The Last Bass Outpost

http://cgi.ebay.com/1974-Gibson-The-Ripper-Bass-Guitar-Vintage-USA-w-Case_W0QQitemZ170471188494QQcategoryZ4713QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp4340.m8QQ_trkparmsZalgo%3DMW%26its%3DC%26itu%3DUCC%26otn%3D20%26ps%3D63%26clkid%3D9186205904486922221

This is a request for assistance, but I've posted it here as it is very relevant (if not already commonly known and I'm just being naive) to all Gibbie/Epi users...

Scott and myself exchanged a set of three point bridges and posts this week... the chrome Gibson set from my '79 RDA and a black Epiphone set that came with Scotts Fretless Ripper (as accompanied spares)...



The black posts (he did warn me that they had been cut-down but that was not considered a problem for either of us) did not fit any of my (studs - what is proper definition?) as they are all M8 threads - yep, all metric... I can only presume that Epiphones are metric fittings...?

I believe that Scott may have a bigger problem than me but swopping the posts around should show that as (afaik) the (stud points) are all the same on the set that I supplied to Scott, which leads me to believe that a bit more jiggerypokery has gone on with his Ripper than he originally thought... the main 5/16 posts fit his but the front small post does not - I presume that this must have been replaced with a Metric (stud point) ...?

The outcome is that he requires a small (probably metric M8) chrome post and I require a set of 5/16" (they are this thread size???) black anodised posts... anyone got a spare set or point me in the direction of where I can find a set on-line...?

I need Scott to check how they fit in the various (stud points) on his Ripper before confirming what he will need - it may be easier for him to shange the body part than to source a metric part...?

Something Scott was saying recently (passing comment) made me think about a recent audition I attended, and back to various bands I've played with over the years...

I have always found that "eye-contact" is an important factor in building a relationship with your partner-in-rhythm; but what works for you...?

There is something about the "learning-curve" you go through: the drummer looking for the "toe-tap" or the "drop/rise" of the neck; how we may "hug" the bass pedal; the accentuation we may take on the snare or a cymbal strike... eventually, if we are lucky, it becomes like a "symbiosis", that "playing without thinking", but how did you get there...? What do you look for...? What makes a good drummer...? How do/did you form that "symbiotic" relationship...?

I don't know if this has crossed the pond, but this is a troubling story for the Europeans...

Britain has taken a "hands-off... not our problem" attitude, as we are not commited to the EURO currency...

A couple of BBC news pages...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8510295.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8508688.stm

What's happening over there "Exiled"...? Doesn't sound so good...

... and then when you give up on it, it just as inexplicably re-appears...?

I "lost" my Ipod a couple of weeks before Christmas... as I am so absent-minded (always have been) I always left the little piece of ali and silicone in one of a very few places - by the PC, on my DVD (book) shelf, on a shelf by the PC, or (when working) in a pocket in the van's door - well, it just upped and went - felt sure I had dropped it into the recycling bin, which was collected that morning...

So, I was researching a second-hand one off eBay, pending this months pay-day, planning to buy one this week...

Thursday last... whilst setting up the sat-nav (lifting it out of the same door pocket) I spied at the bottom of the pocket, my red Ipod...

I had totally emptied that pocket... it... was... not... there...

Anyway, I listened to my entire Foghat collection on a return trip to Manchester Fedex yeasterday (on call this weekend = 11 1/2 hour round trip of 450 miles to fix an alarm system) so thoroughly enjoyed the trip rather than listen to Classic FM all the way (we do not have any US FM Rock type stations in the UK, imo) there and back... (to Al's James Gang reference, elsewhere... "Turn Me Over - Play Me Again"  )

Not the first time this has happened in our household - 3 "red" items disappeared that month - I was sitting on one of our sofas in the lounge on Christmas day, with the family, and put down a pair of red-handled scissors beside me for a moment, and they disappeared - we took the sofa apart - not... there... still not had the other 2 "red" items back... Certainly can offer no explanation as to why or how this happened - I can offer no explanation as to where it went, or why it came back, but thank you anyway mischief-maker... 

My cousin Patrick gets knighted in the Queen's New Years Honours list... 

To Boldly Go Where No Captain  Of The Enterprise Has Gone Before...!

(not really a cousin, just the same surname... Mr D. Trump is a cousin, mind you - 3rd, once removed, IIRC; just not close enough to "tap-up" for "readies..."  )

What do you think...?

Still trawling the 'bay...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Alembic-John-Paul-Jones-Signature-Bass_W0QQitemZ320454085722QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV?hash=item4a9c8d4c5a

Might be someone's cup of char...