More Bass and Guitar content than I could remember. . . . . .

 To all who have been here before. . . . .

Over the last few weeks, I have been speaking to Lars Mullen quite a bit, as we are still in touch, keeping each other up to date on what we are up to. 

Well, it was during one of our chats that I referred back to a couple of events, including the Guitars on the beach thing in 2014, with Ian Gillan doing Smoke on the water. . . .

This got me feeling a bit nostalgic, so as it was nine years ago, I thought I would search for it on the blog - this post.

Guitars on the beach 2014

Having travelled back in time with a read through that, as the weather wasn't that sparkling, I thought I would get a coffee and sit and read all my blog posts from the very begining. That would entertain me for a while. Whilst I have gone back to older posts for reference and read the feature posts in the order that made sense (older ones first), I can't really remember reading the whole thing.

After a couple of hours, I had to get up, stretch my legs, get another coffee and carry on. After another hour, I thought I had best leave it for the time being and come back to it!

So, for the next few days I carried on for an hour or so at a time, usually with a very early moring coffee. As time passed, I began to realise there was still a lot to go through. As I sit here typing this, there is still a lot to go through! 

Looking at the posts I have read this morning, something has occurred to me - it's taking long enough to read them, how on earth did I find the time to take the images, do the research, arrange the interviews, collate everything, type it up and post it. On top of that answering emails and helping out with any questions.

I am, and readers who started at the begining, are all 14 years older now and I wonder if we all feel the same - do you reflect beck and think "how did I manage to do all that stuff with everything else in life going one?"

I think I need a lie down!

 

Happy New Year

I am still very much here but all sorts of things take up my time these days and none of us are getting any younger.

2023 already, where has all the time gone?

Hope to entertain you with some more posts this year.

All the best

Cheers. : )

  

Axis Bass Guitar. George Ford and The Shadows

 Whilst we are on videos. . . . The Shadows, Riders in the Sky.

Nothing unusual about that but what is unusual is footage and the then Shadows Bass Player, George Ford.

On top of that, he is playing a very rare Peter Cook Axis Bass.

More details on the Axis Bass and the Axis Guitar.

Axis Bass and Guitar

Cheers. : )

Peter Cook Ned Callan guitar prototype.

 Hi to all of you out there.

This is the other video that Peter shared with me.

Ned Callan Prototype, the narration tells you all about it.

Peter Cook. Ned Callan Workshop Video

 Well, it's taken me some time but here I am again!

So, let's kick off with the video I promised.

Peter sent this to me ages ago (sorry Peter) and I have finally got around to posting it to the world.

This is a very old "film", taken in the workshop where Ned Callan Guitars and Basses were made. Very period and old world grainy but very entertaining, non the less.

Enjoy.

 Cheers. : ) 

 

March 29th Flat Eric breaks free. . . . .

 Today is the start of very slowly returning back to normal. . . hopefully!

I have many musician friends who have adapted, modified, innovated, collaborated, Zoomed, Facetimed and everything else they can do to keep the ball rolling, just hoping that one day. . . . .

In truth, it is not going to be the same and won't be for a long time but let's face it, playing to half a pub, half a hall or half a stadium, is going to be way better than what we have had.

Let's take it one step at a time, move forward safely and keep our fingers crossed that we never go back to what we have experienced.

Good luck to all of you out there - take care and stay safe.

All the best.

Cheers. : )

Back real soon with some new discoveries of Peter Cook instruments.

Bass Guitar and Guitar Collection 2021

 Today is January 5th and here in the UK, we are back in full lockdown again. 

Musicians, sound and lighting guys, crew, venues etc. have all seen their world turned upside down and it isn't going to get any better for the next few months.

It seems that festival organisers are looking to make plans for this year but are looking for some insurance type of backing from the government, just in case!

There are some venues that just haven't made it to this point, it was just too much for them, so I believe it is really important that when the ball does start rolling again, that we all support them as much as possible. 

I have lost count of the gigs and concerts I have been to, as I'm sure most people have but let's make sure that when we can do it safely, we savour every moment and reflect on a time when it just didn't happen.

There are a lot of guys - and girls out there, that have quite a few guitars and basses and in normal times would find great joy in taking a different intrument to the next rehearsal or to a gig but with the situation we are all in, it just doesn't happen. I have found myself reaching out for one particular instrument, over and over again, during these troubled times and strangely enough, it's a guitar! Nothing fancy, it's not an expensive custom build, it has been well used during it's life but much loved by all it's owners, I'm sure.

What is it. . . . . .? An old Ibanez SB70! We have just bonded, it's as simple as that! I have said this on many occasions, every now and then, you come across something that just feels right, no matter what is says on the head, there is just something about it. Than's not just my opinion, several other people I know have simply said. . . WOW!! I quite agree with them!

Ibanez SB70

Take care and stay safe.

Cheers. : )

Eddie Van Halen.

 The 6th of October was a very sad day for anyone that loved his music and for all those millions of guitarists out there, who on first sight, couldn't believe their eyes.

I was one of the first lucky few to see him in the UK, 13 dates into a UK tour, with Black Sabbath. They rolled into one of the best places in the midlands at the time, Demontfort Hall - noted for it's acoustics and layout.

A friend and I had managed to get tickets to see Sabbath and travelled to Leicester to see them and for both of us at the time, an unknown band, their support - Van Halen.

This was May 31st, 1978. No internet, no mobile phones - to know what was going on, you would buy the NME and scan through it.

As was the usual case, we would head to the bar for the first part of the evening, as quite a few supports we had seen in the past, were not up to much - this night was different! With a pint of Newcastle Brown each, we stood in the bar and the support struck up. Within seconds, the bar was empty and there was crowd, all open mouthed, staring at this young man in total disbelief!! What the . . . . ? Who is that? How is he doing that? The amthmosephere was one of the most electric I can ever remember, it was, as my friend said, "Truly Amazing"!

What Eddie did in those early days and the following years, was change the face of Guitar Playing, forever!

To me, a real Hero and a true Legend - the memories of that night are still very clear in my mind and to think that aged only 65 years old, he is no longer with us, is very saddening.

Thank you for your time with us, Eddie Van Halen.