Jackroadkill

I love this.

Dirty boy!

Never let it be said that you're not rock 'n' roll, Ped!

Get at it, sir!!

Essentially one of each, but there was spare in all of them except the trans red, which ran out. A shame really, as I'd have liked one more coat on it.

Well, she's done. I changed the pickups for a pair of Limelight units which are 1960's voiced with a lower, more vintage output than the ones I originally had. I bought these from our very own @Spoonman, and they sound superb. The nut has been cut by the fabulous Rob Williams (www.robwilliamsguitars.co.uk) and the action, which was high and stiff, is now lower and slinkier, to the point where it feels like another bass. I have to say that it sounds amazing, even through my PF500, which is a bit farty and clanky for my liking, so when I get it through the big Eden rig I reckon it will be even better. It plays well, too, the added width of the Precision neck giving my clumsy (and injured) fingers a bit more freedom. The wiring loom I bought pre-assembled; normally I would build my own but I found a deal I couldn't say no to, which included a great big green Russian capacitor. What effect it has on the sound I don't know, but the sound is great, so it gets my vote - the combination of CTS pots, that capacitor and those lovely pickups just works. Now all I need is my finger to finish healing (that'll take a while) and a band to play in! Cheers, JRK

This man is very nice to deal with; I sent him money for some Jazz Bass pickups on Thursday night and they are in my hand less than 48hrs later. Thanks very much, Phil.

I've got a cheapy Korean Squier Jazz that has rounds that are about four years old on it. Not a great age when compared to the average set of flats, but older than my main P bass stings, which are around two years old.

Cheers Rich - thanks for the encouraging tale. My finger is healing reasonably well but it's still feeling very fizzy where the wound is, if you see what I mean.

Ah, the lovely Joan! I made a film once with her, on the west coast of Scotland. A truly lovely lady.

Chas and Dave were as punk as hell.

I love playing the Clash's version of I Fought The Law, Holiday in Cambodia and Crazy Horses a lot at the moment. Well, before my injury...

Exactly, on all counts!

@Chienmortbb, @Mudpup and @dmccombe7 - there seems to be a good bit of calling it quits in the air at the moment, chaps. My band has folded too, and I'm gutted. My finger injury has forced a lay-off for me and I just want to get back in the saddle again. I hope this run of bands folding is just an anomaly and not the shape of things to come.

This has always been a favourite of mine. I did have to check that it was released in 92, though!

Well, tonight I actually played using all four fingers for the first time since the end of July! It hurt, my dexterity in that finger has gone to hell and I couldn't make it do anything like what I wanted it to do, really, but I played my bass... I'm feeling a bit overcome, really. Not like X-Factor "ohmygodthisissohugeeeee" overcome, but a bit of relief is definitely in evidence. I only played for five minutes as the skin is as thin as tissue paper, but I think that a few more minutes each day, or maybe every other day, should be a good start. The swelling is 90% down now and that weird hammer-head section in the second picture above is pretty much flattened out. Cheers, JRK

That's one of my pet hates; in my recently-defunct covers band I insisted that we had the set list agreed on and printed by the rehearsal prior to the gig. I would then print spares, because it seemed as if holding onto a bit of paper for a few days could be more challenging than it sounds. Anyway, we never went on without knowing exactly what we were playing, and when we did gigs that we knew were likely to run over/under we used to know in advance what songs we'd drop or add; it was the same for encores. Instrument and tuning changes were included on the set lists too. It may all be a bit anal but it grinds my gears something chronic to see a band faffing about trying to decide what to play. I know some bands have a pool of songs and the BL calls them on the fly, and I'd do this if circumstances allowed, but in my eyes it takes a lot of balls, a lot of organisation and a lot of being able to read the crowd on the fly.

Isn't that the control panel from a 1990's Soyuz capsule?!

That's a great cover. Much respect!

Some hazard tape or a rope light (suitable fastened down) can be good.

Great stuff - I was waiting for his name to crop up!

I live just down the road from Tony; he rebuilt my Les Paul a few times in my more exuberant younger days. He's still building, but I'm not sure under what name, as he's had a few names that he's traded under. Somewhere I have a Revellation neck and body without hardwear - I think it might be at my Mum's.

Keef Richards when he was in the Dirty Mac.