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After being made aware of some special pricing, on a thread here on BC, from those lovely folk at Thomann, I pulled the trigger on 40th Anniversary Squier Precision in trans(ish) blond, at £285 (28.5% off list), it was rude not to. It arrived today and straight out of the box, it screamed keeper. Everything as you’d expect from a well put together P, but at a price that seems impossible for the quality. It weighed in at 3.8kg, but I had a spare set of Hipshot, lightweight tuners, so fitted them straight away and that weight is reduced to a very acceptable 3.67kg (lighter than my Mustang). The 40mm nut width was also most welcome (the same as my Mustang). Matt body, satin neck make it pleasant to handle. The sound: a proper, full on P, with a very usable tone control. The nut was a little rough in places, but a nail file soon put that right. A bit of fret buzz on the G string around the 12th fret area also needed a little polish to the frets to remove that. I’m pleased, very pleased. I’ll update with more pics when I’ve fitted the tort guard I’ve ordered along with more thoughts after a few days of ownership.

On Thursday we played a free show at a local gallery where our guitarist has exhibited in his day job as a professional artist. He's been getting into multimedia and projections in particular so this night was promoted as "Sound and Vision" and featured ourselves alongside another local band as well as what turned out to be seven separate projectors. The room was great for the projections with masses of tall, bare walls but the sound was predictably affected. We had a good turnout which made the laborious set-up worthwhile (ever tried negotiating a menu that is both upside down and beamed onto a wall several metres away?) Obligatory self promotion links: https://deadtenantmusic.com/ https://www.facebook.com/deadtenant https://soundcloud.com/dead-tenant/sets/dead-tenant-live-demo

Furthering on this am jetting off to Portugal on Monday to record our (The Spacewasters) 2nd album. No instruments needed as the studio has them all (I’ll find out what I’m using when I get there), accommodation at the studio. Now we’re not professional, no chance of being so and under no illusions that this makes us so, but what a great hobby to have where we have the opportunity to do something like this.

I bought a Dakota Red one, too..it's everything you could want from a Precision bass and it looks great!

New band starting on Sunday. I've been building a board with the specific set in mind.

Having made music with my friend Nick since 1989 (first proper band / gig together), we've finally made an album. No hard sell but if anyone wants to check it out for free on Spotify / Amazon / whatever your preferred streaming platform is, "...Beyond Reverence" by Deadlight Dance is out today. Probably filed best under 80s Goth but it has enough layers to hold the interests of anyone who isn't expecting "Mega Party Mix Anthems 37". Of course I played bass on it but I also co-wrote all the originals, co-produced, co-arranged... as well as doing some mandolin, electric drums, acoustic drums, singing and Bass VI. If anyone is REALLY keen, search us out on Bandcamp and support the band but I'm certainly happy with a few of you checking us out. This was only supposed to be one jam once lockdown restrictions eased! We're performing the album acoustically on mandocellos (as you do!) Sat 16 Sept - SWINDON Shuffle onstage at The Beehive in Old Town at 7.15pm Thurs 21 Sept - MILDENHALL, WILTS The Horseshoe Sat 23 Sept BATH Chapter 22 (supporting Ghost Dance). And any follows across any of the social media platforms is always appreciated.

Most of the people at my gigs are checking their phones to see when they should take their medication.

Ha, bloody audience on their phones. I once bought a car on eBay between songs at a gig I was playing. 😂 I was keeping an eye on a car for my wife that ended that evening, I forgot to bid before we started and suddenly remembered during the gig. My phone was on my amp which is usually kind of beside me when I play doublebass, I quickly opened ebay at the end of a song and saw the auction ended in a couple of minutes. Shouted at the guitarist to do a double length intro to the next song while I stuck a bid in. Checked ebay in the break to find my wife now owned a new convertible. 😁

"Decent" bands don't advertise. It's all done by word of mouth, recommendation, friends of friends etc. Get into a band (or several) and meet as many musicians as you can. If your face fits you'll meet people who will be interested in working with you.

