Cato

I've always really liked the aesthetics of Ritters. But I also think I'd look utterly ridiculous playing one. They look like they should be wielded by some sexy individual in one of Prince's backing bands, not some middle aged man in a pub. No 0ffence to any middle aged men playing their Ritter down the Dog and Duck.

I think perhaps the meaning of 'Rock and Roll' has shifted over time and now means different things to different people. 'Popular Music Hall of Fame' is perhaps a better term for what the institution was actually set up to celebrate.

I went for Eminem Devo MC5 New York Dolls Beck. The first 4 have all been massively influential even if , apart from Eminem, they never really enjoyed huge commercial success or became household names themselves. Beck is just unique.

I enjoyed that. Nice mellow tone somewhere between a guitar, a bass and a banjo. Although the guy is so far above my level of ability I'll not be switching the strings on my fretless to emulate him anytime soon.

Judging by their guitar range I think in the past when Music Man have done a signature guitar they've tended to design a completely new model with that artist, rather than just pop a signature on a model they already make. The Joe Dart Rays just about fit with that in that they have none standard electronics albeit in a Stingray body.

I like the Meteora shape, I nearly bought one of the double humbucker skinny stringers a couple of years ago. The bass looks like it might be a bit neck divey though.

I have no idea what kind of deal Joe Dart has with Music Man but considering that every bass they put his name on sells out within a few days I hope his remuneration reflects the not inconsiderable revenue he's brought in for the company. As for the Ray shaped Jazz I imagine it will be probably be a matter of when not if a limited run is made available and they'll be snapped up immediately too.

Mine had both. A short mouthpiece for playing vertically and a much longer tube for horizontal. It was the tube that used to get a bit nasty.

I bought a cheap melodica many years ago in a doomed attempt to teach myself keys. The thing that really suprised me was just how much saliva collects in the blowing-tube-thing.

Squier have really upped their game in terms of colours options and specs on their skinny stringers in recent years. It's great to see their bass range getting a similar upgrade.

My big breakthrough with playing fast for extended periods came when I realised that if I turned the amp up I could just brush the strings with my fingertips so I'm hitting the top of the string with much less force than my previous techinque where I was plucking the side of the string. If that makes any sense.

That Westone is stunning.

Welcome back KB!

Steel Panther are basically a Spinal Tap tribute act for the Hair Metal generation. Fair play to them for keeping the joke going for as long as thay have.

I've only ever heard the Macc lads when I was 13 and round a mates house who thought they were the funniest thing ever, but suspect that their use of racist language would probably get them banned from most venues these days. And, to be honest, I really don't have a problem with that.

There was a whole generation that thought Rock n' Roll had no artistic merit because it wasn’t played on 'real instruments' by classically trained musicians,. The more things change....

It's been the foundation of hip hop for more than 40 years. For me the ability to take a sample from a pre existing piece of music and turn it into something new and original definitely has artistic merit. After all how many guitar bands are writing songs with unique and original chord sequences these days?

It takes a little while to time to build up fretting hand strength and suppleness, some discomfort from using muscles that most people don't use much is normal when you're starting out. Having said that you should probably check your playing position. Having the bass too low or too high can cause wrist problems.

I like to think that they've transcended* to a higher level of bass playing, one where they are no longer concerned with mundane matters such as GAS or fingers vs pick or which bass is best for metal. *transcended in Budhist/karmic way...not dead.

Is that a white flag of Parley or a tiny axe?

My eyes aren't what they were ,is that a white flag of surrender or a tiny axe?

I'm not sure it's possible to 'hijack'or derail a thread that nobody umderstood in the first place. I'll be happy to try and get things back on track if anybody can explain what that track is?

Turning base (as opposed to bass) instruments into gold? Pure alchemy.

Bastard. Edit 1:(The accordian deviant, not anybody else) Edit 2: (Although they may be)

Having never played any gibson style EB type basses I'm quite intrigued by the pickups on the BM sig. At least they didn't just plonk a couple of J pickups or a split P in that body shape.