EssentialTension

Good covers need to be either pretty close to the original, at least in feel but better in actual notes and arrangement. Or the band needs to successfully rearrange the whole song into a completely new and musically interesting version. Either way, talent and playing for the song not for oneself are required. IMHO of course.

We used to play it in The Jump Jive Rhythm Five. Circa 1982. There were six of us.

Last Thursday, Mulatu Astatke, the Godfather of Ethio-Jazz, at 24 Kitchen Street in Liverpool - only UK gig on European tour. Very great night. Here's a video from 2019.

I had a set of Thomastik flats on a Precision bass for nigh on ten years and then I broke the A string. 🥴 The replacement never sounded the same. 😕

If you are going to change the strings, then many people here will volunteer to take the old ones off your hands. But the usual advice from flatwound users is don't change them.

I had one of those and to my eye it always looked like sonic green.

Just rediscivered this one ...

https://www.basschat.co.uk/topic/117779-herbie-flowers-jazz-bass-replica/

I've heard tell of people who could play 4'33" after no listens!

Definitely persevere. And realise that lots of things that happen at gigs, including bumnotes, missing the bridge, etc, and weak intonation, sound much worse when you listen back to a recording than they did in the live situation.

If I liked it enough to pay for a refinish, I would buy a pre-damaged bass.

Agreed.

No.

The only signatutre bass I have had was a Tony Franklin fretless Precision. I still haven't got much clue about Tony Franklin but it was a very nice bass. I do come across many guitarists with a Les Paul signature guitar, even though they don't know who he was or how to pronounce his name.

True enough but I am on headphones, due to neighbours in apartment block.

There's nothing people love more than their own songs. Unfortunately.

I'm not familiar with AHA, but the other three ... what's your problem? Will punters be dancing? Oh yes they will.

I've been in so-called originals bands where some songs were great and some I was not a fan off. That's normal; unless maybe you are the band leader or musical director. I don't think I have ever been in band where I liked all the songs.

That is lovely and unusual.

I don't.

Forgot to say I also have a PJB Bass Buddy, which is largely the same item minus the power amp and speakers.

I have a cream-coloured PJ Briefcase. It's been home practice amp for years and since I retired from gigging it's been my only amp. I love it.

Talking of the Airplane, I always preferred them to the Dead.