Jean-Luc Pickguard

Bits and Pieces — Dave Clarke Five

Hubble Bubble (Toil & Trouble) — Manfred Mann

Could be the output socket. The ones on squiers are never the best, and I have had them fail with the signal intermittently cutting out. Now I always solder in a switchcraft or pure tone before that happens.

Nancy Boy — Placebo

No I'm afraid I didn't take any pics apart from the back of the pickguard, which is probably the most important bit to do. Both pickup cavities were straightforward, but shielding the control cavity was a bit fiddly as I kept the pots etc in place due to not wanting to remove the output sockets. I was able to shield most of that cavity but didn't go right up to the socket area. I ensured that the strips of copper tape slightly overlapped and each shielded area was grounded by being in contact with something already grounded.

I'm probably very replacable as a bass player, but the other band members might wonder why there are no rehearsal/gig recordings, no printed setlists, and why the website has not been updated.

That's what my missus used to say, but these days I find it easier to ask for forgiveness than permission. It is a beautiful bass. I did have an initial weird issue with the mono socket (and I did wonder whether this was why it ended up in CC), but once I had used logic and perseverance to troubleshoot and fix it, it has been perfect. I finessed the setup today when I was shielding and swapping the pickguard.

It did come from the Exeter branch. Another branch had an HX Stomp XL listed for £399 yesterday, but while I was thinking about whether to go for it, someone else bought it.

I'm looking forward to him discovering the term 'C✪ck Rock' and making a video about it.

I had a bit of time today so I have done the copper tape shielding, and as I would have to strip all the components off the pickguard for this I took the opportunity to try the black rickysounds pickguard. I started by putting copper foil on the back of the pickguard, but not quite up to the edges to ensure the copper doesn't show when it is fitted. Shielding the cavities was a bit of a fiddly job but I managed to get everything back together and working. I think the black pickguard looks rather good on the jetglo finish. I had a smidge too much relief on the neck, so it needed a truss rod tweak which gave me the opportunity to try my repro black truss rod cover for even more of a blackout/ninja/stealth/batmobile look, however I think I prefer the contrast of the original one so that went back on. I somehow managed to drop and lose one of the original TRC screws whilst doing this, but all was not lost as I had some spares that are close enough in size. More important than the aesthetics, the shielding has made the bass a lot quieter in the hum department, in fact I can't hear any hum at all now. Whenever I do a shielding job I always wonder why manufacturers don't do this to provide a better product.

Heath Wave — Martha and the Vandellas

Those tuners look a little wonky. Did 'he' work for Gibson in 1974?

Howe Long — Ace

Your Racist Friend — They Might Be Giants

I use the Boss app whenever I don't have one of my TC clip-ons within reach, or a TU-3 at my feet.

Laurel and Hardy — The Equals

Duke of Earl Grey — Gene Chandler

Abracadabra — Steve Miller Band

This should be an interesting watch — if the UK release isn't delayed. https://www.guitarworld.com/music-industry/normans-rare-guitars-documentary-release-date

My presents gratefully received from myself included a copy of "The Bastard Instrument — A Cultural History Of The Electric Bass," A 2024 Jetglow Rickenbacker 4003, and various bits & bobs to go with it including a gigbag, padded leather strap and various cables etc to facilitate Rick-o-sound.

Pils — New York Dolls

Drink Drink Drink (The Drinking Song) — Mario Lanza

184cm without the extension out (I assume that means the endpin) — That's six feet! Utterly bonkers I'd be surprised if this isn't a one-off prototype. The proportions would probably make it uncomfortable to play as the left hand will need to not only hold it up, but also prevent it spinning about the endpin. I think it would work better on a stand like the Dean Pace or NS-Design CR, but it would still be fugly.

If I needed something smaller than my current board to lug around on public transport, I would probably: Make up a second smaller board using mini pedals similar in functionality to the essential ones from the larger board, or Emulate the larger board as much as possible either using my (mostly retired) Zoom B3 or (if I have the budget) an HX Stomp

I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Three — Nina Simone