Rexel Matador

I think they're a great solution for a achieving a nice tight B string. I built one that was (I think) 35" scale on the bass side and it still doesn't seem to be enough for me. I'm planning another one that's 37" to 34", which I think is what Dingwall do. I had no issues adjusting to it, but I guess that might depend on your playing style - I went for the perpendicular 7th fret, again based on Dingwall, as I assume they know what they're doing.

This is mine. The bridge and pickup look oversized because the body is very small. The fender was too much wood and my back just can't handle it anymore. It's still fairly new but wear is creeping in at the top of the pickup, where my thumb tends to rest, and on the headstock where I keep bashing it on cymbals in a cramped rehearsal space.

Just looking at it is making my back hurt. Interesting though.

My current covers band ends our first set with this song. I find it weirdly daunting to have to just play one note for the first minute or so. Really hammers home how it's all about the groove! First song I ever played live was a self penned rap-metal original called "Harmless Powder". I was on guitar (sorry). Circa 1995, so I'd have been about 14. First cover I played live would have been about four songs into the same set, when I put down the guitar and me and the singer launched into a duet of "I ain't goin' out like that" by Cypress Hill. We genuinely thought we were the coolest mfs to ever exist.

That would actually be the perfect name for my band if it weren't a tad unwieldy.

Sometimes a band might not seem perfect at first, but things get ironed out with a little perseverance. I joined a covers band and was very unsure about it, but once the second guitarist got kicked out due to his negative attitude and generally not being a great fit, we started to gel as a three piece. We're not perfect but audiences seem to like us and the gigs are steady. I'm taking a break now as there's a baby on the way, and they're adamant they want me back when I'm ready - we'll see. Either way, it's restored my faith a bit, both in what's out there and my own judgement.

Branding on the body.

I think I once recorded there too!

1981 Tokai Hard Puncher

Definitely more of an Ox than an Este here. Except for the regular winces when I hit a bum note.

It's been a while, but I have made a bit of progress. The neck is profiled, the fingerboard is attached and the wings are currently being glued on. I've gone for a neck break angle this time. The last one had no angle, just a step down to accommodate the bridge height, if that make sense. I glued on one wing then made a jig to match the angle with the second one. I was going to do a walnut headstock veneer to match the wings, but I forgot to cut one from the body stock and the bits of walnut veneer I had didn't match. So I'm going to leave it as it is. I think it'll look quite nice with the laminates on display.

Ok, watching that and consequently hearing it for a second time, I didn't find the song quite so bad... but I think that's only because it was relative to how utterly terrible the video is. What were they thinking?

Love Ron. Jim Hall's Concierto is one of my favourite jazz albums, thanks in no small part to his playing - so smooth.

Really weak. Almost as bad as Imagine. I have a lot of time for the Beatles, in general. Though living in Liverpool for the last 5 years and being beaten over the head with them daily may have dampened that a bit!

I'm in a 3-piece blues/classic rock covers band (what can I say, we saw a gap in the market 🤣) that mostly plays around the North-West of England. We usually get around £250 for two 45 minute sets. Some places are strict about the time so they get exactly that. If they're not bothered we'll play longer if we feel like it. We've all got day jobs so the cash is just split between us for a bit of extra pocket money. I wouldn't do it for free though, on principle. I've done my time playing original music to empty rooms and a gig is a fair bit of work when you factor in rehearsal, setting up, etc.