Norris

I got a couple of large cheap sports holdalls from Sports Direct for carrying my par cans around in. They were much, MUCH cheaper than anything that you'd find if you searched for "PAR CAN case". The original, individual cardboard boxes provide a bit of padding for the lights, and in turn are protected by the holdall. Having only two lights in each holdall makes them easier to carry around & stack in the car, as individually they are not too big. For mic/leads/gaffa tape/spare strings/etc. I recently bought a small flight case like [url="http://www.pulse-audio.co.uk/5051259010635.shtml"]this[/url], which is actually quite robust.

[quote name='Dingus' timestamp='1385486724' post='2288866'] I always like Meddle . Gets overshadowed by Dark Side Of The Moon , for obvious reasons, but it's the record where the Floyd first showed they had what it takes to be something special , in my opinion . [/quote] +1 for an under-rated album

I also use EBRS's and had to change to change a 'dead' set recently - again after about 9 months on the bass. I would normally expect them to last about 18 months before getting to that stage. I hope they haven't changed the 'formula' on them. Having said that, there's still not many strings around that would hold their tone for 9 months, and certainly not at the relatively cheap prices EB's go for.

I use an old 1x12 powered monitor as my practise amp. It's too scruffy to gig, but ideal as a general-purpose amp in my 'music corner'. I did buy a small bass practise amp, but it was pretty awful for bass at anything over whisper volume. However the electric drum kit sounds great through it.

And we need basschat gloves for loading the kit in & out!

Our guitar-bass-drums trio often does "25 or 6 to 4" by Chicago. Whatever you do with that line-up it's going to have a different spin...

In ye olde country pub: "There's a barn dance on at the other end of the village tonight, and lots of people are away for a big birthday party. I hope we get a few in..."

Pfft! Ha! Ha! The OP said "bass solos"

Around the Midlands it seems that bands involving brass have recently become quite popular. There have always been some, but there seem to be a lot more around now doing ska, soul, etc. I've even considered getting out my trombone that has been in its case for the last 30 years. (I passed grade 8 on it back in the day!) The trouble is, if you're not regularly playing in a band they are not the sort of instruments you just pick up and have a blow of an evening: certainly not like strumming a guitar or tinkling on a keyboard. They tend to be the sort of instruments that people play while at school but then find something much sexier (like bass guitars) to play when they grow up. There are also probably not enough bands around to sustain a healthy population of brass players & any that can play have probably already been snapped up.

I have an Indonesian Squier P bass Special - the one in pewter with matching headstock like [url="http://www.gak.co.uk/en/squier-standard-p-bass-special-satin-pewter-metallic/16028"]this discontinued one on GAK[/url]. I bought it from another basschat member for £150 if I recall correctly. It's worth keeping your eye out for one if your interested as it's a great bass. Looks, feels and sounds great, even with the standard pickups.

Most stuff we just learn at home then gig it straight off like the OP. Occasionally we will rehearse if a song is particularly complex, has a lot of vocal harmonies, or we want to re-arrange it a bit. Having said that my covers band has probably had a joint rehearsal 3 times in 8 years. Most stuff (if we don't just play it live from the off) can be sorted with a quick run through in the sound check.

People may hate jazz, but just play Moondance and they'll pack the floor... Edit - Ooh - 500th post

Apparently I hum tunelessly while I'm playing. I have also had a recent habit of forgetting to breathe while I'm playing too

When I was at school any instrument that used electricity was taboo. There were no rehearsal rooms, let alone the stuff you get in schools these days. Having said that I bought my first ever bass guitar from my old music teacher - a 3/4 scale Kay SG copy with an action that could be measured in feet.

I think it would be a good idea to separate the "look what I've done" stuff from the "how the hell do I do that?" stuff i.e. separate area for technical questions about recording (equipment, techniques, etc.).

[quote name='Fionn' timestamp='1381694603' post='2242537'] ... Perhaps sacrifice the Warwick for another (fretted) Aria SB? Something passive, or with a passive option (does the SB1000 have a passive option?). I've [b]always[/b] played nice Warwicks, but as much as I truly love them I could maybe benefit from a change of scenery. You know, shake it up a bit. [/quote] My SB-1000 does have an active/passive switch - but still won't utter a sound without batteries in. I'm guessing it's not a true bypass.

I used to have the bass riff from Beck's Minus (Odelay album), but my ancient version of Android doesn't let you use a custom ring tone

I think the smallest place I have played in is a long-since-gone piano bar in Leicester. After the three of us had squeezed in next to the grand piano, we then played to the six punters that could fit in the room. I've had my fair share of being the 'toilet entrance barrier' in a number of places.

Excellent

I managed to pick up an Indonesian Squier P-bass Special on here for £150 a year or two ago. Fantastic bass - P body, J neck & P/J pups. Certainly worth looking out for as an alternative that's well within your budget.

Fifteen years BBC (Before BassChat) spent with only one bass guitar & one amp. I've kept to the one amp, as there is NOTHING out there with the power/weight ratio of my Peavey combo. However, I do now own 6 basses...

Pointy-ish bass (Gibson Thunderbird) = [url="http://www.herculesstands.co.uk/product/85317/GS412B/Floor_Stands/Auto_Grab_guitar_stand_with_foldable_backrest"]this stand[/url] - fantastic! I need more walls so I have room for more auto-grab wall hangers

The bass was/is an Aria Pro II SB-1000. It takes two 9v batteries. One of them always died first, as if it was connected all the time. I never left my bass plugged in, even unplugging it between spots. I ended up putting a bit of gaffa tape on the quick drain one for identification, as that was the one I had to change repeatedly. Perhaps there is a fault with it, but it's been there since I bought it second hand in about 1986 - so it wasn't that old when I bought it. After about 8 years of swapping batteries every month, I kind of went off active basses. Maybe I just had/have a dud.

Passive I've only ever owned one active bass, and that went through batteries like nobody's business. When your usual awesome tone has suddenly switched to sounding like a mouse fart a couple of times, it tends to put you off. It wouldn't be as bad if there was a gradual degradation as they ran flat. Decent batteries are not cheap when you're replacing them every couple of weeks, and woe be tied if you forget to change them... I've never been playing and thought "I wish this bass was active". Passive still kicks butt.

Mine is versatile, just don't expect it to produce a 'P' thump - it can't (at least not without heavy EQ). But everything else is there in the controls. - Use a single pickup for extra clarity, or both for more of a complex Gibson/humbucker type of sound - Treble to the max and switch to vintage sound for clank, tone right down for smooth, full-on, bladder-loosening lows My favourite 'default' sound is switched to use both pups, neck on full tone, bridge on min