bertbass

+1 to that and the more you do it the easier it becomes. You'll soon find what works for you.

Even later to this thread. Sorry but I have a totally different view point. I'm a one band guy and that band has total priority. I have played with other bands for fun but strictly on the understanding that if my band gets a gig on the same date then that's the gig I'm doing. I really can't see how you can commit to more than one band at a time. Perhaps it's me.

I love playing in a 3 piece and seem to have become the lead singer. Love that as well. So here's a few tips for you from my own experience. Why be worried about standing at the front and being the focus of attention, the audience have come to see you. They could have gone anywhere but you are the main attraction. Get over that hurdle and it's easy. Try a radio headset mic. Fantastic freedom and not tied to a mic stand. Pose galore and sing at the same time. Even go for a wander in the audience, they love it. Of course you'll need a radio guitar as well. I know that the mic stand is a wall between you and the adoring fans but you soon get over that. Learn the bass parts so well that you never need to think about what you're playing then you can concentrate on the vocals. If you can't do the radio mic thing then set your mic stand a little lower than you'd like then you have to pose a bit to sing into the mic. Learn a few phrases for introducing the songs, the band, the start of the evening and the end. It helps. Even a few jokes. Hope this helps a bit, It's helped me.

Played finger style for years but the band I was in at the time started writing songs that required some seriously fast playing and it was getting hard work trying to keep up so I tried a pick. What a revelation, a bright sound with loads of attack, loved it. Played with a pick ever since.

I'd of thought that orange was a bit of a no-no colour for a bass but seeing yours it looks great!

I think the point is that regardless of whether it's active or passive a broken bass is a broken bass and no bass, no gig or at least a gig with no bottom end and we all know that that's the best bit. Both the flying V and strat were passive but a broken off head stock would have put any guitar or bass out of action. The insulation on the socket on my bass had broken down so no amount of bending would have got it working again and the same would have applied with a passive bass. Had I had a spare jack socket, even a mono one and as a bass player I find it remiss of me not to have one in my spares case, I could have got the bass working again but it would have delayed the start of the first set and left me not the cool, calm chap I should be on stage. But using the spare, no problem.

A previous guitarist of mine took his gorgeous flying V out of its case at a gig only to find that the head had broken off and that was passive. Luckily he had a strat as a spare.

Had a lovely dads' day dinner at a local pub with the family, roast lamb if you're interested and it was very nice! Returned home and got the bass out. It turned out that it's the jack socket, the one supplied by EMG with my ready wired PJ set. Take it out of the bass and there's nothing wrong with it, put it back in and it doesn't work, yes, one of those, so it's now in the bin. The insulation is obviously breaking down under stress, I'm glad that it didn't break down mid gig. I've fitted a new socket and it's ready for it's next session of abuse.

Use a couple of coats of primer first and it shouldn't flake off.

You're right there, fortunately the spare's passive.

Got to the gig last night, set the gear up. Tuned the spare bass and got the main bass out of its case. I went to tune up and what's going on here, no sound. Quickly took the scratch plate off to check the battery and loose wires, it all looked OK took 2 minutes to dash across the road to the new Asda, I knew it was new 'cause it said so on the sign outside and bought a new PP3 even though I sort of knew it wasn't that. Put the new battery in, put the screws back in, I really must put a battery compartment in sometime, and the bass worked again. Strange, must have been the battery after all. Tuned up and then checked the P.A. Yes I'm the only one who knows how it all works. Started the sound check and no bass again, what? No time to mess around so I used the spare for the night and a great night it was. The audience loved it and we loved it. Now, the day after, I've got to find out why my bass stopped working. It's probably a wire come off or the switched jack broken but I've now got the time and the light to find the fault. The moral of the story is, a spare bass is worth its weight in gold. So for those who have asked, do I really need to take a spare bass with me, the answer if a resounding YES!!!

Entwhistle used Fanes if he was using Sound City or Hiwatt cabs, the good old pop 50s rebranded usually. Marshall used Celestions, G12m or G12h's.

Any news yet?

I used to love the old pop 50s. The best 12" around at the time, that I could afford anyway.

Two 4x10s must be heavier than an 8x10 because they have an extra top and bottom panel. Yeh, I know it's nit pickin' but all the same.........

I always prefered the sound of Fanes over Celestions, they distorted less and had a less middly sound. That was a long time ago mind you but I still have a soft spot for Fanes. The Fane studio series were fantastic, the first British speaker manufacturer to challenge the USA for quality speakers.

My Carvin had front ports, gone now as I prefer the sound without.

Used a Carvin 8x10 for years and love it but it did get a bit tatty so while I renovated it I used 2 Ashdown Mag Deep 4x10s and there was no difference in sound that I could hear in a live situation. The 8x10 is however much easier to move around but not to lift on your own.

http://www.joebrown.org.uk/wp/?p=5151

You can buy a -9v 0 +9v power supply and it's pretty easy to make one as well. You could even use rechargeable batteries

Being left handed it doesn't matter where I travel to I don't get a choice of basses to try and the variety of amps on offer in my local music shops is strictly semi-pro.

Bought my precision in 1972 and it cost £220. It was £200 right handed but being lefthanded I had to pay an extra 10%. It was sunburst as I couldn't afford another 10% for a solid colour. I never could understand that as sunburst uses at least 3 colours so why did it cost more for just one? Ah, The Target in Reading. I've done a few gigs in there. Did the manager, Ted if I remember correctly, fire golf balls at you as you were trying to pack the gear away?

In the 70s I played a gig where mine and one of the guitarists machine heads touched which was rapidly followed by a blinding blue flash. I kept well away from him for the rest of the set. Checked the mains plug on his amp and the earth had come loose and was touching the live wire. Apparently the audience thought the effect was great.

I use some of these, http://www.performing-musician.com/pm/aug09/articles/evforcei.htm bought on the bay. Used so a lot cheaper than new and they are great.

If you like the cab why not just put a handle on the side and carry it with one hand. something like this, http://www.maplin.co.uk/large-strap-handle-43826?c=maplin&utm_source=gcs&utm_medium=gcs_search&utm_campaign=L93AZ&utm_content=Handles