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Our annual Christmas gig for the Mencap gateway charity last night. Always a fun loving and appreciative crowd. This is where Christmas starts for us.

Rig for my final scheduled gig of 2025 last night. I thought I'd break out the Christmas lights since it's that time of the year. Cab( Silverstone II) and pedals same as usual, AH250 SMX for the first set, and a Series 6 GP12 for the second set. Bass on the night was my 90s USA Standard P-Bass. All sounded rather splendid together. Merry Christmas rig posters and Basschatters

I did a pickup gig years ago and the singer without warning shouted ‘bass solo’. So I just carried in playing the exact line I’d been playing albeit with just drums for company….. …… and the audience loved it. Made me wonder whether us bassists really need s band 😆

Royal Blues, @ Off the Cuff, Herne Hill, that London. Support band slot to The Road, so not the usual crowd for our brand of blues based Americana. Only 2 backing vocalists this time, and stunning work by the ladies in rejigging the 3 part harmonies. @Al Krow of this parish was in attendance (turns out we share a singer) so I was hyper aware that any bass fluffs would be immediately noticeable to at least one person in the audience 😆. The venue is in the arches of railway bridge, and it was quite noticeable when trains were going over, but fortunately not when we were playing. Fun gig, I think we played well. Ibanez UB804 -> Getaria wireless -> Digitech BP355 -> FOH / Warwick Pro Fet 3, Calsborough 4x10. Some clips of the gig on The Facebook story thing, listen with headphones or decent speakers: https://www.facebook.com/stories/122094436502361314/UzpfSVNDOjY0ODE5OTkwODI4MjQ4Nw==/?view_single=1&mibextid=rS40aB7S9Ucbxw6v Footwear: maroon creepers.

Nice! I've just ordered one of the light bars (below) which seems to be a similar thing to the vertical light bars in the photo. I'm thinking maybe in the first instance to lay it on the floor by our mic stands, but I'll have to see how that looks. p.s. please stop posting cool lighting photos, it has a real world impact on my bank balance! 😆 😆

OMG, this is crazy. As i said recently, ive used my singer’s IE100 pro’s for a bit. I really like them. I was just putting them way and realised i wasnt sure which is which, they both look similar. My IE400’s have more worn tips from using them more, her’s tips are newer that i put on a while ago. I noticed one has a more transparent case as well. Looking closely at ‘mine’, using a magnifying app on my phone, i was shocked to see IE100 on them. So it seems ive been using IE100’s for months, well over a year at least, and she has had my IE400’s 😂. Now i know why i liked her’s so much. Bloody hell 🙄

This video just released from JHS. While the pedal sounds good, it's Bob Myer and his hoard of treasures I'm blown away by. Bob is one cool dude.

Pic of me (and part of Paul) underground in Southampton back in September. We played Music In The City, lots of artists playing in unusual venues...ours was in St Michael's vault

I've scratched a lot of itches gear wise and ticked off a few things on the bass bucket list this year as well as having a big clear out. It's all been good though. Best of the best was acquiring my LFSYS Silverstone II cab. It really has been a game changer and has shown the way ahead for me, which is lightweight well designed and great sounding cab to use with my collection of class A/B amps. Anything I plug into it sounds great which has unfortunately made it more difficult to rationalise as much as I hoped this year. I still have one or two itches to scratch so I will not be joining the 2026 gear abstinence thread🙄. Worst of the best goes to a used bass I bought in a car park meet-up on the south side of Glasgow. The bass in question was a Harley Benton JB40L Jaco Pastorius kind of thing. Actually it was mint, the fit and finish, the build quality, the playability, and the sound were all astoundingly good, I'd even say excellent. That I paid half its retail value for such a well put together instrument is mind boggling. It really has no right to be so good for so little even at full retail cost. The only reason I will place this as the worst of the best is its weight. 5.4kg is unfortunately not very giggable for me although its fine sitting down to play it. No idea what the body is made of ( cast iron?) but its a proper slab of something very dense.

For a bit of 80s pop/rock in Lincolnshire, we're going into Christmas week with a gig on Sunday 21st December. It's at Edward's in Grantham which is a great place with free entry and a late afternoon start. So you can party like it's 1985 and be fresh for Monday morning!

Picked up these 2, both of which are ace. 1982 Westone Thunder 1 and a Joyo BA30. Amp sits on my work desk, has Bluetooth playback, a compressor, good EQ and a passive radiator. Kicks out a solid sound for one 4” driver! The Westone is just a solid slab of wood, simple and great fun.

