Doctor J

Likewise. If someone ever did that to me I would be out of there and never look back. I think this is something you just need to get over, Andy, because you’re playing with fire. It could backfire badly. You’ve got to trust he will do the right thing, as you see it, under his own steam.

Good stuff, well done!

Remember this moment when he says orange and blue is too sparkly 😉

The Aristocrats last night in Dublin, my second time seeing them. I think all the notes were played, every last one of them. Most enjoyable and great to see another band so clearly enjoying what they do. Great stuff.

It is now!

Is “Noel Gallagher” really what you’re looking for? 😉

Yes! Tasty Jackson! Hire that man!

Another vote for both, but don’t stop there. Every instrument you learn will give you a better understanding of music as a whole and improve your bass playing too. I play guitar and drums as well as bass and have gigged on all. I’m starting to learn piano. Why restrict yourself? Spread your wings, fella.

I’d add that I consider the sale of “meet and greet” packages just as sad and pathetic for all involved and this, as far as I’m concerned, is just another extension of that.

The Corabi album is immense, let’s get that out of the way first. Now, the shameless cash-grab nature of it is quite sad, but if someone is willing to pay the money, well, you’d be a fool not to take it, no? This, coming from a band who signed contracts stating they’d never play again after the conclusion of their last “farewell” tour and who have cashed in in all manner of depravity, is a little tame, in truth.

I don’t like matching headstocks with maple fretboards but it works so well with rosewood.

Yep, you'd have to go with tiny, tiny frets to make the fretless area any way playable, especially in the area immediately after the frets. I remember a band around Dublin in the early 90's where the bassist had one of these. It's an interesting idea, definitely, but there are good reasons you don't see them around.

I dig that colour. Would it be too bold to say a mint scratchplate would really set off that gold spectacularly?

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