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Enjoying the new Queen first album remaster - what do you guys think ? - drums and vocals in particular more clear and seem to have been recorded in a room. Bass could be louder but that’s just me. Bought this album in 1974 so it made a big impression on me at the time and has remained a favourite over all these years. However, listening to the track “Liar” - in particular the “bass solo” part at 5.09 and in particular that wonderful descending line at 5.22 - I wonder - isn’t that a Rickenbacker ? Doesn’t sound like a P-bass to me. I know he played a Rick before he joined Queen and early on in the life of the band - he was a big Chris Squire and John Entwistle fan - piccie is from 1971 mind.

That last photo of the fretless is not doing my gas any good 😖 Babicz bridge anyone ? I do like the irony of your moniker Linus27 - maybe should be Linlus27 ? 🤔 I’ll get my coat…….

I always liked the intro to Juniors Eyes from the Never say Die album - In the late 70’s, a friend had that album and is the first Sabbath album I really got into. I then worked my way backwards 😇 Favourite album is probably Sabbath Bloody Sabbath but Never Say Die is still up there for me. Don’t ask me why…….

Bass Brothers have one in stock (Lemington Spa) - Be quick mind, can’t see this hanging around long ☺️ https://bassbros.co.uk/product/fender-jazz-bass-24-quilt-maple-qmt-mik/

…..and hopefully……a film about Brand X 👍

Jeez, where to begin. Mick Karn (Japan), David J (Bauhaus/Love and Rockets), Tony Franklin (The Firm etc). I used a fretless Shergold 6-string fretless in an Irish folky band (Think Pogues) in the early 90’s - but that’s not important right now……..☺️ Wish I had photographic evidence 🙄

I used to have a red Shergold fretless back in the day (early to mid 90’s) - tuned it BEADGC - loved the neck. Hope you have fun with your new instrument. I see that Burns have “bass 6” style guitar out atm - green burst is £299 ☺️ Powder blue is £349. https://www.guitarguitar.co.uk/product/200630359817025--burns-short-scale-jazz-six-bass-green-burst

Bought an Ibanez EHB1005SMS from Simon. Transaction went as smooth as silk - did the handover at Magor services. Bass as described and plays great. Excellent comms throughout and a credit to the forum. Hope you have a lovely break in west Wales ! All the best

Sold an NS Design Radius WAV 5 bass to Brian. Transaction very easy and was great to meet up with a fellow Basschatter. Top chap to deal with. Would readily do business with him again !

Bought an Ashdown ANT pedalboard amp from Joe. Very easy transaction with great comms. Pleasure to deal with.

I’ve noted a few discussions lately on the Squier Classic Vibe 50’s P-bass, so I thought I’d post my mods to one that I did a while back - at least a couple of years ago. I’ve always had a fascination about Chris Squire’s modded Telecaster bass - since seeing that picture on the little booklet that came with the Fragile album. When the Squier CV’s first came out I thought to myself - hmmm, you could do a nice “Squire” modded version to one of those. So, the first thing I was going to do was to add another pickup at the bridge position - then things went a little bit crazy. Seeing as it is an “inspired by” rather than a clone I thought - what about a humbucker in the neck position ? A mudbucker would take up too much space, what about something alternative - how about a Ricky, given the Squire connection. After a bit of rummaging around the internet I came across Creamery pickups in Manchester. As it turned out, as well as a toaster, I ended getting a set of 52-Pbass pickups too - Alnico 2 for the middle and an alnico 5 for the bridge. A three hole telecaster control plate was bought which needed a little bit more routing of the existing cavity so that the concentric pots fitted. A Jazz Bass pickup cover was used to cover the bridge pickup. In a final bout of madness I got the luthier who did the work to add the “Squire” decal. How does it sound ? Well, the middle pickup has a lot of that early 50’s sound - great attack and definition. Maybe not as much weight as a 57-Pbass but has some nicely judged mids. The bridge, having alnico 5’s is quite aggressive but not thin and nasty. I think if you like Jean Jacques Burnel’s sound you’d like this bass. The toaster has less mids than the P-bass pickups but has a bigger bottom. With all three turned on it sounds almost active ! So, all in all very pleased with the way it turned out. Going forward I might be tempted to sand down the back of the neck for a more satin feel and get a bone nut installed. I really do like the smaller body shape on these basses - very comfortable. Sorry for my ramblings - hope you enjoy !

Alain bought my ACG Border Reiver 4-string - which he previously owned. Happy to re-unite him with this lovely beastie ! Very easy to do business with and is a credit to the forum. Had a lovely chat with him at Junction 9 on the M6 too.

Laura Lee from Khruangbin uses an SX Jazz Bass live and has done from start. Don’t know if it is modded in any way. Given their increasing popularity in the past few years I wonder if Fender have ever been in touch 🤔

Yes, condolences on the passing of your dad. I used to have an unlined fretless version of one of these in red. Bought in Musical Exchanges in Birmingham in the early nineties when I lived there. Normally it would be tuned an octave below the tuning of an electric guitar but I tuned mine down to that of a six string bass. In fact at one point I had it tuned AEADGC - that low A did get a bit floppy. What I remember of it was the quality of the neck - very solid and stable. Beefy but too outrageous in its dimensions. Pickup was quite powerful too. Due to the Hooky connection and because it is fretted, you should get a pretty decent price for it should you wish to sell. Have you considered selling on Basschat to begin with ? Good luck with sale…….

I’m aware of both Om’s - one jazz (Cerberus) and the other metal. Like them both. Just to confuse things further there is a great fusion outfit called Ohm - whose bass player has been influenced more than a bit by Percy Jones. The album is “Amino Acid Flashback”

Do They Hurt? - Brand X Hubbard’s Cupboard - Joe Hubbard The Other Side - The Fents (Laurence Cottle) Mistura Fina - John Patitucci Cerberus - Om (Bobby Burri) Sheik Yerbouti - Frank Zappa Studio Herald - Steve Hillage (John McKenzie) - On Live Herald (vinyl) or Open (CD)

Andy bought a Schroeder 1212L cab from me. Sale was super smooth and he was a star to deal with. I hope he’ll send me some photos of his Shuker “P-basses” ! 😊

Bought ACG Border Reiver bass from Ben. Transaction was super smooth and Ben was a credit to the BC forum. Great to meet up and have a chat about basses ! All the best Ben !

Not an original composition but Lordy isn’t Chris’s tone and playing off the scale good on this track. Wonder if it’s his 21 fretter Rick on here ? Steve Howes’ playing not too shabby either - well worth a listen. Play LOUD ☺️