ezbass

I don’t care how tenuous that is, it’s bass related and related to a proper bass star. If, by chance, you ever get to meet him, I understand from folk I know who have met him, that he is a thoroughly good egg and not at all rock starry.

Inspired by the above Spandau Ballet alteration, a Bond selection: Coldfinger Live And Let Pie Chunderball From Russia With Gove Goonraker View To A Pill

LZ compilation: Slack Dog In My Time Of Lying Mince I’ve Been Lovin’ You Pool In The Rain D’yer Baker Night Blight Louses Of The Holy When The Levee Creaks Hot Bog

And very grateful we are really.

Someone was kind enough to take some photos.

Last night was the first live outing for my recent Squier 40th Anniversary P bass purchase, I have included an update of its live performance here

Last night was the first live outing for my recent Squier 40th Anniversary P bass purchase, I have included an update of its live performance here

Update time. Rather than adding to what I've posted before, I thought I'd precis my posts into a new one, with aded, up to date info, so folk don't need to scroll through all the previous posts, if this is their first read (also good for those who may have forgotten the details). Here's the thing, I didn't need another bass, I'd been playing my JMJ Mustang extensively since it arrived in Feb 2021 and that tone is to die for. However, the aesthetics of the Mustang are questionable to my eyes and I've always been a sucker for the P bass look and I've owned a few through the years, including one from 1963, all of which were moved on for reasons that pass understanding. I went P bass shopping in Dundee (my nearest 'local' store) some time back and tried a number of Player Series Ps and, nice as they were, they didn't hold a candle to my JMJ tonally, which I took along for comparison, they were all simply outclassed (or out-Peed if you will). Thinking that this was GAS cured, I returned to my lovely short scales but, surprise, surprise, I was wrong, the P GAS persisted. Then, some bright spark, you know who you are , starts a thread, advertising the great deals Thomann were (are?) doing on the Squier 40th Anniversary basses, colour me hooked. I'd seen a few YouTube videos too with reviewers extolling the virtues of this range, so it wasn't long until I pulled the trigger on the vintage blond version. Having now rehearsed and gigged with it (first outing live, last night), an update is required. As mentioned in my first post, straight out of the box, it was very playable, a very manageable 3.8kg, no complaints. Despite specs to contrary, the nut width on mine is 40mm, which suits me beautifully as this matches my Mustang and is just 1mm narrower than my custom Maruszczyks (these are slimmer front to back, so they feel very similar). The neck is a joy to play, very smooth in the palm, with no drag. There were two frets that seemed a tiny bit high when I had adjusted the action to my preferred settings, but this was rectified with a good polish in the offending area (800, 100, 1200, 1500 grits and micro mesh). I use EB cobalt flats on just about everything, so I ordered a set at the same time. I also had a set of Hipshot, lightweight tuners spare, so, when I changed the strings, I fitted these too, making the finished article lighter than my Mustang and a mere 3.67kg; happy days. Having had anodised pickguards in the past and not liking the scratchy feeling on my fingers, I also ordered a tort pickguard (I like 'em, YMMV). However, the anodised pg on these basses is more of a gloss finish, so that wouldn't have been an issue this time around, other than the sea of yellow (more on this later), but I had bought the tort one, so on it went, together with some shielding (there was none, the pg notwithstanding, and although it wasn't noisy anyway, I like to have it. There was none in my Mustang either, when I bought it and that cost over 3 times as much as this bass. C'mon Fender, get with it!). My only complaint, and it really isn't a complaint as such, is that the Vintage Blond is more a sandy/custard, but I think that the satin finish may wear in a pleasing fashion and the tort breaks it up too. In a live setting, with the band, the best way to describe the pickup tone is rude. It's definitely a P, but with extra bark and bite, not as smooth as the Seymour Duncan in the JMJ Mustang, although certainly in the same ballpark and it sits in the mix really well, making itself known; very suitable for The Jam and other slightly aggressive numbers we do. Add a little dirt (I use a Tech21 VTDI for this) and you're really in Jean-Jacques Burnel territory. If the the Player Series ones I mentioned earlier had sounded like this, I'd have bought one then and been poorer for it, especially as the all maple necks on those are quite bulky. I normally find all maple necks on Fenders to be much bulkier than their rosewood (or whatever) equipped counterparts, that is not the case here, the neck feels just right, a very similar profile to the JMJ as previously mentioned, so another win for waiting a bit. So, is it a keeper? Yes, I think so, but I've said that before . Members of the band were also suitably impressed by its performance and I found myself wanting to keep playing it. In short, feels good, sounds good, all good. Squier have really excelled themselves with these basses it seems and the Mexican Fender plant should take serious note and up their game accordingly. Same image as before, but to save scrolling...

That's because his kit is on fire.

I had some foreboding about tonight’s gig, the communications between the band leader and venue had been vague and it didn’t appear that much promotion had been done by the venue. Just before leaving, I received a message saying ‘small stage’, which didn’t help my expectations. However, it was rather good, only enough room on stage for the drums and backline, but not really an issue and the load in was really easy. We had hoped for more bums on seats, but it wasn’t too bad really, we played well and there was a fair bit of jigging around by the punters and some nice comments. I took my fairly new Squier 40th Anniversary P bass for its first gig outing and it excelled! The pickups seem quite rude and raunchy, which I like and it sat in the mix perfectly, it’s a keeper (we’ve heard that before ), I took a backup bass, given the new P was an untested quantity, but it was not required. All in all, rather splendid.

St Johnstone Supporters’ Club tonight.

One would think that the Ibanez, headless shorty (EHB1000S) would be dive free, but I have no practical experience of it.

Always was. To me, he sounded like he was playing, whilst falling down stairs, even on studio albums and I say this as a Led Zeppelin fan. That said, a great writer, producer arranger and acoustic player.

Not the first time Sonny T hasn't been available, someone else was on bass for the Montreux gig. I did find out who it was, but I've now forgotten.

I’ve Farted - Ivor Biggun

Shotgun Blues - SRV

I've been considering defretting my HB 'Stangalike.

IIRC Ian Anderson taught himself.

Those would awesome covers if you could source them.

I’m an inveterate tinkerer and have messed with almost every bass that I’ve owned, even one of my custom builds (replaced the pickup, knobs and fitted a pickguard). The least messed with have been my old Roscoe Beck signature (perfect as it was, except I eventually fell out of love with the neck width) and one of my current Maruszczyk custom builds, but even that has replacement knobs (Sadowsky style) and a couple of under layers for the transparent pickguard for a change of appearance. Probably the most savaged was my first Fender US J, I replaced the pickups with DiMarzio super Js, fitted an East preamp, put on a D tuner, recessed strap locks and a replacement PG. Then there was the Fender P Roadworn that had an extra P pickup fitted, the neck stripped and a replacement PG. I think I’ve got better over the years and changes tend to be cosmetic. However, guitars are another matter altogether, my 2 electrics have had all manner of changes made, to the point where the Telecaster only has the original neck and tuners, neck plate and PG, everything else is different (it is now perfect).

Tea In The Sahara - The Police

Conversely, buy some soapbar covers, drill them out in the appropriate spots and replace the J covers with them.