the majority of them were getting no playing time whatsoever, so I decided to really try and whittle down my collection to what I consider would be go-to instruments: my toolbox if you will. Anyway, after a pleasant trip to Bass Direct this morning I traded in a few basses (at very reasonable valuations I hasten to add) and left with my new Stingray Special 5 String. This bass wasn't a stranger to me as I'd nipped up several times to try it before but finally decided to go for it and I'm glad I did. It's a super super bass in my favourite colour scheme. So that leaves me with my P Bass, my Fretless and my new SR5. That's it. And I feel happier for it. Guitar-wise I'm left with my Martin D18, an American Original Thinline Tele and my American Pro ii Strat. Again, I think this will do me for what I really need and want, and I'm hoping that everything will get played significantly more than it had done. I feel strangely cleansed

Our current keyboard player is ace. Very understated but sits there like an organist at a funeral when he doesn't have anything to play! A previous keyboard player we had was good too but suffered from the Dawsons at moments it really mattered, such as really important prominent riffs. Good job he had a sense of humour as he got much abuse for it. The best keyboard player I had the pleasure of playing with is an older guy from Edinburgh called Campbell. He's a superb jazz pianist and I always find my playing improves when I play with him. On occasion when he's solo'd I've actually forgotten to play as I get that captivated by what he's playing.

You mean there's more than one?! 😂

We auditioned for a keyboard player/programmer who told us he also played drums, bass, guitar, trumpet, trombone etc etc. When he found out that I played Sax in a few songs he decided that he'd play bass (he'd programme the rest) so the next 30 mins working out where we should all stand on the stage so he could swap instruments and use my bass when necessary. He then decided that he could bring his trombone along to next rehearsal and we could have a brass section on stage too. Again, more time was wasted discussing this.... Needless to say he hadn't bothered learning any of the songs, sight-read everything (badly) and then had a heated conversation with the drummer about tempos. This turned out to be his first and last audition/rehearsal with us funnily enough.

Well done Col. One of my old guitarists is one of Stray's biggest fans (bordering on stalking), so if you have a small, white haired weirdo called Patrick coming up to you or hanging outside your house just call me. He's absolutely fine and doesn't bite. Just don't feed him after midnight!

And what a fine drummer you are. I've always enjoyed forming the Rhythm Section with you. Hopefully we can get together and do something soon.

Sorry to hear that Jake. I had similar before where I got invited to an audition at short notice. I was told it was going to be a jam session as there was no time to learn any songs and they also lent me a bass as (it really was that short notice). I turn up to be given a 5 String (I don't gig with 5 strings) with an action as high as Clifton Suspension Bridge. We went through the songs and I thought it sounded generally good, as did the band leader (guitarist) who thought it was really tight. I was quite disparaging about my own performance though as I felt it was very much in the fly. He said they had another guy to audition a week later but they'd let me know soon after. Sure enough, a week later I got sent a text saying "sorry mate, the band thought the other guy was a better fit and seemed to play better on the songs we asked him to rehearse". Well, go figure.... Approximately five weeks later I got another text saying "tell me to do one if you want, but the other bass player isn't working out." He wasn't learning the songs and wasn't particularly musical and when he reached difficult passages, he started playing very quietly! After a long chat I decided to give it another go, this time armed with my own bass and having been given a chance to learn some of the songs. I was asked to join in the spot. Funny how these things work out an if you think of the audition as a job interview, then often the first few sessions are the probation period. As my Dad always says, what's meant to be yours won't pass you by.

If Spandau Ballet were a bass I think they'd look something like this. Love it!

It's not dark as such, but certainly a bit more old school than the first Pro models. It does go dark if you want it to, but it actually has quite a wide range of really useable sounds. If you can check one out I'd recommend it. The necks and build quality are excellent.

That sounds about right. I had two naturals that were from that era. Lovely basses but no option to string via the base of the bridge (string though only) which I prefer doing when I use flatwounds.

Speaking as an unbiased seller of one (ahem), the Pro II's are really worthwhile looking at. My main squeeze has got an '07 neck and I actually prefer the Pro II's

I'm pretty sure they weren't for that date range

Here's mine at a recent rehearsal. It's an Ampeg PF800 and a GR Bass AT212. They work very well together for me and it's a really easy transport too.

Funny, the intro of the Otway song in turn reminds me of Cathedral by CSNY When Will this ever end?!

I liked that and you can definitely hear the Stranglers' heritage running through it.