Cliff Edge

Hey, don’t judge me, sometimes there’s just nothing else to do.

I stray into the Reddit bass forums from time to time where the youngsters have introduced me to genres of rock that I have never heard of before. I’m watching Countryfile at the moment and it’s from a Somerset farm setting up for a small music festival. And some Scrumpy and Western music. Can’t wait to hear what that sounds like. I just hope it’s not The Wurzles.

This is an interesting thread. Good to know I’m not in a minority of one using some form of crib sheet at gigs.

In the early 70’s I used an AC 30 Top Boost, I think that was the term, with a Fender Musicmaster bass. I never used the top boost function and it sounded ok back then in a fairly loud pub rock band. Substantial, read heavy, beasts. Two things there I wish I still had.

Seconded for the Fender PV 74 J pickups. I have them in my 72 jazz and they are way better than the Seymour Duncan’s I had in there for a number of years after the originals called it quits.

This is what I do. Mostly it’s a prompt for the key and the intro chords after which the hope is the rest falls into place. I also use it as a crutch for lyrics of songs I take lead vocal on.

My daughter considers she had a lucky escape while living in Nashville. She applied for a job at Gibsons offices, had interviews with whoever was the boss at the time (I think they eventually kicked him out), and got offered the job at a very good salary too. Went home and waited for the contract to arrive. It never did despite numerous phone calls to the office and being told it would be sent out soon, just waiting for the boss to sign it. In the meantime she learned from numerous people in Nashville that Gibson was a crap company to work for and the boss was an idiot. She didn’t really like Nashville anyway, so wasn’t too upset.

Good to know thanks. I’ve never used them before but needing a set of medium scale LaBella DTB’s they were the cheapest option, even with the delivery charge.

Crikey just stumbled on this thread and I’ve just ordered some strings this afternoon. Have to say the buying experience was fine and I got more than one email confirming the order and later that the order is now complete. However no indication of when it will be shipped although I expect that will be by his majesties postal service. I’m keeping fingers crossed, at least until the next gig. It’s not a huge amount and I did pay with a credit card. Although the payment provider does offer ApplePay it rejected my effort to use it. The credit card I eventually used is the same one as I use on ApplePay. If Marcus is reading this and it is a new site it might be a glitch worth investigating.

In the 70’s I was playing pub gigs in and around London 4-5 nights a week. Back then the pubs were rammed with people every night and thick with cigarette smoke. My old natural finish Jazz is naturally tobacco yellow ish. Much of that time we had a van and a driver/roady who stored all the gear and loaded in and set it all up. Those were good times, I drove to the gigs in my car, arrived 10 minutes before the off with my bass, got a drink, tuned up, plugged in and off we went for 2 and half hours. 80’s we’re a mix of pubs and working men’s clubs where the bingo always played centre stage and the function room was often upstairs, with no bloody lift. It all calmed down in the 90’s and beyond, but I have some great memories.

With guitars it’s sometimes pretty obvious what’s in the parcel, especially given the shipper, and will be a temptation to pilfer. I wonder how many the likes of Thomann, Andertons and GAK have actually lost in transit.

I’ve had that happen a couple of times. And one otherwise un memorable evening a female punter stumbled while trying to dance and put her head through the hole in the front of the kick drum.

Matt Bissonette with Elton at Glastonbury didn’t stick to the original lines 100% on most of the songs.

Oi you youngsters, don’t mock yer elders. We matured like fine wine, and so will you.

Lots of unlikely stuff is apparently digital these days. Even my wife’s hairdryer my electric toothbrush.

There’s the difference. Mine has spent almost all its life out of a case, being used.

I accept my experience may not be typical but I’m naturally suspicious of any Fender from that era described as totally original. Many of the bits I have had to replace did not last the first 20 years, including the pickups. And I’ve just remembered, the strap buttons are original, with a bit of surface rust. It weighs a healthy 10 pounds.

If my experience with my constantly gigged since new ‘72 jazz is anything to go by, you’ll be lucky to find anything original beyond the body and neck. And probably the bent bit of metal they call the bridge, which is indestructible. Everything else has not survived the intervening 50 years. And no I have not abused it, just used it, a lot.

You’re based North of the border which may have a bearing on the delay if the port of entry, where clearance would normally take place, is South. And then there is DHL (Richard Heads Limited), which used to be an express logistics company. Your frustration is understandable but as you will, or at least should, be required to sign for delivery, if it doesn’t show up you’re covered. Edit. Crikey. Well I’m sure you get the Richard thing.

The tone strap is definitely a myth, but there are plenty of nuts about.

Go and stand in the corner.

I have short scale TI Jazz flats on a 32” Aria TSB 650. Fit well, play great. Some useful info here <https://www.stringsdirect.co.uk/blog/how-to-measure-bass-scale-length/>

I enjoyed EJ’s set last night (iPlayer) although his weird diction drives me crazy. I have problems understanding more than two words a minute sometimes. Always has done but appears even weirder these days. For once the BBC got the sound mix right. Obviously someone with good ears on the edit. Contrast with the Chicks who’s microphone technique doesn’t involve sucking the damn thing all the time, and an acoustic guitar solo was virtually inaudible. Shame as the set was very professional. Haven’t watched anything else yet.

I had something similar recently. Middle and index finger seemed to stick together with the middle slightly over the index. This happened in the middle of a song. I couldn’t get them apart immediately and had to play the next couple of numbers with them stuck until the break. I got concerned I was having a stroke or worse. I managed to get them apart during the break and it hasn’t happened since. No pain though.

Lower the pickups.