EliasMooseblaster

If you're in the MK/Bucks/Beds/whatever-Milton-Keynes-technically-comes-under area then I can recommend Togfest at Bradwell Abbey in June. A definite positive bias as my only experience was last summer, when I played there with Cherry White and we seemed to go down astonishingly well. (Unfortunately they appear to have a policy of not booking the same bands in consecutive years (which I can understand), but I'll be putting in an application for 2016 as soon as the tents have been taken down.) It's openly and unashamedly family-friendly, but the bar had some decent ales and ciders on, and the music is well-selected and well-run. By having two stages not far from each other, people can shuffle over to watch the first stage while they set another band up on the second. Unusual, but it keeps the music flowing! This year, at the possibly-getting-a-bit-old-for-this-sort-of-thing age of 29, I'll be paying my first visit to a festival that involves camping (all the ones I've been to previously have been one-day festivals). Ramblin' Man Fair in Maidstone has got Camel and Joanne Shaw Taylor on consecutive days, not to mention bands like The Scorpions, Blue Oyster Cult, Pendragon and Haken, whose stuff I don't know that well, but who I'd be interested to see live.

[quote name='iamtheelvy' timestamp='1429273179' post='2749903'] Mull of Kintyre - The song with the most false endings ever... Seriously, catches me every time. Think it's over, but nope... [/quote] It's like a form of sonic torture, isn't it? Just when you think it's about to end, he switches the car battery back on...

I can see that the psychedelic paint job might might appeal to disco and funk players. Which is slightly ironic, because you'd never be able to play octaves on that thing...

The closest I've managed to a controlled experiment was trying two Schecter Model Ts next to each other in the same shop. To be honest, they both sounded pretty similar. The maple board was brighter, and bit 'clackier,' and the rosewood, as many have suggested, was a bit darker. But to be quite honest, the difference was subtle at best - you wouldn't have to roll the tone control too far to make one sound virtually indistinguishable from the other. Seeing as we're always telling Precision owners to "see how it sounds in the mix," and the Model T is basically a glorified Precision: you'd never hear the difference in the mix!

A good friend dropped in on last Saturday's gig, having warned me in advance that she really couldn't stick around as she had to be somewhere else straight after our set. It was also the first time she's come to see Cherry White since we appointed our new singer, a tall Lithuanian lady with an impressive shock of red hair. After clearing our gear off the stage for the headliners, Ms Mooseblaster came up to me and said, "Maria asked me to tell you: 'sorry, we had to clear off, but we loved the ginger lady!'"

[quote name='Hobbayne' timestamp='1429095218' post='2747869'] However, that awful Cher song where they do that awful effect on her already dreadful voice really burst my brain! [/quote] Ah, yes - any song on which they've deliberately pushed the autotuner too hard to give the vocal that horrible electronic warble. Seems to be de rigeur for a large proportion of top 40 artists, judging by the insufferable s***te I hear piped into cafes, bars, etc., and it just makes me want punch things.

[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1429094595' post='2747860'] Surely you meant to say: "[color=#ff0000][i][b]There is more potential there for a complete bloodbath than on any other single topic (except perhaps compression), and things have been a bit slow recently.[/b][/i][/color]"? [/quote] [quote name='CamdenRob' timestamp='1429095184' post='2747867'] Compression is nothing compared to the widespread derision caused by the mere mention of a music stand.... [/quote] So why [i]did [/i]you sell your Rickenbacker?

[quote name='Billy Apple' timestamp='1428442233' post='2741383'] Oh, great. Why don't you put one of those covers over the toilet roll while you're on! [/quote] I presume that comes with screw holes to fit where the bridge ashtray would normally go?

The intoxicated population of the upper deck of the N87 - it's strange being the only sober person on a London night bus (apart from the driver, one hopes...)

[quote name='pfretrock' timestamp='1429012708' post='2746966'] On tour this autumn [url="http://www.joanneshawtaylor.com/#!touring/c12n5"]Joanne Shaw Taylor tour dates[/url] [/quote] Anyone else going to Ramblin' Man this year? She's playing the blues stage on the Sunday (she and Camel were my main motivations for getting a ticket)

Have you considered French Polishing? I've done this to two basses for a natural finish now, and it does look lovely. It's particularly good, if done correctly, for bringing out the wood grain, though it does have the massive drawback of being a laborious and drawn-out process! (See https://thecrowfrombelow.wordpress.com/2012/12/07/the-birth-of-aradia-part-v/ for a diary of my own first attempt!)

