Paul S

This afternoon, Blues At Barleylands, 2pm start. Local gig for me, which makes a change. No A12 involved!! Here's a snip from their Fb page.

Yes, aren't they good! To me they sound almost exactly like the Fender Custom Shop '62 model.

No, the 3 point bridge. The 2 piece bridge is the Vintage Pro which I think they call the 60s model now.

That one is staying! It's all those long ones that are off. I can see you with a Thunderbird Classic Pro in white, though....

It is crazy. I have some stuff for sale that I am almost giving away, with more in the pipeline that needs to go. Its hardly worth putting it up for sale at the moment.

I did but took it off. I like a laugh every now and then And, in truth, I find many of your insights and experiences to be interesting and valuable. I have no problems with individuality at all but you seem to feel a need to ram this down everyone's throats at every given opportunity - as soon as there is talk of anything mainstream you'll wade in with yet another disaparaging post. I'm sure all the regulars on this site get it by now, you think outside the box, so there is no need to keep on about it, really - for me it dilutes the quality of your contributions on here. But then again I am a grumpy old curmudgeon so who gives a toss what I think.

I love 'em. I have TI Flats on all my basses. More zing than most and I love the low tension.

Fixed.

I've been going to see Level 42 for nearly 40 years, every time they tour (every other year trhese days) Mrs S and I see at least one show. We are going to see them twice this time around. I've probably seen them perform more than any other band, and I'd say they are better now than ever apart from maybe the early jazz funk years. I'd admit MK and Lindup's voices aren't what they were but the band are amazing. Nathan's BVs help to bolster the falsetto these days. Pete Ray Biggin is a tour de force on the drums, simply astonishing, and the horns totally add value to the show. They generally have a great lighting set up, too. The days when MK stood at the front of the stage showboating slap are long gone but, in any case, it is his fingerstyle playing that I find far more impressive. I've been going to see live music for over 50 years during which time I've seen the great, the good, the bad and the ugly, and I reckon MK to be the most accomplished all round bassist I have ever seen. And that is without taking into account he is the main singer and composer. His complex bass lines weave through the songs in a thoughtful and musical way - it isn't just 'Love Games' thumping on the open E. My main thought, when I hear the MK detractors, is that they actually haven't actually taken the time to listen to the band but merely trot out the same old 'one trick pony' and 'bucket of nails falling down the stairs' cliche based on an interview they saw back in the noughties (or whatever). Their last new material, the EP Sirens, had fewer slap bass lines than finger style and even pick on one. It is entirely possible to recognise and appreciate talent even in the context of music you don't like but I guess that takes effort and an open mind - rare commodities these days.

Number of frets 25 or more. Ran out of fingers and toes so had to guess the remainder?

It seems fairly random to me. Two gigs stick out in my memory. Years ago there was a pub in a village out of town (Great Wakering) that put bands on every Friday and Saturday. My lot at the time, mainly 80s covers, always went down well and we were booked three gigs a year for two years. Then one time the lady - a drunk - who booked the gigs said she wasn't booking us any more because we didn't bring a crowd with us. Had she dragged her inebriated self round the corner of the bar she might have noticed a eight couples who'd come along out to the sticks to see us and who had been spening money dining there, pretty much doubling the evening's turnout. I don't know if she was expecting a coachload or something? A couple of years ago pre-Covid my blues rock trio, a band that I always introduce as a blues rock trio, played at a popular pub that puts on live music in a very busy little place called Old Leigh. Awful acoustics, terrible load in, even worse load out, confusing layout in the centre of the pub with punters walking through the band to get to the bar. Yet it is popular and were glad to get 2 gigs booked there. This is on the strength of announcing we were a blues rock trio and pointing them at our online media. First gig, apart from some drunken tw@t who shouted 'Play Wonderwall' after every single tune we went down really well. A few people came up afterwards and said what a refreshing change it was to hear something different. Email from the absent landlord next day to say he heard from the bar staff that we played well but he was cancelling the second gig as we weren't what his regular punters wanted to hear. They seemed fairly enthisiastic to me but there you are. Fortunately we can be a little more choosy these days - having a regular monthly gig at a venue that loves what we play really does take the pressure off.

Love that poster.

Back in the day they produced the SB-35. Medium scale bass version of thier SG style guitars. I had one and sold it, my biggest seller's remorse ever. If they did one of these in a short scale I reckon it would be a winner.

What about a kick drum mic stand?

I think it entirely depends upon the band whether it is useful or not. When I was in a Bon Jovi tribute we had backing tracks and, at some venues, back projections so had to be spot on - a click was essential. We could mix in however much of the click as desired for our individual IEM mix. In another band we would constantly bicker about the correct speed to play songs at so the drummer got some flashing tempo light thingamajiggy to use on his phone. We'd then agree on a tempo during rehearsal and that was that. Certainly it is extremely useful when recording for overdubs/mistakes. At the moment I'm just in the one band, a blues rock trio, and I think a click would stifle it. The only recording we ever do is either live or 'as live'.

yes, Thomann's gig bags are amazingly good value. I use the 'premium' guitar version for my short scale basses. The £10 postage bumps the price a bit but there is always the opportunity to buy some extra bits and bobs to spread the cost...

I'd be looking for a TGI Extreme, generally around £50.