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Thanks mate, glad you all could make it and had a great time. 🙂

I've been playing bass in bands for 33 years. I didn't know I was autistic when I started playing, I just knew that I struggled in social situations and being in a band was a conscious effort to overcome my fears as I'd been reading a lot about confrontational therapy. Being in a band also meant I had a way of appearing somewhat outgoing, but I could distance myself from people if I needed to by disappearing backstage. That social anxiety and general confusion also meant I also gravitated to quite aggressive music, emulating bands like Joy Division, Amebix and New Model Army. Cut to the current day, and I still have the same motivation albeit informed by an eventual diagnosis of having Asperger's Syndrome. So every concert I play is still a mix of exhilaration and terror - amazing myself at being able to overcome my fears and get up on stage, but always at the edge of panic.

Welcome! Those SGs are great little basses. There’s something in their tone , and they are so fun to play.

Look at Jim Bergantino’s cabs. That Verellen Meatsmoke is quite the rig!

Just used one of these at a gig, not sure which it was but given I needed to push the volume a fair bit for just stage volume I’d say it was the lowest powered one. We only had a line check so all I did to get a sound I liked was drop mids a tad to say 11 o’clock and boost highs to about 1 o’clock and it sounded great. Was into an Ampeg Portaflex cab, no idea which sadly. All the bands used this rig and it sounded great with an array of basses, a real rich, full bottom end but without being at all boomy, I really liked this rig.

Welcome Summer , let’s hope you find your father’s bass. Sometimes things happen.

I generally use tubes from JJ as they are cost effective and just work really well. I used them in my Mesa amps as well instead of Mesa tubes.

There’s joy that an appreciative audience brings to the gig. On a great night you almost feel the entire floor lift. And we’re coming into the season where things get hot and sweaty. There’s nothing quite like playing in a great room to a great crowd.

Mate, with that bass, that pedalboard and those shorts you have officially won at internetting.

Super Ska gig in Birmingham. Crowd were great. My Fender Rumble filled the space and the floor rumbled. Had a great time. I just love it when the crowd are up enjoying themselves. Makes it so much more enjoyable

Ace! Did you do Fifteen Years? *And don't say "No, it was only an hour-long set"!

Epic solo acoustic / vocal gig at Bar Dos Hermanos in Leicester. A group of friends had come down from Sheffield to see me. Inviting family/friends always seems to be the kiss of death for me and guarantees a rubbish gig. But not so! It was awesome. Enough very vocal audience members wanting to sing along that the second half was just one long home straight of singalongs and hands in the air shenanigans. Exactly the right behaviour for a Saturday night. Back of the net. (Equipment - Yamaha FG512SJ acoustic with Seymour Duncan woody in it, flask of earl grey tea, Allen and Heath desk and a couple of Mackie SRM350 speakers.

What keeps me in the game? I'm aching to get back in the game, to be frank. My last band ended abruptly (and I still thin unnecessarily, but there you go....) and I'm trying hard to chalk it up to experience, learn what I can from the process and get back on the horse. I have a guitarist, but that's it in terms of musicians. I need at least a drummer and a singer, but when they're found I'm really looking forward to getting back in the saddle. I'm never going to be a great (or probably even good) musician, but I don't care too much about that, I just really enjoy gigging and helping people to enjoy themselves.

I just love playing music, if I’m honest I don’t really like all that comes with a gig anymore, but playing I just love. I’d be happy to only rehearse and record nowadays.

I’m accustomed to playing rooms where I know many of the regulars by name. And when I do venture beyond the comfort zone downtown usually see people I know at a gig. I enjoy the social part. I’m sometimes referred to as an institution. And at every gig I wind up yacking with people for the first time. It’s all part of the job. It can be enjoyable. If I get cornered by someone I find obnoxious I have the disengage down to an art.

Just got in from a Spacewasters gig at The Water Rats, Kings Cross, London. 4 bands on, with us in main support slot. Used my JMJ Mustang bass through the provided Ampeg Venture head and cab and the sound was great. We only had a line check but that’s no problem for us, we played well, with a nice groove and the set was well received. I wore my Skechers trainers and my foot is hurting, darn plantar fasciitis!

Rip Her To Shreds - Blondie

It's a social thing as much as anything these days. I play in three different bands - I'm just shy of my 60's , and have been playing in bands since I was 17. The rehearsals are a chance to kick back, make some noise, and off-load from the previous week's happenings. Also, I usually meet up with the singer from one of the bands for breakfast on a Sunday - again just to put the world to rights as much as anything. If It wasn't for the bands, I don't think I'd meet up with anyone on a regular basis any more.....

In my experience the BB P pickup compared to a P bass is quite different. It’s closer to the neck which gives it softer less honky sound, with more lows. The response is very fast, clean and tight. Sometimes I prefer it to a P, sometimes not.

Back from our one hour slot at the Folk & Cider Festival. Local gig, only 15 minutes drive from home, plus an easy load in and out as it was PA provided, and had my two Uke basses in a double case, small pedalboard and monitor in a gig bag. The set consisted of a mix of Levellers songs plus other covers in a similar acoustic folk style - went down well, with dancers for the most part. Didn't manage to get a pic of the full setup, as we were quick setup and breakdown due to others playing either side of us on the bill, but got a crowd shot and my corner.... Captured the gig on my Zoom Hn4, so that's my job for tomorrow.....

I'm even closer, near Sandhurst. Send me a PM if you want to try my Monaco!