bassbiscuits

I started out listening to Steve Harris and grew up on Iron Maiden's Live After Death video, so I warned to learn three fingers from the outset ( tho I think Harris uses all four!) Ive got it sounding quite smooth with the three providing a continuous strum pattern, but I don't often really need to use three for the speed of it with the music I play nowadays. I don't reall think that much about what my right hand pattern is to be honest - I bet half the time I'm using just my index or index/middle or any random one of the three main fingers!

It does seem that way yeah! I'm happy with it so far - once i get my head around using it with a computer etc i'll be a happy chap. I actually won this amp at a recent Blackstar event at my local music shop (Music Junkie in Leicester) where I'd gone to try it out in the first place. I was rather surprised to say the least! They have a lot of the Blackstar range there if anyone fancies trying one out too. Top result.

I guess I'm quite lucky I'm that I'm currently playing in a couple of different bands which really does help balance musical fulfilment with paid work which I'd be foolish to turn down. My money-earning band is a rock covers act, and while some of the tunes aren't really my cup of tea, they go down well and keep us in regular work. But I've also recently begun gigging with an originals band, which has got some really cool support slots lined up with genuinely interesting other original performers, and it's a real treat to explore things musically and not be focused on money. It's got a great vibe and doing art for its own sake fills a very particular gap for me that isn't filled by the cover band. But then it also enables me to see the many positives of the covers band and enjoy it for what it is too. I think musical fulfilment is a lifelong quest, rather than something you feel you've reached and need to explore no further.

Have found myself with one of these lovely little amps - they are marketed as being the latest in "desktop music" and basically have the range of guitar sounds from the regular ID Core range, but with the addition of bass and electro acoustic voices for recording and practice, plus Bluetooth connectivity the link up to computer tablets/smartphones etc. It's cool. I only picked it up yesterday so haven't had the chance to explore all its capabilities, but even the preset guitar sounds in it are great, and the delay/reverb effects particularly are head and shoulders above the other stuff I've used before. I play guitar and bass, and want to do some recording, so in theory it covers a lot of what I need. The bass sounds are loud enough for home jamming / playing along to stuff I'm learning etc, and are very clear and convincing, especially for recording, as well as sounding great thru headphones too. It isn't loud enough for gigging on bass, but clearly that's not really what it's for. The guitar sounds are the real gems tho - with one toddler and another baby on the way I don't get to switch on a valve amp at home anymore, but this has some killer, realistic and very usable guitar sounds and enough volume to give it some welly when the family is out! There's a lots of stuff online at the Blackstar website about the more complex functions it does, but even as a 'plug in and go' practice amp I'm really impressed with it so far.

Depending where you are in Dorset, there's an exceptionally good guy I've used a lot based over the Hampshire border in Portsmouth ( sorry my geography ain't great!) He's called Simon Jones, or SGL Guitars. I live in Leicester but still arrange to get stuff to him for major work because he's amazing. Seriously worth checking out.

[quote name='Highfox' timestamp='1458893452' post='3011840'] Saw him support the Clash and Ten Pole Tudor a few times. Always fun! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Tl7BZYC5qI [/quote] Peter Singh! A local legend when I lived in Swansea. I jammed with him at an open mic night there years ago when I still lived there. I never understood why he's in Twin Town (also set in Swansea) but played by a different bloke - Martin Ace, the bassist from Welsh prog group Man.

I went to see a gig by someone called Lisa Dominique, who was the pin up girl in Kerrang! in the late 80s. I can't remember the music at all, but i was a teenage boy so i couldn't take my eyes off her! I've also seen Dolly Parton live, which was better than expected. Only went to accompany Mrs Biscuits but it was actually cool.

There's a singer called Karine Polwart, who has a number of songs which make me cry, because they are just a really moving combination of music, melody and words. Follow the Heron, and Waterlily, for example. Also Adam Cohen's So Much To Learn is proper lump in throat stuff.

