Clarky

Somewhere in the bowels of my Mum's vinyl collection are my Def Leppard's 'Get Your Rocks Off/Riding into the Sun' EP and Paul DiAnno-era Iron Maiden's 'Sanctuary/Prowler' double A side ... erm as well Fist 'Name Rank and Serial Number'! Must try and retrieve them next time I visit as I bet they are worth a pretty penny today

Loved Schenker-period UFO but unfortunately my first gig seeing them was with Paul Chapman on guitar and it was so weak and disappointing. Anyhow it gives me an excuse to post my fave ever guitar solo - Schenker on Rockbottom. Starts at around 3.45 if you can't be @rsed to listen to opening!

I saw the same tour but at Hammersmith Odeon. I won front row tickets as there was a competition form in the "Unleashed in the East" album. Touched Rob Halford's leather biker boots. As you do

I was the person that bought 'Name, Rank and Serial Number' by Fist

Thats correct. From an interview on indigogo: "I learned everything there is to know about the bass at Lakland"

Beautifully put together, easiest bass I ever played due to superb roasted neck and fretwork. But the limited tonal options and my lack of need for a fuzz sound meant I preferred the "meat and potatoes" Midwestern. Hence I kept the latter

I still have a Serek Midwestern 1 but sold my Serek 'The Grand'. Serek do make undeniably lovely short scale basses

I have owned a '71 competition stripe, a couple of CIJ reissues from late 90s/early 00s, and a newer US P/J Mustang Of the three model types, the new US one somehow felt sterile and lacking in character and I sold it on quickly. In all truth there was not much between the '71 and the CIJ reissues, either in sound or playability. The '71 had bag loads of character from the ageing/mojo and a lovely deep thump. I sold it on as I bought a shiny new toy (a Serek short scale) but regret having done so (and have since asked the buyer unsuccessfully if he would sell it back to me ...) Comes down to budget. If I had a spare £2k I would buy a pre-72 Mustang (thinner neck, lighter weight than mid-70s Mustangs) but if I were more budget constrained I would be more than happy to buy a good condition second hand CIJ reissue Mustang.

Afraid if there was a poll, I would be another vote for "demotivated, can barely be bothered to play my instrument" On the upside I have raised a whole bunch of cash flogging basses on BC and am down to two that are gathering dust instead of 5 or 6

Interesting, I booked direct with DPD and clicked 'private individual'. Had to fill in a customs form which I need to attach to the parcel but no EORI requirement, yay!

Thanks, this was via Interparcel website. The booking form states that private individuals also need an EORI, yet when you click on the HMRC link it provides to gain an EORI, the boxes to be filled in are framed as if I was a business. Utterly befuddling. I have applied but noted in the 'additional comments" box that I am a private seller not a business.

I tried to book a bass to be delivered to Belgium. My usual preference UPS has temporarily stopped international deliveries due to a backlog so I checked out DPD. When I clicked on the form it says I have to an EORI (export licence) number for the package, even though I am a private seller not a company. Have others found this? I have applied for an EORI but its gone into the HMRC jungle and I have no idea how long it takes to issue one.

... and another ... this time I bought a nice set of short scale strings. Thanks again!