Old Man Riva

Kate Bush, with Youth on bass... loved this when it first came out - still do...

For some bizarre reason, in terms of playing/trying vintage basses, the 1966 dot and bound Fenders are the ones I think I’ve played the most of. Any one I’ve ever played/tried has been a fabulous instrument - really consistent in their build and overall quality. I also love the look of the dot and bound necks and lollipop tuners. So odd that they were only produced for such a short period of time - only serving to add to the Fender myth and legend!!

Ahh, brass nuts; another 1970s bass improvement favourite!

That’s great! I’ve been fortunate to meet some really nice people in life, especially in music. In the early days there were a few people who really took a chance on me and gave me an opportunity. In the first band I was in I was really out of my depth. They were fabulous musicians and I was a bit younger and nowhere near as good, really struggling to keep up. The easy thing would have been to have gotten someone better (locally they were a decent draw and could have had their pick of players) but they gave me a go, taking me under their wing and mentoring me. Sometimes all you need is someone to believe in you, isn’t it. The guy who sold me the bass was a fabulous player - he’d played in a semi-professional capacity, backing all kinds of acts from Frank Carson to Englebert Humperdink on the cabaret circuit! - and was really encouraging. Never turn down a gig, he’d say, and of course he was right! He could see I was really keen on music/bass (to say the least) and just decided to help me along the way. The bass is special to me, and I’ve an agreement with my wife that (in the hopefully significantly distant future!) when I shuffle off, as long as she doesn’t need the money, the bass should be sold and the money donated to a charity for mentoring underprivileged kids who want to play music but may need a bit of a leg up... As I say, hopefully that’s a long way off yet!!!

Thank you! Yes, it’s a fine instrument, and sounds and plays wonderfully. I think you’re right. As far as I understand it the A-width neck on a Precision was something that was a special order - in ‘71 the standard Precision neck was a B-width. I’m not sure whether they fetch more, in terms of monetary value, but I think they’re harder to come by.

A couple from the 70s... The Jazz is from ‘73. I bought it in the early 80s from the original owner. I was a factory apprentice and worked with the guy (he’d just bought himself a Music Man). I’d played the Jazz a few times and loved it but couldn’t afford it. The guy just said take it and give me what you can afford each Thursday (pay day). A wonderful gesture which took me years to pay off - he let me off with a fair bit of it in the end! And the first thing I did... took it to a local luthier and had EMGs fitted!! I’ve since sourced a set of ‘73 p/ups for the bass but I think the p/ups are Seymour Duncans in the pic. The bass has been everywhere with me, and will be the last to go... The Precision is from ‘71. Lovely sound, and sporting an A-width Jazz-width neck.

That’s really all that matters..!

My late 1962 Jazz (refin)... It’s the nicest bass I’ve ever had the good fortune to play. The plant is an essential accessory..!

Like Lozz says too many to mention, but these are some of my regular play-along tracks... Don’t Interrupt the Sorrow - Joni Mitchell Custard Pie - Led Zeppelin Moonage Daydream - Bowie

Some of the punk/new wave era songs were great inspiration for would-be bass players at that time. Bands like the Clash, Damned, Elvis Costello & the Attractions, XTC, Stranglers, Ian Dury & the Blockheads all featured memorable bass lines. Add to that Talking Heads, Magazine, Wire, Jonathan Richman, Television, Buzzcocks, Ruts, to name but a few, and there was plenty for the novice bassist to get their/our teeth into! New Boots & Panties was, and still is, a wonderful ‘bass’ album...

First thing I ever got taught/shown how to play was simple root eighth notes on a 12 bar boogie. It (genuinely) changed my life! The first song I was taught how to play/learned was Thin Lizzy’s Dancing in the Moonlight - it was the summer of 1977 and was on the radio a fair bit and the bass sounded brilliant (still does!). Took what felt like ages to learn it and for it to sound okay but that’s what I did - and having a brilliant teacher/mentor helped! After that, mainly after school, I’d get home and sit and listen to Radio1 for hours trying to play along to whatever was being played. Didn’t matter if I liked it or not, I’d give it a try - even if all I did was work out the key to the song and couldn’t play the parts correctly! When I got a bit better I went for years where I challenged myself to properly learn learn a new/different song every day - usually by taping radio programmes then listening back. I feel lucky to have been learning when I did as the music around at that time (77 onwards) was great for me - so much variety...

