Old Man Riva

Completely agree! I know it’s a big favourite, but I’ve never liked Angie as a song - just not my cup of tea. And you’re right, it doesn’t sit in particularly well with the rest of the album - Winter, on the other hand, fits beautifully. I like Ronnie Wood, and think he’s a good fit for the band but, in terms of guitar, the combination of Keith and Mick Taylor is the one I’m most drawn to.

It’s undoubtedly ingenious, though I wouldn’t fancy having to get it upstairs to the function room at the Dog & Duck...

Yep, that’s a cravat for me. Worn under the collar, but definitely a cravat! No knot showing and the wrong shape for a tie. Tom looks sharp; nice threads...

A ‘new’ ‘old’ Stones track - coming out as part of the repackaged Goats Head Soup album. Love it..!

There are different ways to be noticed as a bass player... ask Pete!

That’s wonderful, that. Has a proper air of magic to it. I think Steven Stills is channeling his inner Steve Marriott...

Blimey, not heard these before - and Genesis is Know Who You Are?! Hadn’t realised that! I think I need a Cupa-Soup!

I must admit I’d not been aware of this guy until stumbling across some Wilcock bass demo videos yesterday. I saw Zero 7 many moons ago but hadn’t realised this is the guy that played bass for them. Anyway, my new favourite bass player... until the next one!

One of my favourite bass lines...

Pretty much same here (aged 10!) - had it as a Christmas present. Again, read all of the inner cover and scrutinised every word! At the time the burp during Darling Be Home Soon was the best thing ever, and now I just think, “oh Noddy, why on earth did you do that?”! Probably much to Blue’s annoyance, they were my Beatles moment..!

Great choice! That was the first album I ever owned as a kid - one listen and I was never the same again! Jim Lea is still one of my favourite bass players/musicians. Him and Don Powell were dead cool as well..!

Thanks NoirBass - you’ve definitely helped raise the spirits in a bass-related way through these extraordinary times! Have a great day and spend the money on gear (un)wisely!!

David Bowie’s ‘David Live’ album often gets panned in terms of the overall live experience (I happen to love it and it was a big part of my bass education when it came out in the 70s), but Herbie Flowers is (unsurprisingly) superb on it. Rocky, funky, groovy whilst always supporting the songs. It’s been one of my ‘go to’ play-along albums over the years. Andy Fraser on Free Live is one I forgot to mention. And someone turned me onto Gerald Johnson’s playing with Steve Miller a few years back - there’s a live Steve Miller titled Shake Your Tree (a radio broadcast from 1973) that really showcases Gerald Johnson’s playing. A bit of an ‘under the radar’ one but well worth checking out nonetheless...

Willie Weeks on Donny Hathaway’s live album.

Saw this and thought of you... Creative geniuses at work? No, they just needed to extend side one for cassette purposes! Makes me like them even more!

If John Cooper Clarke isn’t listed I shall have no other option than be forced to write an angry letter. Evidently chickens##t...

Bit of an odd choice, as it’s not a tutorial, but I love this guy’s playing. I think it’s a bass store in the Netherlands. The guy plays this same piece to demo a number of different basses, and I could (have!) watch all of them over and over. I love his playing, and actually find it really inspiring - I always want to pick up a bass after watching him. And yes, he does that little jump at the end on all of the demos!!

That looks lovely, Si. I’m a big fan of the Olympic White/tort guard/dark wood neck. Enjoy it, sir! (and if you’re ever over this way feel free to drop in with it for a cuppa!)

Just for you..! http://www.reallygreatguitars.com/product/gorgeous-pre-cbs-1963-fender-jazz-bass-original-tolex-case/

Hard to imagine BB King without his Gibson 345/335 guitars. Michael Schenker and his Flying V is another that springs to mind. Also, Angus Young and his Gibson SG, and brother Malcolm and his Gretsch.

I know what you mean. In the late 70s I left school and started an apprenticeship and shortly after, in the early 80s, joined my first ‘proper’ band - who were all slightly older than me, had good jobs and had significantly more experience and money. The two guitarists were fastidious about their gear, and always seemed to have new sets of strings - or at least changed them regularly. I (naively) asked how often I should change my strings - I genuinely had no idea! - and they both said, “same as us!”. This was at a time when the only strings I knew about (Rotosound Swing Bass) cost half of what I earned in a week. I was obsessed with music/bass playing and any spare money went that way - no going out with mates, no going to the football; music was all that mattered, but changing my strings on a weekly basis? No way! After a few weeks I told them I couldn’t afford the strings and they (amazingly) bought me a set out of the band kitty (that I’d not contributed to at this point, as I’d not gigged with them) but gave me strict instructions to boil them once a week. After being chased around my mum’s kitchen by a Swing Bass G-string I only ever tried it once. And I agree... I obviously wasn’t doing it right!

Rick Beato is having similar conversations...

“You only need to buy one set of strings in your life, as long as you regularly boil them”. I tried it once and it was like cooking angry spaghetti, boiling hot strings flying everywhere on the stove. Sounded like spaghetti, too...

Apologies, this should have been posted previously... I bought a lovely Fender Custom Shop 1966 Jazz from Graham in July 2018. Really straightforward transaction - excellent communication throughout, and I ended up collecting the bass from Graham at his home where we had a good chat about basses and music in general. Buy with confidence!