Boodang

The string angles through the bridge are dire but doing it ‘properly’ means double ball end strings only and massively limiting your string choice (in theory you can clamp strings but not all strings like that, TIs in particular). Doing it properly in this case probably means a headstock!

This!

The reason I use the TC Electronic Spectradrive is because of the toneprint capabilities. You can download from a wide selection of drive 'signature' settings until you find the one that suits. And there's plenty to choose from.

Yep, this is the cable I got, and I’m thoroughly pleased with it. Go for the gold, the silent stops the jack shorting out but it has a very limited operational lifespan, so in my opinion not very practical.

Given the 10 year gap I’d like to think the op has had enough time to learn it by now!

If you go for flats then you can't go wrong TI Jazz. A tad expensive but worth every penny. I also use Galli Synthesis strings, slightly less bright but the only bass guitar strings on the market with a nylon core, so has a very unique, flexible feel.

Definitely 2nd this. I just bought a Mogami Ultimate and a Sommer Vintage guitar cable from Design-a-cable and they are things of beauty!

Cheap pedals that are fun and could be useful / creative; TC Electronic Wiretap EHX Freeze Boss RC-1 looper PS just read your post about no pedals! But these are not effects and great for practice / inspiration.

Maybe a real book or two for good measure.

As others say, practice is the key but… practice the wrong thing and all you’ll get good at is having bad technique. To that end maybe a few lessons to make sure that doesn’t happen. There’s many ways to skin this cat but Gary Willis has one of the best finger techniques, check out his ‘ consecutive string crossing’ on YouTube and some of his other videos on the subject. It doesn’t take long for it to become seamless once you’re on the right path.

Now that's a bass with stage presence!

Which famous bass player named his bass ‘the wife’?! Stop press: in answer to my question I do believe it was Billy Sheehan.

Use memory foam in case you have to do a retake when you're recording.

It’s a great idea! I've found a trumpet player so we’re putting a project together where we only go out and gig the Mark Isham ‘In a Silent Way’ album with possibly beaches Brew for an encore. Should make for a super fun, relaxed gig for both musicians and audience!

I think it's more about attitude than age. I'm in a covers and originals band, and I'm by far the oldest. In fact some of their dads are younger than me! But I don't care. I'm having tons of fun, the audience don't seem to mind. I might bring more wrinkles to the band but I also bring experience which seems to be appreciated, so I don't plan on stopping anytime soon. PS 40 is young!!

The problem I have with onboard preamps is that you've got limited space, limited power and limited controls as you're trying to squeeze it into limited real estate. Unless you have a 'thing' for the sound of a particular onboard preamp I wouldn't bother. I like to get it correct at the source, the pickups, keep it passive and then use a line driver to get the signal impedance down so little loss on the cable. These days I find I get my sound using a compressor rather than eq, but whatever works for you really. If you like the sound of the pups and you like the sound of your outboard gear, then all should be good. PS I had a Tobias a few years ago (I know, not quite an MTD!) which had a pine body. Apart from being uber light it sounded great. Can't quite remember why I sold it now!

Interestingly I do get some anxiety when I do a gig on bass (and I’ve been playing for 40 years) but when it’s drums, there’s zero anxiety. Don’t know why one has that affect and the other doesn’t. On the other point that was made, we had a violin player leave to go to another country but we’re continuing to put together an album of ‘Boston punk’ numbers which is actually the most fun thing I’ve done in ages.

Of course the closing of one door could lead to the opening of another…. a completely new hobby maybe. Or, how about a new instrument.. drums perhaps? I also see the bass as a drum kit with notes, so not a huge leap between the two.

No room to breathe sounds like a drummer issue rather than an e-kit issue. Having said that, even with modern ekits it’s easy to get the ‘machine gun’ effect and get carried away.

Got this just because I like phasers and…. It’s awesome! I’m in a blues band where I play drums and for the funkier numbers like ‘superstition’ I got our bass player to use this. He doesn’t use any effects but after using this he said if he had one pedal it would be this one. To prove it, I haven’t seen it since!

Another thought occurs.. for the numbers 'she' wants to play bass, you could play drums!

I'm in acovers band where I play drums and the bass player and I swap duties for the odd song. The difference being, we're not a couple! I've never been in a band where a couple is involved where there's no tension with the rest of the band. Not an ideal situation. Best advice, maybe the odd song where you use the opportunity to learn some keys.... in fact get a Moog Phatty and play the bass line yourself on that, Michael League style!

Got the Drumeo IEM’s recently and I’m blown away by the quality of reproduction. Now using them for everything audio. And two birds with one stone, monitors for practice/recording at home, and stage monitors for gigs.