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Showing content with the highest reputation on 23/08/25 in Posts
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The first photo was around 1983 when I was posing for a photo student friend, trying to copy a Stanley clarke album cover pose. I've never been a smoker and didn't enjoy puffing that cigar. In recent years I found that same bass listed on a French web site and resisting buying it. I was a guitarist back then, the bass was really an impulse swap when I tried to sell my Laney Klipp guitar head to a small second hand guitar shop. The more recent was taken at a gig where i was depping for a Bob Marley Tribute band.15 points
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First time at the Crown in Rugeley last night. Car parking was rather random, there's a sort of car park at the back but it doesn't have any markings (or, indeed, tarmac) so cars just get dumped there in a haphazard way. The space was distinctly petite and bijou, so when the second guitarist arrived fashionably late there was nowhere for his cab so he went through the PA. TBH I'd prefer it if both guitars went through the PA but the singer/guitarist wants to use his cab. While we were setting up, before guitar 2 got there, one lad started chatting to the singer/guitarist - he'd got various guitars so they were comparing notes. A bit later, after I'd rigged the PA, a rather more elderly bassist came over to chat to me. Which was nice. Took until about halfway through the first set for more than very faint ripples of polite applause but once things started going, we got a much more positive reaction.13 points
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People didn’t really bring cameras to gigs in the 80s so my earliest band pics are of us stood around smoking cigarettes, thinking we were a bit edgy! The earliest live pic I can find is on tour with SkinTrade in the early 90s at The Old Angel in Nottingham. That P bass did all my early gigs, as did that awful (& heavy Peavey combo). And bringing the world into colour, with Deadlight Dance in Salisbury back in April. I’m back to having basses / kit that isn’t sold on so quickly. However, now I have a handful of decent basses and both quality amp and ampless setups.11 points
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Ours was a bit different for me in that I played guitar - 1st time ever in a band. I was finding it a hassle to get guitar players when ours couldn’t do jam night, and thought bass players would be easier to sort out. So I decided to learn to play properly. So for the last year or so I’ve been doing on line guitar lessons. This month’s jam night became the “well if you are going to play live, it’s now or give up” time. It was much easier to get one of the bass players to fill in with us. It went pretty well. A few bum notes, but probably of the “audience won’t have noticed” variety. We screwed up “Don’t look back in anger” - the singer going to a 2nd chorus when it should have been the instrumental and me not sorting out how to fix it quickly enough. I think if I were MD on bass it would have been unnoticeable to the audience, but on guitar I took me too long to get back to the chorus chords to think about where to go next and tell the rest of the band. We managed to sort it and finish it ok. A learning / experience point. We got good feedback from the audience. So overall pretty happy with it.10 points
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So, Bought this on a well known selling platform a few days ago. It was a warehouse find, and was reasonably priced. Received a call from the seller after order placement to tell me the neck was unserviceable. Just happens that I've a spare Fender 70s neck here, so I gave an offer for everything, thinking I'd fit my own neck. Well, it's arrived in 1/2 hour ago with the original neck. It's fine. Like, it plays lovely. The electrics are pretty crackily, but I'll fit solderless controls / pots that I have lying around. So I really don't know what the craic is with the supposed knackered neck, but I've scored this for a very, very good price. Feeling lucky today, as I've always been after a Fender with block inlays. Cheers9 points
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First around 1977-78 Jedson short scale catalogue special, photo taken in my bedroom (I was probably playing through the family stereo using the old trick of the microphone input and putting the tape deck in record and pause). Second one June 2025, playing my Boosey Hawkes Excelsior double bass, no amp, EBS Stanley Clarke preamp straight to FOH with in-ear monitors.9 points
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2009 - my first gig with my first originals band Panda Eyes, at the Lemon Tree in Aberdeen. 28/06/2025 - Me disproving Thunderbird neck dive theory at Maud Football Club with Nine Lives.9 points
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1976. 15 years old with my first bass. Made by Gary Nava, school mate (now makes bespoke instruments for people like Matt Bellamy). 2024. My last gig before retiring from live bass duties.7 points
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Another crack converters purchase, this thing was in a sorry state, the electrics were goosed, and it was absolutely filthy. The LEDs still worked on the front, but that’s all gone now…. It’s passive, and I’m not arsed about pretty lights on the dials, so out it all came, and in went new CTS pots, oil filled cap and a new barrel jack…. It’s covered in a rash of scratches, but I can live with that. This thing’s had a life. Had to use 3 black telecast jack cups in the empty control holes where the LEDs were, so that I could mount the pots. Pretty ingenious if I say so myself, they fit perfectly. 3 Ashdown control knobs from an old ABM500 provide the finishing touch. It plays fab, with a freshly oiled fretboard and a new set of Hi Beams. Sounds fantastic too, very pleased with the result, it’ll be gigged asap.6 points
