Jean-Luc Pickguard

There are a couple of sellers who seem to regularly list these, here’s one currently listed: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/266046860991 This works best with a bass (or guitar) with a cutout in the body & pickguard by the truss rod nut.

If you have a bass with Fender 60s style truss rod nut access—ie a nut with a cross-shaped slot at the neck heel, eg a JMJ Mustang, the absolute best truss rod tool is this StewMac one: https://www.stewmac.com/luthier-tools-and-supplies/tools-by-job/tools-for-truss-rods/truss-rod-crank-for-tele I bought a second one from a UK seller on ebay recently to keep safe in case I lose my first one.

God's away on business - Tom Waits/Cookie monster

Yeaster Woman - The Residents

I ordered a cream coloured metal thumbrest from AliExpress on 19 November. This is what arrived today:

Another Land - The Residents

Land of 1000 dances - Chris Kenner

634-5789 - Wilson Pickett

Out of all my basses my Daphne Blue JMJ mustang used to be my go-to bass, but now I have trouble deciding whether to play that one or my black JMJ.

Surfin' Bird—Bird is the word - The Trashmen

Readers Wives - Dave Edmunds

No Money Down - Chuck Berry

Rumbold - Link Wray

Going Down Slocombe - Howlin' Wolf

Apache Rose Captain Peacock - Red Hot Chilli Peppers

Big Ten Inch - Bull Moose Jackson

Jocky Wilson said - Dexys Midnight Runners

That's no good if you're POTUS and want to practice in your office.

Ingrid's Oily Tongue - The Residents

I used to be put off by rosewood alternatives, but the blackwood teck used on my epiphone vintage pro thunderbirds looks just like a very dark rosewood. Indian laurel seems to vary greatly; the fingerboard on my squier bullet mustang guitar has really twisty grain, but the laurel on my classic vibe bass vi is very straight & even and actually looks rather attractive.

Gingerbread Man - The Residents

Mickey the mumbling midget - The Residents

Hit me with your rhythm stickers - Ian Dury & the Blockheads

Eastbourne Ladies - Kevin Coyne

I'm going to start 2023 with good intentions. The plan is to sell a bunch of instruments and try not to buy any more. I failed big time in 2022 and even managed to get an additional purchase in before the end of the year. In my defense Andertons listed the FSR bass VI in Lake Placid Blue at £70 off in their sale so it really would have been rude not to.