Frank Blank

I have this version of Take Five, from the excellent TV programme Jazz 625, stuck in my head at the moment. As Steve Race explains at the beginning of the clip it’s unusual inasmuch as Dave Brubeck takes a solo, a solo I am pointlessly trying to transcribe to play on the bass, there is something about the simple beginning of his solo that really puts the hook in me... ...just as an aside I was watching this evenings episode of The Art of Drumming (excellent series btw) on Sky Arts and this lead me to ponder who is, in fact, my favourite drummer. Usually I’d say Sigtryggur Baldursson (well, attempt to say it and fail) but in light of the programme I was considering my dislike of drum solos, unless they are drum solos played by Joe Morello who manages to make them interesting and cool, I’m rambling, in summary... Joe Morello = coolest drummer.

I enjoyed this last night...

Due to a sudden twinge of lumbar back pain and my inability to get to my local voodoo practitioner before Saturday I'm not bringing the small but exquisitely heavy AER, just myself and the RA Mouse Updated attendee list... 1) Cetera - Spector NS2 & Legend 4X, Dingwall NG2, Epiphone Vintage Pro Thunderbird, Yamaha BB3000, GK800RB head, Genz Benz Neox212 cab, Tech-21 Dug DP3X preamp/pedal 2) Ezbass - Maruszczyk Elwood L 4 string fretted (J pickups), Maruszczyk Elwood L 4 string fretless (MM pickup), Rickenbacker 4003s, Rob Allen MB2 fretless, Phil Jones Flightcase + PB300 3) Happy Jack - AliKat DB #004, Mike Lull 54P, all I need to play a doubling gig (that evening) on those two instruments 4) BlueJay - Eminence Upright (left-handed) - IF IT FITS in the car, as we're now carrying a full PA system as well. Loads of camera and audio equipment 5) obbm - Fender Precisions, Sadowsky HPJ, Bergantino NV115, Handbox WB100 and if room Quilter BB800 + BF One10 + Nate Mendel for sale/trade  6) Nancy Johnson (Paul) - The Big One, rack (GED/poweramp), possibly the dUg DP3x. A bass. 7) MacDaddy - Shuker bass(es), Snapdragon Folding bass, Flattley Bass Poison Ivy. 8 ) prowla (Paul) - Maybe a Ric or two and fakers, maybe a couple of Statii, maybe J- & P-basses. Probably a Markbass amp & cab and a pedalboard with some FX. 9) Graemeross - Sire V7, USA Jazz Deluxe and USA Precision (for the bass shootout) 10) TrevorR - Wal Pro II E, Wal Mk 1 Custom, Aria SB700, MarkBass LMII and Traveler 2x10, pedalboard. 11) TheGreek - Mesa M Pulse 600 head/ Powerhouse 1x15 cab and The Psilos bass built by Andyjr1515 12) JapanAxe (Graeme) - most of the stuff in my signature! 13) Wolverinebass (Andy) - Maybe some Wounded Paw effects/signature preamp and a bass. 14) Silverfoxnik (Nik) - Roscoe Beck 5, Gibson Thunderbird, BC Rich Eagle, plus my Ampeg V4BH Rig 15) Paul The Drums of the Junkyard Dogs, with kit. 16) Frank Blank (Frankè Blanké) Rob Allen Mouse. 17) Ordep - Noble Preamp, Modulus Jazz, Fodera Monarch New Std, Amp, pedalboard depending on the day’s mood. 18) Jabba the Gut - TC Electronic RH450, RS112 and some own build basses 19) Thestick - Vanderkley cabs, Aguilar ag700 head, selection of basses 20) Mr & Mrs Hamster - Tea, coffee & cake! Might bring a couple of basses too 21) bassace - usual double basses etc. 22) OutSpoon (Steve) - Fodera Monarch Standard Classic, Sandberg California VS5, Maybe a '94 Stingray? TC 208 combo or PJ Double4? 23) Walman - BF Super12T, FPPR Status S1 (yes that one ), Genz Benz Streamliner, Helix Floor, and a load of EBS pedals for sale 24) musicbassman - planning to come, sorry I've nothing of great interest to bring with me, just some respect for all you guys bringing your treasured possessions to display. 25) Kebabkid - Sire Marcus Miller V7 (4 string), Roland Bass Cube 120XL, Zoom B3 & EBS Octabass 26) Graham (still tentative at the moment) - Lakland DJ5, G&L USA SB2, Yamaha TRB1005J, EBS HD350, EBS Neo 2x12, EBS Microbass II, EHX Big Muff Bass Deluxe, Joyo Orange Juice 27) NickD - Maruszczyk Jake 5P+, Maruszczyk Elwood L5A, Markbass 121H, Zoom B3, Bass Soul Food, EHX Freeze, Mooer Tender Octaver, Ebow. 28) Rodfunnell - Darkglass Microtubes 900 head, Barefaced Big Twin T, BB2, Super Compact, Warwick Corvette $$, Streamer $$, The Alien; Various pedals including MXR, AudioSource (inc a Hothand) and a couple of Darkglass bits and Phil Jones EarBox 29) JHK -usual yamaha TRB 6P ,Musicman stingray 5 fretless,GB Spitfire fiver,EBS Neo 15 cab,EBS 350 head 30) Hen Barn - status kingbass, nightingale, ebs reidmar & 2 x 10 LMT Vanderkley 31) Captain Rumble - walkabout, m pulse, Vanderkley 112, 212, Exotic Jazz 32) PTB - MTD 535, Sadowsky Metro Will Lee, Mark Bass amp, Barefaced S12, various pedals 33) clivem - Yamaha BBP34, Eden WTX264 amp, Barefaced 110 cab.

