Linus27

Thanks guys for the replies, really appreciate it. What I've got from what you've said is that maybe a break is what's needed so maybe see the year out. Find a new challenge and the double bass is still a good idea so maybe bang the gigging on the head and spend 2020 focussing on that.

Has anyone else ever got to the point where they lose the passion or the fire in their belly, certainly for playing but also for music? I’m fast approaching 50 next June and I’ve played bass since the age of 18. That will be 32 years next year and it’s all I have done and known. I’ve been very lucky with my bass playing, from playing in some amazing bands, with incredible experiences and made a healthy sum of money over the years. I’ve been on TV and Radio, had a record deal, released albums, been on tour with some big names and played at some amazing venues. I’m currently in a great band, earning a nice little chunk of money that helps pay for niceties whilst the full time job pays for the bills etc. The thing is, I’m just not feeling it and have little to no passion to keep doing it. The band members are fine and we meet up for regular socials and the music is good as well (50’s/60’s rock n roll) but I just don’t enjoy getting up in front of people and performing any more. It’s not that the gigs are rubbish either, we play mostly clubs and always have an audience up singing and dancing and go down a storm. We did 119 gigs last year, about 100 this year and could easily match that next year but we’ve consciously cut back to about 40 for next year. Even with just those few, I’m struggling to get any enthusiasm to continue. Then there’s the time spent loading the car, going to the venue, setting everything up, playing set 1, entertaining, break, playing set 2, entertaining, packing up, driving home and unloading. Plus all the time to update Lemonrock, Facebook, making posters, replying to emails and all the other things associated with a band. I know I am in a very fortunate position to be in such a great band and earning good money but I’m no longer excited about going out to play a gig, entertaining people or playing bass. I think I’m just feeling old a little, or maybe feeling my age, feeling conscious and uncomfortable being up in front of people. Playing in a club band you have to provide some entertainment and being visual and I much prefer to be the bass player in the back grooving away in the shadows. Another alarm bell for me is I have a new bass being built and on its way and I’m not even that remotely excited about it, wish I hadn’t decided to get it and already considering selling it and I’ve not even seen or played it yet. Normally I would be bursting with excitement. This is also going to sound very arrogant maybe but playing bass and music doesn’t even challenge me anymore. Playing in my current band was out of my comfort zone but within a few months I was on it to the point of actually getting some dep. work with similar groups which has never happened to me before. So to challenge myself further I decided I would play fretless which I’ve done in the past but even that wasn’t a challenge and I was doing it after the first gig. I’m no virtuoso, far from it but I am solid and can hold my own. What I’m worried about is if I stop, then what do I do with myself. I don’t want to be bored, mope about and get fat. I like to throw myself into something and to live it which is what I have done with music and playing bass for the last 32 years. I’ve been amateur, pro and I guess semi-pro right now so to stop is going to leave quite a hole to fill. However, fast approaching 50, I’m no youngster so can’t just go and take up surfing or kick boxing. I’m considering getting a double bass and spending the time to learn to play it to a good standard but then I’m worried that if I have lost the passion for music and playing, is it just going to be a waste of time. I guess nobody knows the answer to that until I try. Has anyone else been in a similar position and called it a day and hung up their bass and not looked back? In my head I would like to try and do next year's gigs as that would at least get me to 50. Plus it gives me another year to see how I feel but right now and for the last 3 months, I've struggled to find the motivation and interest to keep going.

Love Supertramp, incredible band and totally adore Breakfast in America and Crime of the Century albums but not listened to any of Roger's solo work.

That's ok, it does look blue. He said that the picture below is closer to the actual colour but still hard to capture. Yes, it's a stack knob and as close to a 1960 Jazz as possible.I have no idea on the logo as I just let Mark get that based on a 1960' Jazz.

Apparently that picture is not a good representation of the actual colour. I asked for Sherwood Green and Mark said it's quite hard to photograph so I'm expecting it to be more green in the flesh. I've also got a Fender FSR 70's Precision in natural and Jon Shuker is making me a maple fretless unlined neck for it at the moment. It will look like this when finished.

