Billy Bongo

Two mostly if I'm with a band or in session, although a thumb comes in handy. If soloing extemporaneously (sorry for the gobful) I use a bendy pick. I once tried to use my pinky, kind of as a reserve, but it confused the remains of my aged brain, so I stopped and went back to watching the rain run down the window.

For me yes and no. I can do solos on anything - usually badly - as I'm sure anyone on here can, but some guitars have a natural tone that appeals and some are dead wood, so not sure I agree with your comment about asking what the best colour is. But it is all subjective. Nice pic btw!

Have to agree. I had an original PB and the tonal range was limited, but it suited bands where the bass was only a background, so as long as there was a thump, which the PB did well, the lead and the skin basher were happy. My first bass was a Vox Clubman short scale - still have it - but it was a plank. Having said that my 64 Burns Bison with Rezomatic pickups through a decent Marshall causes nose bleeds, spontaneous deafness and removes plaster from walls, so they were not all bad.😳😜

Thanks, I will. I am easily impressed having played some right junk in my time, so Ibanez is probably right until I get a gig that pays more than £50!

Many thanks for that comprehensive run down, Ito. I know most of them and like the work of John Patitucci and many others. You have it right when you say 'if the instrument does not talk to you' - if it feels like a block of wood with strings, it is.

Up to £500. Might go a bit higher for the right bass.

True. I'd be interested to know what mellow means to you.

Thanks. Looking at Ibanez at the moment. I tried an Ibanez Gio 6 string and was surprised by the range of tones and the playability for no money. I ought to try an SR too. I will check out Dingwall. Thanks for the suggestion👍

Thanks. MTD are a tad too much dosh for me, even though they make some lovely basses.

'Mellow' to me means warm. Bit too old to be swapping out pickups😳

I'll take a look, thanks😃

I'm playing a 4 and 5 string in a geriatric band, but soloing in my home studio on the 7 string fretless and will be collaborating with an ambience producer in the immediate future. Five or six string? The tonal range is so much greater with more strings, but I'm having some difficulty with my 7 string - fingers are no longer as flexibIe will look at Warwick - its not a maker I've ever considered. Thanks.

Good advice. I tried an Ibanez 6 string recently and was genuinely surprised by the quality. Tone is impossible to define, but every bass has a character and without EQ that character is apparent. With the Ibanez tone control off, to me it has a mellow, warm sound, but could be made 'mellower' by flatwounds.

Cheers to those who kindly commented! Pretty poor response otherwise. Maybe I was wrong about 'knowledgeable bass players', or perhaps I hit a time when they were having their cocoa? 😳😊