Steve Browning

Absolutely. Honest feedback is important.

I take two identical basses. Possibly a different colour, but the same pickup in order to keep levels the same. Whether anyone does is down to them and I wouldn't criticise them for not doing so. Generally never used the spare but did break a machine head in France in 1995.

Just back from playing my fretless one tonight. Great basses.

Not if they're perfect for the owner. We're all different, after all.

Absolutely. For me, the best patch is 66 to 73/4. Wonderful B profile necks and tort plates. No silly pre-CBS price tag either.

Beautiful.

I've done the vintage Fender thing. Owned a 1953 and an original 1966 slab, as well as a bunch of others. My conclusion? Just don't bother. If you want an investment then fine, but I own instruments (now) that would cost you 10% of a pre-CBS Precision, and are every bit as good (IMHO, obviously).

We play a couple of pubs where you invoice and payment follows. Bit of a hassle first time around but dead easy now. In one of them we actually got the payment before we even played. I've not paid to play, that I recall. Bands paying for support slots certainly was the norm once.

On the basis of cheapest options first, I'd plump for a set of rounds. I would also ask what are you aiming for? You are satisfied with your sound using your own gear? I am presuming the valve amp you mention is yours? Using 'foreign' gear is always a lottery. It may be a pedal is what you want (a valve pre I suppose). I'd explore the strings first. I certainly wouldn't be adding pickups/buying different basses.

Thanks for the update and many congratulations on getting that far.

The Southsea shop closed and Steve moved to Cosham. The shop is on the roundabout just south of PMA. Glad it turned out well.

A transaction that is everything Basschat is all about. A fellow BC'er who puts himself out to deliver a really good bargain, to a meeting at a motorway service station. A very pleasant chat (over a coffee and a calorific snack) with a knowledgeable and thoreoughly decent chap and a warm handshake (no, he'd not just been to the gents) before a parting of the ways. Thank you, Steve. Delighted to have met you. A real credit to this community.

I'm the same. I also have a tab on the spreadsheet that records when I restring them and with which strings.

I am hoping the answer's no, because - apart from a single puff on a joint in 1978 - I've never taken any form of recreational drug in my life.

I've just been to Steve's Guitar Centre and they no longer do tuition. Just up the road is the Portsmouth Music Academy. A rather grand title for a medium sized detached house along the main road. Have a chat with them, maybe.

If you contact Steve at the Guitar Centre on the roundabout at Cosham. I am sure they do lessons there.

Dreadfully sad news.

Count me in, for sure.

Use the search function, using the user name.

A mate of mine managed a Polish band (the Poise Rite - great they are too). They were down to support Lenny Kravitz at a stadium. During their sound check, they were told to stop because Mr Kravitz was asleep back stage. They were then told that Mr Kravitz didn't want a support on the gig, so they didn't get to play at all. I fancy they were a trifle miffed.

Yes indeed.