Mine should be here any day now. It was ready at the beginning of August but Mark accidently put a lined board on it So I'm just waiting for it to have the unlined neck fitted. Hopefully any day now. This is the picture of it with the wrong neck on,

Yes please, definitely interested. I've played for 32 years, professional for many years and currently doing around 100 gigs a year. I don't need someone to teach me to play bass but to find someone to help me just read music has been really hard to the point of just giving up. So you've got me interested for sure

If its covers then for me it should be three things that need to be covered, the vocals, the feel and the hooks. How you get to that is kind of up to the musicians and does not need to be an exact copy of the original note for note. If you take the song "My Girl" for example. As long as the bass riff on the intro and middle part is there, the guitar riff is there, the vocals are correct and it generally feels like the original in terms of tempo, groove style then that's good enough. The guitar, drums and bass don't need to be exact but as long as the basics are covered (vocals, feel and hooks) then that's all that matters. I've attached our version of "My Girl" as an example. You can tell what song it is and its pretty close but there is no way any of us are playing it note for note like the original. I'm no James Jamerson on this but I'm playing as close as possible to what works. My Girl.wav

My motto is when something is no longer enjoyable then its either time to make a change or to walk away. The reason's why it not enjoyable any more can be many a thing, be it your own mentality, the fire is no longer in your belly, its stale , you've just had enough or the people are tossers, the music is crap, the musicians are not very good, the situation is tonic or something else. The key is to recognize this and either change it or walk away, doing nothing is not going make things any better and you will just waste time and get more worked up and stressed about the situation.

My band plays 50s and 60s Rock n Roll and we have a handful of paid gigs up to the end of the year. We are looking for a competent drummer who might want to earn a little bit of extra money. We are based in Surrey/Hampshire and all easy going. We are serious about what we do and do need you to be fairly competent but you dont need to be amazing, just solid. If any basschatters can help or fancy seeing if their own drummer wants a little bit of extra money then please get in touch. Please note, this position is only up to the end of the year but more dep work may be available in 2020.

Yep, same. The Precision is currently having a maple fretless neck being made for it like Sting's 70's Precision 😁

Colour is so over-rated, au naturale please 😁

Had a great afternoon in the company of Nik, chatting all things music, bass gear, playing styles and if truth be known, we could of happily gone on all day and all night. Nik is a fabulous guy and thoroughly interesting and one of Basschats good guys. We played through all the various amps I currently have and the intention was for Nik to just buy my Epifani UL310 but in the end he also walked away with my Hartke HA5500 amp. Mark is a great guy to deal with and I can see why he is so liked and popular here. Thanks again and looking forward to catching up with you again soon.

If a bass becomes a working bass then I'm not precious about it. If it gets beaten up on tour etc. then so be it. It's all part of the history of the bass and a bit of mojo is good for me. I'm pretty much settled now on my basses and down to just four. In 30 years of playing I've tried many basses but I always come back to a Fender Jazz or Precision. They just work for me. I have a Fender AVRI 75 Jazz, a Fender 66 RI Jazz, a Fender FSR 70's Precision which is having a maple fretless neck made for it and incoming I have a fretless Limelight 1960 Jazz. All of them are tool and will get heavy use. I couldn't be happier.

I have a Hartke HA5500 amp and its superb, so much variety and possibilities with the high and low pass filters, tube pre amp and 11 band EQ. Mine is also up for sale on here as currently itching the Ampeg itch.

I have slimmed my collection down from 7 to 3 but I do have a 4th on it's way. My main working bass is a Fender AVRI 75 Jazz bass in natural. My backup is a Fender 66 reissue Jazz. It used to be my working bass and has seen 30 years worth of gigs, recordings etc. and is very beaten up. Occasionally I will switch between playing either as they are both great basses. My 3rd bass is a Fender FSR 70's Precision bass in natural. Its fantastic but not needed so it is currently having a fretless maple neck made for it and will be a replica of Stings fretless maple Precision. The 4th bass is a Limelight 1960 fretless Fender Jazz bass. When both these fretless basses arrive, they will become my main working basses. As for ever needing a backup then yes, rarely but has been called upon a few times. The last time was in January this year when the Jack socket on my Jazz failed so I had to switch to my Precision.

So, can we all just agree that I have the best looking rigs here on Basschat 😁😎 The rig on the left is an Ashdown CTM-15 and Ashdown MiBass 1x10. It’s just my practice rig for home but sounds absolutely amazing. The rig on the right is an Ampeg PF500 and Barefaced Two10. I only got the Barefaced the other week and the Ampeg today so not gigged it yet but in the kitchen today it sounded awesome. Three gigs next week so hoping it delivers. The two basses are a Fender American Vintage Reissue 75 Jazz and a Fender FSR 70’s Reissue Precision. The Precision is off to Shuker tomorrow to have a fretless maple neck made for it 😁 Anyway, so love my two little rigs 🥰

Thank you. I actually thought Maplin had gone under but apparently not 😊

Looking to get one of those silver flight cases to keep an amplifier in to transport to gigs. Looking to get one with the removable foam inserts so I can adjust them to fit around the amp head. Anyone got any recommendations on where to buy one from?

I spoke to Derek about his setting that he used with his MXR when I interviewed him but he refused to tell me what they were. I can't remember exactly what he said but he made some joke about giving away all his secrets 🤣

I have one of these and its gorgeous. Currently having a fretless maple neck being made for it 😁