meterman

I use Instagram but only post once or twice a month. I generally keep things music related so I’ll do a post when my radio show is going to go on, or if I’ve got a record coming out or something. It’s definitely handy for for that kind of thing. Occasionally I’ll post something non-music related but that’s rare. I mainly like seeing pictures of cats or rare records or instruments or architecture, or egg and chips or whatever, I’m pretty mundane like that. I have my account set to ‘private’ as I got fed up with the crypto spam friend requests and religious / political stuff, so only 350 or so people will see anything I post but I’m okay with that. It’s more for my mates really and it still keeps the radio station and label happy in terms of promotion. I did have another Instagram account where I posted every day for a year, pictures of numbers 1 to 365 in chronological order from buildings, vehicles, vintage packaging, etc, which was more therapeutic than anything else but I found there was a lot of other folks doing the same thing. There’s nutters everywhere. If I wasn’t still doing radio shows or making records I probably wouldn’t post much at all, or even bother having an account. Egg and chips tho 😎

Never tried Status strings, wasn’t aware of them. I admit I’ve only bought about 7 or 8 sets of strings in 35 years of playing.

The back of the the packet is very light on info, it just shows which colour ball end represents which string, and not much else. Interesting that you’re mention Olympia strings though, they’re the only other sub-£20 bass strings I’ve ever had. And they were decent as well, I seem to remember.

That’s the one! I ordered mine from Ali Express so when it eventually gets here it’ll probably have a great big 3 on it or something but for 78p I’m okay with that.

Am about to do the same tin-on-Jazz thing. Neither covers are going to get in the way of my playing (which is right at the end of the neck, either with a pick or plucked with the side of my thumb because yes I’m a throwback) and I always liked the look. Plus, it’s a £150 Squier with Fray Bentos flatwounds on, so it’s not like I’ll be defiling a vintage Fender or anything. And, if I really don’t get on with them I can always take them off and sell them on ebay or Reverb for more than the bass is worth 😂

Not really, but I recently put an order in with Thomann and added some Harley Benton flatwounds in to get over the free delivery threshold. When the parcel arrived I forgot I’d added strings to the order but I put them on my Jazz bass today and they’re surprisingly decent. Certainly an upgrade on the Fender cables they replaced. Didn’t expect them to be as good as they are. Not as smooth as La Bellas or Chromes, and certainly not as pricey, but sonically they’ve got a good old thump to them. No idea how long they’ll last, but as I’m not gigging, probably a fair while. For the price of a couple of pints of Guinness in today’s money these are definitely worth a go. 👍

I’ve been dropped into similar trouser-browning situations musically, and always chose to give them my best shot. Sometimes you die on your ârśè in front of thousands of punters, but sometimes you have an absolutely brilliant unpredictable whale of a time. Always give it a go, otherwise how are you gonna know?

Syd Barrett and Pink Floyd. Pretty awful circumstances for Syd, but Floyd were still great for a few albums afterwards. Sex Pistols, purely because after they split, Public Image Ltd released “Public Image” and it’s one of my favourite singles. Ultravox, where John Foxx got to do his solo thing and the fellas he left behind managed to carry on without him. Oh, and Oasis. Just, because. 😂

Oh aye, now you’re talking! The milk chocolate ones are one of my favourite things on this earth but I’ve still yet to find a store in south west France that sells the dark ones. Someone told me there’s an Aldi equivalent but I’ve not seen those yet either. I now have GAS for Tunnocks 😂

Thank you so much! 🙏 Ordering the cover now 👍

Quick question for all the Jazz bass players who have the old style bridge cover on their bass: are the fitting screws the same as pickguard screws or something bigger? I’m looking at getting one of the classic ‘F’ bridge covers (because I’m a retro git) but none of the online suppliers seem to sell them with the screws. However if I buy a Jazz pickup cover they come supplied with the screws... what the heck? Anyhow, I’m after one of these: any advice about the correct mounting screws to use would be seriously appreciated 🙏 Thank you folks. Hope everyone’s got decent biscuits for their tea or coffee break. ☕️

Thank you. I don’t know if I just got a good one or something, but for a cheapie short scale I really like it. Would love a JMJ in black but for the £’s this more than does the job 👍

You know what, that might be the way to go 👍 thank you for the suggestion!