Jumbo or medium jumbo frets 9.5" radius fretboard or flatter Through-body stringing at bridge Reasonably chunky neck Preferably some tort on there somewhere! Two of my three basses tick all these boxes, so i'm a happy chappie.

I had one for about six months - a beautiful looking white Korean made thing. The built quality wasn't a problem, but the weight and sheer size was. I couldn't get thru a full gig wearing it. I never thought my P bass was particularly lightweight either at 4.3kg, but swapping to that halfway thru a gig was like nestling into an old pair of slippers. I got a chance to play Basschatter Norris's real Gibson T Bird at the bass bash last year and I'm happy to say it was nothing like the Tokai - it was sleek, slim and rather dashing.

Bruce Springsteen's If I Should a Fall Behind, Billy Joel's Goodnight Saigon and Johnny Cash's Hurt all do me in.

[quote name='Roger2611' timestamp='1458151528' post='3005166'] We have just been offered a support slot for Mark Morris (he of Bluetones fame) this Friday in Leicester, I am really excited as the song "If" by the Bluetones has to be one of my all time favourite basslines I'm all excited now [/quote] Cool - whereabouts are you playing? I did a support slot in The Donkey in Leicester last Saturday for a headliner called Marc O'Reilly. Hadn't heard of him before but honestly it was stunning music. Turned into an amazing night out.

What an epic night out I've just had. Depping on bass for an originals band for only my second gig with them, a support slot which went amazingly well - in a proper music venue too where the audience actually listen to what you're playing. And the headliners were frankly stunning - chap called Marc O'Reilly and his band from Ireland. Could feel the knots in my mind loosen from hearing them play. A grand night out.

My 'the one' is really 'my two' main basses, but I've had one of them for 22 years and one for 10 years, so I think they're both fairly permanent.

[quote name='BobVbass' timestamp='1457441276' post='2998548'] I've just thought of another claim to fame! I'm on the same forum as one of my heroes - Neil Murray - sorted now. Now I just need him to post saying how great my playing is and 30 years work will all seem worthwhile [/quote] Tiny claim to fame alert! I made Neil Murray a cup of tea once when I worked at Roland back in the late 1990s. I said something like: "You're Neil Murray, aren't you?" to which he replied: "I'm an older, fatter version of him." I thought that was a pretty cool answer!

Poor chap. Can't be an easy decision to have to step down from the career that's been his life for the last 36 years. But he's been brilliant and given us all some amazing memories. What a band. We salute you. Speaking as a lifelong AC/DC fan tho I do think its time for them to call it a day. With only Angus left and Cliff the only other long-serving member, I'd like to see them stop rather than drag it out. You've already given music fans a lifetime of great albums and stunning live gigs, so you've got nothing left to prove to us. Thanks for it all. It's been a blast. And get well soon Brian.

I agree if you've found the right one/ones for you then you know it, and the others aren't really going to get used anyway however good they are so you'll probably end up flogging them. Saying that, i'd be in no rush to sell them unless i needed to for financial reasons, as tastes/situations change and you might be glad of them being available. Cool that you've found the right bass tho - feels great doesn't it? I think I might have finally slimmed mine down to just three basses, but three that are near perfect for what I want. It's taken 30 years but its been a fun trip...

I had a Charvel model 1B donkeys years ago and it was a great bass. Really loud and punchy and played great. I also had a silver series squier P a year later and personally i'd say the charvel was better build and sound, tho the squier was cool and looked a bit more trad obviously! Both good basses tho.

[quote name='neepheid' timestamp='1456438539' post='2989145'] It's all poppycock, just play the damn bass [/quote] At the end of the day, yes this^^^

[quote name='gary mac' timestamp='1456422692' post='2988918'] I mostly use a pick when gigging and not had any breakdown of the coating on the Elixirs. One of the sets has probably done a dozen or so gigs now and still no sign of wear. [/quote] Cheers Garymac - might be worth me trying them then.