meterman

On bass I’ve only ever played in originals bands or done session gigs for artists who write and play their own material.

But bass isn’t my main instrument (they’d be: percussion / drums / Hammond / guitar) and I’ve done all kinds of gigs from originals to functions. I’d love to say that playing the big gigs with signed acts was my favourite, and they were all I’m interested in, but tbh I’ve had the absolute best times playing ska and rocksteady covers at sweaty pub gigs for next to no money. Or doing latin covers at a mate’s wedding as a favour for food and beers. (hangover included, free gratis). I miss all that.
 

My gigging days might be at an end now, due to living hours away from any proper venues, in a country where I barely know anyone, but I’d still be up for it!

That is beautiful 😍

I don’t really need one but, oh lord I’d certainly love one!

If you’re checking the bass in, always use the toughest, most resilient case you have access to.

I haven’t flown with an instrument since late 2019 but I’ve toured Europe many times and usually used Hiscox Liteflite cases and they were always fine. The only time I used a different hard case was a plastic Fender case, which looked similar to a Hiscox, but on arrival back at Heathrow the case was completely destroyed. Like, unsaveable. It was the last item to come off the baggage carousel and it had been gaffa taped together (badly) and I thought my guitar (a 1968 Telecaster) was a goner, although it was fine. After that I went back to using Hiscox cases, and travelled with a cheaper instrument. 

Other thing to check is the airline’s check-in weight allowance. But you’ll probably be fine 👍

My jazz bass with flats and foam at the bridge sounds like Serge Gainsbourg taking Brigitte Bardot’s dress off, on a Scopitone, in 1967.

I checked with Brigitte and she reckoned it was pretty close. Then one of her 87 cats widdled on my shoe so I scarpered. 

I had a few Mustang basses, would still like another some day, even though I don't really need one.

Here's my old Squier partscaster (Mikey Way neck / VM body / replacement 'guard) which was a great little bass. La Bella flats and foam, thump for days.

And an old 2000's CIJ reissue that I foolishly traded for a 1966 Gibson ES-125T...

Excuse the skinny stringers 😜

My default playing setting is sort of plucking with the side of my thumb. But a felt pick will give me a similar sound, even though the feel is totally different. 
 

I think it’s the lack of attack that a felt pick gives that gives it more of a ‘finger’ sound. Your mileage may vary though. T’s and C’s apply, etc...

I wasn't familiar with Soame basses, they're a custom builder from Argentina. But they popped up randomly on my Instagram feed and there's a few of their short scale basses that look great to me, so I thought I'd share some screenshots. All seem to be offset Mustang types, some semi-hollow, and priced around 2400 dollars. Nice looking 😎

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https://www.soamecustomguitars.com  

Totally sympathize with @Masse 

I bought a couple of back issues of a British music magazine (total cost £12) in October and they were held up by customs for ages. Took over seven weeks to get to southern France. No customs charges but then my wife bought some pet supplies from a UK company (total cost £18) and delivery took a month and we had to pay €9 to receive the parcel.
 

Small fry compared to the OP’s situation of course, but still BS.

Not sure there is such a thing as too many is there? If you’ve got the money and enough room for dozens or hundreds of basses, then why not? No harm in hoarding them, surely?
 

I got up to 5 or 6 at one point which was waaaaay more than enough for me, and now I’m down to one. But I would like to have another one. 

Bax have always been good when I’ve had to buy online, and living in the middle of nowhere I don’t have much choice. I’ve found them reliable than Thomann that’s for sure. 

Don’t muck about with pedals or chords or arpeggios or whatever. Just get a Hammond organ player in the band. The sound will be filled out and the audience will enjoy the visual side of things.
 

Sorted!

8 hours ago, kingforaday said:

That’s very cool, I’ve been thinking lately of trying to build a tiny version of my kit for when my kids want to jam along with me… this makes me even more convinced it’s a good idea!

