Shaggy

[quote name='darkandrew' timestamp='1506887917' post='3381845'] I immediately thought of John McGeoch (Magazine, Siouxsie and the Banshees, PIL, etc) - very well thought of amoungst musicians but pretty much unknown to the rest of the world, which is a real crime as he was definitely one of the most talented and influential guitarists of his time. [/quote] Beat me to it. Fantastically original player, but his playing always complemented the song rather than dominating it Somewhat in the same vein I'd add Charlie Burchill (Simple Minds)

Squeeze, last night at Pontardawe Arts Centre - my favourite small music venue around these parts Almost all the old hits and some decent newer stuff; one of the few late '70's - '80's bands I didn't get to see back in the day. Glenn Tillbrooks voice as plaintive and distinctive as ever and playing some nifty lead guitar; (I saw him solo in the same venue a couple of years back) songwriting partner Chris Difford happy out of the spotlight strumming rhythm and just singing lead on "Cool for cats" The awesome Yolanda Charles on bass (a 5-string Jazz bass) - fluid and funky basslines played with totally effortless cool; really the antithesis of the "less is more" style I generally prefer, but it complemented their simple classic pop format surprisingly well. Bass mixed too low as usual though!

[quote name='GussyG' timestamp='1503850532' post='3361170'] Hi there fellow bass peeps.. first post here, just looking for some nfo/opinions on topic title I'm looking into buying a semi ac ... to help with my tonal armoury in the studio, I have a stingray 5 and a JD super natural and I'm very happy with them, but.... but I've had a few jobs come in and I'm in need (from time to time) of that retro tone that I just can't get from my long scale bass's. looks aren't that important as I'm not gigging anymore, it's all about the tone!!! I'm looking for that classic woody retro tone, flat wound strings with that clumpy midrange sound, I have a budget of around £500 (could push a bit more for the sound) not in a real hurry so prepared to wait for the right one to come along thx in advance bass peeps [/quote] If your solid body basses are long scale then personally I'd go for a long scale semi; of which there are some great examples - Epi Jack Casady, Lakland etc - easier for hand memory when swapping between basses and personally i don't think a shorter scale adds anything positive to the tone. I have 3 short-scale semi's - a Gibbo EB-2, EB-2D and a Vox Wyman, but use a long-scale Steve Smith custom "EB-2" strung with TI flats for gigging - by the sounds of it I was going for exactly the same sound as you.

Met Angus today in sunny (not...) Gordano services on the M5 to prize his rather lovely Kramer 450B fretless into my hot sweaty paws Top Basschatter, great communications, top guy to deal with, and like me has a fetish for old Brit motorbikes too! Deal with in confidence Thanks fella

A second very easy deal with Lee, bought a Hipshot de-tuner from him. As before; great communications, great price, and fast despatch - thanks fella!

The solution of course...... is more cowbell - https://vimeo.com/158218608

[quote name='ivansc' timestamp='1503662132' post='3360071'] Cambridge High School for Boys or the Perse? Which Bonzos? I thought Bubs went to Netherhall. (well he was big enough to count as most of the BDDDB) [/quote] Perse, I was there '69 - '79. Could well be wrong about the BDDDB - it was one of the school "urban myths", likewise that Syd Barrett lived on Long road (which the school backs onto) and that Arnold Layne also lived close by. My brother went to Netherhall - the Netherhall lot would take the mick mercilessly out of us Perse boys because of our particularly ridiculous uniform.....

Pretty poor compared with some of the foregoing, but: 1. Previous owner of my Kramer 650B was Dave Swift (of Jools Holland's band) 2. Singer /songwriter / guitarist (and mate) in my main school band was Mark "Boo" Hewardine, later of "The Bible" and then respected singer / songwriter. 3. Backed Gary Pickford-Hopkins on bass a couple of times - vocalist with Rick Wakemans band and Wild Turkey, best known locally as one half of Gary and Taff. A real gent. 4. Dave Gilmour (Pink Floyd) was a former pupil at my school, and I once found a book with his name signed in! .....which I wish I'd kept... . As were most of the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah band. 5. Andy "Wal" Coughlan runs the studio local to me and has produced a couple of demos for my band, plays bass for Gary Numan (among others) - owns a very nice brace of Pro IIe Wals (which I've played...)

[quote name='hiram.k.hackenbacker' timestamp='1503423022' post='3358125'] It's easier to just let Sterling explain.... http://youtu.be/R2ZRWzEBIzE [/quote] Thanks - seems I was being thick, just browsed a front-on pic: https://www.guitarguitar.co.uk/product/160608298360007-496769--music-man-stingray-40th-old-smoothie-c00982?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI0bT_hq_r1QIVLTPTCh1CkwMkEAQYASABEgKTDvD_BwE which shows the strings running between the poles.... Whatever next, eh?

Lovely looking 'Ray - but am I being thick or is that a 5-string pickup on a 4-string bass?

I've found myself playing mainly blues over the last couple of years, and to keep it interesting will "dual" with lead guitar during his solo and do the occasional short solo break (I'm not much of a fan of extended bass solos in any genre! ) John Entwhistle - who was always fond of a solo / lead part - was essentially rooted in blues, but for for sheer technical skill within very simple song structures whilst dovetailing effortlessly into the band sound I don't think you'd need to look further than Norman Watt-Roy's playing with Wilko

[quote name='JPJ' timestamp='1500721913' post='3339789'] My favourite Fendebird 😉 https://imgur.com/a/aRnSo [/quote] Lovely - always liked those early Overwaters Have to say though the older I get the more I like the bass you only get with a neck-end pickup, so for pickup placement I prefer the Mike Lull "Tom Petersson" T-bird / Fenderbird (though not the bling gold hardware........)