Leaderboard

Got a very last minute gig on Sunday night for an end of season party for staff at a PGL centre (they run residential activity holidays for school kids) near Woodbridge in Suffolk. Amazing Manor House but when we arrived, realised that the crowd were pretty much all in their early 20's so a bit concerned about how they'd like our 60's/70's/80's funk and soul set. Needn't have worried. This audience, lubricated by some cheap sparkly, were determined to dance all night and loved the music. What a great night and no more assumptions from me about what people might or might not like! 8e5242bd-98c0-47a4-9234-ce3a4b4b074a.mov

Just a jam night, but gun to play some random stuff, all at a furious pace... steppin out, hide away, mojo working and something else! Gave my lovely old maya a workout.

Great gig on Friday. A longtime friend and former vocalist started playing guitar a few years ago and really started to put in extra effort over lockdown. His dream was to play a gigbat his 50th birthday so asked us lot if we would be his band. We roped in another friend, who is a great jazz/blues singer and lover of metal and got to work. A few months and 7 rehearsals later we had an hour set mostly Iron Maiden (Powerslave, 2 mins to midnight, moonchild, fear of the dark, losfer words, wrathchild), plus dio and priest. He said it was the best birthday present ever. 100 punters (mates), loads of positive feedback and we actually sounded really good. I was standing next to him onstage and he didn't stop grinning. Added bonus, I got to be Steve Harris for the night and got loads of compliments. Eventually the penny dropped that three of us had been in bands together for nigh on 30 years.

So I've been looking for a short scale bass for my son as a deserved "upgrade" from his Ibanez Mikro, he's been putting the time and effort in and showing progress and real enjoyment from playing. The Sire u5 seem to be on pre-order everywhere so I've been checking daily on various sites for a second hand one, specifically I was after the tobacco burst colour way. 11pm on Thursday I spot one on Facebook marketplace, turns out it's in the same County but not close, I asked if their was a way of getting it to me and by sheer coincidence they were planning on seeing friends in the town I live in on Sunday...but they would want a deposit as they'd had a lot of interest..I took the gamble & paid £100 through PayPal.. Had a couple of long days wondering if it was too good to be true but 3pm on Sunday met a lovely couple, the husband was the bassist looking to buy something else & selling the Sire, in immaculate condition. Very happy!😊

I am old enough to scoff at any thought that anything after 1965 is vintage. But I suppose vintage moves with the times and is defined by stuff that you wanted when you were in your teens but is now affordable when you have a job with disposable income. Is my 66 Jazz better than aything else I own? No. Will I be discussing that side of things when I come to sell it? Not a chance.

I will know by this afternoon. Just heard from the courier

I've just ordered a custom bass body from guitar and bass build. Pretty exciting! James there was very good. He was nice enough to talk through what I wanted in excruciating detail. * Capri orange nitro finish as new * MM and P rout with MM in the sweet spot and the P reversed so that EA is in the traditional spot * Stingray body shape * 2 piece Sapele I've a roasted maple neck, pickups and Luistand Preamp from the previous incarnation. Just waiting to see how long it'll take - I expect in the new year sometime. MMP body pickup placement.pdf

Well this is growing and changing.... Here it is as of yesterday. The TC Corona Chorus is fixed on the Duff Chorus setting. The HOF Reverb is "new" but it is for one echoey part of one song and the rest of the time for fretless use. I'm still madly in love with the Darkglass Duality and whenever the band wants to do a pop song with synth bass this is it, whether combined with the OC-2 or not. The Fender DT Express does its job and is always there in case the amp snuffs it. The AMT Wah has crept back onto the board. The recent "loss" from the board is my Boss SY-1 and Expression Pedal. It was a decent pedal but was hardly being used. I took the HOF and some cash for it and I'm happy with the deal. The drummer uses sample pads so has better access to synth sounds, I'll stick to OC-2 and fuzz for my synth parts. There's space for more pedals though....

