gjones

There's a topic on that as well.

Non UK artists won't bother touring in the UK either, if they have to jump through multiple, expensive hoops. Festivals will have to make do with UK artists, which may not appeal to the punters. I do know that when the pound went down the toilet, after the referendum, festivals were struggling to afford decent overseas acts. This is another nail in the coffin.

Maybe that's why my old SUBs sounded different from my present Stingray (see my last post).

I've had two, about 10 years ago. Back then they were pretty cheap used. I think the first one was about £350 and the second about £400. They were both two band EQ models, which sounded great. I have a 2014 MM Stingray, with the 3 band EQ and it doesn't have quite the same thump as the SUBs I used to have (still sounds good, just different).

Bass brings body to music, at the lower end of the sonic spectrum, and can provide movement, counter rhythms and sometimes melody, beneath the chords that polyphonic instruments play. Interestingly, the bass line in God Save the Queen, illustrates many of the above points.

I used to wear a really colourful shirt when I gigged and I was usually the only one in the band anybody recognised, off stage. But only when I was wearing the shirt.

The one I played through, in my local rehearsal room, sounded excellent. I was very impressed.

You're completely right, only an idiot would buy an amp in the middle of a pandemic. Cue guilty look as he hides his newly acquired Markbass combo.

Last year I joined a band with two guitarists and my Precision, sonically, fits nicely in the mix without getting lost and definitely gives a really good solid platform to the band. One of the guitarists is a big Pretenders fan and we play 'Back On The Chain gang' in the set, which has a great bassline. The P bass sounds great on that one.

I see Dave Swift had his vibrating platform with him, to give him the 8x10 experience without the volume.

No photo of truss rod access on the headstock. If it's natural then it's an Affinity Squier, or a cheapo copy.

Really great basses. I played one at my local GuitarGuitar and it was an excellent sounding and playing bass. Nice jazz neck if remember correctly.

I couldn't resist the lure of a Markbass CMD 121P combo for £400. It's the brand new version, with the leather handle. I've been wanting one for a while but couldn't justify buying one (as I have plenty of amps and cabs). But at £400 I couldn't resist. I just need gigs to start, so I can hear what it sounds like at a decent volume (sounds good in my living room but that's not why I bought it).

What I see professionals doing (ie not me), is clip it onto the back of the headstock and then the audience can't see it.

I'm sure everything sounds pretty good through an Ampeg fridge

The MIJ Silver Squiers, from back in the early 90s, have increased significantly in price since I bought one about 10 years ago. Very good basses but then all MIJ Fender/Squier basses are top notch, in my experience..

A cruise? A thousand people all packed together like sardines for a week (or more). You are a brave chap.

I bought the red version of this, after hearing it played live at a gig, back in the early 90s. It played and sounded fantastic but I just couldn't get used to the pointiness. I sold it and bought a sensible looking Yamaha.

Even a big name from the past doesn't sell very many albums these days. Bryan would probably make more money, for his band and crew, by selling his Bentley.

A secondhand barefaced compact, is capable of going very loud. I've gigged mine with a 500w head, with some shed builder drummers and it was more than loud enough on it's own. It was advertised as being as loud as a 4x10. If you bought one, you probably won't need another cab.

I thought about buying a ticket but doubted that it would go ahead, so didn't. I'd love to see them live, they're all amazing at what they do and Cameron is a phenomenal bass player. I'm feeling confident that live gigs will be back next year..............sometime?

Interesting video, on how a band called Mamas Gun from Brighton, managed to gig online while under lockdown.

As far as cabs are concerned a secondhand, Barefaced Compact will do everything you want. It's light, has a great sound, is very, very loud and can be bought for about £300 on Basschat. The compact, with a decent amp, will keep up with any loud drummer. As far as heads are concerned, I own a couple of Gallien Kruegers D class heads, a MB500 and a MB800. They are about the size of a paperback book, are very powerful, made in the USA and have been very reliable. They're also ridiculously cheap secondhand. Ashdowns are also loud, reliable and within your budget, secondhand. If you buy one of the new Fender Rumble 500 combos, you'll get all of the above as well.

It's a vibrator for bassplayers. Ooooh matron!

Having just checked the metal corners on my BF Super Compact and I wouldn't say they're totally blunt. Are they sharp enough to cut my hand? Well I won't try that experiment for obvious reasons. I don't know why barefaced didn't stick with the plastic ones? They do the job on my Markbass combo.