asingardenof

Down boy!

Shakin' All Over - Johnny Kidd & the Pirates

My favourite was "it's so close... to being a million miles away from correct"

I've started a spreadsheet for changing the strings on both basses, mainly because I'm curious as to which sets last longest if I try and give both equal playing time.

All off so I can clean the bass. Every now and then I'll update my pre-cut spare set in my gig bag/case so the set I carry around isn't too old and manky (and liable to break).

Seems to be a good time for people to buy at the moment, I count no fewer than five ABM heads for sale in these parts.

We were supposed to have a gig yesterday but that was postponed until who knows when owing to the death of the father of our singist and drummist. After that we have a grand total of three confirmed gigs in the diary, in May, August and November, with a possible two more in June and August, but that's it. Why don't we have any more? Because nobody apart from me is actively looking for any and are relying on getting places we've played before to rebook us. No agent, just us. We aren't in it just for the money, but it is nice. I'd like to have a gig once a month or so, but I think I'm in the minority.

If it's any consolation I live in a three-bedroom house and still struggle to find room for two basses and two guitars. At least the amps fit under my home office desk or I'd be screwed!

Father Ted-style they'll just be "resting" in their place.

Headstock shape suggests Hohner Rockwood or similar. Definitely monstrous though!

My first was a Hohner Rockwood Pro Precision copy, bought as a pack with a truly awful amp for my 18th birthday in 1996 from (I think) Rimmers in Liverpool. That lasted for a couple of years until I got some sweet, sweet student loan money hitting my account and then part-exchanged it for the Squier Precision I still have today.

Especially since the pickups at least are the same as are installed in the US versions.

Which one, Nathan or Lee? Need more @CiciBass doing them I say. I was lucky last time I had to send something back to them that I live near one of their stores and could just drop it in. The fact that it seems to be lost in the void of their repairs department is annoying but their returns folks seem to be just as frustrated as I am about it.

I think he acquired a copy of their most recent set list rather than the entire back catalogue.

Indeed

These days, with the proliferation of CNC machines and whatnot, there are very few completely terrible guitars and bass brands around. Where not so long ago the likes of Squier, Ephphone, SBMM, etc. might once have only been considered beginner instruments, you could quite happily have one and gig it regularly - Mike Rutherford using Squier Affinity guitars live is a good example of someone not fussed by the brand name (although his are modded somewhat, I'm sure). When I bought my Squier Precision in 1998 I actually chose it over a Mexican Fender Jazz because I thought it was a better put together (and better sounding) instrument even though it was about half the price. As has been mentioned elsewhere, eventually you start getting into the realms of diminishing returns as the price goes up, where each incremental improvement in quality seems to come with a bigger and bigger price hike. The trick is to know how good is going to be good enough for what you need.

Under The Bridge - RHCP

Excellent stuff, and three great songs to play as well

Knackered Ashdown gear seems to be the way of it, although the room we normally book has a 40W Rumble combo and a 4x10 Hartke cab outside it - not sure how one is supposed to combine these though!

He even has a Drumeo course on how to drum with one arm!

That was awesome, and he's an incredible drummer too

The special sauce one