Paul S

Somewhere in a 'sliding doors' parallel universe there's a version of me that is slim and handsome

Steve answered my plea for some TI flats, short scale. Refused to take any money for them. What else is there to be said?

I have more gear than I could possibly need or want but, yes, Gas strikes from out the sun when you least expect it. I decided a while ago that the word 'gas' was filled with negative connotations when it wasn't necessarily a negative state of mind. I tend to regard it as 'curiosity' now, rather than gas. So, rather than slavishly 'gassing' for something and then 'giving in' I now think positively 'I am curious about what that bit of gear is like so will buy and try'.

I think Joe Bonamassa's cover of Tim Curry's Sloe Gin, although not in itself that bad, lacks the poignancy and pathos of the original. Making the lyric 'family friendly' kind of misses the point, I think, and his assumed, pseudo-gravelly singing tends to grate on my nerves after a while.

If you don't know it, check out Backseat Education. The lyrics are the height of parody.

Tears for Fears 'Songs From The Big Chair' and Dire Straits 'Brothers in Arms' for me.

I've used Brian and Tim for different things and they are both too notch. But they offer different products so I guess it depends what you want. Brian will make any size or shape from regular 1,2or 3 ply material in a bewildering range of colours. Tim also makes any size or shape but uses clear perspex with any design you want printed on the underneath.

Isn't that just typical of Anna - next time she's round for lumch I'll buy in from Lidl and not Waitrose. She only picks at it it anyway so most likely won't notice.

Hell yeah! Good call. This track in particular IMO.

This reminds me about a story from a guitarist I was in a band with. His function band kicked around the idea of playing the Carpenter's 'Good-bye to Love' so he thought he'd get ahead of the curve and learnt the extended solo note for note. No mean task but, tbf, he was up to it. A couple of rehearsals passed with no mention of the song so he asked when they were going to be having a run through, eager to show off his prowess. Band leader said 'No, we decided against it in the end - didn't you get the email?'

I've informed @Frank Blank that, as his co-pilot, sole passenger and trolly dolly for the short internal flight from Hessex to the venue, I am point blank refusing to hold any trays of martinis. Last time it took weeks to get rid of the stains. In any case my French maid's outfit is still at the costumier having the side darts let out.

Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting. Elton's song is a joy: the guitar riffing is sublime, full of bubbling energy. Nickleback's cover is a lifeless dirge - it's like someone recorded a cement mixer.

For me it is fairly simple. Music is something to be appreciated with your ears and your heart, not your eyes.

Another voice for the crowd. I have today taken delivery of a mint (still has scratchplate plastic on!) 2 yr old Gibson SG standard bass in ebony that weighs just 3.2kg/7lbs. Original hardcase, tags and case candy. Marvellous thing. Will is a super helpful and accomodating guy.

Me too! I have this constant internal conflict of being a perfectionist but not being especially good. This leads to my being hypercritical about my own performance/abilities but, unfortunately, it can sneak into my expectations of band mates, too. And not just playing but commitment to rehearsals etc. I can be a Royal pain in the backside, sometimes. This is one of the things I love about my current band, though - we high the high spots most of the time and are getting better.

Thin Lizzy and UFO have had a mention. I like a decent wedge of Deep Purple's studio output but 'Made In Japan' is simply a gem. Possibly my fave album of all. Wishbone Ash 'Live Dates' for me contains the extra spark that I feel is lacking in their studio output. Humble Pie 'Performance, Rockin' The Fillmore' much the same applies. Uriah Heep's 'Live' from 1973. Not sure about anything from the past 45 years

