Sean

I've played in bands for 30+ years and I started at 14. My most recent regular gigging band did its last gig in August. The singer moved away (job relocation) ~150 miles and consequently the logistics of gigging and rehearsals just became impractical for him. We decided to call it a day and the one guitarist took the opportunity to get out because he had health issues that made playing painful for him. Following the last gig, the other guitarist and I took the opportunity to set up an Aerosmith tribute band and we were lucky enough to find a fabulous drummer and second guitarist but just couldn't find a Steven Tyler. Auditions were interesting and we met some excellent singers, just no one to fill the role to the level needed for a good working tribute act. It's been frustrating and I've missed gigging a lot. Gigging for me has always been the payoff for the effort put in, it's the drug that just hasn't been there and at the moment doesn't look like it's coming back soon. In a couple of weeks I'm going to a rehearsal with the (healthy) guitarist and drummer from the band that broke up in August and we're adding a female vocalist that is fantastic. This will be a four piece (bass/drums/guitar/vocal) cover band of classic pop/rock songs but we've not yet worked out a theme or what our schtick is yet. We had a brief run through four songs a couple of months ago and it all came together quickly. The chemistry between me, the drummer and guitarist was still there and evident and the singer fitted in. There were no transport, noodling, boozing, attitude or lateness issues. If this band gets to gigging, which I have no doubts it will, it'll be a few months before we get there but it'll come as relief to get some normality back and to carry on doing what I've always done.

All good answers so far but does it have a name?

No problems here. Great comms very much appreciated. Another Basschat winner.

@Dazed I suggest a chat to Martin at http://www.mjwamps.com/ He can give you exactly what you want with driving the power section really hard at volumes you can’t hear in the next room. Not only will he build a bass-specific small amp, he can also fit PowerScaling to any amp you buy off the shelf. Top bloke, very approachable and does he ever know his stuff...

I heard from a source that was very close to it that Ashdown all-valve amps were sub-contracted out to another UK builder. Any truth in that?

Probably a tough call for a lefty but buying a new G&L Tribute can work out the same price or more than a used US model. Plus the used US model won’t depreciate whereas the Tribute will lose near half its value. I have a Tribute and a US and although they are both modified quite a bit the US one is a league apart from the Tribute. Finding a lefty US L2500 or L2000 might take some time but I bet it’ll be a cracking deal and more than likely seriously slow moving stock so probably the seller will be open to offers. Awesome instruments and the pickups are like nothing else out there.

You’re getting sick of it again as it’s being blasted at us all day at the moment. We all know it but what’s it called? So many Christmas songs have that same rhythmic figure in them, the BA-BOOM, BA-BOOM, BA-BOOM that seques into the next section or chorus. it usually has sleigh bells over it. The most sickening example is at 1:40 on Mariah Carey’s All I Want... It’s not just Christmas songs, Abba’s Waterloo also has it (0:39) and so many others. Does it have a name?

My 2001 G&L L2500 is a special build in basswood with an ash cap so it’s light as any I’ve played ;-) I think this video shows it well

Nicely! The only solution. I’ve never liked Sandbergs, none I’ve played have ever given me the right vibe, I think they’re sterile. Similar to Clover, another bass in the same camp. Any Stingray I’ve played has bags of character and cuts through a mix well. It’s also iconic and looks the business.

I use a similar set up when travelling. Spotify running in parallel with GarageBand on iPhone so I can play along with tracks.

I’m glad I’m not the only person who’s had this happen.

I’be played a Root Master at Pirate Studios in Cheltenham and the guys in the band kept saying how good it sounded. I was running my board with a DHA preamp into the FX return and bypassing the Ashdown pre.

I’ve always fancied one. Amazing bang for buck secondhand. My Laney Tube 400 has the same 8xKT88 layout but very different front end. How versatile is the VBA?

That’s absolute bonkers! What’s the set up? Master/slave?

I picked up an as-new premium finish blueburst (that's the one with the blue burst on the back rather than the black) L2000 for £270 quid on ebay, put an old East MMSR 3-band preamp in it, set it up, sanded the neck, rolled the edges and it's a monster rock machine and as good a tool bass as any.

Being in a ciovers band, this will be a fabulous and much-used resource. Many thanks for the offer.

And just to show I was paying attention... https://www.musicstore.de/en_GB/GBP/G-L-Tribute-L-2000-Premium-RW-LH-Natural-Gloss/art-BAS0002874-000?campaign=GShopping/UK&gclid=Cj0KCQiA9_LRBRDZARIsAAcLXjfwTdZuKVBFg5NV3oVAV3RlgFQc3kZQLWMA7MM5AsQ3q35neh0wSgAaAl2uEALw_wcB

http://greatbritishbasslounge.com/product/gl-tribute-m2000-3/

http://greatbritishbasslounge.com/product/gl-tribute-l-2000/

At £900 starting bid and local collection I reckon that'll be around for a while.

BF does a tweed option now ;-)

Awesome.

Should that be BTA400? At £3,249 it makes the Laney Tube 400 look like an absolute bargain at £1399! Great EQ on the Laney too.