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I too feel that the OP sets the scene but I couldn't see anything about the feelings / suggested resolution for his role in this scenario - so it is harder to give a definitive answer. If you are unhappy about it and it isn't clear what you are supposed to do while the keyboard player plays bass, it's a potential problem. If you can play something else and / or it's part led by your encouragement, then great. In my current duo I have actually suggested that my partner plays bass on a recording next year. We've also had one of my students get up and play bass at a gig (actively encouraged by me). No dramas. However, I did an album session for a singer songwriter recently who spent half the session saying "I play bass too". When I calmly said "what do you need me for then?" and "play on your own album", I got a look of shock and panic. I wasn't offended, I just didn't see why he kept feeling the need to say it and use me for the session. As a multi-instrumentalist who plays with one of my oldest and best friends, it comes down to good communications and being respectful to one another. None of us here are making our millions so it has to be fun and I feel anyone in a band should be made to feel valued if they are to stay. Best of luck in getting it resolved to a satisfactory conclusion.

Ahh yes, the other, often overlooked role of the bass player in a band - "band parent/guardian"

The artist (giggle) formerly known as S'manth, I've been a member for a while now. S'manth was a diminutive of my name (Samantha) that was picked for me in my old ukulele band (there was already another member called Sam) and it sorta stuck. When I left the band due to 'artistic differences' (Yeah, OK ... a falling out ... I was not told what I did but was encouraged to depart!) I stopped using S'manth. And thanks to the power of the BC gods, my new username here is SamIAm. Not to worry tho, I will still be posting the same insane nonsense I always have! 🤣 Sam x

I'm still gobsmacked at the news that there's a keyboard player out there who's prepared to actually pick up a bass to play all the bass lines.😉

Guitar played through a Fender Bassman sounds very 'right', to me...

By the way, gave it a run out last night and it's lovely. The mids are so rich.

I have a late entry that is going to compete for best purchase. Trace Elliot Transit B pedal. Just arrived today, had a 15 min play and I am excited - looks like some delicious tones to be had in the interplay between drive and gain. I remember when these came out thinking they would be a fab bit of kit but, at the time, I was using lightweight gear and full backline - one of these seemed like an expensive bit of overkill. Then I promptly forgot all about them until a couple of weeks ago when I was looking at a 'one pedal solution' just to rationalise what I use now I have gone down the FRFR route. This popped up in the search - with one for sale on this very forum! Have to say there was nothing wrong with the TC Spectradrive I've been using for the past couple of years but this TE jobbie is everything I need in one pedal - DI, EQ, drive, compressor AND a tuner, which is a huge bonus in my book. And it has green lights! Having been a Trace Elliot fan back in the days when my back used to work this feels like going home when I see them. Can't wait to try it out with the band, which is a couple of weeks hence. (Also new, Lekato WS-50 wireless).

The valve doesn't matter all that much. There are valve amps that are quite clean, Fender for instance, when they're not pushed into clipping. It's only when pushed into clipping that the difference between valve and SS becomes apparent. Instrument amps by and large sound bad when used for hi-fi, but that's mainly the fault of the highly colored response of the speakers and the preamp pre-shape.

I always take a spare bass. I'm fortunate that for most of the gigs I play, the stages are big enough for me to have both basses at easy reach and I'll often swap instruments in the break between sets, purely to give them both a run out. I look after my gear, but I've still had the (very) occasional mid-gig crisis and the spare was there to save my life. Any old car boot sale, boat anchor bass will get you out of trouble, and rather annoyingly, you'll probably be the only person in the room who's noticed that you've gone from your 1962 Fender Precision to your 2019, Gear 4 Music starter bass.

I only use P basses which are usually my own builds and I always check them over before leaving home, and providing you treat them well and don't knock them around, what can go wrong with a P bass? I always carry a small holdall packed with spare "used" strings, a spare small amp head, a DI pedal, leads, straps, 9v batteries for my Boss tuner, spare clip-on tuner, tool kit, etc.. but I have never needed to use any of them myself, but the guitarists in the band do appreciate my "spares" bag because they never seem to check over their gear before leaving home, or have much in the way of spares themselves.