Darn. I have to make a choice now

I am aiming to come to this one, being transported there and back by none other than our very own @Frank Blank . He assures me we can travel with the windows open. GEAR LIST: 1. @cetera - Charvel 3B, ESP Surveyor '87, Fender FSR PJ Precision, Hamer Impact, Italia Imola, Spector NS2, Spector Euro, Spector EuroX (Spectorbird), Spector Pulse II, Spector Dimension 4HP, Gallien Krueger 400RB & Legacy800 heads, GenzBenz Neox 2x12 cab 2. @TheGreek - All short scale this year - a @Jabba_the_gut scale 5er, Mini Ray, Short scale P bass 3. @Harlequin74 - Zoot Performer, Status Shark, Spector QV4 , Markbass TTE501 and Matching CAB. Maybe the Lehle Basswitch… 4. @Frank Blank - @Jabba_the_gut short scale fretted and fretless, JMJ Mustang, QSC K12.2, Grace Design Alix 5. @TrevorR - Mk 1 Wal, Wal Pro IIE, Aria SB700, Frankenjazz, pedals and MarkBass LMII & Traveler 2x10 6. @bnt - travelling light, probably a couple of pedals such as T-Rex Diva Drive, Orange KongPressor 7. @bass_dinger - 1999 Washburn XB500, 1994 Washburn XB500, Washburn XB925 in zebrawood, Washburn XB925 in bits, Boulder Creek 5 string (likely to be for sale, SWR Workingmans 12. 8. @greentext- 2008 Spector NS4-H2, 2015 Sandberg VS4, 2000 Trace Elliot T-Bass, my pedalboard and my tin of picks 😈 9. @prowla- Probably a couple of Rickenbackers and some interesting oddities. Amp-wise a Markbass EVO and a 1x12 (last year I bought some others to try and never switched them on, as the EVO sounded spot-on). 10. @SuperSeagull- Status S2, Feline P Bass, Modded Fender Lyte, Flea Jazz, MB Combo 11. @Merton - various short and medium scale ACGs, Zoots and Conway basses, Barefaced cabs, modern Trace Elliot amps 12. @MacDaddy Shuker (probably no3), Snapdragon Folding Bass, possibly a Rob Allen Mouse. 13. @neilp - matching pair of fretted and fretless 1980 Aria SB1000s, possibly my fretless Wal mk1, Ashdown ABM500/Ampeg 4x10, Tech 21 Bass Fly Rig 14. @NickD - Strunal Schonbach 5 String DB, and whatever else I can shoehorn in the car around it... hopefully a MD CMD121 H, Zoom B6, and maybe a Maruszczyk Jake and a Shuker Series 2. 15. @walman - converted Wal Pro, Zon Legacy Elite, Status S2, G&L L2500 fretless, McMillen 12Step & DSI MoPho, Two Notes Bass Revolt, Trondheim Audio SkarBassOne, BackBeat2 (and my BackBeat1 will probably be available for sale). Darkglass Microtubes500 and one of the Barefaced cabs. All depends how late I leave and what will fit in the new car 🚙 😁 16. @Smanth With my small, light, battery powered gear (mostly) ... IBBY-Ibanez GSRM25 5 str sub short scale, 'ELIMA - Kala California 5 str fretless ubass, QUINN- HB 5 Str Fretless, MOD Dwarf based pedalboard, Boss Dual Cube Bass LX. (Also some toys to sell) 17. @tauzero- the basses that @TheGreek made me buy (handmade 6-string headless, Pedulla 6 fretless), Roland GR-55, one or two Seis, anything else that occurs to me, Mrs Zero (probably) 18. @Stingray5 - EBMM Stingray 5, a trio of Tunes i.e. TWB-6, TWB-4z, SWV4-BB, Boss GT-6B, Eden EC180 combo. 19. @rumblefish- Reverend Rumblefish,GB basses,Mesa Walkabout amp,Vanderkley 112 MNT. 20. @Paul S - might be space for a shorty? If not never mind. I have nothing of interest

The level of intolerance is staggering, frankly. A perfect symptom of what ails Society.

Result!! Clearly a past owner was ashamed of the brand but liked the bass.

No, just 2x vox and the bass.

I remembered to look at the last gig. It appears that the hpf has been engaged the whole time 🥴😁

My belly kind of restricts viewing from above but back to front would be a good idea so I can read it in the mirror.

After missing a month my blues rock trio Toredown resume our residency at The Shamrock in Ipswich tomorrow night.