SteveXFR

I'd like to think that as a sensible, logical engineer I would make all purchases based on the item precisely meeting a strict specification but I have got an Epiphone Thunderbird vintage pro and if I'm honest, I wouldn't have bought it if it didn't look so good. The headstock seems to be made of lead and the neck is a bit narrow for my gorilla hands but it does look good. It does sound amazing tuned down to C with a nice bit of dirt and my favourite DR DDT strings.

The one negative I've heard about the EHB is that the luminous fret markers don't glow for long enough. The one person I know who has one drilled his out and fitted luminay markers. That is a very minor thing. It wouldn't stop me buying one.

I sat by the ocean - QOTSA

That's pretty good. First time I've enjoyed listening to Primus

I love Rush but just can't be dealing with Claypool's bass and vocals. Will he turn the Rush songs in to his usual slapfest?

Here's another underrated rock bassist. Lou Barlow from Dinosaur Jr. Just being heard over Jay Mascis is quite an achievement and Lou is playing somewhere in between bass and rhythm guitar. Without his bass, Jay's guitar would just sound like random noodling.

Cocteau twins regularly get played on 6music and every time I hear them I think I should check out more of their music and then never get around to it

Subcutaneous phat - Desert Sessions

What grunge and punk had in common was both used whatever was cheap in the local pawn shop. There was of course the odd exception with rich parents who bought them something fancy.

There were some Stingrays and Thunderbirds used in punk. Grunge is also missing. Generally passive basses. P, J, Rickenbacker and Thunderbird all popular with the odd Stingray and Wal.

I like using a DAW for practice. It means I don't need an amp or effects, I just plug straight in to an interface box (Scarlet DI2 £70ish) and then use Reaper (free trial that never ends but its only $60 USD anyway) on my PC which allows me to drop in mp3's and then set up loops or slow the track without effecting frequencies. I've downloaded loads of free plugins such as amp sims and effects and cab sims.

It's definitely evolved but the original is still there as well. You can still buy a classic P bass or you can buy an active 6 string with triple humbuckers and adjustable bridge spacing. If Leo Fender got it perfect first time then we wouldn't have the Jazz or Stingray

Gibson Thunderbird for the 60's Ibanez EHB for the 2020's Piece of wire on a radioactive Nissan Juke door for the 2030's or "the fallout years" as that decade will become known.

He can certainly play. Is that a fretless Gibson Grabber? I didn't realise they existed.

Definitely.

Shooting star - Gojira

Wind of change - The Scorpions

Here's another favourite of mine. Others may disagree (they're wrong) but I would say Matt Freeman of Rancid is the best bassist in punk rock. I highly recommend listening to And Out Come The Wolves by Rancid. The bass on every song is absolutely killer.

It is. I think it's a 4003S/5. He has a signature Rickenbacker which looks amazing and is a short scale 4 string.

Yes! Jeff is a monster. Also in Mutoid Man now as well.

Little sister - QOTSA

Billy Gould is one of the best. Never over plays, knows where to leave space and can play like a beast.

Found God in a tomato - Psychedelic porn crumpets

Girls on film - Duran Duran

A Forest - The Cure