Frank Blank

It was a hilarious disaster essentially.

Christ that gig is a legend.

Do it, do it now!

This. Unlike the eminently sensible @seashell I waited almost forty years before I had lessons and I regret every day I missed out on learning with a teacher. Now I do just that and it is excellent. Everyone previously has given sage advice but I will reiterate that playing with other musicians will get you playing better quicker. As has been said you don’t have to play in a band, just play with other folks and don’t be worried about playing with musicians who are more experienced or advanced than you, jump in and you’ll soon find yourself on the same level. ...oh and welcome.

But then orders would flood in.

I want that bass.

Sounds like a description of some of the greatest music ever.

It was insane, just insane.

No worries, happy to meet you half way or whatever you wish. Nothing annoys me Like an instrument that isn’t getting played.

Sorry again Sir.

Oddly enough the Line 6 was donated by me too! I’m afraid I thought there was a PSU but once I’d sorted them all out I realised there wasn’t and forgot to amend the list, sorry. This was the one I got to go with it but I’ve mislaid it somewhere.

Human League (first two albums), Heaven 17 (first album, John Foxx, Simple Minds (Life In A Day - New Gold Dream), loved Propaganda, huge fan of Yello, all of it. DM had their moments but never consistently got on with them, Violater is good. I'm not sure I ever heard Secret Wish. All of these albums are still on serious rotation with me (along with Kraftwerk, obv) apart from Propaganda, just going to look into sourcing some right now so thanks for the reminder.

You Sir were quite obviously listening to precisely what I was listening to, those first two Human League albums, Penthouse and Pavement, Empires & Dance, Metamatic etc. couldn't really see the appeal of Soft Cell.

Nail on head, there.

Oh man, I had a go on @bassace's DB that was so cool, it felt like I was trying out the real thing!

Thanks Nik. Just looking at adding a fretted version to the collection for the next Bash. I was unsure if anyone would be interested in it TBH so I was genuinely surprised and chuffed at the interest and responses.

I will be KING of great little basses, oh yes! My first Bash, I had a great day meeting lots of new folk, everyone was ace! I spent half my time discussing @Jabba_the_gut‘s superb builds with @TheGreek and the other half of the time just wanting to nick one of them. I want a version of that dark semi acoustic so much. Another highlight was playing an upright for the first time (thanks @bassace) and particular thanks to @cetera for making me welcome right at the beginning when I was wandering around wondering where to set up and actually considering legging it, cheers Sir. Great day, excellent company, can’t wait for the next one.

Live and direct from the Bass Bash, white board instructions follow, that is all.

Don’t do what I’ve done and arrive without an extension lead.

I have this version of Take Five, from the excellent TV programme Jazz 625, stuck in my head at the moment. As Steve Race explains at the beginning of the clip it’s unusual inasmuch as Dave Brubeck takes a solo, a solo I am pointlessly trying to transcribe to play on the bass, there is something about the simple beginning of his solo that really puts the hook in me... ...just as an aside I was watching this evenings episode of The Art of Drumming (excellent series btw) on Sky Arts and this lead me to ponder who is, in fact, my favourite drummer. Usually I’d say Sigtryggur Baldursson (well, attempt to say it and fail) but in light of the programme I was considering my dislike of drum solos, unless they are drum solos played by Joe Morello who manages to make them interesting and cool, I’m rambling, in summary... Joe Morello = coolest drummer.

I enjoyed this last night...