I have spent the evening with around 75 musicians and singers for the final rehearsal of a Christmas Concert at Morecambe Winter Gardens. Sufjan Stevens Songs For Christmas - https://www.facebook.com/sufjansongsforchristmas/ I'd say the band tonight was 35 people and the choir is 40, but there may be more tomorrow. Playing bass in this setting is quite a challenge, and there are times when I'm very exposed and need to get it right. This was our 5th rehearsal and the performance is tomorrow night. This is not what I usually do, but I've been inclined to say yes to everything recently just to see what happens! Tickets sales are healthy, and I think we'll get a good crowd. The venue is an absolute gem, a proper old theatre. It's nice to do a bit for community at Christmas I think. Rob

My first bass amp was made by Ohm and was bought in about 1983 secondhand from ABC music along with a Laney 1x15" cab. I had a wave of nostalgia seeing a similar amp for sale on the cash converters website, however this one has a built-in compressor whereas I am certain that mine inexplicably had a built-in flanger instead of the compressor. I cannot remember the model number of the amp I owned, however I remember it looking very much like the GA140 in the listing. Does anyone else remember these amps? Was there a version with a flanger or am I misremembering?

I picked one up this week and pleasantly surprised! Firstly, the finish! WOW! The sparkle is gorgeous! No idea why other manufacturers don't offer that many sparkle finishes? (Cost?) The sound? Fabulous. Not quite as good as my sterling 34 but pretty close. The price is phenomenal based on the build quality alone! Only draw back is the weight. Surprisingly heavy! Anyway, What's your thoughts?

Me with Yamaha trb p2 bubinga.

Hohner "Jack" basses come up on the marketplace here & other well known marketplace sites quite often.

Is it good for metal?

+1 for the HB. These basses punch way above their weight in every respect. Err, except weight, that is 🙂

Do you have full control over your own monitor mix, eg via a phone app? My IEM experience was initially poor and hugely variable until I did.

I've got one of the Harley Benton Mustangs and other than shielding it and upgrading the cheap pots it's stock and holds its own on a gig alongside my JMJ and Sandberg shorty. In fact, of the 3 it's my favourite sounding bass although the other two are no lightweights in tone - my 'Berg is fitted with an EMG Geezer Butler but the HB still holds its own. Mine is from the first run with the Gotoh machine heads. It has a slim, jazz profile neck too which might work better for you daughter than the slightly chunkier classic vibe neck - although I'm going from memory but there might be that much in the necks in a direct side by side...

Given the weather up here, we might come along so long as it's indoors...

It's a journey for sure. Beauty at it's hardest 😉. I wouldn't change a thing though. No time for bands anymore but music is it's own reward at the end of the day. Bass playing finds a way! ✊️

I'm a bit puzzled by what you mean by "enough fretless basses". I have never heard of anyone in this unfortunate condition, or anywhere near it. Please explain?

Ok, two days in now. I'm loving this bass. I do like a Stingray though. Could well be a 2012 CAR 2 EQ up for sale in the new year. Regarding the price of the Pino, I've moved a couple of redundant basses lately which have covered the cost of my purchase. All is good 👍

One advantage of the Squier CV Mustang is if she really gets on with it you can upgrade to the Japanese Fender version and be keeping the same type of bass. The other advantages of it are they are simply very good basses, play and sound very nice.

