Norris

The basic jist was: I'm holding a gig at my pub, we've done it before, expecting about 300 people. I haven't set a date yet. I'd like some bands to apply to play, but I'm not looking to pay them anything. Something about free drinks and food

You're all individuals Chorus: Yes, we're all individuals #LifeOfBrian

Ooh - you had to get the can opener out. There will be worms everywhere. We've done that argument a few times (All said with tongue in cheek and with no offense intended )

4000 bass players all playing the riff from The Chain in unison for 2 hours. That should do it. Where's the number for the Guinness World Record people?

Except for vapers. For my sins I still smoke rollups. I'm constantly surrounded by people billowing clouds of sickly smelling steam, whilst excitedly discussing the latest coil upgrade, battery capacity, or homemade blend of vaping liquid they have brewed. <Yawn>

Assemble a 20 piece band and see if you can drink the pub dry on freebies in the first half hour

Now there's a great name for a band!

Music? You want to try having a career in anything to do with computers. You instantly become everyone's personal technician and are expected to be able to solve an issue from the vaguest of descriptions!

You forgot Hugh Banton - Van Der Graff Generator

First was in Germany on a school exchange trip - our choir, their woodwind band. Singer, guitarist and I all went through a small combo. Kay SG copy bass - absolute rubbish! Second was the de Montfort Hall in Leicester. Again a school thing, backing some kids singing carols. I might have had my own amp by then (?), bass was a Franconia jazz copy - wasn't too bad

I'm a software developer. If someone tells me this job needs to be done using Python, I am hardly likely to insist on doing it in C# am I? It's a job ain't it, if it pays your bills? That's what being a professional is - doing the job to specification. Now if was recording my own band, that's a different matter! (Although I am currently a P player through choice )

For larger jobs I use my old DeWalt DW613. For lighter jobs I use my new Makita RT0700. The Makita doesn't have a plunge function, but being a smaller and lighter router, it is much easier to handle without becoming fatigued. I don't think there are many guitar building tasks that I couldn't tackle with the Makita

For the first time I can ever remember, when I last re-stringed my bass all 4 tuners ended up perpendicular to the headstock when tuned up*. So now I simply carry a set square around and tune by setting the angle. *This bit is actually true Really, G-E although I don't think it really matters. They are never out by much anyway and usually due to relative heat/humidity in the room.

You'll never work again!

Planned "wardrobe malfunction"?

Or indeed to remember that plonking your bass on your Hercules top-hanging stand during the long Moby Richard drum solo will flick the lever back up. It doesn't sound so good in E when you come back in and the guitarist is still drop tuned to D. I have several t-shirts for that one Edit: Gotta love the profanity filter!

The weight difference is negligible One other very minor aesthetic issue I've just thought of - mine is nickel plated rather than chrome like the rest of the tuners. Nobody has ever noticed it though and I don't give it a second thought

Very useful bits of kit. After years of drop tuning by ear I can now do it in an instant, even mid-song. The only slight criticism is the sloppy thread on the adjuster screw - which was easily "locked" with a dab of clear nail varnish. It does make tuning up marginally more awkward as you need to drop it down and up to even out the tension, but not a major problem

I bought my son a Hofner Ignition Violin Bass for Christmas from Anderton's. It arrived with lovely low action, intonated, and even pretty much in tune out of the box. Not all online retailers are bad

One of the more insightful comments hereabouts. Top marks Skank - you win this thread

I actually spent some time looking at my fretting hand at tonight's gig. It would seem I use a baseball bat grip most of the time, switching to thumb for more intricate bits or stuff on the E string. It's not something I concisely do. IMHO if it's comfortable, doesn't cause any stresses and allows you to play all of the notes you intend to, in the places they are supposed to be, then do what comes naturally. I've never had a bass lesson in my life and have been playing regularly for 34 years injury free. I probably have a sloppy technique. I could probably play slightly faster with training. I have fun though and get enough positive comments to stroke my ego occasionally. Having said that, lessons are so much more accessible these days. If I was starting afresh today I'd probably have some

That bottom piece looks beautiful

Beautiful. That neck joint is a work of art

Just the Geddy Lee book I bought for myself Son #1 got a Darkglass 3BK, son #2 got a Hofner Ignition violin bass (he likes the Beatles) - so I still have new stuff to play with 😜 I may have to give up hopes of the Norris family band though with 3 bass players, unless we just play Big Bottoms over again

I had a quick noodle on the Hofner violin bass that son #2 wanted for Christmas. Just a cheap Ignition, but actually a very nice little bass which arrived set up, intonated, and even in tune from Anderton's. I've never really fancied one before myself, but it's rather fun