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As my bass tech once said to me in 2002 when I was 32, my record deal had ended and I was giving up, he very angrily said to me, "how dare you give up, you're an amazing bassist, you've been given a talent that others can only dream off, don't waste this gift you've been given, that would just be selfish, go out there and use it, not everyone can play bass or do music." That kind of stuck with me and to this day, I'm still playing and still having some of the best musical experiences in my 39 years of playing. Looking at some of you older chaps, I'm still a youngster at 55 and massively admire those of you who are in your 60's and 70's still playing, that in itself is an incredible achievement. I've had periods where I'm sick of it, can no longer see the point, feel like I'm flogging a dead horse and I make the decision to retire, to then get an incredible opportunity come my way. It literally comes out of the blue and is simply too good to resist. It has happened to me about 5 or 6 times over a 15 year period and even this year, when I'd decided to retire at the end of this year, an amazing opportunity came my way and I'm having an incredible year of music. I joke with my wife that it's my dad looking down on me and saying, "like hell are you going to stop, here's something new to keep you going". She always says that things happen to me for a reason and if something doesn't come my way, then there's a reason for it but its because there's something else much better around the corner and it does usually work out that way. I've kind of gotten used to that's just how my life works, things just tend to happen for a reason, even if it's not obvious at the time. So I'm now resolved that this is me, I'm a bassist and a musician, it's what I do and I'm not allowed to stop. I just make sure I enjoy and cherish every moment and be grateful to be doing something I love. I make sure I get the maximum enjoyment out of it, put in 110% effort and try to not get stressed or frustrated about anything. I no longer fight it and I approach it as if I'm a session bassist and make sure I see the positive in absolutely everything I do or have done. As my friend and bass tech said to me all those years ago, "don't waste this gift you've been given, go out there and use it". That is exactly what I'm doing and on my terms.

Hi all, I'm lucky enough to own a JC and Lakland hollowbody basses, and would really like to get myself a decent gig bag to avoid lugging around. There are some posts on here but they are old and out of date? Anyone got any recommendations or selling. Both are pretty thin in terms of depth and the max body width is 41cm. I did find this on Thoman but would prefer to find something with more internal support Rockbag Starline Hollowbody E-Bass Bag – Thomann UK Any help would be much appreciated

Playing bass is what I do. Playing in a good band to an enthusiastic audience is the biggest buzz I've discovered so far. That never gets old. Even playing in an average band to 3 men and a dog is pretty OK, as long as I'm with a good drummer. You don't retire, you stop when the phone stops ringing.

My career has been a doughnut with a kids and family-shaped hole in the middle. So I feel like a car that’s been garaged… less miles on the clock than you’d guess by looking at me. Hopefully the end of the Road isn’t yet in sight. Though wIth the passing of @yorks5string and @bumnote I am running out of role models…

I feel that acutely today. I have a gig an hour away (not too bad), at a venue that the guy running it seems flakey at best. Parking is nightmare, unless the loading bay outside is free. I’m tired and irritable and could do without gigging today TBH.

I've had two adverts pending approval since yesterday. The adverts have had views, does that mean they can be seen generally? I'm guessing they can't, which begs the question, who is viewing them?

I'm 62 and have been playing since I was 16. The first 10 years I was playing in originals bands trying to get a record contract. That ended when I realised we just we're good enough. At that stage I fell out of love with music and I thought my time as a bassist had ended. Then, about 4 years later, my sister started dating a guy who was the singer and guitarist in a Blues band and he needed a bass player! Even better, he ended up marrying my sister and he couldn't then sack me. We played up and down the UK for the next 10 years. Then he and my sister fell out and that meant I had no choice but to leave the band. At that stage I fell out of love with music and I thought my time as a bassist had ended. But then the old drummer, from the Blues band, called me and said the new band he was in needed a bass player. I've now been in that band for 23 years (other bands, over those 23 years, have come and gone and have disappeared without leaving a trace) but the Blues band keeps on going. The singer is now 66 and the guitarist and drummer are in their mid 50s. We've had to take a break from gigging, as the singer and guitarist are married and are involved in complex family matters (think of the Godfather part III) which prevents them from gigging. At this stage I think I may have fallen out of love with music and I am thinking my time as a bassist had ended. Hold on there seems to be a pattern developing....... Of course I don't want to be a old fart, in a band full of old farts, playing to old farts. But as long as we don't look too ridiculous up on stage and I can still project energy into playing, then I'll continue on until I can't. Oh by the way, my sister and my brother in law got back together and I still occasionally play in his Blues band, when his new full-time bassist has something better (or more lucrative - wedding gig?) to do.

Agreed. I've said my piece anyway.

The weight is an important issue always. But I think that after their restyling (the first models were very similar to Fender) the think about the weight and now is easy to find lighter basses. My Enigma 5 is about 4.2 kgs and for me that suffer back problems is very comfortable even in long rehearsals or concerts. About the sound, I was a little bit worried but nothing further from the reality, in my case perfect for me and I play styles where a warm and thick sounds are usually needed; soul, latin, blues etc.

I've pondered packing it all in, but then I'd miss the gigs, I won't miss is the band hassles, loading my car up, all the setting up and breaking down, I don't look forward to gigs like I used too, but once I'm up there playing I still enjoy it, I'm lucky in that I don't have any health problems I suppose when I do that'll be the time to give it all up

Could you go full retro with a trapeze tailpiece?