lozkerr

And here. Hammer To Fall was what got me going.

Thanks ped. I'd better get writing :-)

You have 'WHO THE !!$%%"!! ARE YOU LOOKING AT ??" under your handle on forum posts - that's what I'm getting at. If I look at your profile, it appears under Rank. How do you set that up?

Hi folks, I notice that a lot of folks have a 'Rank' feature on their profiles but I can't seem to find it on mine. How does this work - do you need to have made a certain number of posts, been around for a bit or acquired a set number of watts? Many thanks, Laura

When will next year's dates be announced? I'm hoping to get more out of it next time, rather than wander round feeling like a rabbit caught in the headlights.

Well, I've gone for it! I've bought the Jazz I borrowed, and I'm rapidly falling in love with it, even though it's giving my fretting hand a different type of gyp. But the ability to just whizz across the fretboard rather than race up and down it is fantastic. And that lovely sustained tone... oh, it's gorgeous. The only downside is having to relearn all the starting points for the scales, but that's a small price to pay. Aye, it took a big chunk out of my bank balance but I thought that as I would graduate to a pro axe anyway it seemed sensible to go for broke rather than buy another cheap instrument. So, what two fives did you buy? And have you got a favourite?

Sound advice! I spent part of this evening trying to switch between the four and the five and eventually gave up. I put the Ibanez back in its case, grabbed the Fender and only stopped when my fretting hand and shoulder wouldn't stop complaining. The Fender weighs a ton! But it's such a gorgeous instrument. I made my mind up, put a big hole in my bank balance and now I'm sticking with the five.

That's got to be the best definition of GAS I've seen. You win!

Funny you should say that...

Thanks, everyone. Some good advice here, and I really appreciate it. I think my mind's made up - I'll go for the five. Time to go shopping!

Hello, all you lovely Basschatters! I'm in a bit of a quandry (no, not the new Toyota) and would appreciate people's views. I've been playing the bass for a couple of years, and thanks to a superb teacher (hi Jamie) I've successfully progressed from awful to not-as-awful-as-I-was. I'm still using my first bass - a four-string Ibanez - but I've borrowed a five-string Fender Jazz, just to see what a five-string axe is like. Apologies if this next bit sounds conceited - I'm not wanting to sound big-headed - but I've been playing it regularly for the last few days and it's lovely. No problems with positioning or not being able to find notes. I'm still hitting the odd wrong string but I'm sure more practice will sort that out. What's been really encouraging is to find that some phrases I struggle with on the Ibanez are easy on the Fender, as it's quicker to drop down to the B string than move up and down the fretboard. Being a girlie, I've got quite small hands so they have to move about a bit. So I guess the exam question is this - should I get a five now and carry on learning on that, or carry on with the four for a bit longer? I'd like to switch to a five now, but I can be more impatient than is good for me and I'd like to know what more experienced folks think. Many thanks, Laura

Yep, that amp sounded dreadful. I think it was shot, as no matter how much I fiddled with it, I couldn't get a decent sound. Some other folk were trying other basses and they sounded awful, too. It was a bit better on passive, but it was so noisy that I couldn't hear myself properly anyway. Should have brought cans with me. The Bertolini felt lovely to play, though. I liked the thin neck as I've got quite small hands. I'll definitely give it a proper try-out when I get a new bass.

The GAS kicked in big style today; if I hadn't left when I did, I would now be annoying every flat in the building with a Cort Bertolini playing through the Ampeg Rig of Doom. I was supposed to be seeing my kids this weekend but the weather scuppered that, so I decided to go along today. I hope I'll make both days next year, and feel less like a rabbit caught in the headlights!

Hi Sara, nice to see another girl on here. Welcome! You from Leeds, by any chance? I lived there for over twenty years. If your budget will stretch to it, I'd follow your heart. You only live once! My own instrument is an Ibanez GSR200 - very bass-ic - but I've promised myself a more high-end axe once I feel confident enough to gig. And a nice Eden stack to go with it. Get yourself the bass you like, plug in and enjoy the ride. But beware the GAS! Laura x

I mustard mitt that I've been tempted by a five a few times, but it seems a bit daft to get one before I've mastered the four. I think that once I'm ready for a new axe, I'll try a few fives and see how it feels.

Cause confusion? My work is done I'm supposed to be seeing my kids that weekend, but I'm going to see if I can swap things around, as I'd love to tag along. It sounds like a lot of fun!

Thanks! I've been trying to avoid the For Sale section though, as I keep looking at Eden stacks and wondering where I could find space for one, even though I'd probably get evicted for practising my Metallica and Motorhead riffs in a flat I'm keeping the GAS at bay by promising myself a stack when I've got a gig lined up. So far, it seems to be working.

Hi everyone, I've been lurking on here for a wee while, so I thought it was about time to introduce myself. I finally picked up the bass a couple of years ago after having tried and given up on several different instruments in the past. I just went into the shop for a look, honest, but this lovely black Ibanez wouldn't leave me alone. It just felt right, even though I felt like a complete numpty trying it, because I couldn't play for toffee. But I bought it and started learning from books. Two changes of address, a change of job and a spell in hospital put me back a wee bit, but I've stuck with it and I'm really enjoying it. Should have taken it up years ago, but there we are. I've finally started having lessons, and been pleased to find that I've managed pretty well through self-teaching, but inevitably there are some bad habits I'm having to work on breaking. But I'm hoping to be good enough to gig (easy stuff!) by the end of this year. My kit's pretty bass-ic - Ibanez GSR200, Eden EC8 practice amp and a mechanical metronome. I find that easier to follow than a bleeping box. Oh, and a Boss ME-50B multi-effects pedal to satisfy my gadget girl tendencies. Well, that's me. Hope to chat to a few of you soon. Laura x

I did! Jamie Wilkins (wilko66 on here) is listening to my awful noise each week and trying not to laugh. Top bloke and I feel very comfortable learning from him. He's based in Aylesbury, which is a little way away, but it's worth the trek.

Thanks, Grangur. Thing is, I really need a person, rather than a blog and videos, to work with. My partner plays lead guitar, and we have a lot of fruitful jam sessions, but she's not a bassist, and is the first to admit it. It's probably my age, but I find it easier to learn from meatware than software. I think I'll have a wander round the local music shops and ask around.

Looks like Fretz has ceased to be. Which is a shame, as I'm looking for a teacher who can cope with a slightly daft bint who likes to run before she can walk, does know the bass-ics, can read music and wants someone to keep her on the straight and narrow, as well as stopping any bad habits before they take root. I've only been playing for about eighteen months, and I know I've still got a lot to learn. Any other recommendations around the Berko / Hemel / St Albans area? Or Central London?