Dan Dare

Phil's suggestion a good one. Much cheaper than mine (which are Thule and came with the rack), but the same thing.

Heavy covers? Great for preventing your cabs from getting dented/scratched. Oh...

My back-up head used to be a Veyron. As JapanAxe says, it's not a true 2000w, but mine made plenty of noise and had decent eq. For the money, it was very good. Get the mosfet, rather than the valve one - cheaper and no difference in sound that I could detect. Used, you'll likely pick on up for the mid 200s. In terms of bang per buck, a bargain. And if it goes pop, you can always buy another...

Have a look at Quiklok stands. Not cheap, but do the job.

Another vote for Watford Valves.

I use the webbing straps from my surfboard/canoe roof rack to attach stuff to a wheelboard. They have latches that you can tighten, but undo easily.

A small mixer, as others say, will do the job and allow you to connect an iPod, CD player or whatever so you can play along to songs. Do use decent headphones, though. Preferably closed back with a proper bass response. I use Beyer DT770s, which I find excellent.

G&L L2000. Fabulous pickups - very versatile tones. Nicely put together, not too heavy, a quality instrument. But... just couldn't get on with the neck. Wide and flat - more so than my P bass - and just struggled with it. Perhaps because I've played a Jazz for 30+ years. I persevered, because it was such a good, do-it-all instrument, but sold it in the end and got a P Bass Special, which just seems to suit me. However, the pickups/sound aren't as good as the G&L.

That's about all there is to it. Point the mic at the edge, not the centre of the speaker cone and at a slight angle.

Go shopping/auditioning. Ignore us. Buy what suits you.

[quote name='Al Krow' timestamp='1508089198' post='3389677'] Ouch! Definitely a wise warning to "try before you buy" when it comes to cabs (or any major piece of bass gear, I guess?). Out of interest how many of these cabs did you buy without having had a chance to first try out? Were you able to return any of them and get a refund? [/quote] Yep. Littlewing's post illustrates why the marketplace, eBay, etc, etc are full of recent or nearly new, high price/reputation kit being moved on. So many buy on the strength of reviews, or with only a cursory listen, or because someone they admire uses it.

Weren't drum machines supposed to spell the end of real drummers? Funny, but you don't see anyone using one these days, whereas drummers are alive and well. Afraid it's a bit of a silly question. Yes, you can programme all manner of stuff - drums, strings, bass, brass, etc, etc, but whilst playing a musical instrument remains fun, people will keep doing it.

Perhaps you should just beat out the rhythm on the back of his head with a claw-hammer whilst he plays...

[quote name='Heathy' timestamp='1507970348' post='3389025'] There is a guidebook called 'Home Truths - a Jaunt Around the Decaying Heart of England' that describes Braintree's inhabitants as "the ugliest collection of people in the UK outside Wales" and where "a good number of its female inhabitants resemble sea monsters". And no, I don't go out after dark. It's like an episode of Seventies-era Doctor Who. [/quote] Thanks for the heads up. Will order a copy. Sounds not dissimilar to "Crap Towns"

Speak to Watford Valves. They know their stuff an have very extensive stock. An amp with 2 EL84s is only going to be good for about 30w at most, so clean headroom is likely to be limited, whatever you do.

Good man. You're hired

I'm with the drummer. Can't stand people who over-complicate things just to look clever. It's pop music, not the bloody Mona Lisa. Now watch those comments roll in

Why does everyone posting here seem to be insisting theirs is the only right way? Some like to play for its own sake with a few pals, some like to play for a living, some like to do the occasional gig, etc, etc. So what? Different strokes for different folks. I've played as a hobby and for a part and full living. I'm currently back to being a hobbyist. I enjoy it. End of.

If you liked the AG500, why not try an AG700? I bought one after comparing with most of the current favourites. There's one in the marketplace at the moment (not mine - that's going nowhere).

[quote name='Evil Undead' timestamp='1507549106' post='3386204'] I've had lessons, and he really helped with my technique, which I think is pretty much ok (EDIT: it is now anyway, wasn't before!), and I've seen physios and specialists in the past, especially following a wrist injury in about 2009-2010. I think most of the issue with my hands is my day job, it's very keyboard/mouse heavy, but I love my job so I'm not willing to change that. I'm not a good bassist so a video might be embarrassing haha, but I'll see what I can do [/quote] I had some RSI in my right forearm some years back, when I was using Excel a lot. I worked out that it was because I was using my right arm far more than the left - number keys, mouse, etc. I taught myself to use the mouse left handed and it helped a lot. It's a bit of a brain scramble at first, but you soon get the hang of it.

John East?