ezbass

I was heavily influenced by The Shadows and not their ‘60s contemporaries and their music still holds a certain magic for me. I shall check this program out as soon as. Back in the ‘80s when I was still a six stringer, I was looking at tremolo systems to see which one I got on best with. I was in a shop in London giving a Kahler (my favourite whammy) a fair amount of abuse, when I looked up and there was Hank B himself. I shamefacedly put down the guitar and beat a hasty exit for fear that I would offend his ears further. He was shorter than I’d imagined.

Larry Coryell at The Crystal Palace Bowl in ‘76. Clapton was the headline. T’Pau supporting Nik Kershaw at The Town & Country, ‘87.

You are not wrong and I do combine the two, Owner Of A Lonely Heart immediately springs to mind. However, for some songs, especially if I'm using another effect (chorus or octave) I find it better without the OD. So many folk forget, or don't even realise, that Boz played fretless. What a guy.

I tend to have mine on most of the time too (mild drive/growl) but I do switch it off for some songs, particularly when using fretless.

I was playing with mine yesterday and it does make a great sound (or should I say, great sounds), but I was thinking that maybe I should try something else, especially as I don’t have a lot of experience with dirt boxes for bass (my only other one being an MXR M80). However, reading the above makes me think I’m probably set. GAS averted (for these at least), well certainly for the time being .

That’s impressive stuff there, everyone in the band really on their game; kudos.

You’re aware that that is the raison d’être of Basschat? ☺️

Ooh, here we go! (Pulls up chair and gets comfy)

Also, Andyjr1515 is another BC builder whose work is stellar. We are very lucky to have so many good builders on this site.

I tried a Metro 5 today and it was very nice indeed. I also played a Lakland J Sonic 5 in the same store, which was also nice, but the Sad was my preference, despite the slightly wider neck, which I thought would put me off the Sad (it didn't). I then went to another store and tried a Metro Express 4; not as immediately impressive as the Metro, but when I then tried a Fender active P/J next to it, it was evident what the extra £s were buying you (or at least me): better neck; more authoritative pickups; a preamp that made a good amount of difference; weight. Dammit! I should have stayed at home and not fed the GAS monster. 😂

Yes, his custom builds are the nearest thing I’ve played to a Rob Allen (really, really near). Drop him a PM, he can only say no and he might have some other suggestions if he’s not in a position to do a build.

Have it fretted for sure. I’m a predominately fretless player, but if having frets fitted will make you play it more and, more importantly, keep it - do it. You’ll own a truly magnificent bass, that you like and if you do come to sell it, don’t worry, you won’t have wrecked the resale IMO. Buying instruments for their potential resale, whilst being a potential pension investment, etc, isn’t their raison d’être, they’re musical instruments and should be played. To have a Wal is a lovely thing and it deserves to serve you in the way you want. Ooh, I almost forgot

When we were doing the name thing, the keyboardist and I had great fun coming up with Tim Potty and the Fartbreakers, with similarly toilet humour based individual names (Benmont Stench was one of them).

They’re old posts where the links got lost in a site migration I think ☹️. Perhaps @Bilbo might be persuaded to repost them ☺️🤞.

There are 3 to my certain knowledge: us; Too Petty and Petty Criminals.

It’s The Heartfakers. https://www.heartfakers.com

Played South Park Arts Centre, Cellar Bar on Thursday and The Dashwood Arms in Piddington last night, both with my Tom Petty tribute band. Both were great gigs despite the distance for me. The landlord at the Dashwood is a proper music lover and appreciative of one’s work. It’s a reasonable sized stage (we are a 6 piece, so a little snug) although you have to keep the volume at a reasonable level (fine by me, I just ended using my usual settings anyway) due to the acoustics of the place. The Cellar Bar gig was cracking and we played better there than we have anywhere, helped by it having its own sound guy, who knows his stuff and the venue, so sound checks are a breeze. A small, bijou place where any more than 50 folks would be uncomfortable, but cheap bar and a nice vibe (not a great load in though, steep narrow stairs, albeit only one flight and it was a bit chilly).

Stop it, stop it right now! That is lovely. The only way I’d sell my Rob Allen MB2 five string is for a 4 string version. Of course you could ask our own, ridiculously talented ‘Jabba the gut’ for a custom build, page 4 has a lovely fretless.

Love those Camilo videos.

Most of my regrets are guitar based TBH, as the basses I have sold, have been moved on for solid reasons. My custom Elwoods are probably forever basses, the Jake, erm, probably not so much, but I need to not make a snap decision on that just yet. My only other bass is a Rob Allen MB2 5 string, which, unless I can source a 4 string version, is also another forever bass (Lady Ez has instructed me that that bass is not sale, but...).

Ah, the musician’s lament. Been there, regretted that. Yet I still think, “Hmm, not really playing that, it needs to go.”

I fancied a bit of a change scratchplate wise and rather than splash out £40 or so on a custom p/g, I thought I'd give 'making' one myself by placing a thin tort one behind the existing clear one. I'm very pleased with the result and it only cost me £12.50. https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B06XPP9ZJ3/ref=pe_3187911_189395841_TE_3p_dp_1 It's sticky backed so could also fit over the top of an opaque one.

More evidence, if any more was needed, that BC is just an awesome place with quality folks. 👏👏👏

Our house is the first we’ve had with a garage, I always put the car away (I know we are an exception to the usual), my smugness on a frosty morning when others are scraping away and having their fans on full blast, is off the scale. In warmer months, if I have a gig or rehearsal following one of the same, I’ll leave the rig in the boot. Still not the most secure storage, but a real PITA for any scallies as getting the boot open without moving the car is impossible (it’s a tight fit). Basses always come in.

We don’t need no stinking frets. 😂 Enjoy; take it to rehearsals ASAP, it’s the best way to make it your best bud.