cetera

There was a shop halfway between Tolworth and Surbiton/Kingston on the site of the old Bell Accordion shop that my friend used to manage - can't remember the name of it now - but Jon Law of Feline Guitars had a workshop there for a while as well. Just remembered that ABC had a short lived shop on The Ridgeway, Wimbledon Village for a while too in the 90's....

Not sure - this is one I noticed just by chance a few months ago....

This is a limited colour, previously only available in the US. May have to check this out myself.... very tasty!

Not on his example, no as that isn't what it shows. It compares pretty much like for like. A US made one would actually be more like £2.5k more too. Depends if you like top grade woods, hand finishing, Hazlab pre, custom-shop personal attention to detail, hard case etc etc. Same as any other brand with different products/price points. I can hear a clear difference between my US made NS2 basses, my Far East-produced NS2A's and my Euro/Euro LX basses.

You won't hear £4000 of difference. The first bass is a factory produced Kramer-era Spector NS2A from the 1980's which he has changed the preamp on (from a K-Haz to a Tonepump)...... and the second is the modern factory produced equivalent (price/build quality) from Czech Republic. Both now have the same Tonepump preamp. Neither is the £4k - £5k US workshop produced NS2 model and neither has the famous HazLab circuit. Both of these basses retail(ed) for around £1500-£2K or it's equivalent at the time. He is also running through a Darkglass B7K (which can colour to make any bass sound the same).

Keep an eye out for the Spector Euro Classic when it finally hits our shores in the next few months. Available in Black, White or Red it comes with a chambered body to ease weight & an EMG BTS system but still looks just like the classic NS2/Euro basses....

Phil Lusher (son of Big Band leader Don Lusher) managed Hands for quite a while too at the site in the alley by the Thames. I also remember when Hands was further down the Thames road out of town.... and, before that, just a small concession in the original Bentalls in Kingston (god I'm old...) Phil had previously been manager at Ivor Mairaints just off Oxford St in London's West End....

You beat me to it. Great songwriter...... best sung by other people...

These crazy Norwegians..... everything but the kitchen sink in this...

These two beautiful songs..... If they don't have 'em all crying buckets then nothing will... Crikey, just listening to them again right now.... with the horrors of Covid-19 and I'm holding back the blubbing....

I'll happily listen to most music.... except computer programmed modern pop, rap, grime, or KISS FM type stuff which I can't stand and find no redeeming quality, musical or otherwise, in. If there is a well written melody, a good singer and/or real musicians playing it I'm generally fine with it - no matter if it's jazz, blues, rock, metal, soul, funk, disco, reggae, classical etc

As a SW London/Surrey boy I used to love a visit to ABC Music on my trips into Kingston/Surbiton.... and even more so when I was at Kingston College. Decent gear selection for a small shop and occasionally a s/h bargain to be had. Much missed....

I'm an endorsee so *cough* I already have a good discount *cough*

Overrated: Coldplay, U2, Snow Patrol, Elbow, Billie Eilish, Stormzy and droning whinge rock or grime/rap 'artists'.... Underrated: Lake, Kayak, Lucifer's Friend, Corduroy, Kip Winger, Charlie, City Boy and many more you've never heard of.....

Me too - that very bass is on my wantlist! I believe the body may be slightly chambered which may take some of the 'body' from the tone so the BT may sound a little harsh but if so I'll just change to a trimpot TP or buy a Haz.

Stunner!

I only have the 9v Haz so can't comment on 18v.

No Peter Cetera, Tiran Porter, Rutger Gunnarsson, David Paton, Dave Hope, John Giblin etc etc etc. Personally, I rate 'musical/melodious' bassists like these much more than some of the 'technique-heavy/notes for the sake of notes/can't remember anything about what they just played' bassists in that list.... ho hum.... same as it ever was.

My preference: 1. Haz 2. EMG BT 3. TP with trimpot / K-Haz 4. TP (no trimpot)/ Aguilar 5. Darkglass Yes, you are alone

If you can't access a bassist for recording I can see how it would be useful..... but time is money and a proper bassist could record a suitable bassline in minutes, whereas this would take hours....

Loving that Spector NS2..... Mmmmmmmm.......

I do indeed. Mine's a nicer, more compact shape though....

Oh yes!! Can't believe I forgot this! One of the first bass tones that really GOT me! Proper growl and almost sounds like there's a slight reverb or something in it. Fantastic!

01 Ever played a gig sitting down? Only for a school play! 02 Ever gigged on a different instrument? No 03 Ever shared a stage with a musical hero of yours? Yes - played WITH current/ex KISS members Peter Criss, Bruce Kulick, Mark St John & Eric Singer.... and played TO members of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Def Leppard and Ace Frehley (ex KISS) 04 Any fan ever had a tattoo of your band's logo? No 05 Ever signed an autograph in a dressing room? Yes, many times 06 Ever cried on stage? No 07 Ever worn a hat on stage? All the time these days. It's part of my 'identity' in the show I play in.... 08 Ever gigged with a band you hadn't met before the gig? Yes. On MANY deps. 09 Ever been in a relationship with a fellow band member? No 10 Ever played in different bands on the same day? Yes, filled in with various bands on a multi-band showcase. 11 Ever had anything thrown at you while playing? Yes, knickers! 12 Ever crashed on the way to the gig? No, but came close on a motorway when the rooftop luggage carrier of the car in front exploded open at 70mph and a huge duvet and various items of clothing flew onto the windscreen of our van in the fast lane...! 13 Ever left a band over the choice of set list? Yep. If you don't like any of it - why would you play it? 14 Ever slept in the venue despite it not being a hotel? No 15 Ever been supported by a band clearly better than you? Who's to say what is 'better'? 16 Ever played a gig suffering from some debilitating medical condition? No, but shared the stage with various dickless wonders, singers with Lead Singer Disease etc! lol! 17 Ever been in a band where the guitarist was your favourite bandmate? Yes 18 Ever played in the grounds of a stately home? Yes 19 Ever injured yourself on stage? Yep, fell off my 7" platform heels onstage many times, burnt my mouth badly when firebreathing..... and fell off the front of the stage while doing my bass solo (ALL in KISS tribute)! 20 Ever been told that your bass isn't loud enough? Very seldomly! lol!

Yep. Clear, bold, full and right on point. Love Tiran..... his playing, his tone, his note choice AND the 'space' he leaves....!