NHM

Is a bass only "properly played " at a gig? If you choose to make music on a bass at home is that not "playing" it? 

Solo practice at home, rehearsing with the band and playing a gig are all great to do - but they are three very different things. I try to play 'properly' whichever of these activities I'm doing, and thus each is equally satisfying in its own way.

I play any of my three basses at gigs, all three play equally well, so I choose on a whim (unless its a prestige gig then the number 1 always gets played).

That's why I own them, to play in a band. If I wasn't in a band I would probably sell them all as I don't particularly enjoy playing the bass just for the sake of it.

I've just bought an ABM 500W Evo iii - wow, it sounds amazing, why have I waited all these years.

I see I now have to wade through 46 pages of this thread to get up to speed....

Another problem which seems to be on the rise which reduces the number of venues offering live music (thus reducing the size of 'the game') is complaints by neighbours or locals about noise levels. I know of three cases in my area in the last two months, two of which have resulted in cancelled bookings for the band I'm in.

I'm just home from a gig, I'm 69 next week and I love it as much as I did when I first gigged age 21. We played to a full house today, the band played pretty well and getting the youngsters up dancing knows it has gone OK. Long may it last.

I'm just home for the Toby Lee gig in Faversham (conveniently just round the corner from home 🙃) wow, what a fine musician, good band, lovely songs, what's not to like.

memory lane - my first bass was an Eros jazz copy, from Greenhalgh's Music, Fore St., Exeter (in 1977) which I think was the shop before Manson's came on the scene.

Sad to see another shop go, but if you don't use it you'll lose it as they say.

Any local bands whose sound you think is good? How about (having agreed as a band) to ask their sound engineer to come to couple of gigs and mix for you to set a new template that you can then take forward? It would be worth paying someone good to help you overcome this hurdle.

where are you based?

Reading this it looks like we aren't doing too badly - 18 booked in for the remainder of 2025, with a few more expected. We're a (hobby) pub covers band playing the north Kent coastal towns plus a couple of local festivals, all with maximum drive of 20 miles to a venue. For me about 24 gigs a year is ideal, two a month keeps it fresh but allows time for rehearsals and to add new material. This year's set is 50% changed from last year which keeps us (me!) on our (my!) toes.

On 03/04/2025 at 11:13, mikebass456 said:

Got a Tonerider precision pickup in one of my custom DC juniors - it's thunderous!! 😎🤘🤘

Being a DC Tribute player myself, I'd be interested in knowing how different the upgrade sounded on yours. What strings are you using?

I'll be interested to read your report back on this. I have the 500 which is the same other than slightly lower output power. It is a great amp, underrated. My only criticism is that you don't really need both the vintage and overdrive channels as you can replicate the vintage with the overdrive if you only need a single sound (which suits me) - but it is useful if your core sound is vintage, to be able to used overdrive as a boost on the footswitch or for a contrasting tone.

I've fitted a Hosco bridge on my Musicmaster, the version with two compensated saddles that lock off at the correct angle so each takes two strings. A really good piece of kit. If you need a photo let me know.

done. Will you publish your results here? It would be really interesting to know what are the outcomes.

I found this link to an article about Hatters Hall - shame I can't see your bass in any of the photos. Have you tracked it down yet?

https://favershamlife.org/hatters-hall/

Actually it is a second hand gear shop rather than a pawn shop. The same chap runs the place as back in 2016, perhaps drop him a line to see if he remembers it. It isn't as though it isn't distinctive. I haven't seen a local muso playing it.

Was the shop Hatter's Hall? That's the only (music) pawn shop I know of around here. I look in their window regularly, can't say I recall it. Good luck with your search.

Something I've found helpful to getting an even and consistent tone is having the amp set just a little louder that it needs to be - so I can play within myself and concentrate on good/expressive finger or plectrum contact without having to worry about playing hard to get volume. Then the volume is there when you need a bit extra.

I've got a Gator case for mine, it needs some padding to raise/support the body but it works fine. Sorry, I've no idea which model it is.

Both are amazing videos, I've learned so much from watching/hearing him play.

Best wishes for 2025 to all, but especially the organisational team at BC who do a brilliant job in providing such an amazing forum.

Our amazing front woman left early autumn. The set was built around her (think Beth Hart). We were lucky to recruit a fantastic new singer almost immediately, but she is very different even for songs within the same genre. It is interesting seeing other band members adapt (or not) to find material to best suit her voice.

Anyone wanting to learn about customer service should watch the David Mamet play / film 'Glengarry Glen Ross'.

I hate it if I miss the string with my pleccy on the first beat of the bar - it sounds like the band has swallowed a fart.