JapanAxe

I've played all of those songs and actually like most of them - as long as they are played properly. I can't tolerate half-arsed attempts at cover songs. I used to sing the CCR version of Grapevine while playing it on guitar - brilliant number.

I tried one of these in PMT in Bristol a couple of weeks ago. I particularly wanted to see if I could get away with playing it with a floating thumb RH technique, and indeed I could. It still felt weird having the neck vertical though. Does anyone know how this bass responds to a rockabilly-style pluck-and-slap approach?

Once I forgot my mic stand and the drummer kindly lent me a cymbal stand, to which I taped my mic.

That’s genius! I love a good accessory me

I have received (for the second time) an unsolicited phone call (with no caller ID) from a northern-sounding male who first asked if I was still performing on guitar, then went on to ask if I'd be interested in helping him with his project to film someone playing bass underwater - in Manchester. I assume he got my number from my website. Nothing about these calls made me think that being involved with this bloke could ever end well, so each time I said no thanks and closed the call. Just interested to see whether anyone else has had one of these!

I would never do that! *cough*

I've just played three cracking country gigs in a week with the Crow Valley Band. My rig consisted of '73 Precision > Ampeg PF-50T > Barefaced Midget - I can't believe how big 50 valve watts can sound through a 1x12! The picture below is from Sunday's gig in a large high-ceilinged village hall - no struggle at all in terms of volume and tone. I think the Ampeg actually sounds better, maybe more focused, through the Midget than through my Super Twin. I should also point out that this arrangement is at the limit of acceptable overhang for me - I would have put the cab on its side except the Ampeg's feet don't clear the handle!

Looking forward to reading a comprehensive report!

I have the same fear. i installed a 6xAA battery pack under my guitar jam board (4 compact pedals) but I never really trusted it. Eventually I fitted a Fuel Tank Junior. Is it mains noise or is it chatter from a digital pedal messing with the analog ones? Another alternative to extension leads is an extra-long mains lead (say 5m) to your PSU.

I have one too. It's my home practice amp - nice full sound with onboard spring reverb and bias tremolo, nice and light, takes pedals well. Not for you if you want built-in overdrive though. Note: @pete.young is not my Dad! Further note: ... as far as I know ...

About £215 from Thomann:

On My '73: D'Addario Chromes On my '63 AVRI and Dingwall PZ5: Ernie Ball Cobalts Here's the '63 AVRI recorded via the DI of my Ampeg PF-50T

And we haven't even begun to discuss the lightbulb's HEFT!

Well I got paid!

Another short-notice gig, this time 2.15pm call for 9pm local gig with a 3-piece 'classic rock' covers outfit. There were quite a few numbers I didn't know or wasn't familiar with, so I spent the rest of the afternoon and early evening roughly working out numbers, making and/or gathering together transcriptions, and memorising the simpler numbers. All the dots went on my iPad. I recall there was a thread a while back where the use of music stands on pub gigs got a bit of a hammering. If this gig had been at a fortnight's notice I may well have learned the set, but that wasn't going to work on this one, I had to read it from dots. Fortunately I was able to position my iPad stand behind a PA speaker, so visually it was fine. On the downside, the BL had no clue as to keys. I first received a set list based on first notes or chords, then one with the alleged keys, which were mainly nonsense. Fortunately only a couple of songs turned out to be in non-original keys. The actual gig was ok, but the few people at the pub were more interested in the rugby and/or golf than in the band.

I can't for the life of me find the video on YouTube, but Pete Thorn posted saying if your gig has at least 2 of these 3 it's good: The money The music The hang (i.e. the craic) Can't argue with that!

Tell us more, Blue!

Rebel Heroes (Bowie tribute) at the Old Court in Windsor - damn near sold the place out, over 2 hours straight through on stage, with a mini acoustic set in the middle = pure enjoyment. As well as taking a DI from my Demeter head, the sound guy set up a cab mic. "I like Barefaced cabs" he said. Other Bowie tributes are available.

Just got back from my shortest-notice-ever gig: FB message arrived 8.38pm, started the first set 9.30pm, so 52 minutes! It was a blues gig with a pickup band for a singer/harmonica player. The call came from the guitar/keyboard player (who I knew mainly from open mic nights), the scheduled bassist having fallen ill minutes beforehand, and the drummer being 3rd in line after the other tub-thumpers dropped like flies from the lurgy. Fortunately guitar/keys had the set list well beforehand so knew how the tunes went, and the drummer had done the gig before (albeit a couple of years previously). Obviously it wasn't as polished as it might have been with a rehearsal or 3, but singer/harpist was happy and the pub crowd loved it, plus I got paid, so that's win-win-win!

Fri 20th September - Rebel Heroes Bowie tribute at The Old Court, Windsor. Tickets on sale here.

+1 for these, I have them on all my bass guitars. Mainly synthetic materials, but the ends are leather.

Are you a bit (or a lot) of a Bowie fan? Would you like to play Bowie songs in front of enthusiastic audiences? Then you could be the guy or gal that we're looking for. You'll be competent in a range of styles, and confident to tackle the guitar playing of Mick Ronson, Carlos Alomar, Earl Slick, and other stellar Bowie sidemen. This is not a look-alike act, which makes it all the more important that we accurately replicate the music heard on the classic Bowie albums. Pub-rock versions will not do, so you'll have your work cut out to get our 2-hour set under your fingers. As well as playing ability you'll need decent reliable kit and transport. The band rehearses in the Bath/Wiltshire area, so ideally you'll live around that area too. Message me with any questions and to be put in touch with our Main Man.