police squad

I remember an interview with Brian saying that he would like to retire soon as he's the eldest member. 10 years older than Angus I think. I wish them well with the new album and with Malcolm's nephew on the guitar. I'll be buying the new album when it's out

when the cons outweigh the pros, it really is time to have a rethink. I did this just over 5 1/2 years ago with the band I'd been in for 8 years. The guitarist has been a great friend of mine for over 20 years and I used to work for the Bass player in his music shop. I really couldn't stand the roadie idiot that drove the van. He was there every gig being a complete tw*t, thinking he's important etc. I couldn't really get anything in the set that I thought would be good so in the end I gave them 3 months notice. I have since depped with them (on vocals) a number of times and am singing with them this Saturday. My point here, is that it's time for you to move on. You may, at some point, find yourself playing together in the future but at the present time, that isn't important. Try something new that fits in better with your current situation

[quote name='hamfist' timestamp='1411630771' post='2561251'] I think those white ones look magnificent ! Unfortunately, I think I'm just starting to get too old to pull off he look on stage with a thunderbird myself. [/quote] no you're not. Doesn't matter how old you are. If you could pull it off when you were 25 you can do it at 60. It's a state of mind. Go for it!!!

what's it a tribute to Gafbass?

[quote name='pfretrock' timestamp='1411548924' post='2560484'] I think where the upper horn should be, which Leo put there for a reason I take it yours is back of the neck/heel? [/quote] yes it's on the back of the neck/heel

black pickguard? Has no one suggested tortoiseshell lol. Slung low yes, very quireboys. Gibson do paint over mahogany don't they. There are black and white Tbirds. Where did the strap button used to be then?

Just a quick update. This has perfect balance. People say Tbirds have terrible neck dive but not on this. Any more love out there

I've always wanted a Thunderbird bass. Finally Epiphone have made one much more akin to its Gibson sibling. I found this one on ebay for BIN of £300 including genuine Epi hard case. I also have an Epi Jack Casady bass which is also excellent quality so I thought I'd have to check this Tbird out. It is immaculate and plays really well. Not sure when I'll get to gig it as it's not really a 'Police' bass. Comes with Gibson USA pickups and according to the web, 7 ply walnut/maple thru neck with mahogany wings. Although I've seen a review of a sunburst one, online, and it was 9 ply. Did a deal for £270 inc case. I'm happy with that. Anyone else got one of these?

[quote name='chrismuzz' timestamp='1411382224' post='2558876'] His only priority is the band. He doesn't have anything else in his life really. I'd be surprised if he didn't break up with his girlfriend if he finds out she's caused my early departure! [/quote] I would still tell them and walk away. You have done nothing wrong here. You said that you would probably enjoy the gigs now you've handed your notice in, (I remember doing the same 5 years ago and I really enjoyed the last few gigs because we were parting as friends) and unfortunately this trouble has happened and will only end up as resentment, agro and all that sh*t.

Chris, I would tell the band and the singer that his G/F is dishing out abuse over the internet. This is internet bullying. You must tell them now and walk away. The band members who are your friends will understand. Somehow I don't think the singer is your friend. Good luck

yes it was Lee. He sold my brother a pink Jackson, when he worked in Rockbottom in Croydon in the early 90s. I'd just bought a USA reissue 62 P bass from soho and then we went to rockbottom and he asked for a go on my new bass. It was amazing to watch him slap. He just flipped it over and bang. Great player and a really nice guy

I found a couple of pics from when I was still playing with them . As you can see I was in a band with Chuck Norris. The guitarist with the Ibanez is Martin Kidd. Cornford amps, Victory amps and WKZ amps designer.

very nice but that's not it. I'll try and find a picture of my friend with the left handed one

