Cat Burrito

I've always subscribed to the opinion that if it is your instrument, do whatever makes you happy. Plus those signature models are just a marketing ploy. I am sure Adam Clayton or Steve Harris won't mind if somebody in Stoke has changed a pickguard!

New Wave of Old School?!

It doesn't come up in the majority of music I play or listen to but there have been a couple of recordings over the years where I have used the technique. It seems crazy to ridicule any technique (the pick vs fingers debate always makes my eyes roll!) when you are better off having more skills to make you a better player. I do wonder if a lot of it stems from when we first learnt to play. I recall going into music shops, having semi mastered the most rudiment of Ramones bass lines to try some budget bass, only to be "treated" to a slap masterclass by the shop assistant just prior to handing me the bass, whilst simultaneously looking down his nose at me - usually before I had even plucked my first string! Not a fair reflection on the technique but I was probably scarred by that for a fair while.

I'm loving these lockdown videos too. That was enjoyable and I found myself watching it twice. We're supposed to be doing one ourselves but it seems to be taking an age to get off the ground.

Black and maple with just a dash of Orange...

Like that Rolling Stones clip etc. Anyone done this and what tips are there for bassists? I have two bands that are going to try this, probably just filming clips on iPhones and wondered what advice there was. I have heard of the iRig that plugs into phones but was probably just going to play via a practice amp.

I can't help but feel that Greco is a tad overpriced. I've seen vintage violin basses cheaper. The mid range Hofners are cheaper and really good. Plus the Squiers are easier to shift if you ever need to sell it on.

Love it! I had two of the Japanese ones and a Squier one, none of which I have kept and it's the only model I regret not keeping.

Welcome to the Red Ric Club! I love that fingerboard! Here's mine which is a bit modded these days;

Yep, I have used mine for roots rock 'n' roll, power pop and 60s style bands. The Mk2 has fixed the issue with the early break up. This is now pretty much exclusively my only head, I would imagine from country to reggae, you'd have no fuss here.

I just think it's impossible to say at the moment. We lost a European tour and our UK tour would have started this week. That one has been rescheduled for October but personally I am not 100% convinced even that is anything other than optimistic. Whatever happens I don't feel the world will ever be quite the same after this.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/BQLZR-Length-Rosewood-Thumbrest-Mounting/dp/B01HSVV6GA There used to be a website for UK Bass thumb rests but he's not operating anymore. Amazon and EBay have a few.

That was my original SP210! The SP212 sounds even better.

I did two UK tours with the SP212 which was the original isobaric Orange design. I played on the rock circuit and people would comment on the size but then promptly shut up when I started playing. It was mic'd up but had a killer sound. I still use it for small pub shows when I am not feeling like carting my 4x10 around. The only negativity has been people commenting on the size but it always holds up and I play with some LOUD drummers.

01 Ever played a gig sitting down? Yeah, after a knee op in the 90s. 02 Ever gigged on a different instrument? Guitar, mandolin, banjo, lapsteel and harmonica 03 Ever shared a stage with a musical hero of yours? Did two tours with Enuff Z'Nuff who I had posters of as a kid and we jammed onstage everynight. 04 Any fan ever had a tatoo of your band's logo? Don't think so. The pedant in me has to point out it's tattoo! 05 Ever signed an autograph in a dressing room? Yep. 06 Ever cried on stage? No 07 Ever worn a hat on stage? Definitely 08 Ever gigged with a band you hadn't met before the gig? Yeah, scary but fun 09 Ever been in a relationship with a fellow band member? Not sexual 10 Ever played in different bands on the same day? Yes 11 Ever had anything thrown at you while playing? A barstool! Glam band booked for a skinhead pub! 12 Ever crashed on the way to the gig? Yes 13 Ever left a band over the choice of set list? Indirectly 14 Ever slept in the venue despite it not being a hotel? Yes & in my 40s too! 15 Ever been supported by a band clearly better than you? If by better you mean sober, yes. 16 Ever played a gig suffering from some debilitating medical condition? Cancer in 2009 17 Ever been in a band where the guitarist was your favourite bandmate? Frequently 18 Ever played in the grounds of a stately home? Don't think so 19 Ever injured yourself on stage? A shifted nut cut my hand open in Norway last year. Blood everywhere! 20 Ever been told that your bass isn't loud enough? Too loud, too quiet... everybody is a critic!

My collection includes 2 Fenders with custom pickguards (courtesy of Greasy Groove in Canada) and the Rickenbacker pickguard is from that Ric spares place, Ricky Sounds. The Ric up close And my Precision when it was white

My fairly customised 57 Reissue in action. This bass has managed a few tours with me and always serves me well.

As above. I have used mine for recording without a cab too. The 20 seems like it would only be useful for home usage but I don't know as I haven't tried one.

It was my reluctant reference to the Little Britain sketch that I tried to pre-empt! His band is great but it was obviously all put together for him. I knew it was his ex-wife with someone but couldn't recall Kenny's first name. Mo Foster's playing is great. We used to cover it circa 1999.

The theme from Minder. Not cool but love it. (Dennis Waterman wrote the theme tune, sang the theme tune)

We've lost 2 tours, Spain and the UK. Anything in the diary I think will be getting pulled by the venue over the coming few weeks. It's going to take a while to recover from this. Things are so desperate already that one band has even had our rehearsal space pulled!