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I'm not keen on changing a bass but i'd like to get a 2nd VM4 or TM4 and change the humbucker just to see how it sounds. I love the playability of my VM4. Dave

I’ve probably got some bass books I’d send you if you want them (free, if you want). Just send me a DM.

That's a great idea. I used to read when I played piano as a kid half a century ago. I so regret not keeping my reading up when I switched to bass.

Cam dancing. Kinks

Don’t put your mind or body under and pressure! I agree with Bilbo’s advice above. I am currently learning how to play classical double bass (where you have to read music and play with a bow). It’s a completely different instrument and approach, but it’s transformed my electric bass playing, and improved my jazz sight reading. Whatever you do, ensure it’s fun. Sounds like you need a bit of that…

RIP Sam

Try learning to read music? Assuming you can't already. 20 minutes a day and in six months you won't know yourself. Two years and you'll be the best reader on Bass chat! It opens musical doors in terms of learning. There are some decent packages out there, Jeff Berlin's course is decent enough, but all you really need is a simple explanation of the basic principles and the rest is just doing it, again and again and again. What is also good about it is that you don't have to be inspired. You just have to do it. It builds technique as well as reading chops all without needing to 'think' about it. Time well spent.

That bass looks amazing, love the scratch plate, hope it plays and sounds as good as it looks John 😎

Julia, Tony and Jenny on their first group photo ever.

So sad to hear. I had a couple of meet-ups with Sam and, as anyone else who did, felt as though I'd known her for years after our long chats. One time in snow and ice at Thurrock services and we both got frozen We all know that Life isn't fair and Sam certainly had her hand dealt from the bottom of the deck.

There's a sparkly red one in Sheffield at the moment that is £300 on eBay but reduced to £250, I think, on Reverb (or somewhere other than eBay, anyway). Collection only. For £250 it is tempting to strip and oil, except I have no way of colleting from Sheffield.

Bonnie and Clyde - Georgie Fame

The online course option really drove me forward in terms of motivation. Specifically Jaymes Bass Academy because there are monthly challenges that keep me interested and give me something to work on for the month (as well as the courses). Jayme is also reasonably active on the forum giving feedback etc.

Ouse Zoomin' Who - Arethra Franklin

May 2 gigs June 4 gigs July 1 gig (2 if you count playing at my niece’s wedding ceremony - yikes!) August 6 gigs (that’s more like it!) September 1 gig A bit variable, but I’m actively seeking out more band work on JMB.

That looks superb. There’s just something about a Sunburst Jazz 👌

Yea, kinda optimistic, mostly

Looking for some advice from you good folk. As some of you might remember I’ve had to step back quite suddenly from playing with my band to concentrate on beating my pesky non Hodgkin’s lymphoma via a 6 month course of chemotherapy. I’m now 2 sessions of chemo in and have bad days, ok days but plenty of good days between treatments. I’ve kept my musical genes busy looking after a PA and video screen install at my church and then sorting out the myriad bits of fettling that follow on from that - learnt loads. But I’m struggling to find the motivation to play. It’s really a perfect opportunity to improve my playing, I’ve time, I can’t mix and mingle with folk as much I used to as my immune system is shot and I’ve a music room full of lovely gear. But I just can’t work out how to approach it. When in bands it was easy, new songs to learn, old ones to get better at - playing all the time. I’ve old scale books, some Norm Stockton DVDs, an online course I subscribed to a while back but………any ideas please? Perhaps any tracks that would be a good workout to get my head around? Thanks. And love and strength to anyone going through a difficult time with their health.

Great gig. Packed it out, crowd loved it. First time I've played with a real Hammond master AND horns. Loved it. All originals, mixture of Blues, jazz, funk and a little rocky/pop.

One gig in June. I had to stop gigging for a couple of years and it is hard to get out there again because people have forgotten you are about (and some may not know I am available for work). Also, my double bass is screwed so a lot of Jazz artists won't book me. If I didn't have my writing and transcriptions site, I would probably give up.

I was thinking this sounded amazing and that I might by it from Joe's Pedals but by the time I went back to it after watching videos it had gone! Its an impractical size anyway 😪