An additional +1 to the sentiment that you were right to cancel that one! On a slightly amusing - but occasionally rather annoying - aside, we have found the definition of "drum breakables" to be quite variable. I think everyone agrees that this includes sticks, snare and cymbals, but it's never clear whether the promoter expects you to bring: kick pedal hi-hat clutch snare stand drum stool. We've turned up at some places where the drumkit has been missing one or more of these. The drum stool is the most worrying one, as we've previously seen it "replaced" with a plastic desk chair or even a beer crate! Last Saturday's gig was really good in the end, but when we got there and found a drum stool held together by mummification in gaffer tape, we decided it was safest if our drummer nipped back to the studio to get his own!

[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1428936521' post='2746105'] Have you ever walked half a mile carrying a 5-string Jazz, a Mesa Boogie head, and an SVT 810? [/quote] I believe standard procedure is to fit coasters to the back of the 810, pop the Mesa head in your lap, and use the bass to punt your way to the venue!

[quote name='Marvin' timestamp='1428858078' post='2745331'] The last two basses I've bought have had active/passive switches so you can play in either. I think it's something that should be on all active basses. [/quote] I'm inclined to agree, just to satisfy my own curiosity - anyone know how difficult it might be to fit one to a Warwick/Rockbass Corvette?

[quote name='Marc S' timestamp='1428921087' post='2745870'] Personally, I find it's nice to have different basses each with it's own feel & sound [/quote] That's my excuse for owning so many of the damn things, and I'm sticking to it! I know what AntLockyer mean, though - most of my basses can be divided into two types: Fender-type, and Gibson long-scale-type. Both are 34" scale lengths, it's just about the way they sit - with my various Precision clones, the 12th fret usually sits just to the side of my belly*, whilst on my T-bird and SG, the 12th fret seems to be over on the opposite side of the stage! To be honest, I think the simple/boring answer is just to get used to playing each one until you don't notice any more. [size=3]*at least, I'm trying to imagine it on me whilst at my desk, and trying not to make too many weird air-guitaring shapes in case my colleagues start to look at me like I've lost the plot (again)...[/size]

[attachment=189080:OSI11Apr.jpg] Tonight-bump because it is tonight.

[quote name='Chiliwailer' timestamp='1428666876' post='2743556'] I've never seen a regular team built slab version, only the master built that Coda ordered and has ended up on the for sale section on this site. Coda reckon it took 3 years to deliver. That would be a cool Ltd Ed, it's a shame they dont appear to be doing the seasonal Ltd Ed's anymore. The regular P's and J's sell really well and consistently, year after year and pretty much no matter what they put out because it's always a variation of a classic that'll appeal to most people who are obviously buying them. Coda's stock turn around in the last few years has been pretty good, especially considering the price they carry. I guess retailers are cautious of buying in More experimental models that are going to tie up a lot of their cash flow and could hang around longer. I think guitar guitar still have the quite dodgy 2013 Proto Bass, though others like it still sold so who am I to point?! Your ideas and Discreet's Jazz idea are pretty cool, but no doubt people would find something to moan about those too and they most likely would not sell in high numbers anyway like the the majority of basses CS output each year, give or take the odd one which would be a marmite bass for sure. [/quote] I had to look up the Proto, but I'll freely admit I quite like the look of it! But then I quite like the '50s body shape. I didn't think it was that radical a departure, but I guess some Fender fans can be incredibly conservative! Raises an interesting point, though - do you have any idea how well the Blacktops sold? I was tempted by the P myself (though ended up buying a Schecter instead) but they didn't seem to catch on (I only know one person who owns one). Were they just too radical for the Fender fans? And by extension, is it the fans' fault that Fender are so cautious with new designs?