I have a lap steel that I never use, you are welcome to borrow it for as long as you like, in the spirit of exploration so to speak.

Lord above, some names and people I don’t care to remember there! Amazing.

Are they still playing?

Oh lord, there was me thinking it would be old as in 50s or 60s and there’s Conflict, thirty years, Christ on a bike.

I absolutely love the look of the bottom bass in this pic.

Oh my lord that’s dribble inducing.

Updated Gear For Sale List: 01. Mesa Boogie Big Block 750 Amp, Footswitch & Rack Case, £550 o.n.o. - Silverfoxnik 02. Schecter Diamond P5, 5 String Bass & Gig Bag, £350 o.n.o. - Silverfoxnik 03. Behringer 5 Band parametric 19" Rack Unit, £25 - Silverfoxnik 04. Fender Nate Mendel Precision, £575 - obbm 05. USA built 4 string in a 'glo' finish, £1300 - ezbass 06. EBS Compressor, Chorus & Octave, Dr Green Bass reverb & Joyo D-Seed echo and a small Pedaltrain board & bag (Mini I think), £TBA - WalMan 07. Mesa MPulse 600 (flight-cased) and a Mesa Powerhouse 1x15 cab (+ authentic Mesa cover) - £750 the pair - TheGreek 08. 3 Pin (female) DI plugs - The Greek 09. Hipshot Bridge, £30 - obbm 10. New Chinese Rosewood/Maple Jazz neck, £35 - obbm  11. Fender Jazz (Mex), in a very fetching blue, strung with flats - £450 12. Harley Benton Progressive 5 Fretless - £100

Totally enjoying this series, I used to drum and the program is making me want to again *puts basses up for sale*.

*waves*

I’m in love.

In my ear currently... Barry fackin Manilow’s Copacabana, cheers dude... 🧐

😁

This one..?

Oddly enough I was just listening to the first Tubeway Army album and now I’m listening to Bombers, I know what you mean about the intro, assuming you are referring to the live version..?

Updated Raffle List... 1. EHX Mini QTron - Walman 2. Set of strings - Silverfoxnik 3. Couple of Bass tuition books - Silverfoxnik 4. Line 6 DL4 Delay Modeler with power supply but no box - Frank Blank 5. Behringer BD121 Amp Modeller (boxed) - TheGreek 6. A big bundle of roots, blues, Americana ex-review CDs - TrevorR 7. Alesis SR18 drum machine, no box or power supply - Frank Blank 8. Boss BF3 Flanger, boxed, no power supply - Frank Blank 9. Korg Pandora PX4D, boxed, with instructions - OutSpoon 10. 3D guitar puzzle. - TheGreek 11. A couple of sets of 5 String Dean Markley Helix strings, never opened - NickD 12. Hard Rock Cafe suede clutch bag - TheGreek. 13. A combo/cab steel backline stand - bassace 14. Standing in the Shadows of Mowtown book and CDs - ezbass 15. Korg Pitchblack Pro tuner, no box, with power supply, Velcro on underside - Frank Blank.

I recently purchased an AER Basic Performer, unfortunately it came without its cover. I emailed AER twice but, after several months, I am still awaiting a reply. A company called Hot Covers was recommended to me by someone at PMT so I took a look at their site. Some AER models were listed for covers but not the Basic Performer, as the site suggested emailing if a model wasn’t listed I did just that using one of their forms to submit basic dimensions. I got a really fast response quoting a price and asking me for more detailed dimensions regarding the handle on top of the amp. I submitted the dimensions and my model of AER amp appeared on the website so I ordered it. Well it arrived today, exactly on time, it’s a perfect snug fit and really nice quality. I know we all like a good moan when service is bad but we don’t often say much when it’s good and the service from Hot Covers, from first contact to delivery was faultless, I highly recommend them, well chuffed...

Gear For Sale List: 01. Mesa Boogie Big Block 750 Amp, Footswitch & Rack Case, £550 o.n.o. - Silverfoxnik 02. Schecter Diamond P5, 5 String Bass & Gig Bag, £350 o.n.o. - Silverfoxnik  03. Behringer 5 Band parametric 19" Rack Unit, £25 - Silverfoxnik 04. Fender Nate Mendel Precision, £575 - obbm 05. USA built 4 string in a 'glo' finish, £1300 - ezbass 06. EBS Compressor, Chorus & Octave, Dr Green Bass reverb & Joyo D-Seed echo and a small Pedaltrain board & bag (Mini I think), £TBA - WalMan 07. Fretless Fender Modern Player, £250 - Frank Black 08. Mesa MPulse 600 (flight-cased) and a Mesa Powerhouse 1x15 cab (+ authentic Mesa cover) - £750 the pair - TheGreek 09. 3 Pin (female) DI plugs - The Greek 10. Hipshot Bridge, £30 - obbm  11. New Chinese Rosewood/Maple Jazz neck, £35 - obbm  12. Fender Jazz (Mex), in a very fetching blue, strung with flats - £450  13. Harley Benton Progressive 5 Fretless - £100

It’ll be disorganised behind me...

Man I’m really interested in trying this out!