Had a quick recording session last week and the CV Mustang was on the couch. I apologize in advance for the electric sitar and the archtop! I keep thinking I should bin the tort and get white pearloid on there, although that’s possibly my meds working overtime 😂

Oh now I am jealous! I only saw the Sensible / Scabies / Vanian / Gray lineup, they were superb though 👍 Their version of “White Rabbit” was wild. I sort of knew from the records that the Captain was a decent guitarist but seeing him fully Hendrix it up live was something else.

Rufus & Chaka Khan “You Got The Love” works for me. Mid tempo but so funky. Also this, which used to be dance floor catnip back when I used to DJ in clubs: Or even this, an absolute belter of a tune from one of my favourite bands: Every time I hear it at home I’m like a dog jumping up at the window when the postman comes, pogoing on my own couch like a sad old git 😂

Years ago I’d love a bowl of cereal when I got back from playing a particular regular gig. I actually used to look forward to it during load outs and the drive home. But if it was a tour situation I’d make do with whatever was available and nearest - pizza, kebab, gyros, chip butties, burgers, even crepes or waffles, all the stuff I wouldn’t usually look at during the day, but after a sweaty club gig, phwoar! I still reckon Greece was the best place I’ve found for post-gig scran though. And it helps that loads of places are still open at 3am, so yer post-gig eats is easy in a lot of places.

Thank you, her name is familiar because Green Seagull supported a band I used to session for, think we’ve crossed paths at some point. Initially I thought about getting a nitro refin but there doesn’t seem to be anyone even remotely near to me.So I’m keeping an eye out on Reverb for replacement bodies. My fave was my black Mustang. Shouldn’t have sold that one

I’ve seen that top one before, does it belong to the bassist from the psych band Green Seagull? I know it was a custom order. I’d definitely go for something like that 👍

Okay so my main bass is a lowly Squier CV Mustang bass, and I love playing it but in terms of the colour scheme it’s a bit vanilla. Oly white with a tort pickguard. It’s not offensive but I would like a different colour for the body. Apart from Stratosphere online is there anyone else I should be looking at? I really appreciate any advice in advance. 🙏

I think she’s a great player and having done sessions on bass, keys, drums and guitar I know that Donna Lee isn’t the easiest tune to negotiate on any instrument. Having said that, all I’m hearing here is muso show off dry w@nk business. But she rocks it nonetheless. I couldn’t play it ever, so full respect from me for having a go 👍

I used to take a little 1970s Fender Vibro-Champ out for smaller gigs, plus my pedalboard. But that was usually for smaller volume situations or maybe where the PA might only be for vocals. I have used little amps for biggish gigs a few times (Jazz Cafe, 100 Club, Sage Gateshead, etc) and the engineer just takes a line out from the amp into the desk. So small amps definitely can work, depending on your band. But usually for larger gigs or festivals or anything away from home there would be backline already provided, some good, some awful 😂 Worth trying to work with what you’ve already got I’d say. Unless GAS is part of it...

Can’t give advice about the best place to find a band but for session work either be based in a decent sized city that has a lot of music going on, or be within easy commuting distance to one. Your favoured choice of genre might focus your search as well.

Haha, that is fabulous! And I would have paid money to see that. My wife’s lot were merely arty and weird. They’d perform at Sadler’s Wells or Bloomsbury Theatre and them sort of places, so there was always pro crew with them. But I don’t think they ever did any pyro work or stuntman-level stuff. Full marks, sir!

Brilliant 😂 My wife’s outfit had the same management as John Cale though, so I think they leaned more towards the capitalistic end of the avant-garde. If that sort of thing existed?