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You're all being very silly. Jaco was a bass player. Stop putting your limitations on him.

Moog has just launched an iOS Minimoog Model D app for an introductory £4.99. It’s well worth checking out for anyone interested in synthesis.

Not only yes, but I did! My last album (critically acclaimed in Q, Mojo etc) was recorded on two Squire basses. I also took the Squiers out on the road and played London's O2 with them. Twice.

Looking at this photo it looks as though the only things he needs are a couple of decent meals and a long shower

Most if not all of Thin Lizzie stuff is a semitone out.

If it's a wedge, we can always use it to keep the door open (If it turns out to be the best cab, there really will be some questions asked.)

I am picking it up shortly :-)

As a former Wal owner, and given how you're using your Wal at the minute, I'd agree with the P-bass suggestions. A nice classic 50's or Roadworn P. I'd keep the Wal though - tastes and requirements change!

The point of this thread was to mock the people who always say that he ''only needed four''. Great answers so far.

Very glad to hear that you've clicked with the bass...and then clicked even more after the string change! Funnily enough, I was in a recording studio with my Model T this Saturday just gone. The day before I'd been worried it was sounding a little dull, and then I remembered I hadn't changed the strings since 2015. A fresh set of Rotos later and it was singing nicely again. Often overlooked, as you rightly say!

I've gone from bedroom player to semi pro, to pro, back to semi pro and back to (part-time) pro again. But in my head I was always a pro player. This has never been a hobby. IMO the differentiators between all these categories isn't money or earnings, it's attitude, approach and time. Mostly time. How much time are you willing to put into playing and learning your instrument so that you move yourself from bedroom player (everyone starts there) along the line to becoming a world class recording and touring professional. Where you stop on that line is determined by the time you dedicate to learning your instrument. How willing are you to invest the time and effort, usually to the exclusion of everything else, into becoming the best you can be, and then pushing to be better still.

another update... I finally ditched the original strings. Man, why didn't I do that earlier??? DR SUNBEAMS on... what a difference! They're a little more compliant, which is nice. I have it set with pretty low action, but I can still dig in when I want to... and these strings have transformed the bass. It's incidentally the first time I try Sunbeams (I have been using their stainless steel counterpart, Fat Beams, for ages, which also have a round core)... and I love them. They are not overly bright even straight from the packet, so they suit me very well. Punchy, nice mids... and the Model T sounds fantastic with them. Lovely bass, and with careful pickup adjustment a very good sounding one too... then put nice strings on and it becomes a great bass indeed. Strings, so often overlooked...

Yeah, but he only needed 4.....

I'm sure the Legend is a good bass, but the semi-hollow body, pickup placement, and piezo in the bridge are just perfect for smooth fretless mwah. That said, if you like burpy bridge pickup fretless tones then the Legend might be a better choice. I'm primarily a fretless player and I'd go Spectorcore every time over the Legend.

Fixed that for you.

Whatever you decide, keep the Wal. Try out loads of different basses. Get the one that plays and sounds great. But keep the Wal.

A Sei.?

Hobbyist/Weekend Warrior for me. I do this purely for fun, and we - in general - only gig at weekends. All the money generated from the band goes back into the band, so no income at all. And similar to @Mykesbass am in my 50s, original material, with overseas tours/festivals/albums out etc having the best time of my life so far as a musician.

How about something a little lighter? Like a three seat sofa😉

Not a chance. Why..? ... I play drums.

Most yes, but I believe FinnDave's band are doing the original long versions.

FYI Cellulose thinners will remove all the residue from those horrid stickers - will leave it like new (well as new as it can look).

I have recently become sober so my next gig will be the first without a drop of devil juice. I expect the nerves to be there in abundance

I think Craig Charles in now on Radio 2 on saturday evenings. The show does seem to be packed with good tunes, whenever I catch it.

Well, I normally get in around 45mins/1hr30 of practice a day, then normally have 1-2 band practise a week which is normally 3hrs long then could possibly have 2 weddings on a weekend which is normally 4hrs of music plus setup time, sound check, strip down. Travel could be anything from 15mins up to 1hr 30/2hr drive. Normally I leave any recording/mixing work for weekends that I don't have any gigs.

Of course not, just the edited highlights!

He he he!! No problem! Happy to answer that one! All of my 'main' instruments (5, 6 and 7 strings) are around 16mm spacing. It seems logical that having been so used to the spacing on those, I try a 4 string in the same configuration. For fast pick work, it's a definite benefit - (you only have to ask guitarists to confirm that lol). I'm intrigued and at some point I'll test the theory and report back. Also, looking at a longer scale, say 36", very low tunings will deliver a better tone. As for oddity.. he he, I think I'll take that. That pretty much sums up my playing and my gear at times!

I get nervous at posh functions say in a small marquee without PA support when some twit makes a bloody great announcement etc ..everyone's hyped up and we've been payed a "small" fortune..been known to fluff a few things under the "enormous" pressure. Stage festivals hardly at all...the crowd are miles away and the bass probably sounds like mud so no-one cares what I'm playing anyway.

Sounds like it's mainly a weight issue. Alan at ACG can build you a bass with his P/ups and John East Pre-amps (or any other available on the market) in a lightweight bass. I'd highly recommend the SimS pick up system which is fitted to Enfield basses ( would also recommend these but I'm not sure on the weight) - check the videos on YT. If you're considering custom, Andyjr1515 and JabbatheGut of this manor could both build basses to your spec and design. Check the build thread.

Tone wood

... four strings:

My Ian Hill signature and my Doug Wimbish

Dave Dearnly in Cardiff if you want someone to do it Lew https://www.yell.com/biz/dave-dearnaley-guitars-ltd-cardiff-8847632/

There seems to be two strict camps this month, it was either the "mystical uplifting and enchanting what have we done to the earth" style or the "talking polar bear" camp, in all but one. Mr Bilbo true to form delivered a unique take on the picture and deserves a mention for that. Every entry was bang on the mark and delivered excellently. Three was a hard choice but I managed it and wish I could've picked more. Very enjoyable.

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Hmmm, tricky question this one and I think everyone's situation and criteria is going to be different. Things have changed a lot for me in the last year or so after running my own Locksmiths business for more than 10 years, I officially packed that in last year to work with my Wife (she is a piano/singing teacher) and now I am teaching guitar/bass/Ukelel and music theory for over 30 private students a week. I'm playing in three bands and gigging weekly, sometimes more and i have my first bit of paid session/recording work in 25 years coming up at the end of April. I would say these days teaching/gigging etc is probably 95% of my income ( I still do the odd Locksmiths job if it comes up and I have the time) all nicely squared of with the tax man. If I would class myself as Pro or Semi Pro is hard to say it depends on the criteria you use for those terms, am I a Professional Educator or teacher, a pro musician, a semi pro bassist, a Jack of all trades lol It really all depends how you look at it.

Ditto.

Now we’re with an agent, the probability has dramatically increased. I’ll try and let you know if we get anything close.

Hmm a nice centre piece on which she can put her sewing machine perhaps. Now there's a thought.... 😀

A professional musician, is a musician that declares his full income, from music, to the taxman.

Where's JTUK? Wonder what his band is currently going out for?

At some point in the mid 90s I was fed up with my Wal and tried to sell it. Luckily nobody bought it, so it stayed with me, sitting unused in the corner. Three years and a Musicman and Precision later I rediscovered the Wal and play it as my main bass ever since. So my advice is that if you think everything feels right with your Wal then go cheating, but keep it.

Peavey Fury had the slimmest neck I have played, both nut width and depth. A lot of other Peaveys would be there too, though i don't have first hand experience of them.