Dr.Dave

Used in a video or two - (little Jimmy's birthday party?) It had a named owner - (Pol Pot? Jack the hat McVitie?) I'm wary in cases where there's information that could help a sale that's not forthcoming. If I had John Deacon's bass from the Bohemian Rhapsody vid you'd be sure I'd have it plastered all over the for sale ad.

It's too bashed up for moi - and I like 'character'. I had a 68 Jazz that was worse , that one had been vandalised including the timeless words 'your mabels m*nge box' scratched into it with knife. Stickers hanging off that had ripped off paint , burns (not fags - more like a blow lamp) buckle rash like it was done with a chain saw. I got it for x and sold it 5 months later for x2 and a bit more besides. I hope it's owner is as happy with the deal as I was. I bought my first Status , an amp head , went to Lanzarote on hol and still had enough change from the profit for a Saag Ghost and a few Cobras. I'm saying this not to show off but to point out that though this is well bashed , there could be value in it bought now at the right price with the world of vintage guitars being what it is.

I can't play well on a lined fretless - don't know why. So - unlined , side dots where the frets would be at 3 , 5 , 7 , 9 , 12 etc which my eyes use as a guide rather than a rule. I like rosewood for no real reason I can think of. I use either flats or half wounds , currently the latter. You really do need to use your ears , that's what I've found. My eyes are locked on as a sort of habitual safety blanket I think which I probably don't need much.

My main bass for the ZZ trib is an EpiEx. I moved the strap button onto the back of the body and that cured the neck dive but if you sling it fairly high your right forearm stops that problem anyway. Depends how you like it slung. Soundwise it's pretty basic but full and meaty , the necks quite comfortable to me. My problem is it always seems a stretch to play around the first couple of frets - it's a pig ,to be honest ,that way - but plenty of folk don't have that issue at all. I don't care for reverse tuners but I could do something about that if I could be arsed. It suits the basic lines I have to play in the ZZ trib , sounds and fits the image well. I just couldn't do the Dr Blue set with it though - not physically possible for me to do more intricate stuff for an hour. Horses for courses I reckon. Mr Entwhistle could bomb around fine on one - I can't. This is the only pic I can find with both my hands off it , post strap button move , and no neck dive. Before I moved the button it would have hit the floor if I stood like that.

There's been a guy involved with booking bands at the D and D for years , his nose has been put out of joint now Simon's taken over. This guy was notorious for cocking up bookings - 2 bands turn up for the same gig or no band does etc. I've no way of knowing but I wouldn't be surprised if the confusion over this gig is rooted there somewhere. I've done it loads - the World's End and the Blues Bar too - so I'm looking forward to seeing how Simon's changed things when we play there later this month. Methinks he's unlikely to mirror the landlady of recent years who wandered over to rebuke a customer walking with a stick who had approached us regarding doing a gig at a venue he was involved in with the charming words - 'Leave my f**king bands alone you f**king crippled c**t or I'll shove your f**king crutch up your bastard arse'. BTW - careful if you're selling T shirts there. I asked one woman if she wanted to buy one and she said 'I'll 'ave yer trousers , luv , so long as yer cock's in 'em'.

[quote name='sebpayne' post='643231' date='Nov 2 2009, 10:51 AM']Shame there was no interview with Christine McVie, just archived footage from 1998 and 2004. Is there still some animosity here?[/quote] I don't know that there's ever been animosity between Christine and the rest of FM . , let alone 'still'. She's retired and pretty much stepped out of the public eye though I believe she released some low key solo stuff a few years back.

Always been a huge fan - though it's a couple of years since I saw them. I always figured it's a very deliberate - and neccesary - policy by McVie and Fleetwood to continually hand over the musical direction of the band and take their pleasures from the versatility that delivers and the contributions they make. I doubt 'luck' is much to do with it. Christine's songs have been a bit lightweight for me over the years - though the biggest hits too. The current set is imbalanced without them though leaving the way clear for an ego like Buckingham's , partic as Stevie seems content to play more of a bit part since enjoying solo success. He's as finer guitar player as they come in my opinion - vastly underated. The playing and his production ideas , particularly when applied to Stevie and Christine's songs have been his greatest contribution to the Mac , I think explaining his 'tortured soul' persona as he'd obviously prefer to have seen more reward for his songwriting. They're a band in the true sense - each feeding off the others and weaker alone. As for the personal relationships....stuff of legend - and the contribution that's made to their success is fundamental.

I spend about 40% of our set singing , the other 40% I try not to be looking down too much , I think I'd do it less if I changed basses less.. Often I pick on a fire exit sign to look at or something similar. I'm not big on direct eye contact. There's always some pissed knuckle dragger won't like it if you stare at him or his bird. On occassion we get gigs where the punters aren't interested. Being a superior sort of soul I give it my best for a set and a half then switch off and treat them with with the same disinterest. I go almost 100% head down then.