My first ever bass bought recently, Player series PB in Tidepool blue. Yum. 😉

So it just seems to get smaller as I get older... but right now, this is about as good as I think I've ever had it. I swapped my Ashdown OriginAL for the MXR M81 (3rd time owning this and hopefully someone will slap some sense into me should I ever try and get rid of it again!) Happy as a clam

Realised i never updated this post. Well as it is finalised as of today Bass was returned to the reseller and i have been refunded even 4.5 months after buying it Long donkey story short - the neck on the bass was buggered and wouldn't straighten out, not to mention tooling marks all over it - glue showing on some frets, a P**S poor job of fret leveling and the nut needed work too. Obviously reluctant to take the bass back we ended up speaking the the distributor who sent out a new neck - only to find the truss rod didn't work on that one too. Clearly in disbelief they actually went and check their brand new stock only to find (to their shock) the truss rods on the new stock basses didn't work either - so needless to say refund was offered right away, very apologetic and they're sending a whole bunch of Indonesian basses back to the manufacturer this week.. Clearly something has gone very wrong in the factory and i just happened to highlight it to them - so silver lining i guess - at least some questionable basses are now off the shelf and not going to end up in some poor sods lap somewhere. Think i'm gonna go with what i was going to get in the 1st place and find me a nice Yamaha BB 435 or nice used BB 1025 - i just really liked the look and possibilities of this Sterling Ray35 HH - ah well lemon has gone back Onwards and upwards

As many of you know I have been making cables for some on BC since OBBM retired. Now like all things simple, the leads that connect us are more complex than meets the ear. I am happy to discuss on a 121 basis with anyone but wondered if an in-depth thread on cables and connectors would be useful. To me many things are second nature but I have had cases where players that spend £thousands on their bass/amp/cab combo will use a cheap and nasty cable. Of course it will be my opinion, but I have acquired a great deal of experience Audio connectors and cables over the years. I could tell you why I won’t use some brands and where I think Snake Oil is being peddled. However if dad ole me is the only one interested I will just go and cuddle some Neutriks.

Ordered the BB1025 so i can join the BB owners group real soon I tried a BB735A back when i bought my Eich T900 bass head - it felt great but paired with the Eich it was super clean. The band i mostly play in play a lot of rock - and the BB1025 should in theory sit very nicely in the mix with a rock band. i may down the line grab a 735A i defo think i'm going to stick to the BB range now - everyone one i've played from the budget ones to the P35 (i think that's what it's called) have been amazing to play from tone to just the feel of the instrument - so i think i'll stop looking at other brands for now (unless a sneaky lottery win comes in then i've got a couple of Warwicks i'd like haha) thanks all

Django Reinhardt did more than ok with just 2 fingers.

Yes. 16 now. It is a thing of truly extraordinary beauty. If I had bought a bass of this quality, second hand, for double what I paid, I would have felt guilty. It's not as light as my other HBs but thankfully not as heavy as my other HB Jazz. A comfortable weight. But oh my goodness it looks so nice

IMO the European Spector basses are great quality for a production line made instrument. Fantastic fit, finish, workmanship. Can't really fault them. I think you get an awful lot for your £££ compared to Fender/Gibson stuff.

Here is mine: The Poly Blue is in the Effects loop. The HX Stomp then goes to a Radial SB2. The Cioks is on the pedalboard because it doesn't fit under it. I need a new pedalboard...

There is a teeny tiny difference between a Stradivarius and a Fender, even one where Leo grew the tree himself using only Holy Water.

Pro bands under the age of 50 - most. Certainly on pop gigs, it's a given. Level 42 are in the old school scene - although you'll see PRB on inears/overears (at least with his own band) and on L42 for backing tracks and click. Most MDed gigs will be on in ears for talk back too. EDIT - just looking at L42 - theres a fair few of them on inears.

Aldi Small Things - Blink 182

"We'll be together, With a roof rack over our heads" Is This Love by Bob Marley.

I think you’ve hit the nail on the head with Ashdown, the ABM600 will do exactly what you’re after. Also pairs well with Barefaced cabs.

"Anal love in the heart of the city.... Anal love in the heart of town...." Ain't No Love In The Heart Of The City - Whitesnake

hx stomp

Hawkwind were about 50 years ahead of the neuroscientists

My latest practice routine - I humble-brag on basschat about my wonderful practice routine and detailed planning, to shame myself into actually practicing at all!

Gig at a club just outside Huddersfield on Saturday night. It was coupled with a bonfire night and the number of young kids was on the frightening side (the number of kids doing 'Peter Kay' knee slide dance was above the torment threashold). So the auspices were not great, thankfully many of the young uns disappeared after the first spot and normal service was resumed and a great night was had by all (especially the seriously big, semi pi55ed unit that teetered on the verge of falling into our lighting rig).

If you possibly can, buy from the Basschat marketplace. I wouldn't buy from anywhere else, it's a bunch of experts buying and selling second hand gear from other experts, so things that might be overpriced don't move or are commented on. My buying and selling experience on here has been 100% positive as has dealing with excellent people who know their stuff.

I think most people, including myself, find it much easier to sing while playing guitar than to play bass and sing. I think it's maybe because you tend to strum guitar in a steady pattern whereas a lot of basslines tend to be more rhythmically complex.