I was sitting in bed one Sunday morning, perusing Reverend basses on Glasgow's Merchant City Music website and Mrs BillyBass, sat next to me, started talking about going on a spa break. After a quick online search I suggested a spa hotel near Glasgow and she liked the idea. I then came clean and told her why, this was followed by a short negotiation and she agreed on a deal, she gets the spa break, and I get a new bass. On the first day in Glasgow I went to Merchant City Music and GuitarGuitar, which is just up the road from it. Both shops have a decent selection of basses; Glasgow puts London to shame on that point. In Merchant City Music I tried the Decision P and the Reverend Mercalli 4 and 5 strings. Lovely basses all of them, I picked the 'Venetian Pearl' Decision P due to its appearance, it didn't sound better than the Mercallis. They also have a couple of Reverend Thunderguns there too, these have set necks, which are glossy. The bass cost £879, which is a bargain. Reverend don't seem to have hiked their prices like Fender and most other brands. I've had the bass one week now so I've got over the initial 'wow'. This is a keeper, the pick ups sound right for the music we play, the neck is lovely, the string spacing/nut width is comfortable, and enables me to play root-octave-root-octave with a pick comfortably (my previous main basses-Charvels-have Jazz sized nuts)...and I love the look! Venetian Pearl, is actually a gold burst, going to a cream sparkle and the pickguard is a lemon yellow. It looks like a yellow burst in the website photos but it isn't.

Packed a couple dozen people into the small room above the Packhorse in Leeds for our originals outfit. There was pretty good sound (apparently), ‘thick bass tone’ got a couple of compliments though non-functional fans meant it got very sweaty. Good clean fun.

Ahh, feck it. Ordered the Seafoam jazz. I may end up taking the neck off it and putting it on my P bass, which is how I've justified buying the pretty thing to myself...

My first gig tonight since getting hit by covid a few weeks back. Standing is still proving a challenge. The Village Club. Stanstead Abbotts. Herts.

Tonights gig.

I want active basses to have an on off switch so I don’t have to keep pulling out the jack all the time to save battery drain in the studio.

You can't let a few dodgy experiences put you off, you've most certainly got to "kiss a few frogs" on the way, but you could say that about much else in life

Basschat? You also need to leave someone with a deposit that’s the value of the bass …. kinda

TBH, I had kind of decided on a tort pg before it arrived. I’ve had anodised pgs in the past and didn’t like them. This one feels nicer than those, however, and looks better too (it has a more pronounced ’grain’ and is shinier, an altogether different beast). I may end up keeping it as is and have the tort for when I fancy a change. I’m really looking forward to using with my band. It’s a Mod band and the various genres that that entails, but I think it’s the more aggressive tunes I think we excel at (The Jam, The Who, Small Faces, etc) and the tone of this bass should enhance that over the Mustang.

I don’t even Noah myself - the Who

I went to see Maiden at O2 with my young child (single digit age). I booked tickets on release day and had a nice seat facing the stage right by the exit for an easy access/escape with my child, just in case. When Maiden started, the bloke who was also with his kids stood up and blocked my view. I didn't hesitate and politely asked him to either move slightly to left or sit down explaining he was blockin my view. He didn't like my request but he did move. I understand it's a facking metal gig, but have some respect for others. Then the phones, constantly in the air. Last year I went to see Anthrax at Brixton Academy and Joey encouraged people on balcony to stand up , everyone did , organisers did not like it ..no standing signs.. People are the reason I no longer go to cinema. Back to the topic, surely they can't control the phone use, some.might need phones for family emergency etc. But having it in air constantly... I agree, ban it.

Not over enthusiastic - they tell you that is the rule, its written everywhere when you come in, and in the venue, if you break the rule, someone will come and tell you not to break the rule again. If you break the rule again, you get kicked out of the venue. That seems very reasonable. And as a result, having seen tool with my eyes rather than through a wall of other peoples phones, I realise how good it is, and how good gigs used to be

I only go to metal and punk gigs. No one talks because the music is so loud it would be hopeless. At the front, where I like to spend the evening it would be near impossible to hold up your phone to video it as 50 people slam in to you as they mosh. As for fans getting lost in the music, that's up to the band to take us there, grab us by the throat and keep going until the end. The only rules in the pit at metal shows are never intentionally hurt anyone and if someone falls down, pick them up (or if they need help then help them)

May be interesting for some. https://www.proavl-asia.com/details/73643-b-c-speakers-acquires-eminence-speaker

For those of you that follow / contribute to the "How was your gig?" thread, you may be familiar with my old school mate and I mucking about with an 80s Goth duo, usually on unusual folk instruments. I think we're probably taking it a lot more seriously now, but it just feels like a laugh all the time. The band took off when Nick bought a mandocello and as of now, I have officially joined him! 8 strings of low end goodness (tuned C G D A, if anyone is curious). We play differently as I'm really a bassist and he's really a guitarist so I am looking forward to a twin mandocello attack! It's not too heavy, well balanced and a beautiful instrument. I've always been impressed with Gold Tone's stuff. And of course just screamingly good fun to play too (pic below is me playing Nick's one which is exactly the same, pinched from the "How was your gig" thread.