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Lots of progress yesterday and today. The final piece of the puzzle (from the procurement point of view) arrived from South Korea: So, the cavities got new copper lining, then wired to the cavity, then the pickups went in. Strings went back on to check alignment and roughly set heights, then it was on with the mounting of the electronics (Artec SE-2 - which had also been in the shed this whole time...) That was me done with it yesterday, but tonight I wired it all up. Unbelievably, it worked first time! So I loosely put some knobs on it (not wedded to these ones yet) And had a bloody good play with it. It still needs quite a few things done to finish it off (in no particular order): area around the neck pocket which I routed off, smoothed, rounded off and refinished suspect I might have to give the neck a full fret level and crown decorate the headstock finish off the control cavity cover (put screwholes in it, then pilot holes in the body, then screw it down) But for now, I can be happy with my work so far. It works, yay!6 points
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This is the earliest photo I have of me with a bass guitar - a Colombus Jazz with matt black strings. Bedroom Arena, 1986: The first time I played bass live. I'm hding on the left with the same Colombus bass as above. The band was 'Mr McHenry', 1992: 2024 Hullabaloo Festival playing with '50% Dave', the support act to my main band: Depping with 'The Gowertones' in July 2025:6 points
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c1979 local charity gig... Aug 2025 local charity gig... A theme going on that isn't just that I have the same bass on???6 points
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My first gig, probably 1987. My most recent gig photo: Inspired by @Wombat and his replica pose/playing style, it seems my left hand technique hasn't changed much in nearly four decades! Another shot from the recent gig:6 points
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1st is from '78 - earliest picture on my i-pad. 19 at that time 2nd is from June this year, making me 666 points
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are you trying to use logic? are you new to bands?5 points
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Mark Sandman tuned his in a fifth, D and A, and used a slide. A fantastic, unique sound and brilliant band.5 points
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Great sounding road worn Jazz Bass with one of the best necks I have ever played. Well known bass guitar with an excellent reputation and Google it for the positive reviews. Serial number dates it December 2018, neck dated May 2018, the bass is based on, I believe, a 1961 Shell Pink jazz bass coupled with a pair of American-made Pure Vintage '64 Jazz Bass single-coil pickups, stacked concentric controls, a 7.25"-radius rosewood fingerboard with a 1.5" wide nut. In excellent original condition, as road worn, with little, if any, fret wear as virtually unplayed by previous owner. Comes with original gig bag and I acquired this bass in a trade some 15 months ago but kept longer than I thought I would as it is so playable. However I prefer the P Bass sound and have decided to sell it to further the quest for a P Bass with a jazz neck that stills sounds like a P Bass. Therefore trade wise would consider ideally a Hama Okamoto P bass/ Aerodyne or similar P or PJ Bass with cash either way as appropriate.. I am unable to post and live near Loughborough so could meet up at a M1 local junction although you may prefer to try before you buy. Happy to answer any questions - thanks4 points -
I’m not sure that is true. I’ve honestly never played a squier that wasn’t worth at least the asking price and probably more I’m with @Terry M. on this one, it’s much more a fender problem and more US than Mex these days.4 points
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I'm back from a week at music summer school near Stafford. This year I'd signed up for a different set of classes to the past. I did conducting, solo singing, string orchestra, chamber orchestra, and choir. I even managed to overcome my dread/fear of singing solo in public and sang in the solo singing recital. I chose "Where'er you walk" by Handel. The YT video is sung by a counter tenor, so an octave higher than I sang it. The venue is a grand country pile which is now used to run arts activities, mostly for schools.4 points
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For you, Headless, of course!!! some more oil today….4 points
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One of the first gigs I played in around 1980 I think, Polesworth Working Mens Club. Last gig I played, charity event for Capital 1 in a big tent in Nottingham somewhere around 2020.4 points
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So first we have me in The Shout, prob 88/89 Secondly we have me in The Spacewasters 2022 (I do have later pics but they’re pony, so this one gets the outing)4 points
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This first one is a couple of weeks ago, a band called Heores, new wave, mod , ska and punk. I'm depping here, nearly 57 years old The 2nd one is from 1988. A band called Roadhouse, we did literally 4 gigs a week for 18 months till I left. I was 20 in this band4 points
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1st one. Channeling my inner Zal Cleminson at a 6th form college gig (about 1976, I think). 2nd on. Reunited with my ex Pretty Things colleague Dick Taylor (on guitar) at the SoL Party earlier this month. Singer is the ubiquitous (very) Alan Clayson.4 points
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Only had a couple of hours with it, and just got in after giving the basses a run out on it, and yeah, glad I pulled the trigger. This a really nice amp, (and many a really nice amp has passed through here I can tell you). It's got more authority than my Thundefunk and is sweeter sounding. Close though. The TF really holds up well. It's got easy the authority of my Walkabout, but more defined. M6 carbine is more brutal and has more presence, but the Glock is really useable, beautifully precise. and made my basses sound the best I´ve ever heard them.3 points
