Cat Burrito

I had a roots-y rock n roll 3 piece that used to practice in my old house. The neighbour came around to say how much he loved it. He had young children and everything but ultimately people have to live their lives. Good communication, being flexible and looking to minimise issues all lead to better relationships. Whacking a stack amp up against his wall at 3am is a bit different from evening practice at a sensible volume.

I like a live album in the car, especially in the car so mine would be; Love You Live - Rolling Stones (preferred it the others, even Ya-Yas personally) All Those Wasted Years - Hanoi Rocks (I spent most of my youth watching the VHS of it but now have it on LP). Live at the Lyceum - Johnny Thunders & the Heartbreakers Press The Eject And Give Me The Tape - Bauhaus Concert - The Cure One of the bands I play for put out a live album last year. I must admit I have only played it once since the mixing stage. Pleased to have done it though. Another one off of the bucket list.

Hanoi Rocks

First gig I ever walked out of was The Bootleg Beatles in Bath back in '95. Everyone says they are great and I saw them on the BBC a few years ago - I still don't like them. I'm not anti-tribute bands, they played with the Counterfeit Stones who were great. I just don't like their version of the band.

I think most regular gig goers have done this, especially when it's a foreign band touring the UK for the first time. The one that jumps out for me was a little known Atlanta band called Biters who I saw in Oxford. Can't recall the headliners but I left after a couple of songs - got a nice early night and a few months later Biters split so had I waited for them to come back and headline, I would never have seen them!

At the risk of overestimating any interest here, this is yet another track from last year's record immortalised as a video for those who are bored on a Saturday...

Were he still alive, I don't think Joe Strummer would be rushing to support that one!

Two that jump out for me are Christine Sixteen by Kiss and White Riot by The Clash.

There may be an alternative wiring that would get more from the pickup. I'd email Lindy Fralin to see what they think. I am sure they want customers to get the most out of their products and it sounds like it's not delivering at all at the moment.

Interestingly if you type Seymour Duncan Q into Google, it auto completes to quarter pounder. I'd never thought about it before this thread but I've never owned a Quarter Pound pickup (& don't eat McDonalds either).

I think most players don't bother with anything and my friend who ran the old guitar shop locally always maintained that a lot of these specialist polishes were not any better than pledge! Personally I just use whatever is cheapest and keep my basses looking pretty good. I'm sure someone will be able to dazzle with science about how this is very naïve of me but I'm sure any long term damage to a bass from cheap polish really isn't going to do any damage in my lifetime. A decent guitar polishing cloth off of EBay and a cheap polish does me fine. I think I have some Gibson polish at the moment, purely because it was on offer.

I'm always cautious about such threads as life changes and the "one I'll never sell" has been sold on a few occasions. However over the last 5 years things have settled much more and a few of my basses are second take at owning that model so I cautiously offer the following; 1.) Hofner Verythin Long scale. I loved my short scale one but the intonation wasn't great. I sold it and snapped up the long scale when it launched in 2016. It took a couple of years to properly bond but it's now done 3 or 4 tours and played several European countries with me. I've never owned a bass that got so many comments and the resale value wouldn't be worth the loss of the experiences I had with it. 2) Having been given a payout from an accident last summer I snapped up this Gretsch and Orange head. I'd wanted both for years and would be unlikely to sell either. The jury is out on Pete the cat though! 3) Finally as a double whammy, I wanted an upright bass since I first started playing. I had a Far Eastern plywood job but this blonde Czech model is a step up. I've had it about 8 years and wouldn't upgrade any more. Equally my previous Ric didn't last and was sold quite quickly. This one was secondhand, picked up around 2017 and has done some great recordings. The previous owner put a few knocks in the headstock so the resale isn't worth what it is worth to me. Sorry it's 4 basses but it's taken 33 years to get here and even now I am holding back on my Gibson Thunderbird!

Bass Guitar is my instrument but I play upright bass and have played lead / rhythm / acoustic guitars and mandolin to a responsible standard too. I can (& have) sit in the mix with a band on lapsteel, harmonica and 4, 5 and 6 string banjo. I learnt a load of new stuff when I was playing Americana. I've just started learning a few block chords on keyboard but it's early days. As said my default is bass player rather than multi-instrumentalist.

What was the band? I'll ask.

The two drummers in my main two bands are both exceptional - one is Chris who played with Mega City Four in the 90s so spent 10yrs at pro level. They are both such a pleasure to play with that I don't fantasise about other drummers now. I feel very lucky.

I nearly made the same good for metal comment, although for that to be strictly true I'd have to be have been born either today or in 1961 - 1962 according to that chart. I'm good for water, apparently, which doesn't have quite the same ring.

Interesting, I didn't know it was Year of the Ox. I was born in '73 so fall under the same sign; 1925 January 24, 1925 – February 12, 1926 Wood Ox 1937 February 11, 1937 – January 31, 1938 Fire Ox 1949 January 29, 1949 – February 16, 1950 Earth Ox 1961 February 15, 1961 – February 4, 1962 Metal Ox 1973 February 3, 1973 – January 22, 1974 Water Ox 1985 February 19, 1985 – February 8, 1986 Wood Ox 1997 February 7, 1997 – January 27, 1998 Fire Ox 2009 January 26, 2009 – February 13, 2010 Earth Ox 2021 February 12, 2021 – January 31, 2022 Metal Ox

Another big fan of Girl. I was never much of a heavy metal fan but I do like some hard rock, especially glam and I thought Sheer Greed was something of a lost classic LP.

I don't want to detract from issues around missing band life (gigs, rehearsals, studio etc) or the impact on people's livelihood in a lot of cases but just wondering how this has impacted on people's actual playing? I miss playing louder with real musicians but have been practicing much more regularly over the last year or so. Mostly with records or playing along with streaming services / videos. I have looked at a couple of different styles and even touched briefly on some simple keyboards for the first time. I can't wait to return to playing with people but it's not been without a couple of positives in these very dark times. How about the rest of you? Similar stories or is your bass gathering dust?

I have the zero mod one on my Rickenbacker. I don't recall it being so expensive but I would have thought it would solve the problem of not wanting to drill holes. Also if you don't get on with it, I would imagine it would keep most of the resale value if you need to sell it on. If it is going to solve a problem with a bass you like $40 doesn't sound like a huge amount in the grander scheme of things.

^^This^^ My answer would be, it changes regularly which is why I like to have the collection.

My Epi Pro sold really quickly. As much as I loved the chrome pickups it was twice the weight of my Gibson and the Epiphone didn't sound as good. I wish Gibson would do a (cheap and easy to install) chrome pickup cover for my bass then I would have best of both worlds.

I really wish the makers would put the binding around the F holes too. It looks amazing but that would really make this sing for me. I'm already interested.

His band is fantastic and they're all really nice blokes too. I think Andy is a bit, ahem, odd but Michael, Sami and Nasty are all really down to earth. Sami particularly has done a lot to promote bass and does a really interesting series called Sound Tracker where he looks at music from around the world. Over the years he's played with a range of cool people and is probably my bass idol. I would rather have had his career than some of the bigger names.

My life is a Hanoi Rocks tribute!