This just popped up for me - properly widdly but some lovely grooves and playing by all concerned: Hiromi has a great ear for bassists - she's played a lot with Anthony Jackson over the years.

You're welcome, EZ!

I see what you did there, taking advantage of my good nature

No need to apologise. It's what I started the thread for!

You could've posted a picture of a Telecaster here, I for one would not have been unhappy. Confused maybe, but not unhappy. I do love a Tele.

Yes, translucent...you can see the grain. I've seen quite a few nice ones but several that looked pretty bad, indeed. Might be a good idea to check these out in person...this from someone who owns 12 basses, 9 purchased online. I'd like to meet the genius who thought this was a good idea just to ask him why they weren't painted Dakota Red instead.

Sgt Fury - SAHB

Having a listen now. It reminds me a lot of some of the music we'd have heard at Slimelight when I were nobbut a young 'un - superb!

My default is using a pick but certain songs we play sound right, to me, with fingers. I have come to the conclusion that in a covers band, playing songs written by different bands, keeping the bass tone constant isn't important.

We've taken gigs where we knew we weren't a match or knew the patrons weren't really live music folks. So they act like they're not interested because they're not.lol Blue

If I didn't already have a G&L Tribute LB-100 (which I got for a pretty decent £350), I'd have been all over these. Congrats, it looks great. I think the anodised pickguard looks fantastic, but it's your bass, your way.

Must reckon i'm not much into the DCX's mid-gain drive tone. There are better options in the market imo for bass overdriven tones. Now push its EQ section with any (bass) overdrive pedal and it's much better sounding than without. Any knobs setting change is more noticeable, breakup is more detailed, and you got some super effective bass-taillored voicing and EQ as a bonus. Getting hefty and full lows from an od, even one with a blend, is not always easy, the DCX provides tons of them while retaining the breakup. And when the overdrive pedal is off, you get a great 'clean' tone enhancer, with tasty hints of saturation if it's your thing as an second bonus. Awesome pedal ! * Halcyon->DCX Bass might a winner

We're playing the Flint Cottage in High Wycombe tomorrow evening.

Aside from Basschat I don’t do social media. I’ve looked at both my current and previous band’s Facebook pages just to see what goes in but other than that not interested.

I don`t really care if people are using their phones or not, held aloft or not. I don`t understand it mind, I prefer to concentrate on listening mainly but also watching the performance. Maybe I`m just too old to multi-task.

I have a friend who goes to a gig and then posts sets of photos (I think facebook has a limit of photos you can post) - she doesn't edit, she dumps everything she takes anywhere on facebook (so you have a lot of ones that should have just been deleted), Looking at the last set she posted, there are 5 sets of 80 photos (so 400 photos), and a load of videos, many of which are over 5 minutes. So much so that if you go through the photos fast (and note I doubt anyone has gone through the photos), they are almost movie like as there are only seconds between each one, so there will be like 8 photos of the singer walking across the stage). She also livestreams sections when she goes to a gig (which I find incredibly rude). That is how she experiences gigs, I guess that is how some people like to do it, experience it through the screen. I remember when I was a kid there was a whole thing about sneaking a tape recorder or camera in, and how security wouldn't let any of it through. I am a huge fan of having a camera I can take everywhere but do believe that in the process we have lost something, a forgettable memory.

Good choice. I own a Rumble 100 V3, it has a great sound, it's loud enough to play live with a quiet drummer and is ridiculously light.

On SansAmp products like our Bass Driver DI etc, the "Drive" control acts like the volume control on a vintage non-master volume amplifier. As you turn up the control in the first half of the rotation, you increase both volume and power amp style distortion. When you get around 12 o'clock (depending upon playing style, pickup output etc) you start to get to the point where increasing the Drive results in more distortion and volume increases become less and less as the circuit gets more saturated. We do have a few products like our PSA 2.0 that have "Gain" controls. Gain increases the input sensitivity. Drive=distortion Gain=input sensitivity Volume=level These terms can be interpreted somewhat differently for different applications.

Either I've never been in a decent band, or that's a load of old bollocks.

There is a reason that I neither named the bands nor made them identifiable by virtue of genre; Other bassists on here may wish to audition/ play in said outfits. It's not my place to discourage them, so it's my attempt at being fair to those who have no "right to reply".

Being in a similar situation to the OP, I understand completely

. . . . and it's about meeting losers and being picky at the same time. He's had 3 attempts. That's not even scratching the surface. When he's had 33 attempts then talk about the problems finding good bands. Unless you are well connected, very talented or just lucky, you have to start at the bottom, maybe in less than ideal bands and work your way up to better bands from there.