Happy Jack

When playing pub gigs on bass I always prefer a 3-piece. There's more room for expression in the music, more room for the band in whatever space we've been given by the door to the Gents' Toilet, and there's no need to discuss who's going to set up where - it's blindingly obvious where each of us is going to go. That's less of an issue at club gigs of course, since there's usually some sort of stage. When playing keys it's pretty much inevitable that I'll be playing in a 4- or 5-piece, but then my role is entirely different, plus I set up at the back alongside the drummer. I always assumed that it would be easier to get gigs for a 3-piece but in fact my 5-piece soul band seems to have no trouble bringing them in ... it's just that there's less money for each of us. Luckily enough, I don't do this for the money.

Similar to this is the units made by Steve Whitehouse (originally of The Sharks) - you can find him on Facebook if you want to know about his stuff. His magnetic Pbass-alike sounds very similar to the Schaller, whilst looking wildly different.

Keyboards. It's never too late to learn keyboards. Buy yourself something like a Yamaha CK61 or a first-version Korg Kross (pre-loved, natch) and you'll be in a world of fun, sitting down to play with your instrument resting on its own stand, and nobody saying "it's not very rock'n'roll, is it?".

Whispering Bluegrass, the trees don't need to know ...

If you're looking for reliable instruments that are rarely overpriced, then the two brands worth looking out for are Andreas Zeller and Stentor. I've had several Zellers and wouldn't hesitate to buy another if the need arose. Both manufacturers offer a range, but at the cheap end you should be looking at less than £1k for pretty much any of these. Bear in mind that's not money spent, it's money converted into another form and it can always be re-converted back again later.

What's the starting point? How much did/does the original bass weigh?

As a long time fan of Mike Lull basses, colour me interested. That said, what got me interested in them in the first place was the very light weight of these basses, as alerted to me by @chris_b. Do you plan to match that as well, or just the look of the bass?

Last night's blues jam at [identity withheld to avoid upsetting people] was WAY too loud. Again. I tried arguing with the organiser (an old friend and long-time collaborator in bands) that this might conceivably be the reason for the on-going tail-off in numbers attending. Wouldn't have it. Just wouldn't have it. Even in a small, nearly-empty pub the volume level has to match the O2 or it's not a "proper" jam. 🙄 Lord save me from delusional musos.

Personally, I'd like a 2nd guitar and someone doubling keys & sax, but our first gig is too close to think about trying to recruit someone in time. A dedicated harp player always feels like a luxury item unless he's also the lead vocalist. Sad to relate, our frontman is actually another bass player. 🤣

Cheapest new price is actually £725 ... but I still agree with you. 🤣

We're not going to be a Stones Tribute, but we fancy playing the best songs written by the Stones PLUS the best Stones songs that they didn't actually play. We can choose our own selection from the Stones back catalogue - at least, that part of the catalogue when they were actually making great music. For the non-Stones Stones there are some obvious markers: Rocks and Moving On Up by Primal Scream thrust themselves to the front of the queue, elbowing aside Bohemian Like You by the Dandy Warhols, but I'm sure I'm missing loads of great candidates. Throwing this out to The Basschat Massive ... what have you got for me?

Yup, first version all the way. That line works, and it grooves, and - best of all - it doesn't do that stupid slappy look-at-me thing.

The Bass Centre had long since departed from Wapping by the time I bought my first bass. On the other hand, last night I was playing a Westone 'The Rail' which attracted far more attention from the musos and punters than my Wals ever used to.

Asking for a friend.

As near as I can make out, he's playing sitting down.

Fit a 3-pin plug and go straight to mains. Just make sure that you use a 5A fuse and proper shielding ...

There never was an umlaut on the logo. I've owned many vintage Hofners and I have a 1964 Violin Bass 500/1 hanging next to me as I write. If you want to really get stuck into these things, the Bible for many, many years has been https://www.vintagehofner.co.uk/

Actually, that's several beasts sharing one instrument.

Those strings will still be going strong long after you're dead & gone ... if it ain't bust, don't fix it. Worse, those who start 'experimenting' with different strings on DB turn into perennial fettlers facing bankruptcy. On an amplified DB, there's not a lot that can be achieved sonically by changing strings that can't be achieved faster, cheaper, and more reversibly using the knob-thingies on the amp.