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It could have been HOHNER It's Back because of your effort.3 points
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Just wanted to write about my recent experience with Bass Direct. I've been wanting to check out an Xotic 5 for a while and on Thursday evening I noticed they had 4 of them in stock. I drove up there yesterday and tried them out. I have to say, I really like the new pre-owned showroom. Tried out all the basses through a decent amp, the new guy working there is very nice and helpful, they even let me change the strings around to find out which had the better B string. In the end I came away with the oldest and heaviest of the lot (it just sounded the best to me, although the lightweight one in surf green was extremely nice too) for a very reasonable price. I've been coming here/buying online since 2018 and can say that they have really turned things around in the last two years or so. Really pleased with my purchase and my recent interactions with them.3 points
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Monaco vs Silverstone II - Up in front of the 4K cameras this week. Thank you @stevie for the opportunity to review LFSys. I’m looking forward to putting this video together. #LoveBassGear3 points
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Buy the bass that feels the best in your hands and has the look you want. If it has neck dive, replace the tuners with licenced HipShots, if it doesn't sound great, and it probably won't, they always cut corners on pickups, replace them. It won't be the cheapest bass in town any more, but it will be a much improved one. I have a £250 Cort Jazz and instead of replacing the pickups I use an outboard preamp. I haven't wasted any money on modding, I can resell the preamp and it gets me 90% of the way to a decent sound.3 points
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FTFY however Two out of three ain’t bad, as meatloaf pointed out there’s a mistake in the bible. Loaves, fishes and sheets of tortoiseshell. Maybe they ran out of ink or forgot to write it in. Tortoiseshell is plainly the stuff of miracles.3 points
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Yamaha is never a gamble at this price bracket, absolutely solid. The squier choir conveniently forget to mention how lucky you have to be to find a good one.3 points
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First week back after a 2 month break due to holidays and other commitments! Felt good to play again as I've not had the time at home to pick my bass up mostly due to my daughter learning to walk (10 months 🙃) Everyone got on well and had learnt the required material, very enjoyable3 points
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We were rehearsing for a big charity multi band event this Sunday. Rushing from work, I was shattered and our drum track edits hadn’t saved so it wasn’t as slick as Wednesday’s run through. However, I am loving my BCB-60 board and have rediscovered my 2008 USA Jazz bass. Once we got over the hiccups, it sounded immense!3 points
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I set my car stereo volume to 11, 17 or 23 just to annoy people like you 🤣3 points
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1996, first gig, which was a RHCP tribute, I was 18. Last pic is actually the last time I played through an amp 😢, jamming with a drummer mate in 2020.3 points
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First one is a rehearsal with a bunch of school friends circa 1973. The bass is a 1964 Burns Jazz……I still have it! Second one is from earlier this year……….rocking a fretless P in a café bar.3 points
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Oldest (don't remember the date; that's our singer playing my drums at the time. It's an outdoor 'on the pavement' 'Fête de la Musique' event in our local town...) ... Latest..? [Shock-Horror] I'm 'playing' a recording for a past Composition Challenge. No, it didn't win, but was fun trying (until I tried to get up..! )... Embarrassed, me..? Nah..!3 points
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This is a single-channel take on the venerable Ampeg B15, sitting somewhere between the Heritage model and the Ceriatone 'Aunt Peg', but without the fixed bias option. The build blog is here and I suggest any prospective purchaser should read it carefully to get an idea of: How much care went into this build, along with the quality of the components. The problems I encountered and the fact that they have all been ironed out! The specifications. This was far from being my first amp-build rodeo, and I feel that I did a quality job on it. The amp has seen a lot of use over the last 4 years as a luxury practice amp in my home studio / practice room. I built it to use, not to sell, but I now find myself with (a) too many amps, (b) not enough space, and (c) a hankering after various other shiny things. I'm looking for £950 collected or by way of mutually convenient meet-up - it's not something that I would want to entrust to a courier. I'm based in Swindon, Wiltshire, but do travel around for gigs and to see family. The price reflects the cost of the components plus a tiny fraction of the many hours that I enjoyed putting it together. I will provide documentation (circuit diagram and layout) that should assist any tech that needs to work on it in the future. Some of the folks who attended the Big Fat South West Bass Bashes of 2024 and 2025 got the chance to hear this through my BF Super Twin - @Stub Mandrel, @Chienmortbb, @MichaelDean, @Pea Turgh, @Wolverinebass, @Sean - the latter played his new P-bass through it at full volume and produced so me very pleasing distortion!2 points -