A lot of cognitive science now recognises a phenomenon related to the Ebbinghaus Forgetting Curve. You try something, nearly get it...but not quite. You try it another time....nearly get it.....rest. Then you try it....and it sits right there. Cog Scientists call it spaced practise - it is better to practise something ion separate chunks at different times rather than doing a 6 hour block. https://www.mindtools.com/a9wjrjw/ebbinghauss-forgetting-curve

Clare (sic) - Gilbert O'Sullivan

Hi Sam! (Again) Don't tell me... you're now in a popular beat combo called The Cross-Eyed Peas?

I think, the only way, we can get the right answer is - everbody, at your next band rehearsal, ask your main vocalist - leader, connect his/her signal through bass tube amp and 4x10'' cab, and after 3 hour jam, listen carefully the opinion. They are never wrong !

How true my friend...... In my teens in the early 70's l had a Bells musical instrument catalogue that l used to absolutely drool over every night in bed, constantly wishing l could afford a Selmer amp and cab. I did end up buying a Selmer Treble and Bass amp but l had to make my own cab with an 18 inch Goodmans speaker. I often look fondly back on those early days as a bassist. Now, over the years l have owned a wide variety of pro standard amps and cabs and lm fortunate enough to be able to buy what l want these days. But, l can't decide which gave me most pleasure...drooling and eventually saving month after month and the ultimate excitement of owning the item of my desire........or just going out and buying it....does that make sense?

Just politely ask her what you're supposed to do while she's playing bass. A Bez impression? I'd just say let her do it at a rehearsal to get it out of her system.

Correct. 1+/- and 2+/- refer to amp channel 1 and amp channel 2, for use with a bi-amped system. Since your speaker is mono only1+/1- are used.

Ooo yes...so easy to play & on pain

There are 8 grades, each more difficult than the previous one with more challenging songs as part of each grade. Fairly simple concept to be honest!

I was given a little Blackstar amplug thingy for Christmas. Sounds great, spent some time playing one of my Fenders through it. Then an hour ago I played my Thunder 1 through it. Incredible, that bass is IMMENSE, it sounds more like a precesion than any precision 🤣

We Call It Flaccieed ～ D Mob

Spare. I’ll soundcheck with both to make sure all is well. If at the check one is sounding a bit better in the room for some reason, then I’ll use that. But I won’t swap during a show unless something goes wrong with my first choice.

I always take a spare but the only time I needed it was the one time I chose to leave it in the car!

Hello! Picked this Japanese beaut up on a whim the other day, because you can't have too many Sunburst Precisions.... right? Spec... Jazz neck, oval tuners, light weight (8½lbs, thanks to the basswood body, which is surprisingly pretty). So far, the usual cliches apply. It's very resonant, balances well, feels great, it's rich and punchy... I'm gigging it on Boxing Day, and as ever the proof will be in the (Christmas) pudding. I'll report back..

If it's an ABM600 push the shape button in (to turn it off weirdly!), turn the compressor off, don't use the sub octave thingy. Then eq it with your ears and not your eyes. You can seriously whack up some of the frequencies to get the sound going. They're amazingly flexible amps in my opinion - one of the few I would have back in a heartbeat. If it's an ABM500 throw it in the bin......

Can she not just do it with her left hand?

Father Bassmas got me a new octaver pedal, but now everything is spilling off my board. Guess I'll have to buy a new one then. What a nuisance...

The flowers of romance. PiL

Well they have an innate ability to highlight mopey old fogeys like me who are out of touch ....

Nope ... When I try to rap it comes out crap! Sam x

Maybe You would enjoy playing your bass through guitar amp, too !!! 😜

Those tuners are not ideal by any means. You have to get the string out of the way to adjust the intonation. I have them on an ultra-cheap Chinese fan-fret headless which I'm still summoning up the desire to set up properly. The ones in the last link are not all Hipshot. I just had a look at the comments for the 5-string one that's first on the page: "Very happy with purchase yummy things. On trend and comfortable" "These are pretty and comfortable. Fits perfect." "Extra nice. I would definitely buy these again for a gift for someone." "Love fabric. Received compliments. Great purchase. Fast delivery"

Grades 1 to 8, in music theory or performance. Grade 5 was O level equivalent, and Grade 8 was A level equivalent. Some universities accepted Grade 8 in place of an A level for their music courses.

