guyl

Just bought a new bass that looks like it is fitted with a walking stick end. It's rock solid in terms of avoiding slippage, but it creaks really loudly on solid floors. And as I found out on my first gig with it this weekend, the Lifeline pickup actually amplifies the creak!

Exactly this.... And I wouldn't rely on any venue for a decent stool. If you are able to travel by car, stick in your own. I use an old bar stool, bought from a car boot sale that is light and exactly the right height/size for me. Sometimes you luck into the venue having a super-comfy, professional looking stool which is briliant, but more often than not, you'll be glad you took your own! Also, one of those light but huge hard foam cases from Gear4Music is great if your bass is in a van and gives much better protection than a soft case. But it's a bit too bulky/impractical for your standard car and public transport.

Playing at home my touch is light and delicate and low action is a dream. But live I always end up super aggressive and low action just kills the sound. No matter how hard I try to relax, it just doesn't happen. Its like a weird psycological disorder stops me from playing lightly as soon as there's other musos or audience. (It also makes me speed up at difficult bits, to make them even more difficult!) No option that to raise the string height. And probably get tendonitus in old age...

Had this little Korg Pandora for yonks. Never used it live, but as a practice tool it is great. Can plug in bass, headphones and music source for trying to learning tracks off a recording. It allows you to eq your own bass so it doesn't obscure the bass on the recording you are trying to learn. Or eq the bass out of the recording. The "Phrase trainer" is super useful - allows you to slow down tricky bits without losing pitch whilst you work them out. Anyway it died. Is there a newer version, or better alternative? Or a piece of software that does the same?

Nicely written article. And a very tasty bass....

Billy Sheehan for me. Innovative and instantly recognisable. Amazing performer and great musician. And a lovely guy too!

If he’s as good as the YouTube vids I’ve seen, this will be amazing. I’m actually in London that night, but off to see Hamilton with my daughter...

Thanks for the offer @pete.young I’m in Stockport - but travel a bit for work and will take you up if I’m in your neighbourhood

Wow - thanks guys. Great help!

There's been a few Nathan East signature basses for sale on here recently. For some reason I'm getting a bit of a hankering, even though I've never played one! What do people think of them? Just as good as a "standard" BB, or a serious step up? I'm lucky enough to play a variety of gigs so looking for something versatile. I suppose default needs to be something that sounds big and punches through your standard function band set... thanks for any advice...

I double with upright and electric. Of course you can adjust the volume on your instrument, but the whole point of the AB pedal is to be able to make the quickest and easiest possible swaps. It suits me to have the adjustment on the pedal, so one less thing to think about in the scramble of laying down your upright and strapping on the guitar. And I prefer it on the front where you can see it (ie the green one - £100 from Thomann). I also like the indicator light although it messes with my OCD that the lights are the opposite way round to the inputs on the Bigshot. As posted previously Radial Tonebone is built like a tank. Totally reliable. I have previously used a "budget" option that made a click or pop when swapping channels. Not great when your going through the PA, or if its a quiet gig (eg theatre). AB pedal is a boring piece of kit, but I'd always pay up for reliability and functionality.

Splashed out on a Lehle pedal last year. Seemed pricey for “just” a volume pedal, but I’ve been really pleased with it. Used it with loads of different basses including upright. No degradation whatsoever and very robust. Best volume pedal I ever owned.

The duals. It seemed if studio quality, and the ability to properly eq the monitor mix were available, the triples would have been best. But as I play a variety of gigs and don’t always know what I’ll get soundguy/desk the duals were more forgiving. Also cheaper!

Took the plunge recently and bought custom IEMs (and a pair of attenuated ear plugs) from Read Audio. I have no previous IEM experience, but Read Audio came highly recommended. Two gigs in, and I'm really pleased. Matt started life at ACS, but then set up on his own. He really knows his stuff and customer service is outstanding. He came to meet me at a pals house to take the moulds and the IEMs arrived at home within 48 hours. The custom mould earplugs are excellent too. Should have done this years ago...

Also saw Deep Purple live after the Abandon album. Everyone around me moaned that Steve Morse wasn't Ritchie Blackmore. But he didn't try to be, and I thought did a great job. A refreshing new take on Deep Purple classics.