Stub Mandrel

We're doing 'Brute Force and Ignorance'. On the live version Gerry McAvoy's bass line is basically improvised from about five bars in... impossible for me to follow. It's a very simple song, mostly G D D G, and the main 'character' is thumping down on a the root note at the right moments to keep the pulse of the song alive (and putting the brief chorus in the same place as the guitarist. But the song demands that you change the dynamics and pace and that you vary the complexity according to what's going on. I want to play a combination of some 'signature' riffs that work well over the verses with random in-key noodling. I'm along way from happy with where I am but as hard and as satisfying to tackle as learning a well-documented bassline. My lesson learned from this is that there's an awful lot more to successful improvisation than scales. I can over analyse it (by claiming to be 'modulating between G mixolydian and D mixolydian) but that's getting close to 💩💩💩

In the Midnight Hour?

I've invested exactly £10.10 in upgrades, hopefully by the end of the week it will be a '1963 Jazz bass' (-ish). Bridge cover (already got, bought a Jazz one for my p-bass by mistake). Tug bar in 'old style' position (had two ina packet). On order: Jazz bass knobs. Pickup cover Neodyminium magnets Red tortoishell scratchplate Tempting to build a stacked pot control cover to make it a '62 'birthday bass' 🙂

My practice amp is carefully positioned so the door can't contact the basses!

Talking to the chap in the shop where I bought my Jaguar SS he says they have never had a bass that flies off the racks faster - every time they have one it goes straight away. Our guitarist bought one for his daughter before I got mine. I bet in 20-25 years there will be those who speak of them in hushed tones and those who say 'I can't see what the fuss is about they were only entry level basses', but I reckon they are probably the most instrument you can get for your money at the moment.

I tink it's because many songs don't have basslines that are recognisable in isolation, even if you know the song.

Totally failed to recognise that despite having the album. One thing that strikes me about this thread is that you can divide bass lines into two camps: 1 Those that really define a song and stand out a mile even without accompaniment - like Space Trucking or London's Calling. 2 Those that sound thin and incomplete without the rest of the song. Without any judgement on how they are played or what they are played on.

Horrors! My 'new' Jazz Bass came with metal knobs and I can only get a 'Flea' tone out of it. You'll be relieved to hear I already have ordered a set of proper plastic knobs.

Looks like a Rickenbacker made by someone with taste.

Who needs a D-tuner - see what Danny Thompson does at the end 🙂

I've spoken to a few retailers who (at least three) who got out of Gibson/Epiphone because they couldn't afford to carry the stock levels (and mixture of guitar values) required to remain being dealers. Presumably those retailers who did respond to the pressure found themselves carrying large amounts of high-value stock. Gibson then faced with p***d off retailers - those faced with having to discount heavily to sustain their cashflow, and those horrified by the discounting undermining the value of the stock they were forced to take on. This might explain Gibson destroying large amounts of guitars - to keep up the scarcity value of high end instruments, if they are faced with the alternative scenario of the collapse of a dealer network who refuse to restock with expensive guitars they know they won't be able to sell in a timely fashion while making a profit.

Octopus's Garden

Epic. Nice happy crowd too 🙂 Never has such a daunting display of wiggery graced a British stage since Poison won Crufts...

For lapsed gardeners... The Return of the Giant Hogweed. Suggested band: Robert Plant Herbie Flowers Bloomdido Bad de Grasse 🙂 Ron Tree

The Biggest Aspidistra In The World.

Not sure if they are 'authentic' or not! But they will probably be replaced. Actually i meant the bridge screws are in the wrong order - the long ones should be on the D and G. Ha , seems they are only 'authentic' on the Flea bass! I've ordered some proper ones. Now I've got a J-bass ashtray somewhere, and a thumb rest...

If we put them together, do you think they might breed?

I've come up with a new, raw, symbol people can apply to their radical bass designs. Combining a truly system-destroying woinky circle with a 100% rebellious letter 'T', it will leave people in no doubt what sort of musician you are.

"Every Must Get Stone(s) out of the potato patch" "Sweet Leaf" "Up Town Top Rankin'" (Strictly roots...) "If You Go To San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear A Flower In Your Hair)" "Dig It" "Can You Dig It?" "Close to the Hedge"

My first bass was a Hohner Jazz, currently with a mate of my brother's. Had an hour to kill before a band meeting last night and made the mistake of going to a music shop. Got persuaded to have a try (always a bad sign) and sold this by the son of our drummer (I knew he worked there but didn't realise it was him until after I bought it). It's a 2001 Indonesian (made by Cort) Squire Standard Jazz, rosewood fingerboard, 'agatha'(?)neck which has aged to a lovely 'hung up in a smoky bar for 30 years' colour) otherwise very light patina. Just needed a twitch on eth truss rod (probably due to the weather...). Pickups are a bit feeble, but I'll do the neodymium magnet mod I did to my Jaguar SS. 37mm nut like the Jag and quite a slim neck, but feels like it can take more of a thrashing than the Performer. Possibly a bit over the odds at £175, although the sunburst was $409.99 new, so not a super cheapie. (Spot the mistake on it... 🙂 )

LOL! At last another B2 that looks as fubared as mine...

Oops, 7 now. Found a 2001 Squier Jazz with somewhat lifeless pickups but a very nice neck and really great 'genuinely played in' feel.

It seems to have a different bridge from his signature model, for a start. It may well be the prototype and different in details.

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