bassbiscuits

This one. I’ve owned it for 26 years and it was my only bass for a long time. It’s been stolen and recovered, has been round the block a few times, and refretted twice.

And I’m originally from Swansea just down the road. Welcome aboard!

I’ve always used index, middle and ring. The pinky is too short to join in but would if it could. They do each seem to have a slightly different attack tho, and the quest for me has been getting them consist, in terms of strength, timing etc. I don’t think about it that much when playing tho. I don’t usually start on a particular finger and sometimes find the middle and ring finger work as one for an extra thick thump.

I have a Hohner acoustic guitar I bought in 1988, along with a metal guitar stand and Arion tuner I got for Christmas 1986, all of which still work fine.

I used to love it in the early 1990s when I used to listen to David Lee Roth, Mr Big and Stu Hamm. I got quite decent at chucking in bits to the sort of funk / rock band I was in a the time (it was the early 90s, right?). Ive written a few nice little bass tunes with tapped harmonics etc, but not the whole super fast shredding sort of tapping anymore. Doesnt really fit in to anything beyond that slim genre, and I’ve never needed to use it since, er, 1993?

ha ha miaow! No offence taken don't worry!

Wasn't a value judgement on Girls Aloud BTW - it was just a spectacularly unlikely and implausible song to ask that particular band for, given the singer was a 6ft growly Northern Irish lad with a banjo. I don't mind singing female songs in my own sets, but its gotta be something that works.

I've been asked ; "Do you know any Girls Aloud?" by drunk women. The band was five 40-something men ffs.

It's definitely a yes. I only had one bass for years and years, and only got a second one cos the first one needed a refret. Nice to have a choice, and a spare etc, but not essential by any means. I only take one to most gigs anyway.

That’s beautiful.

Ooh a say that blue competition stripe Mustang would definitely be on my GAS list too. Alongside a black Gibson Thunderbird, and a 1957/58 style P bass in sunburst/maple and gold pickguard. Mmm. Not a hope in hell of getting any of them but it’s nice to wish.

I find the tension on the Labellas really nice but then I also use slightly heavier gauge strings generally - 105-45 on long scales. My mustang is currently wearing d’addario roundwounds, medium scale, 110-50 gauge which when combined with the shorter scale actually feel really comfortable. It had very light gauge strings on when I bought it - 95s or something - but I couldn’t really dig in on those. Sorry thanks just muddied the waters hasn’t it! Its definitely worth trying the Labella mustang flats as they’re designed with that bass in mind, and they do feel and sound just right.

Yup I second the La Bella Mustang Flats. Cos mustangs are strung thru the body you need to have medium scale rather than short scale strings, and the La Bella Mustangs are designed perfectly for the job. They sound ace too.

Nikki Sixx from Motley Crue for sure. And from around that same late 80s era, Rachel Bolan from Skid Row was one cool looking dude.

I’m not realistically expecting to get back gigging until next year. I was still taking bookings for dates in September just before lockdown when it all seemed a long way in the future. But realistically what is going to have changed by then? Infection rates may fall but as long as the disease is still around then the social distancing restrictions will be in place, venues will be struggling etc. How to even get a band together onstage socially distanced would be impossible for most of my gigs. Solo gigs outdoors at little summer events maybe. Im of the school of thought that a second peak and second lockdown will happen so I’m not making any plans just yet.

Nope I never do that. I clean it properly whenever I restring it etc - im not into gunky basses. But unless I’ve been eating something messy I won’t typically wash my hands before playing.

The 1970 Fender P bass I got for the princely sum of £575 in 1994 (tho I had to sell my pointy Charvel to buy it...) Also a 1994 Fender MIJ Strat I got for £200 in 2002. Still got them both.