[quote name='Chiliwailer' timestamp='1428601487' post='2742944'] Genuine question, no confrontation intended at all: What would you release for the CS 2016 line if you had control? [/quote] At the risk of giving myself GAS...did they ever run mid-60s style "slab" bodies as an option? I see that Slab66 are doing a decent line in Precision clones based on this design. I'm also surprised that they don't offer a few more adventurous options with pickup configurations - a couple of years ago, I honestly thought the Blacktop series might have been a sign of more exciting things to come. Why not have an option for three single coils, like a Stratocaster? Or a great big mudbucker up against the neck like Mel Schacher's heavily customised Jazz bass? I'm sure they wouldn't sell in the same numbers as US Std Ps and Js, but surely that's the point of the Custom Shop - to produce a smaller number of more unusual instruments! (OK, I think I've managed to post this without getting bad GAS. Quite fancy a Cadbury's Flake now though, godammit Steve...)

[quote name='Chiliwailer' timestamp='1428581412' post='2742621'] A term used in various industries for something that is genuinely old, made years ago, but never been used so in perfect condition. Now refer to Discreets earlier post as they are not, at all, NOS in reality... [/quote] Aha! Maybe this is the clue. Because the sort of people who talk about stuff being "postmodern" are the same sort of people who like to do everything "ironically." So perhaps the irony is that these basses aren't actually NOS after all. (Except this would be a correct use of the term "irony," whilst the aforementioned t***pots tend to completely misunderstand the term when they use it. Ironically enough.)

Excellent work, chaps. Now at least, if I buy one, I will have a good explanation if my mother asks about the name: [quote name='Chiliwailer' timestamp='1428580904' post='2742608'] Yeah, i had to look that one up. I wouldn guess it's something about it being a classic design yet updated and a departure from modernism - which could be a reference to the amount of Relics out there?!! [/quote] ...and the explanation I will give if any of my friends ask about the name: [quote name='discreet' timestamp='1428580693' post='2742604'] It means it's a bad idea brought to market by coke-fuelled assholes. [/quote]

Erm...it's a good-looking enough bass, I guess (though I agree about the white!), but I'm at a loss for what qualifies it as "Postmodern."

[quote name='Drax' timestamp='1428563793' post='2742376'] Highly recommend saving your bottle of piss for The Kooks [/quote] I'd be happy to send you additional bottles of my own micturate if you're going to be within lobbing distance of The Kooks...

I'm sure plenty of you saw that edited version of the Reading & Leeds Festival poster, which highlighted how few bands contained any female members. With the help of our friends in Cambridge, we'll be attempted to redress this balance, presenting a night of female-fronted rock bands: [b]Cherry White[/b] http://cherrywhite.bandcamp.com/ [b]Bouquet of Dead Crows[/b] http://bouquetofdeadcrows.bandcamp.com/ [b]All Whales Go To Heaven[/b] http://www.reverbnation.com/allwhalesgotoheaven [b]at The Grapes (Histon Road)[/b] [b]Saturday 18th April from 8pm[/b] Best of all, it's FREE entry, and there are rumours that the gig will be recorded by some of the good people at Cam FM - so if you'd like your wittiest heckles immortalised on public radio, then you know where to bring them!

I really should have put this up sooner, but never mind:[b] this Saturday, I'll be at the O2 Academy2 with Cherry White.[/b] [b]BABYHOWL + CHERRY WHITE + LOOSE MOORINGS + SEASONS IN SHORTHAND[/b] [b]Saturday 18th April from 8pm[/b] [b]The O2 Academy2, Islington[/b] Advance tickets are now available from [url="http://www.ticketweb.co.uk/event/YDH1104O?brand=o2academyislington&camefrom=AMG_ISLINGTON_OLDSCHOOLINDIE"]http://www.ticketweb.co.uk/event/YDH1104O?brand=o2academyislington&camefrom=AMG_ISLINGTON_OLDSCHOOLINDIE[/url] and the official FB event deelie is up at https://www.facebook.com/events/653526111419294/ And for those who've not heard Cherry White before, you can remedy this at https://soundcloud.com/cherrywhitemusic/

I can't even claim to be any kind of expert eye on such a matter, but if we apply a bit of common sense: there's no way that "no smoking" sticker has been on that bass for more than a couple of years...and what kind of philistine puts a naff sticker like that on an original '70s Fender?