Doctor J

Or, perhaps, they might make the radical and easy move of addressing the area of weakness. It’s not as if they have remained true to any other facet of the design with such zealotry in the last 70 years.

Cory Wong and his sublime funk in Cork on Thursday and Dublin last night. Simply fantastic. A doff of the cap must go to young Seth Tackaberry who handled bass duties with great skill. I was delighted to see Petar Janjic drumming, comfortably one of the most engaging, entertaining and jaw-droppingly good drummers I have ever seen. I love to see a band who look like they’re having fun and, with that band playing that music, it would be impossible not to. Two great nights, for sure.

Sounds like he covered the old Travis version? I’ve never heard a cover of an Iron Maiden song I could sit through and I’d rank Queen alongside them. Any band where the singer has a voice so powerful and unique (and usually with incredible range) seldom come across well when the singer’s voice doesn’t quite cut it.

There’s a great album title.

Give it some WD40 and some time to work its way in.

I’ve never seen a drum riser with strings before. Impressive.

It’s the way of things now, they want their customers on an annual subscription and the latest version rather than with a permanent licence and several versions old software. It’s not just them, pretty much all plugin providers are the same, removing access to standalone installers and having you go through a portal to access the software you own so they can police it. I’ll be in the same boat at some stage. As long as my current version of ProTools works with the plugins I have, it stays disconnected from the internet as I’m happy with it as it is. Once it dies, however, I expect to go through the same dance you’re doing now. Then I go offline again and we repeat.

Cory Wong in Cork on Thursday. My mate went last night in Bristol and said it was brilliant, so I’m very much looking forward to it.

And the three-day week?

At first glance, the US economy has rarely looked stronger but, sooner or later, they're going to have to start paying some bills. Just like any musician applying for a visa.

Gibson have issued a cease and desist letter to Kiesel over their Ultra-V, introduced in 1986 🤣

Actually the other SB, the Aria, is a winner too

Ibanez skinny SB

Wait a minute, I think we're going off topic, here. Someone doesn't like Aja?

Nice. Very nice. My old ESP 400 Series Jazz has been with me since 1992, I think. It has seen off title challenges from the likes of Sadowsky, Fender old and new) and so many more but remains the Jazz by which all others are judged. Lovely instruments.

Keeping them relevant to bass in an effort to narrow the list down somewhat... From Out of Nowhere - Faith No More (we played it in my school band, a very important song in my bass life) Unconditional - Prong (still the playalong benchmark, once I can play this I know my fingers are in good shape) These Boots... - Megadeth (Seeing them draw out the intro to this live made it the song where the “I simply must play bass!” lightbulb went on in my head and the reason I play bass)

Sad news. I have never played one of his basses, but they are incredibly well respected.

I’m on my way back to the airport to fly home, having come over to Brum to celebrate the anniversary yesterday. Zakk played like a fella who got paid by the note, the Buzz Lightyear of guitar solos. I really thought they were poor, to be honest. Great setlist, wakk execution. I still enjoyed the night though, I got to meet an old friend who lives over here. We redeemed the situation by heading down to Mapledurham Mill this morning for the obligatory picture opportunity. We met another Sabbath fan there who had the same idea, all trying to figure out a way to sneak in 🙂 As for that album, it’s timeless. It still sounds vital and fresh today and is just as relevant now as it was 50 years ago.

Been there. What was even more disturbing was when the rehearsal venue wanted to be paid for the room hire.

Horrible. Many Gibson owners can sympathise, to an extent.

Tasteful 👍

Put a hinge by the neck pocket and make a door knocker. It should produce a satisfying thud.

Q. What game does a ska band play while waiting for a generator to arrive during a power cut? A. Ska-lectrics I’ll get my coat.

Nnnnnice!

PJ is my absolute favourite setup, coming down on the side of the reverse P position.