Norris

Veneering a curved Fender-style headstock is tricky. When I did my telecaster guitar I put the veneer in a vegetable steamer for half an hour beforehand. I also prepared a shaped clamping cawl to match the curve. To make it even more tricky for myself I bound it with celluloid too (Sorry, the in-progress shots are no longer on my phone)

I tend to only get calluses on my fretting hand. They do seem to get more prominent when I haven't played for a couple of weeks, so haven't been worn down. In fact my little finger is now feeling slightly tender 5 days after my last gig.

Lovely blokes they were too

Finished reading mine (1st print) this morning, which I've been dipping into since Christmas. What a gorgeous book. I'll have to start over again...

Maybe find a few bands and pick the 2 or 3 that are free on a given event. That would help to mix it up a bit

How about a bubble machine fitted into the control cavity? Ideal for children's parties

Save money on expensive plectrums by learning to pluck with your fingers

Over the years mine have fallen into 3 categories. 1. Mind wondering during a song, either enjoying it too much or bored, and all of a sudden you know a different section is coming up. "Have we done the guitar solo yet?" "Is this the repeated verse?" etc. 2. Just forgetting how the song goes. Faff around playing something, to fish around for some vague recollection of how the bass went that other couple of hundreds of times you've played it before 3. "What am I doing?" "Oh I'm playing bass" "Do I know how to do that?" "Well the fingers are still doing something fairly musical, I must do" "Ok, so what song are we playing?" Thankfully that last one happens quite rarely, but the fingers are usually solidly on autopilot and in no danger from the random mental ramblings. It can be quite disconcerting though

Yes ...specifically referring to "Widening holes for larger pots, without destroying the finish"

Hi I just saw this link posted on another forum - good news for guitars apparently http://mmrmagazine.com/mmr-global/mmr-global-gear/breakthrough-at-latest-cites-meeting/

A reamer would be handy for enlarging pot or tuner holes. It's not easy to change the pickup hole without needing some degree of touch up to the finish - probably a good very sharp chisel would do the cleanest job (with a good eye and steady hand)

You could solve a Rubik's cube with that spare hand while it has nothing better to do. Now that would be impressive

Can I suggest that we split the "arm danglers" into two camps: those relieving strains & cramps, and posers. Now for the posers, rather than dangle the spare arm, grip the top horn of your bass firmly and thrust it aloft while plugging away at the open string of doom. That's proper posing. Having separated out the posers, the remaining arm danglers can now receive our fullest sympathies rather than ire. Next week I'll be solving the middle east crisis and making a suggestion to avoid a hard border in Ireland, that is so obvious that politicians around the world will facepalm in unison. I thank you

You won't burn the circuit out. The trim pots are there to make fine adjustments to the sweep/frequency range. The factory would have adjusted them until it sounded good, so there is no fixed factory settings apart from using your ears while you adjust them if they need it

I nearly left my light controller behind tonight. The "minions" were helping with the carry out. Very helpful of them, but it's always in completely the wrong order for packing the car. Some new lights made the load different and I've still not settled on the new method yet. Anyway I'd already locked the car up when one of them came trotting out with a box under his arm. Close call!

Nostalgia's not like it used to be

I have a document somewhere. Luckily I don't buy kit often, but had better take the serial numbers of the new lights I bought a couple of weeks ago - thanks for the reminder

3-2-0-0 I'm too old to mess about with people I don't get on with. I'm pretty easy going, but there are 1 or 2 ex-bandmates that moved from 2nd column to 4th over a number of years

The "idiot check" we call it Edit: Oh yes, I've left my bass behind several times

Absolutely! I appreciate the help carrying out, but I don't appreciate the inventory I have to do afterwards, and retrieving/returning items to the correct car. At least it's usually me and the guitarist that get mixed. Everyone knows what a drum case looks like, thank goodness

The small screw in the middle looks like a trim pot. I doubt that is a fixing screw

I too have only just seen this. Unfortunately way too late to make an offer of help. It looks like it's in good hands though and I'll make every effort to be there. Thanks @Si600 for all you've done, and best of luck on your new venture!

I've been spoilt in having the bash at the other end of my village for years. Thanks to @Si600for organising it for that time! I'll have to check if I'm free before adding my name to the list, but am dying to see Jez and Andy's latest creations

I'd check the hard hitter can be subtle when the occasion requires. Dynamics can be the difference between a good and a great band imho. All things being equal otherwise, it comes down to personality and whether they are looking to do the same number/locations of gigs as you and same level of commitment.

They can bow. It's certainly worth checking before you start removing any material