chris_b

OK so it's a last minute emergency, why wouldn't I get a set list? I don't often get a call on the day of the gig, but when I do I expect the set list to be part of that call. I've never been told you can't have a set list! IME that doesn't happen. You are obviously associating with the wrong people.

Why on earth would you race off and start practising songs that you played in a previous band? If you're doing this properly you don't leave anything to chance. You don't start your homework until you get a set list, keys, YouTube videos, MP3's or verbal information regarding the source material and the arrangements of every song. It's unprofessional to turn up to a rehearsal without knowing all of those things. In my experience an unprofessional rehearsal means an unprofessional band and for me that puts the whole gig in doubt.

I live in London so. . . . thousands, but for the last 15 years I've only bought and sold on Basschat.

Louis Johnson was asked what strings he used. He replied, "I don't know, what do they put on a Music Man". Apparently he'd been slapping for years with the set of flats his bass came with.

If someone manages to sell a bass for more than I sold it to them, then more fool me. If I didn't get the market price right and someone else did then I have no issue with that.

Do you have a heavy hitting, or digging in, technique? If you get a thud when your fingers come to rest on the B string, maybe the pickup is too high and the string is hitting the pickup. If you are damping the strings correctly you shouldn't be hearing any sound out of the B string in that situation.

I swapped to 5 string basses nearly 30 years ago. I spent many years with DR, both LO-Riders and Hi-Beams rounds. Then I had a few years with D'Addario NYXL's. For flats I use TI's.

That's a*rse about face. Come up with a set list, learn it at home and play it all at the rehearsal. Then everything has been dealt with and nothing needs "revisiting".

IMO rehearsals are not for learning songs, but getting the arrangements right and topping and tailing the songs. If you're paying for a studio the band has to turn up knowing the material. Play with guys who don't need to be told.

A silly songs but the playing is sooooo funky. . . .

You can buy fantastic basses in the UK, so put the taxes etc into the pot and buy one here. Get extra value by finding a good used bass.

Method spray and a sponge. . . . . . ps the lavender one.

how about ERA, Bugatti and Cooper?

The Bass Bros website seems to have been upgraded and it seems easier to navigate and more consistent. Plus they have a couple of very nice Mo Foster basses for sale.

My speciality is tap dancing whilst soloing.

Very sad news. I didn't get on with much of his music but I listened to it just the same because of his brilliance on the instrument. This guy was a stunning bass player.

I'm an entertainer.

That was in the early 70's. Willie Weeks is still pretty S-hot today.

I would die if I had to play scales and arpeggios over and over again. I play songs. In lockdown I decided to keep my chops going by charting, learning and playing every song on every Stevie Wonder album. One instrumental defeated me but I learnt the rest. That project really improved my playing, and gave me a lot of ideas I could incorporate into other songs.

Good gear leaves you nowhere to hide. It puts your playing and technique under a microscope. You hear stuff that average gear covers up. That's one part of becoming a better player. You've raised your standards, what you expect from yourself, and your fingers and brain haven't caught up yet. That's not a bad situation. Some players are born at the top of their game and playing an instrument is no effort, others have to work harder to get there. It's always better that your expectations are ahead of your abilities. That's how we improve. Be impatient, but don't beat yourself up! Just look at yourself a year ago, 2 years ago, and if you are better now than you were then, you are progressing. You're in a band? What do they think? You don't have to ask outright, that might be embarrassing, but check out if they are happy with your playing on particular songs.

Surprising what an improvement a well designed cab will make to the sound of a bass. Makes you realise how much other cabs are just a bunch of speakers thrown together in a box.

That "old bass" is not original. It's been fitted with a Badass bridge and a Bartolini pickup. All top of the range mods when they were done.

Long shirt sleeves turned up twice. A glimpse of forearm, drives the ladies wild. The peak of my sartorial elegance was a canary yellow suit with royal blue velvet collar and pocket flaps. . . . and flares you could get lost in. God I looked good!!

Good luck with your next chapter. I'll stop when the phone stops ringing, they take away my driving licence or I peg out. . . . whichever comes first!!

I wouldn't accept a brand new custom made bass with any of these issues. As the builder is pushing back and making excuses I'd name and shame.