As I guess is traditional on forums time to say hello!
I've been playing for 20 years next year and I've not gigged since 93 which is pretty embarrasing, however the bass is an integral part of my life and a fantastic way to unwind from stress at work and other stress from other hobbies (triathlon, cycle racing, etc).
Some things will change shortly and the bass will air itself in public again I'm sure.
Started in playing in 89 on a precision copy, Steve Harris from Iron Maiden was the initial inspiration and I guess I followed the metal guide to bassists for a long while, Cliff Burton etc, until I could find an individual style. The first thing I learned to play was the bassline from "Chains" Fleetwood Mac mostly coz I am also an F1 nut.
Always a rocker at heart, my influences are however wide and diverse, apparently I'm a great funk player (someone told me this in the bass centre years ago), I enjoy playing disco tunes, floyd, who, jazz, funk, dance grooves and so on I only really get bored with the blues which is unfortunate as its the base of so much oh yes and indie music drives me insane.
Amp wise, I have a trace BLX130HSM I've read lots of mixed reactions too these, personally I think its great and unique but its going to go soon as I need a bit more headroom if I'm going to play gigs again.
Guitars wise I've owned my orignal "craftsman" precision, that was a nice instrument, then an awful very metal looking aria pro 2 (SLB?) then another aria but this time an SB1000A neck thru which was excellent apart from the string spacing was not much cop for slapping and popping, and for the last 14 years I've been playing the same old Tune TBC4 (very nice woodwork but essentially a bass maniac) and an Ibanez roadster fretless which was bought in a right state then completely reprofiled and refinished and now is a nice instrument with a maple neck.
Recently I have acquired an upright which is like learning to play again.
Style wise, I like the bass to be fun, exciting, soulful, create a groove and a mood, but it needs to be solid.
Current faves are Geddy Lee & Stevie Wonders bass players (!).
See you on the forum.