Great work 👏🏼 👏🏼 👌🏼 Do like most of us on here do, ignore the doubters 😉

I found all this stuff below ... It looks like the Bass parts were played by English (Sheffield) Bassist Gary Unwin. (I believe Gary Unwin was also involved in quite a few Disco projects out in Germany during the 1970's). 1. Take the Heat Off Me (1976) Vocalists: Liz Mitchell – lead & backing vocals Marcia Barrett – backing vocals Frank Farian – male lead vocals in studio Instrumentalists: Gary Unwin – bass guitar Keith Forsey – drums Nick Woodland – guitar Thor Baldursson – keyboards, arrangements Stefan Klinkhammer – arrangements Johann Daansen – arrangements Notes: This was Boney M’s debut; the official band members (Bobby Farrell, Maizie Williams) rarely played in the studio. 2. Love for Sale (1977) Vocalists: Liz Mitchell – lead & backing Marcia Barrett – backing Frank Farian – male vocals Instrumentalists / Arrangers: Gary Unwin – bass Keith Forsey – drums Nick Woodland – guitar Thor Baldursson – keyboards Stefan Klinkhammer – arrangements Christian Kolonovits – arrangements Notes: More orchestral elements were introduced; tracks like “Belfast” show layered studio instrumentation. 3. Nightflight to Venus (1978) Vocalists: Liz Mitchell – lead & backing Marcia Barrett – backing Frank Farian – male vocals Instrumentalists: Gary Unwin – bass Keith Forsey – drums Nick Woodland – guitar Thor Baldursson – keyboards Michael Cretu – keyboards (session on some tracks) Stefan Klinkhammer – arrangements Christian Kolonovits – arrangements Additional session brass & strings – European session musicians Notes: Major hits include “Rivers of Babylon,” “Rasputin,” “Painter Man.” Studio arrangements were heavily layered. 4. Oceans of Fantasy (1979) Vocalists: Liz Mitchell – lead & backing Marcia Barrett – backing Frank Farian – male vocals Instrumentalists: Gary Unwin – bass Keith Forsey – drums Nick Woodland – guitar Mats Björklund – guitar Michael Cretu – keyboards Thor Baldursson – keyboards Stefan Klinkhammer – arrangements Christian Kolonovits – arrangements Johann Daansen – arrangements Additional session brass & woodwinds (American/European session players) Notes: “Hooray! Hooray! It’s a Holi-Holiday,” “Gotta Go Home” — highly produced, mix of European and international session players. 5. Boonoonoonoos (1981) Vocalists: Liz Mitchell – lead & backing Marcia Barrett – backing Frank Farian – male vocals Instrumentalists / Arrangers: Similar lineup as previous albums, but expanded session musicians for percussion, horns, and synthesizers. Michael Cretu – keyboards Thor Baldursson – keyboards, arrangements Stefan Klinkhammer – arrangements Christian Kolonovits – arrangements Notes: More experimental disco and Caribbean influences. 6. Ten Thousand Lightyears (1984) Vocalists: Liz Mitchell – lead & backing Marcia Barrett – backing Frank Farian – male vocals Instrumentalists / Arrangers: Keyboard-heavy arrangements: Michael Cretu, Thor Baldursson Bass / drums: mostly session musicians (some overlap with earlier albums) Stefan Klinkhammer – arrangements Christian Kolonovits – arrangements Notes: Released after Boney M’s peak; heavily synthesized disco style. Summary Notes: Frank Farian: Producer and male voice on almost all studio recordings. Liz Mitchell & Marcia Barrett: Core female studio vocalists. Bobby Farrell & Maizie Williams: Mostly live performers, limited studio participation. Core British session musicians: Gary Unwin (bass), Keith Forsey (drums), Nick Woodland (guitar). Keyboard/arrangements: Thor Baldursson, Michael Cretu, Stefan Klinkhammer, Christian Kolonovits, Johann Daansen. Brass/strings/orchestral: A mix of European and some visiting American session players.

I have to say I am still getting used to the detailed settings of the Mesa TT. I got a pretty decent sound out of my flat wound Jazz mind.

This popped up on my YouTube

And this one, about that same awful song:

Best is a Harley Benton mahogany bass uke and a set of the Galli-Kala flats for it. I take it everywhere as it lives in the car. I'm playing and learning 10x more now. Best £150 all in I've ever spent. As a very busy dad of 2 with autism, It's really made a huge difference to my overall mental health. My fam is reaping the benefits too as I'm a much less frustrated and now happier daddio these days 👍

Sharing my project BB434 in Ice Blue. Ditched the black pickguard and got a mint one then changed the stock pickups to EMG GZR set in Ivory/cream. Originally wanted a clear pickguard but this one is growing on me. Very punchy and articulate. I like the mid range punch of this and has a bit of growl compared to the YGD. Also, noiseless which I love.

No “worst” and no contest for absolute BEST for me - my Sandberg VM4 in Marley Blue bought in January. I just love this bass. In fact, it’s pretty much kept both my Wals securely tucked up in their cases all year. In fact, it’s so good, I’ve got a Superlight on order which will hopefully make it onto next year’s thread!!!

So, after many weeks of waiting, the black bridge finally arrived from EB in the USA. FINALLY! One added bonus is that Anderton's haven't said anything about returning the old bridge so I am going to hang onto that for now and if I don't hear anything for a few weeks, then I will look to re-claiming some of the ridiculous amount of money the bridge cost me! Just fitted, re-strung and a (very quick so will need further adjustments) setup means this project is finally finished. I'm very pleased with the final outcome and it certainly is now very much a one off in it's own right. the black hardware really adds to the look of the bass IMO and with the black scratchplate and knobs, against the washed open pore polished finish, it really works for me. Like may SR5s it is a bit heavy but I think this one may stick around for a little while now. looking forward to giving it a proper go very soon.

Carol Kaye

Try these too: https://artisanaleffects.com

I can't believe no one has mentioned Andy Rourke yet. I was watching a video clip of the Smiths live, playing Barbarism Begins at Home and Johnny Marr set his guitar down so that he and Morrissey could dance to Andy's bass line.