bassbiscuits

I play an older Fender Japan Mustang - allegedly a 1966 reissue. From what I gather the neck on that is slimmer than the JMJ Mustangs - just had a quick check and the nut seems to be about 38mm and the neck a very easy handful. Worth a try if you spot one secondhand - I've seen them go for between £600-£800 depending on condition etc. Very light and comfortable, but still oozes cool and sounds great - proper snarly and punchy, like a naughty little brother of a P bass.

1987 I was 13, so could have revelled in Bon Jovi, Dio, Metallica, Anthrax,Wasp and Cinderella at Donington. I’d have been well up for that. (Reality check to self - at the time I lived 200 miles away, did a paper round and had no money. Bummer.)

Exactly this. I had the classic thing of parents who thought it was fine as a hobby, but nothing more, and that influenced my thinking. Knowing now 37 years later how much of my life, my work and myself-identity is built around music, I wish I'd taken it all more seriously. That would in turn have depended on a level of insight, self confidence and resilience I didn't have when I was younger. It's worked out ok really, but if my kids decide they want to play music seriously, I hope the circumstances mean I can support them.

Yes I wear glasses normally, but contact lenses for gigs. Unfortunately, my prescription is quite weird and mismatched, so I only wear a lens in one eye. It means I can't really see well enough to drive with them, so tend to wear glasses to and from the gig, and pop lenses in for my time onstage. They are daily disposable Boots jobs - decent enough for my needs. They are quite limiting tho and keep me focused on distance vision, unless I then bring a set of reading glasses too. Such is life on the outskirts of 50.

Been using these for a couple of years very happily. Top quality for £40 a go.

Yup. My pedal board is a spare piece of wood meant to be a shelf, which fits perfectly into a luxurious laptop padded bag which cost a fiver from the local Air Ambulance charity shop.

I use the Ear Peace ones that come in a little red metal tube. They are soft and have changeable inserts for different levels of protection. They’re great. https://www.earpeace.co.uk/products/earplugs

P bass. Easiest thing to get to sound good with minimum of fuss and every soundman in the world is familiar with one.

Roll of gaffer tape and a set of earplugs.

The graph of disposable income that has increased as I've got older has been intersected by the graph coming down the other direction, showing the decreasing amount I can be bothered to lug around. Having accepted long ago I'll never own or transport an SVT with an 8x10, I'm very happy with my long-serving old Markbass heads and cabs paired with a P bass, a Mustang bass and two Yamaha BB604 basses. Chuck that lot through a Cali76 and a tuner and I'm good to go. Lots more stuff that I like, but none of it that I need.

I can’t pretend I feel strongly one way or the other! I was just interested in what they were, and conclude they are probably among the many things I can live without. Glad you get work out well for some people tho - that’s cool.

I’ve managed 37 years without one so far…

I literally have no idea what these ramps are - what are they used for? Excuse my ignorance in these matters.

Wedged upright between the horizontal bridge saddle springs and the string itself works for me. Or shoved in the little gap on the cab between the speaker grill and the edge of the woodwork/carpet/tolex.

I upgraded the regular HSBC bank card I used as a shim, for their Advance debit card. The bass sounds more expensive now, and works brilliantly with my Boss Overdraft Pedal.

So last night’s performance at the Musician in Leicester was the easy bit - getting to and from the venue proved a bit more difficult. My route took in a flooded road on the way out of my village (and having to drive slowly along a pavement to get past it), diversions along back routes to avoid traffic from to two separate Bonfire Night displays, then another snarl up blocking my main route into the city, more back street short cuts and eventually driving round and round looking for any remotely plausible available parking spaces near the venue. Trip home was less eventful for me, unlike the occupants of the car which had left the road and ploughed into the centre of the roundabout on the outskirts of my village. Ambulance etc in attendance so fingers crossed everyone is ok. PS gig was lovely though. A fundraiser for a local musician who’s unwell. Lots of familiar faces/old friends etc and some good music from the various bands all taking part.

Headlined the German beer festival and fireworks event at Alexandra Palace with the Joel Coombes’ Elton John tribute on Friday. Almost certainly the biggest audience I’ve played to, and a really lovely party vibe there. View from the stage was magic watching a few thousand people dancing and singing along. What a tremendous night out. Much smaller gig tonight at Leicester’s Musician pub - a fundraiser in aid of a well respected local musician and soundman. Should be a good night too though.

That’s a lovely looking venue!

That’s the thing with Basschat. It’s full of helpful information and advice 😉

I’ve accumulated four Markbass cabinets, all older Italian models from over the years. While my heads have got clear date codes on them, I can’t understand what the code on the speaker cabs refers to. Couldn't see anything obvious online. Anyone in the know? Cheers.

I’ll probably still be gigging when I’m 55. Im nearly 50 now. As long as I tailor what I’m doing to suit my abilities at that point (I’m a singer, bassist and acoustic guitar player) I don’t see why not. If it sounds dreadful, or I can’t be bothered anymore with it, then hopefully I’ll take note and ease off.