Oh that’s a great idea, and your neighbours will love it! 😂
 

I needed a small, portable kit for acoustic gigs and also something that wouldn’t take up much room as I’ve got loads of other instruments and gear cluttering up the house already. I’d seen some of the little kits available (Sonor, Ludwig, Pearl, Tama, etc) and they all looked great but I thought I could probably put something together that sounded a bit better, and under budget too. For around £120 it was definitely worth doing 👍

I started out as a percussionist then got into drum kit a little later. Have owned dozens of kits ranging from 1950s round badge Gretsch, 60s and 70s Ludwigs, old 60s Slingerland and Rogers kits, vintage Premiers, etc, but also had a Yamaha 9000 kit at one point. 
 

The last nice set I owned was 1979/80 set of Tama Superstars (22-12-16) they were beautiful sounding drums and really solidly built. I had another set of 80s Superstars in jazz sizes for a while too but the bigger set was really special.

When we downsized and I stopped doing drum gigs I sold them to a local kid who wanted a decent set to learn on. Now I  just have a ridiculously tiny kit that I put together from stray 1980s Pearl toms, that has a 15” kick drum. I use a 1971 Ludwig Acrolite snare with it and usually vintage 70s Paiste Formula 602 cymbals. It records well but I still might get another larger kit again someday though.

Juaneco y Su Combo - “Vacilando Con Ayuahasca 

Cumbia Psicodelico!

Love Musicmaster basses, and this is a beauty! Good luck with the sale 👍

Sunday morning late 60s session 

1 hour ago, Barking Spiders said:

 I like the first generation punk and post punk too but they emerged when I was still in single figures. Anything pre-punk doesn't resonate at all so have zero interest in it.

Interesting. Not even The Stooges or The Monks or any of the 60s garage punk bands? Not having a go, just surprised.

I switched to maple fingerboard instruments which made it easier when stage lights were dim, but then I got some sheets of glow in the dark stickers from a pound shop and cut them down to use as dots on the side of the neck. 
 

Very cheap DIY solution but it worked 👍

I remember hearing Nevermind and thinking it sounded to me like bad metal at the time. I’d grown up on Dead Kennedys, The Damned, The Ramones, and The Fall, Wire, Art Attacks, etc, and I really couldn’t hear ‘punk’ in Nirvana at all. I could hear the difference between them and Motley Crue or whoever, but still it didn’t sound like punk to me. Never got that angle the music press pushed so hard.
 

Pixies and Mudhoney were more my thing at the time. Or house music. Or hiphop. Public Enemy were probably more punk than Nirvana, but that’s another thread I guess.

I love the MTV album though, but that’s summat else entirely.

No, but that Pixies album and ATCQ one were decent. “Screamadelica” was released in the same week and I’d take that over any of the titles in the 24/09/1991 list I’ve seen knocking around online.

Serge Gainsbourg albums. 
 

Bass by Dave Richmond, Brian Odgers, Robbie Shakespeare. 
 

Is it a Burns Flyte?

A Burns Flyte that’s been converted to fretless and refinished in silver sparkle? 

If it is, and you don’t get on with it could I possibly have first dibs?

I’ve used the lower octaves of a Fender Rhodes on a few occasions, and the low octaves of a Hammond organ as well. Nothing more exotic than that though, sadly. 

Slaughter And The Dogs - “Live Slaughter Rabid Dogs” has some great onstage banter in between the songs. 
 

It was recorded really roughly at what sounds like a working men’s club in Manchester in 1977 and the audience clearly weren’t entirely on the band’s side. The crowd were obviously chucking pints at the band as you hear Wayne Barrett and co saying stuff like “Hey! Stop throwin’ the fookin’ glasses will yer!” or, sarcastically, “It’s just cost you a pound to throw that glass” followed by someone else in the band coming back with “£1.25 it is, Howard”.

I’m surprised I can still remember it, when I routinely forget what I went to the shops for or where my keys are, etc.

Blanket vibes...

...and Kosmiche / Krautrock vibes

Not ‘andsome, don’t care! 😂