I currently own three bass guitars, though only two are in playable condition and two are in regular use. Details are listed below, along with the year I acquired the bass.

2009 – Akai Nineteen NinetySeven (Primary)

This bass was originally given to ex-Whitenake, Black Sabbath, Michael Schenker and Brian May Band bass guitarist Neil Murray by Akai on his 1997 tour of Japan with the Brian May Band. Neil has very generously passed it onto me, where it has become my primary bass.

The pickups have been changed by Neil to Lace Alumitone Bass Bars, and they really do enhance the clarity of the overall tone, and also give the bass another level of versatility. Combined with Rotosound SM-77 flatwound strings, they create a very “earthy” and “moody” tone, but can easily be very bright and melodic as well.

2010 – Fender American Standard Precision Bass V (Secondary)

My secondary bass is a Fender American Standard Precision Bass V, bought new in November 2010. I have had the Precision bass version of the Lace Bass Bar pickups (Aluma-P) fitted in place of the stock Fender pickups, as I love the tone Bass Bars’ tone, depth and clarity.

I have also had the stock passive electronics replaced with a custom active EQ consisting of John East BTBM-01 conentric treble/bass and MID-SWEEP-01 mid controls, running from a single 9V battery mounted in a rear compartment. A three-way switch toggles the EQ between active, passive and also turns the circuit off completely to save battery life.

As well as the pickups and EQ, I have had a custom pickguard cut from three-ply white pearl as the Lace Aluma-P pickups aren’t the usual size for a five-string bass (both pickups are the same rather than one elongated to cover the extra string), resulting in a fairly large gap around the original pickup cutouts.

2000 – Tanglewood Rebel 4K (Display)

My first bass guitar was a Tanglewood Rebel 4K, which has now been signed by the cast and band over the last few years at We Will Rock You in London. Among the signatures are both past and present cast, as well as Ben Elton and Brian May.

Due to a split in the neck of the bass and also due to the quality of the other basses I have, I have retired it from use completely, and will (one day) become a display piece.