Norris

A bit of tinsel and a silly hat never goes amiss around Xmas Unless you're an originals shoe-gazer band

Many years ago I played for a showband that played quite a few posh black tie events. We used to have to spend most of the night in the kitchen with a plate of curled up sandwiches. The band leader would always be out there schmoozing with the guests, while we had to stay out of sight. These days, on the rare occasion we play at an event with a buffet, we tend to get first dibs because we'll be playing straight afterwards

Jazz necks tend to be a lot slimmer and are a fairly straightforward swap. There are several aftermarket necks designed as a straight swap. If it's not designed specifically for a P or J, you'll need to check quite a few measurements There again you could buy something like my Squier P-Bass Special and get the jazz neck with precision body as standard. There are several Fender/Squier editions with that combination

If you use linseed oil, make sure you hang the cloth out to dry afterwards. If left screwed up in a ball it could spontaneously combust (!) I'd be tempted to start with a damp cloth on the body, maybe with a hint of detergent and take your time. You can always build up to stronger solvents if that doesn't shift it. You'll be surprised what water can shift and it's least likely to spoil the finish

I never carry a spare. I've had one total failure in 33 years of frequent gigging. That was when one of the braided cables to the speaker coil failed through metal fatigue - on my 1x15 Peavey Databass combo. Any other time I've managed to limp through

I love my 500v3 so much I have no amp GAS, not even for an 800

You can always test it by holding a wire between the bridge and Jack plug surround to see if the buzzing stops, without opening it up. If the bass has been stored in damp/humid/condensation conditions it's possible that some of the solder contacts have corroded. If so you may as well drop a new loom in it. A new one from Ki0gon would not break the bank

You're not alone in liking a thin neck

I love my Comfort Strapp. I wouldn't use anything else.

I doubt it will cause any issues. We run our whole band from one socket. The only issue might be the fuse, but LED lights hardly draw any power. I was thinking of doing something similar myself. I carry some quick release clamps and often stick a couple of lights on the PA cabs. It would be handy to have a board to fit on top with a mini T bar. I'd probably fix a 4-way extension on the board with a short trailing IEC socket and a strain relief clamp

A Nord Stage 2 keyboard. They seem to be a very popular choice amongst the "turns" on tv. The thought of piano, electric piano, Hammond and synth noises on tap is very appealing, even though I don't play keyboards much. I'm just struggling to justify spending £1500 or so on a second hand one Any non-bass gear you're GASing for?

I saw him but wasn't really listening as I was busy doing the dinner

Is that hot glue or Araldite?!

Does the middle position sound different to the neck position? If so it's probably a dodgy switch, if not it could be the bridge pickup

These are no longer in business afaik

I only ever use a Comfort Strapp. They are wide and made of neoprene and elastic. Not as colourful as yours though

Ask @Andyjr1515. You could always stagger them to avoid cross talk. Might look good with a 3+1+2 configuration

A set of individual coils like Andy linked, then a switch to toggle the G string between the bass and treble output?

A couple of these? https://www.blackdogmusic.co.uk/product/three-string-3-pole-cigar-box-guitar-pickup/ They seem fairly cheap to have a play with. Alternatively you could try to find a custom pickup maker to do a dual-coil treble/bass split pickup to fit a P90 route - which would probably be a more costly route. @Andyjr1515 had some individual coils made a while ago for a bass build. I'm sure a 3+3 split can't be impossible to make

I went with the family on Wednesday night (to avoid the darned Halloween trick or treaters). A very enjoyable film we all thought. They kept it light, a celebration of Queen - there is a lot of potential for a much darker and gritty portrayal of Mercury's life that I'm glad they resisted temptation and glossed over. Of course it's mainly about Freddie, as he was the one with a personality I thought Malek did a good job. It's tough to emulate Freddie, especially with prosthetic teeth (yes, he did look like he had a couple of Werthers originals tucked in his cheeks). I'd have liked a little more from the 70s as it seemed a bit of a rush to Live Aid. However the couple of hours or so flew by, some good humorous moments, and the film left enough of an impression that we spent the following evening watching Queen videos on YouTube

Have I accidentally joined TB?

+1 a drummer I know well has one of these and swears by it. He plays some pretty big gigs too What drummer wouldn't want to feel the power of his kick drum projected into his @rse?

I use micromesh. Similar stuff. I bought a pack of pads. It's not cheap but can be re-used many times if you don't let it clog

B@rstad! I'm not buying his new long player

I wonder. Has John Deacon ever been in a Wetherspoons?