StingRayBoy42

An amazing player, always made what he did sound so effortless. A sad loss.

People don't believe me when I say I've got a favourite Spandau Ballet song, but it's True.

Gigged last night at O'Neills Leicester. We assumed it would be dead, but there was a good crowd in that really enjoyed it. In fact, they were the best audience we've had all year. Good to see the lads in the band again, good to be back out doing it, good gig to ease us back in, really enjoyed it. Not even dry january or the weird buzzing in my IEMs could dampen the mood. StingRay -> Small pedalboard -> Amp pedalboard (Thumpinator & VTDI) -> Markbass CMD121H Feet update - red socks and black/lime green crackle Converse. It's good to be back!

Sparkly Purple all day long!

The Bass Book by Tony Bacon. And just to repeat what others have said... A really good strap and straplocks - I like a Mono Betty strap but a nice leather one with his name and birthday date embossed (as someone above mentioned) would be a great pressie. A decent case (Hiscox) or bag (Mono/Protec Contego). A good setup (Sort of a service & MOT for his Bass) - Google "Luthier Surrey". A couple of sets of his preferred strings (or a set of Adagio flatwounds - a cheap intro to flatwound strings). A Multi effects pedal - the Zoom B3 is really well regarded. A voucher for your local music shop so he can decide. A good few years of lifts to and from gigs and rehearsals. A set of decent headphones (for yourself 😀)

I love Eurovision! It's basically the Gay Olympics. Have a few folk round and make a night of it, I say.

Cardboard boxes big enough to fit a Bass. Three of them. Collect in Brum (B13) - I will post at your expense if you really want.

The pickup on my Tacoma Thunderchief has gone kaput, so I need a replacment... any ideas?! LR Baggs? Fishman? All and any advice appreciated.

+1 for the Zoom stuff. I have the H2n (audio only) and a video one (can't remember the model, sorry) and they're the business. Cheap, easy to use and really good results.

They were (and are) jaw-droppingly amazing. Prepare to fall into a youtube rabbit hole!

I took the sides off and blew all the dust out, switch cleanered all the switches (I know, I know...) and ham-fistedly prodded the springs with an allen key until they looked about in the middle-ish... something worked as it seems to be back to normal. Here endeth the lesson.

It's got a certain punk mojo to it... all part of the backstory.

Look, it's really very simple. They make StingRays and Sterlings. The Sterling is a 4 string version of the 5 string StingRay. They also made a 5 string Sterling, so a 5 string version of the 4 string version of the 5 string StingRay. Their budget line is called Sterling by MusicMan, which have nothing to do with the Sterling. Unless it's a Sterling by Sterling by MusicMan. Sterling by MusicMan also make StingRays, so it's a StingRay by Sterling by MusicMan. They also make a Ray34 (4 string, unless it's a 5 string) and a Ray35 (5 string unless it's a 4 string) They used to make the S.U.B. but everyone liked them so they stopped, then they made the SUB which is a different thing to the S.U.B. They also make the bongo, which isn't a bongo, it's a Bass and looks like HR Giger and Hieronymus Bosch had a bet as to who could make the ugliest thing and they both won. Hope that clears things up!

Sophie Sully is a great player and while I've never had any lessons from her, I've no doubt she's also a top teacher https://www.sophiesully.co.uk/

Jake sold me a bow, he was a pleasure to deal with from start to finish.

Bought a PSU from Sean- great price, good comms and delivered in person the very next day! 11/10

Have we all heard Dylan's christmas song? You're welcome.