...if you wish to try out the fixed resistor approach, there is an additional config you could try at the same time... Some people have noticed, when blending pickups on passive basses, that if they turn both Vol pots to max then the 2 pickups load each other and they lose some tone. The complete technical answer to this is to use an active onboard pre, to mix the signals without changing their sound If you have anough gain, however, you can still do something similar with a passive setup - you place a smaller resistance in series with the hot (pos) wire from each pickup, before connecting each to the (~250k) resistor which is replacing the Vol pot. Eg. you could try with 22k or 27k ohm resistors for Rm and see if that gives you better tone than just connecting the 2 pickups in parallel with the ~250k res (increase amp input gain slightly, if necessary, to compensate)

It is , but, as I get older and physical issues stop me playing I have decided to invest in fixes (spine, shoulder & wrists) to pay off is; all the benefits of performing with my mates....long may it continue

The saddles were bottomed out when he bought it from previous owner, he found it perfectly playable as-is so hasn't touched the setup. Personally that would bother me, I like to tinker with my basses to make sure they're kept reasonably in spec. He's sent a photo of the truss rod nut, it looks OK to me. Will take a look in person with capo/feeler guages and a notched straight edge to hand, fingers crossed all is as expected!

Put sellotape, or better masking tape over your pickups first if you really must use wire wool

The above thread is the exact reason I never played with a "couple" in a Band. NEVER! I've actually turned up at 'auditions' been introduced to the Band Members, and as soon as I heard "This is my (Significant Other) or "We run the Band" my Bass never even left its Case, I didn't even engage in conversation, and I walked out. Life's too short for KNOWING there are going to be problems before you even start, so discretion is always the better part of valour in any simillar situation . I am not alone in sharing experiences of this situation in the past, as it seems to rear its ugly head on a regular basis. As a matter of fact, the moment she said "I want to play Bass" I would have been gone. No ifs, buts or maybes. Take it from me, the Band is going to split within 6 months or so, as this is only the thin end of the wedge. What other 'bright ideas' do they have in the pipeline? I wouldn't be hanging around to find out... YMMV, but I doubt it.

I needed a very compact board which would fit in my backpack with my class D head, cuz I normally have to lug gear everywhere on public transport. Thought about a chopping board, but in the end I went with a small tea tray! 😅

Came out ok. prep could have been better, paint sank a bit …. But what do you expect painting 24 hours later in 10degrees C. I wouldn’t do that on a car 😂 I might relic it and do the acid on the hardware too, we will see. I’ve got a new bass coming tomorrow so I suspect it will be on the back burner whilst I play my new toy. cost £100 to do, that includes a used drop D tuner… so can’t complain.

Definitely the best thing this year was a pair off wristbands…..having arthritis in the base of my thumbs helps a great deal I only use the one on my fretting hand but it’s a god send. The worst or disappointed more like was the preamp in my Stingray Special it just didn’t have any balls BUT John East came to the rescue with his 3 band eq that’s based around a late 70’s eq when the mid/boost is in the detent position….clever stuff.

Best - my new Warwick star bass fretless as am early Xmas present last month. Does everything I hoped, sounds great and feels great. Worst - ghs pressure wound strings. The high tension seems to have triggered a load of hand pain. More or less under control now I've moved to shorter scales and tape wound strings. Thought I wanted high tension, my body disagrees!

I bought several nice basses this year - all very good but none stand out head and shoulders above the rest, such was the quality of the purchases. I did manage to acquire an Ashdown EVOII 300w head and a couple of cabs at a very reasonable price earlier this year. "Worst" purchase was a Tanglewood Acoustic bass - nothing wrong with the bass per se but who actually uses an acoustic?

I haven't bought much gear this year but this is the best buy: a Gibson SG Standard, 2021 in mint condition from BassBros. For some inexplicable reason I had always avoided buying a Gibson SG bass but, now I have, I find it is a perfect fit for me in terms of playing comfort, weight (7lbs), how it sits in the mix with my blues/rock trio. I have an old '76 Eros EB-3 shorty that comes a very close second but this just takes the tape. The dymanics are massive: it can sing, it can growl, it can thud. Love it.😍

So many nice goodies. Slightlt taumatised by seeing basses with stickers on the scratchplate though... Not much this year, mostly just pa stuff, tuners and leads. But I did get this and I guess it would win for me in most years...

You answered your own question...get a new bass. Seriously, we're not talking about anything special here, doesn't matter if the Weston sounds good, it's not worth the price...sorry, but I wouldn't pay $50 for it if I saw it at a yard sale, especially since so many better basses are available and there are more holiday sales than I've ever seen before.