Many moons ago there was a bass guitar for sale in an east end of London shop. I think it was a 'Concert' series bass. USA made and specially ordered but It was actually supposed to be Left Handed. Jackson made it the wrong way round but then made another left handed for the original purchaser. The shop the right handed one ended up in was, I think, possiblly in Brixton. It was for sale for ages at about £699. I was wondering if anybody here has it or has seen it. Only 2 were ever made and a friend of mine and former music shop owner has (and is still gigging ) the left handed one. The paintwork has star wars ships on it, X wings, TIE fighters etc and the bass was fitted with a Kahler bass trem

I'm with Dad3553. HA3500. A VERY good workhorse. I've had one since about 2002. It did hundreds of gigs but it developed a fault that was so intermittment I couldn't be bothered with it, so I sold it as faulty and I managed to pick up another HA3500 cheap from DV247 which I still have. Currently I'm using an ampeg pf-500 but the Hartke is in the rehearsal studio as is still used whenever we rehearse. There's plenty of them about. good luck

I like the international colours

Any one tried this. I have been doing it with a hofner jubilee strung with flats. Amazing thump. I sometimes do it on 'Police' gigs but only when doing 'modern' Sting with the beaten up '57 P bass. It's a totally different sound to fingers. What are your thoughts fellow BCs

I defretted a US 62 P bass reissue back in 1990. Didn't even do the soldering iron thing. Just pulled them right out and filled the slots with some plastic wood filler. It worked a treat. I was carefull pulling the frets. Used it for a while and, yes, refretted it before I sold it. You could get a replacement fretless neck and swap it over

[quote name='itsmedunc' timestamp='1410281850' post='2547810'] I think the models with the patent on the headstock were something like 68-76. I can't ever remember seeing a more recent model with the same style decal? They were patents pending. I think the serial should be on the back of the headstock. I would be asking for some more pics especially of the truss rod access, the butt and the back of the head. It doesn't look right to me though... [/quote] with that logo, serial number would be on the neck plate. The serial number went to the headstock when they started with 76 or S7/8. Truss rod would adjust from the body too and there would be a plug in the headstock

3 here. and I help out my mates blusey outfit from time to time. Although I am shelving one of my Police bands.

any flat blade I would have thought. Something quite stiff. Maybe the back of a Stanley knife blade. Then a good dose of lemon oil. Spread it on and watch it sink in

I've only played a few spectors. A local shop had a couple of rebop basses which tbh I thought felt cheap and didn't sound very good. Then at a gig I was at I was invited up to play a bit of bass and the chap was using a Euro4. It played beautifully. Full of growl and sustain. Recently I bought a white Euro4LX from bass direct. A special edition SE5. It's a wonderful instrument. Beautifully built. It's got a real quality feeling to it. I think it's one of the best quality basses I've ever played maybe even better than my Aria SB-R150 Which is just over 30 years old yet stills feels almost new. Good luck with your quest (older Warwick Streamers are nice too)

First gig with the new bass last night. It sounds fantastic. I was amazed just how good it was. More sustain than my MIJ Fender 70's reissue f/less and plenty of that classic thump. Need to adjust the pickup height as the bottom E was a tad louder than the rest and apart from a few acoustic rattles (the fingerboard isn't as flat as it could be) it was really good. I'm really pleased and that's 6 Sting basses in the tribute armoury including 70's natural, maple board fretless '57 Bravewood replica of Sting's really beaten up main bass White Spector Euro 4 SE5 Ibanez MC940 fretless Steinberger XL2 (Sting's was an L2, but hey it's close) and this Red bass. Still to source, a 60's era jazz bass finished in shellac to look like his old Jazz from the old days A hamer Blitz 8 string in Red (not that he liked it) Maybe an Ibanez MC924 (the fretted one) Don't you just love guitars

I saw him (and ended up sound engineering the gig) at the launch of the Cornford RK100 at the yacht club in Whitstable. Paul Cornford was trying to do the sound but he's useless at it so I did it. Ritchie was very drunk and played a blinder. Amp sounded good too. Designed by my good friend and band mate, Martin Kidd. (Mart also is designing the Victory stuff)