Following on from the various threads about how you started playing and what's keeping you playing I thought I'd see if I could find and the oldest photo of me playing bass. And here it is: There a date, 1978, written on the back which means I'm 17, and you can tell that punk rock hasn't really reached Loughborough yet! The bass isn't mine, but one borrowed from a school friend for the purposes of doing some home recording. I didn't have a bass of my own until 1981. I like to describe this instrument as being made by someone who had once been shown a photo of a Fender P and then had to recreate it from memory using just what was available in the spare parts drawer of the local musical instrument shop. This is also probably the closest I've ever come to playing a "Precision" bass. No idea what song I'm playing other than it is likely be something from our "concept album" on the subject of Nature vs Man vs Nature. Compare and contract with this photo taken last week of me on stage at the Twisted Firestarter gig in Manchester: So what are your oldest and newest bass playing photos. Add them to this thread. Don't be embarrassed!2 points
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Those are the badgers2 points
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I've now got to summon the courage to do the waterslide decal on the body. I was always crap at these when I made airfix models as a kid. Used to get my older brother to do them most of the time. That said... I've not tried to apply one since I was about 10 years old, so perhaps I've gotten better at it. I took some pictures and reproduced the original logo in Affinity Designer. I got them printed up as decals (along with the logo I used for my own designs) by a company called Rothko & Frost. I had intended to just exactly reproduce the logo that was on there originally, but – as an editor – I can't countenance such wonky typesetting. I'll also try to put it on straighter than the original decal. I've noticed from looking at pictures of these basses online that the decals are noticeably wonky on about half of them.2 points
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Thank god it didn't last 😂2 points
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No, it’s NOT a word!! 😄2 points
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Yesterday I tuned my Euro LX4 down to C with a set of .110 - .55 strings. Played in to Reaper through my Two Notes Revolt on the Marshall (dirt) channel its sounding really very close to Rex Brown's tone in the last two Pantera records. It sounds awesome. I was surprised by this considering Rex used Ampegs and Ive not got a Haz preamp yet2 points
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I joined a start-up band which went through a couple of personnel changes but the singer - new to bands but actually a good front man - was becoming increasingly difficult. LVS struck deep - he'd had a few promotions at work and started to believe his own PR, treating the rest of the band as lackies. It came to a head at a birthday gig we did. It is well known amongst my friends that I get grumpy if I don't eat regularly. This gig he said we were to help ourselves to the buffet before we started. Kick off time was raidly approaching, no sign of buffet. He lied, said no mention of buffet had ever been made, I got cross and we ended up having a nose to nose just before going on. I may have said a few things about his attitude and, as I recall, finished up threatening to throw him off the fire escape. Never a realistic prospect, what with my bad back and his obesity but there you go. Immediately afterwards he said I had to go, the band fell in with that so I got sacked. They didn't find another bassist. Shortly afterwards the singer left as his wife had a baby, they asked me back, we got another singer. But it was never the same, really.2 points
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Yep this is all true. I actually have a Mexican Player Plus Jazz V bought used from The Gallery earlier this year modified with an onboard Sadowsky preamp. I'm not a Fender fanboy but I really like this particular one.2 points
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Just watching Chappell Roan at Reading, don’t know any of the material but very enjoyable, great to see such a good artist/band.2 points
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My pet peeve is songs/choruses that rely on "wooahhh" instead of writing proper lyrics. It's just lazy songwriting.2 points
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My mum was a piano teacher, so from about the age of 6 I played piano... Then I heard "Hit me With Your Rhythm Stick"... And a bit later I went to my first proper "big" gig, Ian Dury and the Blockheads closely followed by The Clash on the London Calling tour and realised that bass was cool. Then in 6th form we got a band together (me on keys) with our RE teacher to play some Barclay James Harvest and Dylan stuff as a pre-amble to a school showing of "The War Game" and Mike played on his brother's violin bass (it's your fault, @lurksalot!), which was the 1st bass I got to play. I gave up the piano, went to uni and got into The Funk; my flatmate had an old acoustic guitar with the two top strings broken so I used it to jam along to Bootsy and Parliament. As soon as I could play something vaguely funky I got together with the boys from Chestnut Avenue and we formed A Band - Dredd and the Badass Weeds and within a week we were gigging, me having borrowed a short-scale Gibson off Jez (later of MDMA then The Utah Saints). And the rest is history! They went off and had lots of musical success, while I moved to London and formed a bizarre punkfunk band who liked to dress funny.2 points
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Was with a girl of questionable morals who bedded the singer in my band. So I broke the singers nose. I think that was a pretty acrimonious split. I dumped her too. Then shagged her best mate. seemed appropriate at the time.2 points
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