Japhet

Roland Cube has a whole load of effects on board and headphones socket. Pretty much all you need for a no fuss practice rig.

I'd say it's more than 'a bit sneaky'. TC would be well aware that many people shopping for an amp would be swayed by the manufacturer's jargon. Buyers would be well aware that a 100 watt amp (or whatever) wouldn't meet their needs and would most likely have a wattage figure in mind as an indicator of how loud the amp would be. Before Basschat, I would most likely have been one of those people, but I've now been educated by people who aren't trying to flog something to me. It would be like buying a car and only finding out when you put a caravan on the back of it that it couldn't pull the thing up a hill and subsequently being told that the manufacturer's horsepower figures were 50% of what they said. I've never used a TC head so I wouldn't know how they stack up, but there are as many people disappointed as happy with the volume they produce, but I'd hazard a guess that the disappointed contingent push their amps a lot harder (maybe through inefficient cabs). Either way, advertised wattage is a big selling point.

Thought this was something to do with a commercial vehicle hire company. P.S. Vocals ruin it for me.

While we're on the subject, what the hell does 'Programme' mean in this context?

Used to do this in a band with a female singer (which is kind of essential). Just love this bass line.

TE Elf would be my choice for a micro rig.

It's really advisible to give bare metal a light coat of etch primer before top coating. The acid in the etch primer bites into the metal and the top coat then has something secure to fix to. Without etch primer you may well find that the heat and cooling of the amp casing in particular makes the top coat flake off easier. Most paint sticks to bare metal for a while and Hammerite is OK, but there's no substitute for a proper job. If the Hammerite doesn't work, don't try to paint over it or it will be a proper mess. It will need to come right off and start again.

I can get through the gigs OK but I get a trapped nerve when I start moving about again. I get it with a pretty light 4 string as well but the 5 is worse. I've got a few exercises now which are helping. There's nothing I need a 5 string for in our set so I've stopped using it.

I haven't gigged with my 5 string for a long time due to back issues. I found it easier to swap from 4 to 5 than the other way round since you can swap your point of reference on the fretboard a bit easier. I'm now of the opinion that the extra weight involved for 5 extra notes doesn't make sense (for me) although I do miss the added versatility of the 5 with regard to playing higher up the fretboard.

When I played in a functions band with 2 guitars, keys, saxophone, drums, harmonica, vocals and occasionally trumpet and trombone I never used effects. Now that I play in a rock band with guitar, bass, drums and vocals I use a few effects to fill up the sound when the guitarist is soloing, or when specific songs call for it. Horses for courses.

I picked up a Valeton FP10 preamp pedal off Ebay for peanuts and it would be a lovely boost pedal. Problem is that it's such a lush sounding preamp that I want it ON all the time.

Trigger's broom.

First live gig I ever went to in 197?.

Looks lovely. I'd probably need a smoking jacket, slippers and a pipe to go with it though.

Not come across anything with a dedicated blend option but generally speaking a low to mid drive pedal maintains more of your clean signal the less drive you add. Anything that does a decent job maintaining the low end should work well enough. I'd recommend the Joyo American Sound, the Caline Orange Burst and the TC Mojomojo for starters.

I've never tried to copy or create a particular sound from a bass, amp, cab, pedalboard or whatever. There are a myriad of sounds that I like and dislike in equal measure and a whole load of stuff in the middle that is my playground. I've played a load of different styles of music in different bands from funk to swing to rock to soul and I hope I've managed to come up with a sound that fits each particular bill, but if I didn't, nobody ever complained. I like my Stingray, my Precision (Tokai) and Lakland in equal measure and the same goes for the 4 completely different amps that I own. I'm also fully aware that lots of people adore sounds that I would never choose to listen to, and if those people watch me play they undoubtedly think my sound is awful. I'm happy in my 'playground' where I can noodle about and try stuff out at my leisure, safe in the knowledge that the vast majority of punters don't know or care what the bass does as long as the music sounds good.

Tecamp 212 if you can find one. Brilliant cabs that are usually overlooked.

Step into the light. The truth will set you free.

I like the Spectracomp too. Not heard any toneprints that float my boat but the sound straight out of the box works for me. I do however use a Keeley Bassist for gigging which is a cracking pedal, but I'd have no problem using the Spectracomp if I needed to.

I think you're right. Rubbish joke either way.

Nice pedal. Had one and can't for the life of me remember why I moved it on.

Used to play with a keyboard player whose favorite joke was; How many bass players does it take to play a bass line? None. The keyboard player can do it all with one hand. I used to add 'BADLY' on the end if he ever wheeled it out on a gig.

Joyo American Sound on the way to try out on the cheapies pedal board. Looking forward to this one. Hopefully it will work as an 'always on' source of mild break up. Can't resist giving this a try for under £30.

I use one of these. Been good for a couple of years. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Tiger-Guitar-Stand-Lightweight-Folding-Guitar-Stand/142799770722?epid=22011372461&hash=item213f879462:g:P3oAAOSw-FNb1C5x:rk:13:pf:0