Paul S

I usually fit TI Flats to all my basses but felt one recent acquisition needed a little extra bite. I asked a similar question to you and was recommended Ernie Ball Extra Slinkies, so a lighter gauge to the ones you were considering. I am quite enjoying them, the least harsh of any rounds I have tried. The aren't particularly dear, either, compared to TIs.

I'm a recent convert. I'd always fancied one but thought they were too expensive to buy on a whim just to try. It was as an itch I wanted to scratch, though. Then I got lucky and dipped my toe in the Ricken-water with a quality '70s MIJ faker that appeared on the 'Bay at reasonable cost and just fell in love with it. Love how it looked, love how it sounded, love how it played. But at over 10lbs it (and the real ones) was too heavy for me and I had to move it on (these days 8.5lbs is my absolute limit, wide straps notwithstaning, less than 8lbs is ideal). However all is well, courtesy of Davie @kodiakblair I now have a bitsa Retrovibe Renegade that is just the job as my Rickenbacker Itchenscratcher. It looks quite a lot like a Rick, sounds quite a lot like a Rick, weighs 2lbs less than a Rick and cost £1500 less than a Rick. Despite my love of all things Precision, my band actually prefer the sound of this in the mix so it is getting a decent amount of airplay. Something about the tone in the middle of the neck I love. Anyway, I'm sure Mr Devine would be mortified to hear I am not a fan of his faux chummy style and vertigo inducing filming so never watch his vids.

My lot did a support slot there couple of years ago and it is a great venue! Nice one.

Yes, I quite enjoyed the Green Manalishi with Kirk Hammett playing Greenie's old LP.

It was a Retrovibe P-30, as it happens. Which has moved on to a better life elsewhere now.

Budgie's 6th album 'If I were Britannia I'd Waive The Rules'

Nice job. I hope you have superglued the saddle adjustment screws for added Limelight authenticity!

Entwistle PBXN. Cheap as chips, too, but don't let that put you off.

I use the same RCF cab and pair it with the TC Spectradrive. No boominess unless you dial it in.

As tangential rants go that is pretty good

Beggs was/is still also an extremely good looking fella. As though being talented and a nice guy isn't enough for some people. Not that I am jealous, of course. I may have been at the back of the queue when looks and talent were bing dished out but my sunny disposition makes up for it

I'm out. Didn't even make it to the end of the month Had the best of intentions then this 70s Eros EB-3 short scale in honey popped up on eBay. I am only mortal. Edit, I had an Antoria one just last year but traded it. Kind of missed it.

I must shamefully admit I had never heard of him until guitarist in my band flagged him up. I've seen that clip, it's there on YouTube, and agree - especially about the drummer Lonnie is by some margin the pick of the players on that night. Weird, and a bit sad, that he never made it big as he was very much a pioneer of a lot of stuff. He released a record in his twilight years 'too rock for country, too country for rock'. The guitar was his thing - the Flying V with a whammy bar and very much a part of his sound, even in the early 60s. We are putting Stop, Wham, Riding the Blinds and Cincinnati Jail in our set over the next few weeks, starting this coming Friday with Wham

The problem, Nilorius, is that your English is so bad that often no-one has a clue what you are asking. Dad was simply tying to help you get understood better, and you have now jumped down his throat. Just like you always do when people disagree with you.

Interesting spread of weight for the individuals. If I were interested in getting one (which of course I am not. Not even remotely) I would pop along to Peaches (which Google maps tells me would take 55mins currently due to a crash on the A12) (not that I'm interested) and grab a light one. Hellfire and damnation, the last thing I need is a new bass. But, well....

oooh.

My band are going through a bit of a Lonnie Mack phase, currently learning a few of his tunes to play in our set. Here's a splendidly soulful waltz, Stop.

I've done it the other way around. Used my TC Spectradrive/FRFR cab for playing a telecaster. Sounded great, my usual setting for bass with just a hint of boost pushed the tele along nicely.

My mistake, I thought this was about a girl I knew once.

As I said, once they've been told they almost certainly won't sell it because they would leave themselves open to being nicked themselves. The thing is to get in quick and tell them. The wording of the offence is pretty cut and dried - I've italicised the important bits: 'A person handles stolen goods if (otherwise than in the course of the stealing) knowing or believing them to be stolen goods he dishonestly receives the goods, or dishonestly undertakes or assists in their retention, removal, disposal or realisation by or for the benefit of another person, or if he arranges to do so' When you tell the shop, they then know or believe the bass to be stolen and that's that. pawn shops take hooky gear all the time and don't care. But once they are told it is hooky gear it is another matter - they back off. It isn't in their interests.

It's still yours, obviously. Contact the shop and tell them it is your bass, it was stolen in November, and you are going to let the police know they have it. Having done that they cannot sell it because if they do they will be committing the crime of handling stolen goods 'knowing or believing it to be stolen'. Tell the police who you reported it with a let them get on with it. Won't be quick.

I have plans to weave mine into hanging baskets for epiphytic plants but haven't got around to it yet.

What's wrong with the old one? Can't be too bad if it is nearly new.

la Bella white nylon tapewounds. Not as brittle as metal, not as thuddy as black tapes. Eye wateringly expensive, mind.

Just a thought - Mrs S and I went to the 'Country 2 Country' festivals, held at the O2, for a few years on the trot - the last one we went every night. Saw an awful lot of country/Americana bands - modern, old school. Acts such as Garth Brookes, Reba McEntire, Jason Aldean, Zac Brown Band, so top US artists in the country scene over there. If my memory serves the only band who used a DB was The Mavericks, all the others the bass players used electrics. What I would bring home from that is, yes, get a double bass if you want one but it really isn't necessary.