Jackroadkill

I find that for me it's a case of just playing the song with the band until it sort of takes care of itself, but a good tip that I used at gigs as I was getting back into the swing of it after years of lay-off was to annotate my set list just a little. For example, the first note on the bass, who starts it etc etc written next to each song made a huge difference, and I quickly found that I'd learn how things went pretty quickly. For example: I Fought The Law would have this written next to it - "Adam drum fill, C#\D". We Will Rock You (fast version) would have "Tom riff, E (@A7)", etc etc. I found that just the smallest aide memoire could make all the difference. It didn't take long until it was second nature and my confidence grew to the point where I didn't need them. Cheers, JRK

We used to do this on another forum I used; it was a really good way of keeping the bad guys out.

A decent Pre/DI might be a good option; a Laney Digbeth Pre, SansAmp etc.

Keep going, fella. It'll come together.

This may be going overboard a bit, but if you've got some molybdenum grease, a wee dab of that will work wonders.

Sheesh, why would you bother?! "This is a bass guitar, so if you like bass guitar and play bass guitar, buy this bass guitar and be a bass player you like"

One of the nicest guitars I ever owned was an Epiphone Gold Top; it was a mid 1990's Korean (Samick?) guitar and it was the absolute bollocks.

After weeks of no progress, I've managed to get it to this stage today: It's playable but the nut needs cutting properly (which may be a job for a professional) and the neck needs shimming slightly, as the pocket is a little deeper than the neck is intended to be set, but that's okay. The pickups are VERY powerful and will need to be set down further into the body come set-up time, but it sounds pretty good, with a wide range of sounds, all of which sound good so far. The only things I'm not happy with are the body's shape (not much I can do about that) and the quality of the finish (could do something about that if it wasn't a cheap bitsa); the obvious solution is to find a better body, which I may well do further down the line. Cheers, JRK

Don't listen to him, @lozkerr, he's using you as a smokescreen whilst he satisfies his own GAS! We know you've been itching for a 'Ray for ages, Dave!

Glad I didn't sign up for this; I've just seen a bass I really need. I may have to sell a guitar....

Man, what a gig to play! That's about my idea of heaven - decent rock music and Vulcans.

Weirdly I've just had my car's windscreen replaced, and the guy who did that was missing half a finger. There's a lot of it about, seemingly!

You're going to have to give me a clue there, I'm afraid! @Lozz196, the walk will happen (it has to, I've taken money in sponsorship!) but I'm going to have to adjust on the fly and go as soon as I can. If the worst comes to the worst I'll have to break it into two and do some of it, go for another appointment and then complete it afterwards. I'd rather not do it that way but options are limited.

Latest developments: I had an appointment at the trauma clinic on Tuesday. They didn't make me talk about my childhood but neither did they remove my stitches, so the earliest date for that to happen in now Tuesday of next week. There's still some uncertainty about the grey bit in the middle, but to my eyes it was smaller than it had been and less grim-looking. I've got a new dressing on and can flex the fingertip without too much difficulty, so that's good. The worst thing about all of this is that I wanted to start my sponsored walk on Saturday but this now can't happen until at the soonest Wednesday, and as I'm anticipating it taking me a week to complete it, time is running out. However, in much more positive news, I've played the bass this afternoon, badly and with three fingers, but I've played. Cheers, JRK

Oooooh, hello!!

I used to work at Paradiddles when I was at uni. Crazy times. Saw the Damned play at the White Horse, too.

Awww, no! In my day (1997-2000) it still called itself "Wycombe's Marquee" and had bands on every weekend. It still had the, ahem, exotic dancers on at luchtime. I don't suppose you remember Paradiddles Music Store on Castle Street?

So obviously we need a meet-up so that we can all shuffle our feet nervously and compare purchases, right?

You could hang around outside the White Horse and see if anyone needs a bass player!

Well, looks like I was wrong, eh? Still sometimes it's great to be wrong, so I'm glad you got the chance to let it rip a bit.

Shucks, no progressive vegetarian grindcore for you!

No, Mark, not too soon - might as well laugh as cry, eh?!

Well, there's an update: I went back to the hospital today and the clinic staff removed the dressing (eventually; it was caked in dried blood inside!) and cleaned it up so that a good look could be taken. One side of it is reattaching nicely; the other side less so. However, the consultant had a look and said that hopefully the good side will encourage the less-good side to behave and that I should come back in a week's time for another look. He hasn't ruled out me losing a big chunk of it but it does sound as if things are reasonably positive at the moment. I was advised to move the fingertip within the confines of the dressing (which was changed for a much smaller and less bulky version). I tried to take a picture of the wound but somehow just got the floor of the clinic, so you lot have escaped the gorefest this time. Cheers, JRK