I failed months back. But I am now in a position of trying to consolidate a few things and not buy anything for 2023. Many people (for example @eude and @Quilly) have laughed at me about this proclamation. It’s probably true, if the Stoneham 100W project happens, but if it doesn’t, I am going to go the whole of 2023 without buying anything. Honest 😀

It has taken me a while. I have never had lessons on guitar and my main 'teachers' consisted of watching guitarists in my bands over the years. I bought my first guitar at 20 and really only started to take it seriously after I treated myself to a nicer guitar at the age of 31 (I'm now 36). Through 5 plus years of semi-regular practice I have improved from 'woeful' to 'distinctly average'. At this point I can even manage a vaguely cackhanded medium paced pentatonic blues solo in various keys. Loads of guitarists and bassists play without their pinky. Improvement takes time, don't rush it and don't get frustrated. If you are playing for your own enjoyment then just focus on your enjoyment rather than your technical limitations.

Mauve On Up ～ Curtis Mayfield

yeah but they weigh the same as a twin pack of hobnobs

Ah indeed, sorted for this Sunday it seems

It's gone! Did anyone here buy it? If yes, then please send me 20% commission. Thank you 😉

I'd probably check out what players I am into play, check online for review videos of those Basses, spend a day going to a few Bass guitar shops to see what feels and sounds best (ideally with a small headphone amp so you are comparing like-for-like and don't fee self-concious playing to a shop audience!). Perhaps I'd buy from the shop as it has certain guarentees and is easy but you'll save some ££ buying 2nd hand from Basschat, you won't go far wrong with something like a Squier Jazz or Precision to start with. I wouldn't plan on my first Bass being my 'bass for life' (I haven't found 'the one' yet!). It takes time to realise if you want 4 or 5 strings, or a more specific look or sound, fretted/fretless, active or passive, if weight is a big issue, what string spacing, neck shape, scale length etc. I see it a bit like owning cars - different ones are better for different times of your life/different uses, apart from nostalgia I wouldn't still want my 1st car.

I have an M2 and it's a superb bass, the neck is a thing of beauty to play with the rolled edge fret board, great value for money. The only problem I had with the bass was a wire becoming loose that connected up the battery pack but a bit of soldering sorted that !! John 😎

+1 for the Hercules hanger stand, excellent bit of kit, I've got the double one. https://www.thomann.de/gb/hercules_stands_gs_422b.htm

Just another sucker and some twine. Tom Waits

This pandemic is not over , and there are a lot of people with a reluctance to be in a crowded environment. So we see the numbers have been down , but things seem to be gaining some momentum. We’ve lost some venues. But the last years have been brutal. I’m hopeful.

As a local band we have always kept our rates very low as a way of supporting venues. If they have a good night we get paid more We do it fun and payment is a bonus to the joy of gigging. If we ventured further afield we would have to double our rates to cover fuel etc etc so we try to stay local and limit to one or two gigs per month. Biggest problem is jam nights, open mic nights and duo acts!! Venues are struggling for sure but some don’t do much to encourage people to attend and wonder why they had a quiet night !

This, although I use the GS 100 because I don't really care about the locking yoke. I think Ultimate are the best stands available, and are all I've used for years.

Let's be frank, it looks like a heap of shite. The craze for vintage gear has resulted in even total nails like this dungheap being advertised with a stupid price. The most boring old crap advertised with fairytale prices.

Says super low action, photos show string a mile from the fretboard. All that talk of perfect setup is b*****s. One person's setup perfection is another person's setup hell. Plays any genre is my favourite bit. Everyone knows you need a jazz bass for jazz, a Dingwall for metal, a Rickenbacker for indie, a precision for funk and anything out of a skip for punk.

I'd be a little wary of the assertion that no good instrument has come from the factory that builds for Ibanez, PRS, Squier and others (and of the person who made the assertion). There are countless thousands of satisfied owners of such instruments. It may well not be set up properly. It may even be a lemon - q/c might have slipped up - but it is ridiculous to claim that no good instrument ever came out of the Cort factory. I have a Cort 5, a PRS and a Squier Tele' from that factory and they are all fine, Given the price you paid, you are entitled to expect it to work out of the box. It may need a little tweaking to suit personal taste, but not major work. I would contact the shop/reseller you got it from and ask for either a replacement (you say you really like it) or for remedial work under guarantee. Is the buzz definitely from the frets? I had a persistent buzz once that I eventually traced to a loose spring on one of the bridge bolts. Anyway, your first port of call should be wherever you bought it from.