Paul S

I can't remember which now but it was something by Status Quo. I used to play along to Piledriver, Dog Of Two Head and Ma Kelly's Greasy Spoon. That's how I started to play guitar when I was in my teens back in the 70s so I thought it was probably a good way to go about learning bass when I took it up in the noughties. Probably not progressed a huge amount, tbf.

I thought of someone else whose songs I almost always prefer when other people do them - Chuck Berry.

I turned up for a gig a few years ago to find we had been cancelled because there was a boxing match on Sky in the pub. Might have been nice to tell us in advance. Funny thing in the end was that our guitarist was MD of company and that week went to some business convention where he happened to meet the MD of Greene King, owners of said establishment. He mentioned it in passing and the guy said he'd sort it - which he did. We were paid our fee and offered more gigs by a very sheepish landlord.

First gig with my new 'blues power trio' Tore Down at a small blues-friendly venue - The Grand Old Duke Of York' in Ipswich. We've only had 3 rehearsals and I think it showed with tops and tails but the guitarist totally captivated the small but appreciative audience. Bodes well for the future. I also proved to myself that I can happily revert back to 4 string basses after spending the last 2 years playing just 5 strings. Dusted down my remaining JV Precision and it sounded lush with TI flats through my old Trace Elliot head.

I feel like that about Bruce Springsteen songs, generally prefer the covers. Born to Run, Frankie goes to Hollywood, Blinded By the Light, Manfred Man's Earth band, Fire, Pointer Sisters etc

I recently bought a set of Thomastik flats from BAX that were packed in a box as big as my walking boots came in, packed out with enough of those air filled plastic strip thingies to use as a life belt. I suppose it was a set of 5.

A perhaps not so idle thought, as I might find myself in the market for a Mustang bass soon. I am looking at the MIJ single split coil ones rather than the recent rash of P/Js - did they ever come with black bodies, black pickguards and a maple neck? I've seen pics of that combo on 70s/80s USA ones. Also the Squier VM Mustang had this option - which is actually quite tempting, I had one and it was great. Muchas gracias

There is your solution. Right there.

Makes perfect sense to me. My MM Sterling is now passive, sporting a P bass pickup and different electrics.

Describes me to a tee.😂

Made my eyes water just reading that. I had this with a bass once, forget which, and I ran the string through a washer at the back of the bridge. Wasn't pretty but it worked.

Strings arrived, all is good. Thanks again.

In my little band I enjoy several - American Girl, Lido Shuffle in particular, but Psycho Killer is most fun. Our singer really gives it some welly, too. Bon Jovi tribute bass line I enjoy the most is probably Living On A Prayer. Nothing much to it but it is powerful and drives the song along so nicely.

I saw them first time at a tiny little venue in the basement of the Queens Hotel in Westcliff when Herr Schenker was still fresh from the boat - just before Phenomenon was released. My mates and I were at the youth club playing table tennis and someone said this band UFO were playing. No-one had heard of them but we decided to take a punt! Saw them a couple more times, once near the end when they had a huge bust up on stage and Schenker waltzed off.

At least going on such a long walk would have been good exercise.

Thank heavens - some folk should never be trusted with sharp implements.

Thank you! I'll order some. If they are the wrong ones I can blame you now ..

After a bit of Googling it looks like these could be Thomastick Infeld Jazz flats. I've certainly bought these before now. Anyone able to confirm, please?

Doesn't ring a bell for anyone? I would have bought these and have never bought half rounds - definitely flats.... But which?