Due to a sudden twinge of lumbar back pain and my inability to get to my local voodoo practitioner before Saturday I'm not bringing the small but exquisitely heavy AER, just myself and the RA Mouse Updated attendee list... 1) Cetera - Spector NS2 & Legend 4X, Dingwall NG2, Epiphone Vintage Pro Thunderbird, Yamaha BB3000, GK800RB head, Genz Benz Neox212 cab, Tech-21 Dug DP3X preamp/pedal 2) Ezbass - Maruszczyk Elwood L 4 string fretted (J pickups), Maruszczyk Elwood L 4 string fretless (MM pickup), Rickenbacker 4003s, Rob Allen MB2 fretless, Phil Jones Flightcase + PB300 3) Happy Jack - AliKat DB #004, Mike Lull 54P, all I need to play a doubling gig (that evening) on those two instruments 4) BlueJay - Eminence Upright (left-handed) - IF IT FITS in the car, as we're now carrying a full PA system as well. Loads of camera and audio equipment 5) obbm - Fender Precisions, Sadowsky HPJ, Bergantino NV115, Handbox WB100 and if room Quilter BB800 + BF One10 + Nate Mendel for sale/trade  6) Nancy Johnson (Paul) - The Big One, rack (GED/poweramp), possibly the dUg DP3x. A bass. 7) MacDaddy - Shuker bass(es), Snapdragon Folding bass, Flattley Bass Poison Ivy. 8 ) prowla (Paul) - Maybe a Ric or two and fakers, maybe a couple of Statii, maybe J- & P-basses. Probably a Markbass amp & cab and a pedalboard with some FX. 9) Graemeross - Sire V7, USA Jazz Deluxe and USA Precision (for the bass shootout) 10) TrevorR - Wal Pro II E, Wal Mk 1 Custom, Aria SB700, MarkBass LMII and Traveler 2x10, pedalboard. 11) TheGreek - Mesa M Pulse 600 head/ Powerhouse 1x15 cab and The Psilos bass built by Andyjr1515 12) JapanAxe (Graeme) - most of the stuff in my signature! 13) Wolverinebass (Andy) - Maybe some Wounded Paw effects/signature preamp and a bass. 14) Silverfoxnik (Nik) - Roscoe Beck 5, Gibson Thunderbird, BC Rich Eagle, plus my Ampeg V4BH Rig 15) Paul The Drums of the Junkyard Dogs, with kit. 16) Frank Blank (Frankè Blanké) Rob Allen Mouse. 17) Ordep - Noble Preamp, Modulus Jazz, Fodera Monarch New Std, Amp, pedalboard depending on the day’s mood. 18) Jabba the Gut - TC Electronic RH450, RS112 and some own build basses 19) Thestick - Vanderkley cabs, Aguilar ag700 head, selection of basses 20) Mr & Mrs Hamster - Tea, coffee & cake! Might bring a couple of basses too 21) bassace - usual double basses etc. 22) OutSpoon (Steve) - Fodera Monarch Standard Classic, Sandberg California VS5, Maybe a '94 Stingray? TC 208 combo or PJ Double4? 23) Walman - BF Super12T, FPPR Status S1 (yes that one ), Genz Benz Streamliner, Helix Floor, and a load of EBS pedals for sale 24) musicbassman - planning to come, sorry I've nothing of great interest to bring with me, just some respect for all you guys bringing your treasured possessions to display. 25) Kebabkid - Sire Marcus Miller V7 (4 string), Roland Bass Cube 120XL, Zoom B3 & EBS Octabass 26) Graham (still tentative at the moment) - Lakland DJ5, G&L USA SB2, Yamaha TRB1005J, EBS HD350, EBS Neo 2x12, EBS Microbass II, EHX Big Muff Bass Deluxe, Joyo Orange Juice 27) NickD - Maruszczyk Jake 5P+, Maruszczyk Elwood L5A, Markbass 121H, Zoom B3, Bass Soul Food, EHX Freeze, Mooer Tender Octaver, Ebow. 28) Rodfunnell - Darkglass Microtubes 900 head, Barefaced Big Twin T, BB2, Super Compact, Warwick Corvette $$, Streamer $$, The Alien; Various pedals including MXR, AudioSource (inc a Hothand) and a couple of Darkglass bits and Phil Jones EarBox 29) JHK -usual yamaha TRB 6P ,Musicman stingray 5 fretless,GB Spitfire fiver,EBS Neo 15 cab,EBS 350 head 30) Hen Barn - status kingbass, nightingale, ebs reidmar & 2 x 10 LMT Vanderkley 31) Captain Rumble - walkabout, m pulse, Vanderkley 112, 212, Exotic Jazz 32) PTB - MTD 535, Sadowsky Metro Will Lee, Mark Bass amp, Barefaced S12, various pedals 33) clivem - Yamaha BBP34, Eden WTX264 amp, Barefaced 110 cab.

I have a lap steel that I never use, you are welcome to borrow it for as long as you like, in the spirit of exploration so to speak.