BillyBass

Latest change: Ampeg Optocomp out, Cali76 in. Signal chain: Polytune>Cali76>Octamizer>Hamstead Subspace>Di-2112 into my amp's input, then the jam Ripply fall and Atlantic Reverb/delay into the fx return.

There's a name from the past! Catchy jingles like: 'We are all prostitutes' never made it on TOTP, can't think why?

Don't tell the EU, they'll never put Astra-Zeneca back in pharmacies

You could try Viagra

The nails on my plucking hand index and middle finger I keep really short as I hate the clang when the nail hits the string. Most of the songs we do work just fine with fingers but there are a few, stuff by the Stranglers, Decode by Paramore for example, where speed or tone dictate the necessity of using a pick. I would like to be as proficient with a pick as with my fingers, so I've just got to put the hard work in.

You heathen! Their first album was a classic, the second was quite good but it all went downhill from there. Personal taste and all that; I was a punk.

I've just read through this whole thread. It's encouraging for me as someone who picked a bass up for the first time 3 years ago to read about all you seasoned players struggling with a pick. I feel comfortable with fingers, I have so much more control but some of the songs my band covers I can't play fast enough or just don't sound right with my fingers so I'm obliged to nail the picking technique. Consequently I try to get in at least 15 minutes pick practice per day, mainly by practising songs. I'm determined, so I will nail it eventually but the confidence isn't there yet.

I went to see them at the Greyhound, Fulham palace rd, about the time or just after this charted. Captain Sensible told us all that he was really rich now and that if anyone wanted to borrow a fiver they should ask. Rat scabies stood up and stuck an outstretched palm towards Captain Sensible asking for the fiver!

Captain Sensible and 'Happy Talk'. Not quite the same as New Rose & Neat Neat Neat. It wasn't the Damned but near enough

I've generally had a good experience with GuitarGuitar and luckily for me, they have a branch in North London that is quite easy for me to get to when taking stuff back. Now, one of their competitors, beginning with P...🤬

I use a couple of Stranglers bass lines for technique practice. 'Hanging Around' for crossing strings and 'Goodbye Toulouse' for speed. Great bass lines and not as easy as you would think, especially (for me) with a pick.

This is a SX jazz bass in action:

Stranglers - Live X-cert Motorhead - No sleep til Hammersmith Jethro Tull - Bursting out

But @BassAdder27 wanted funky stuff. IMO anything from '20 jazz funk greats' by Throbbing Gristle would be real crowd pleasers, really funky.

Didn't Donald Trump just incite a white riot in Washington DC?

Johnny Moped's 'Hard Lovin' Man' was the best track on the 'Live from the Roxy' album. I was a teenage punk and had no idea it was a cover. And other great songs I later realised were covers and still consider to be improvements: Helter Skelter - Siouxsie & the Banshees Telegram Sam - Bauhaus Satellite - Sex Pistols Somebody's gonna get their head kicked in tonight - The Rezillos Eve of Destruction - The Dickies

I recently learnt 'Limelight' it took me absolutely ages to memorise it, particularly the bassline during the guitar solo, there is so little repetition. I would spend a few days on it, put it to one side then come back the following week. I still haven't 'nailed it' I still make the odd mistake or hesitate here and there but I don't need to check a tab or my notes any more. There is something really rewarding about learning a song by Rush, it's a bit like climbing a mountain.

I learnt 'Down in a Tube Station at midnight' by The Jam over the last couple of days and our drummer has requested we do 'Decode' by Paramore, so that's next on the list.

There goes Concorde again - Native Hipsters

My band does this (and a few other songs that go lower than E) and I'm either going to buy the hipshot Xtender or go the 5 string route. I don't want to manually detune or bring two basses.

Top of the Pops - The Rezillos Banana splits - The Dickies Telly programmes that long ago bit the dust

"Armalite rifles...Police and IRA...Armalite rifles...use them every day" Gang of Four Holiday in the Sun by the Sex Pistols, with lyrics about going under or over the Berlin Wall '1 2 3 4 what are we fighting for? Hell I don't give a damn, we're going to Vietnam. 567 open up the pearly gates, well I ain't got time to wonder why, were all going to die' by Country Joe and the Fish

Do Seymour Duncan do Big Macs?

Using rehearsal time for learning songs is a big waste of time and money. Songs should be learnt at home and rehearsed and nailed in the studio.