According to the Fender website, “also included are a deluxe vintage-style case with 60th anniversary embroidery and certificate of authenticity”. It’s not a Custom Shop or American Vintage so it looks as though they’ve dispensed with any case candy - strap etc...

Pino’s already done it...

Glad you liked it! Their debut album is one of my favourite albums, and it’s a real shame they didn’t get the recognition they deserved. Here’s a different side to them, guesting on an Ultramarine track from 1995...

“Welcome to the hotel A Coppolo...”

Excellent! I think they do quite a bit for him in there. There was a US Lakland Decade in the Gallery last year that used to belong to Pino - it was wonderful; beautifully set up and great to play - and I probably (genuinely) spent two hours discussing it with John! And no, I still couldn’t get it to sound like Mr P!! I purchased a CS Pino model off the site/here a couple of years back and it’s a fabulous bass - slightly chunkier neck but so great to play. Right, what time does the Gallery close?!

How did that come about - or is it rude to ask?! What did you think of it?

Some great choices/suggestions, quite a few I’d not heard of so plenty to check out! Here’s something that would definitely fall under the ‘overlooked and under the radar’ banner. Sadly they were only around for a short while in the early 90s, but I was fortunate to see them a number of times at the now defunct acoustic room in the Mean Fiddler in Harlesden. Never heard two voices sound so unique together. Wonderfully ‘odd’ vocal harmonies and both members were excellent acoustic players, along with some very strange tunings! Pooka and a track called Dream from their self-titled debut album.

Nothing wrong with being an old rocker! And check out the tracks by Family and Atomic Rooster as they may be to your taste - and you’d probably recognise them if you heard them. I watched Top of the Pops religiously as a kid in the 70s and was always drawn to what me and my mates would describe as “rock guitar” - so anything from Bowie to Blackfoot Sue! The Family and Atomic Rooster tracks definitely have the sound I was drawn to back then. Barking Spiders, this is something that I definitely think fits the bill...

Blimey, that’s a blast from the past - I used to really like that track! I’d add... The Passions - I’m in Love With a German Film Star Hollywood Beyond - What’s the Colour of Money Swans Way - Soul Train Bill Nelson - Living in my Limousine Jerry Harrison - Rev it Up Edit to say... apologies, some of the above didn’t make the Top 30 - I should have read the original post properly!! Medicine Head had a couple of singles in the early 70s - One and One is One and Rising Sun - that don’t ever seem to get played on the radio. Similarly Atomic Rooster - Tomorrow Night and Devil’s Answer - and Family - In My Own Time and Burlesque - seem to be absent from nostalgic playlists...

Yes, a great band. Bill Nelson is such a wonderful guitarist/musician/songwriter. The bassist on this was a New Zealander called Charlie Tumahai. Again, a wonderful player. The live album has a version of Shine (odd at the time as it was included with the 12” album as a 7” EP!?) that has Charlie laying down some really funky lines. It was a big influence in my bass evolution as it was the first time I’d heard such ‘funky’ bass lines (double stops/chords etc.) in a rock band. I’ve been ripping him off ever since!! Saw them live... happy times!

I love this track/version. Reminds me of being a kid in the 70s. If I’d had a tough day at school or felt a bit ‘lost’ in the world I’d retreat into this and all would be good again. Still makes me feel that way...

Some very happy nights dancing to this when I was younger...

This is Bob Daisley’s version of events... apologies if this has derailed the thread, not my intention! https://bobdaisley.com/interview/website

Pete Townsend would be a good example. Roger Daltrey has done a superb job of making Townsend’s lyrics his own. With regards to Bob Dailey, it’s appalling how he was treated by the Osbournes...