I honestly think it's a mistake to start getting deep about a Fender Precision. In fact I think Fender themselves have often f**ked up by trying to get deep about a Precision. It's a simple , industry standard tool that's been around forever. It has 2 knobs you'll never touch , a solid handful of a neck , not much to go wrong and a sound you're used to. Go out and play a load - some will be heavier than others , some might sound slightly different to others ...put simply some will appeal to you more than others. Buy the one that appeals , regardless of country of manufacture - used or new etc - then go out amongst the great unwashed and hammer it. Job done. Oh - and chuck those silly ashtrays and thumb rest in the bin - they're neither use nor (to my eyes) ornament. It's always cheaper to customise your instrument by taking things off rather than putting them on !!

They all look a bit too pleased with themselves for my liking. I have bits and bobs of Marcus on other folks albums and think he's a wonderful player but that sort of music sounds like it belongs in a lift car or something. Not for me , my opinion because I was invited to give it - thankfully many will love it making neither party right or wrong.

[quote name='KevinJazzBass' post='628579' date='Oct 17 2009, 11:07 AM']I have a seen this bass in pictures and videos in the past and now I cant seem to find it anywhere. What a beautiful bass it is too. I would actually kill for one. Any one know where I could find any pictures or info on this wonderful looking instrument? I'm fairly sure he used it around 79 with the The Police. Thanks Kev[/quote] No need kill for one - it's a Fender. Source the correct colour bass , hawk around the classifieds/ebay for a fretless maple neck - sell the original neck on. Pickguard colour doesn't matter , you can change it to anything you like in 10 mins.

1) If it involves a screwdriver or a soldering iron I do it myself 2) horizontal on a towel on the kitchen worktop with a cushion under the neck 3) No because I take the time to find an ideal working position or I wait until I can do so to do the job. If it's a running repair at a gig I lay the bass on my rack bag - pretty well cushioned - or the drummer's bit or carpet with my gig towel under the neck. If it's mid set I change basses...................................... .......... ...because I can

[quote name='TheBlueFalcon' post='614325' date='Oct 1 2009, 10:47 PM']Buying the best I can afford is somethng I was advised to do by someone else, so I value your input. I have to say that I am not really a big fan of Fender. I don't think I would buy one, but also I am not the kind of person that would say anything negative about them just because I don't particularly like them. I see a lot of bickering and don't want to get involved in all of that. But thank you for your comments. [/quote] Mate - no need be so polite , though it's nice to see all the same!! If you don't fancy a Fender - fine. Bare in mind though that a lot of sounds you've heard will have been produced by one and it's no bad thing to cut your teeth on something industry standard - you can't then use the instrument as an excuse to yourself as to why you're not progressing as you'd like to. The same is true of a cheaper bass - so if you end up spending 500 spots on something not too way out you , and it's set up something like , you can be confident that whatever problems you have aren't the fault of the bass. That's particularly so with a used bass - even more if you buy one in these parts where we tend to be a bunch of honest good guys. £500 will buy you a lot of used bass and any set up problems with it have most likely already been ironed out by the previous owner. End of the day - if something feels awkward in your hands (I understand that there's always a degree of awkwardness for a beginner) it will always feel awkward - so try as many basses as you can lay your paws on just to see how they feel in your hands.

I remember your fretted version very well from the bash. Smooth as silk to play. I think what you've done's an excellent option if you can find something that feels as natural as your existing bass , which you have. So pleasing when experiments work out - there's always a worry that they won't. Well done , fella.

If it's the Shuker you really want - order it and buy the Geddy to use while you wait. If you look around for a used Geddy you can sell it on without loss when the Shuker arrives if you've no need for both.

Strange how different we all are. I love the idea of acoustic bass , I love block marked jazz necks , but that is the single most horrendous looking instument I have ever , ever seen.

Anything pointy really - you can pick pointy Charvels up for jack sh*t , mostly because they are !!! In your shoes - I'd look to borrow something for a one off. I'm a long way from you or you'd be welcome to borrow my Status. You could consider picking up a hohner B2a , steiny clone. Looks the part and sounds pretty good. Maybe even a jack. You won't get either for a hndred quid BUT if you buy one for twice that or so then sell it on you won't loose a hundred quid and you might even make the price of a few pints.

Keep it simple and roll your own - don't try and be the bloke you're replacing.

Slade. Loud as f**k , fantastic melodies , power drummer , power singer , silly clothes - what more does a bloke want?!

[quote name='Jobiebass' post='600237' date='Sep 16 2009, 02:20 PM']I dont understand music, I dont understand theory, I dont listen to much music and I do not have any sence of rythem. I'm not good enough to be in a half decent band, I cant write my own stuff unless you count roots, 3rds and 5ths[/quote] In order Neither did I when I started - I just liked it enough to keep trying to make it. What theory I know can be written on a fag packet and I've been gigging for 30 years I don't listen to music much either You think mine fell out of the sky?? Nope - it came gradually Neither are half the blokes riding round in Rollers Of course I count roots , thirds* and fifths so you can write your own stuff. * except I don't know what a third is - honestly.