TrevorR

Funny, I was just wondering the other week whether Jeff taking to the stage again had dropped the bottom out of The ELO Experience's market or whether the increased profile and scarcity of Wembley/O2 tickets had actually increased demand.

But at least if a band is booked by a massive ELO fan you at least stand a 50/50 chance of the audience joining in... pity the function where the guy booking the band is a massive "The Fall" fan...

Yeah, Cheyenne Series was my first thought too.

Plus the inch thick foam rubber mats on all the drums...

Actually, at the moment I love it. It makes me chortle so much. Give it a few more months... Fortunately I’m not prone to Expletive Delighted outbursts so it’s rare to fall foul for me...

"derrière about" - I love it!!!! That should, of course been "a@se about"

Aren't Iron Maiden one of those bands who are usually very picky about TV appearances and try to apply a "We PLAY or we don't play." rule. Also I love the fact that Adrian has clearly said to the others in the green room, "Brilliant idea lads, but it you think I'm going to let Niko derrière about with my nice white Jackson and get a load of scratches on it..."

How about a Basschat Builders session with Andy, Pete Stroud and the like showing off some of their builds and chatting about the challenges of making instruments? As a guest builder/company we could ask someone like Bernie Goodfellow? Guitar Guitar to do a feedback session similar to the Andertons one? Just freewheeling here...

If Gary brings "The Axe" we'll have to insist he comes "in character" and full regalia!!! Or at the very least his "Soft Rock Ballad Stetson"!!!

Been wondering about special guests... I can't help with any contacts or hook-ups. However, Dave Swift and Rhino have both been regular attendees in the past. I wonder whether they might be coaxed to give an insight into their playing or their careers. Also, I would love to head Neil Murray, as one of my early bass inspirations, talking about his life playing bass (from the National Youth Jazz Orchestra to touring the world's enormodromes, to working in the pit for We Will Rock You). What about Lol Cottle? He plays a bit in the Surrey area, esp at Boaters in Kingston, but I'm not sure where he's based. Another player with a hugely interesting CV. On techniques and the like, Dave Marks (Bass Guitar columnist, bass teacher, session player, rock and jazz sidesman etc), lives in the London region. He is someone I do kinda know and could ask if he would be interested. Top player and absolutely hilarious to boot. Might be dependent on whether he has a paying gig or not.

No he wasn’t, it was some unknown piano playing bloke called Reginald Dwight.

Of course, it’s not strictly necessary to palm mute when no one has actually plugged in your guitars and basses!

OK, that was odd... properly stuffed up my formatting there!

Poor old AAE... the production team forgot to turn on the feed into the actual studio but had it going out on the TV. They were waiting to start in embarrassed silence. Hence the smattering of applause half way through when the music starts and then Julieanne Regan actually does start singing.

Nice! Personally I reckon the open book models are dead classy so not being a batwing model is no loss really!

And they keep on coming thick and fast...

7:29am... maybe I was getting ready to catch the train...

Well, what do you know... I’ve not searched for that track for ages but look what just popped up...

Hmmm, that makes sense of something I’ve been pondering. Way way back, I recall being off work with a virus and veg-Ing in front of daytime telly. I remember seeing a Wal bass on (probably) Lorraine. Gareth Gates was trying to make a comeback and was doing his latest single backed by a “himbo” backing band who barely knew which end of their instruments they were holding. Except that “bass player” was “playing” a banana yellow Mk 1 Wal bass. I often wondered whether it really WAS and actual a real bass player or just a male model and, if the latter, where the yellow Wal had come from/gone to. I suspect we now know the answer. What’s the betting Gates’ management/stylists popped down to the West End and Camden and rented some telegenic instruments for the hired totty to “play”. If they’d gone into The Gallery and seen that bass hanging on the wall it would have screamed TV bass”! Never have managed to find a YouTube clip of that performance. Back to the bass itself, I love that the yellow uses a white undercoat to enhance its brightness. Garish but in a lovely way!

Are you on Facebook? Pop along to the Wal Bass Club there and join in the fun. There’s a sticky post which lists various players’ fave tone settings. A lot of good tones to try out as you explore the preamp...!

I was looking for a specific D-tuner for my Wal a year or so ago which seemed to be as hard to find as hens teeth. I emailed their customer serviced dept to ask if that model was still being manufactured. Got an email back saying that they had discontinued them a couple of years previously. However, they had some bagged spares and they would be happy to sell one direct. They sent it direct from the States. All in all, including postage, it cost no more than buying one off Stringbusters or similar. Once again. Really great customer service and attitude.

I’ll third it. Had a MAG300 and 4x10 for a year and ended up hating it. Could never get a sound I was happy with.

No you haven't. Well, not until we see the photos to prove it... Hint hint hint!!!

Couldn't agree more. It would be between those two for me. Was Orange Friday's me(n)tal orange swirly thing a 2017 build or earlier. It even out weirded the Psilos at the SE Bass Bash - and that's saying something! It does lose some points, though for seemingly being made out of dark matter.