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Viable option. Looks like wallpaper. She'll never know.

Got a call from a pro guitarist who'd taken a couple of gigs on but had no band. We both knew the same vocalist /sax player (also pro muso) and he'd been roped in so he just needed a rhythm section. He said he knew a pro drummer that was up for it. Set list to be decided. When we finally meet up to discuss a playlist, I'm handed a sheet with 14 numbers on it. I thought that would be the first set. Wrong. That was the total play list for what turned out to be nearly two hours playing and, on the second gig (tonight) we didn't get to the last number. The band went down a storm two nights running. Okay, the songs were stretched out some with funky intros and some fairly long sax solos but I got paid more than in my usual band, played only 13 songs and had a great time. I'm used to playing between 35 and 40 numbers usually. This is the future. It's up there with garlic bread.

That would be me! My Bass (and Guitars) have been (successfully) paying my Mortgage and been feeding my children for many years now. Oh and paying for my accountant ... who gives my money too the taxman.Hmm.. lol

Hi...the middle pot controls the blend on setting 1 (envelope filter) so turning it anti-clockwise allows you to dial in more of your clean signal. I have managed to find a usable bass sound with little low end loss this way...give it a go!

Hobbyist/Weekend Warrior for me. I do this purely for fun, and we - in general - only gig at weekends. All the money generated from the band goes back into the band, so no income at all. And similar to @Mykesbass am in my 50s, original material, with overseas tours/festivals/albums out etc having the best time of my life so far as a musician.

I used to think drummers were easily replaceable, and most of them are, but a really good drummer, like I have now, is priceless, that's why we pay him nothing, badoom tsch

I would suggest that: Pro Musician: Earns 100% of their income from musical eneavours Semi Pro: Earns a percentage of their income from musical endeavours, topped up by income from non-musical endeavours. For the sake of crossover with Hobbyist, probably more income than they spend on gear. Hobbyist/Weekend Warrior: Earns a little bit of money, but not enough to add to income after gear purchases. Bedroom Bassist: Not in a band, just plays at home. Although plenty of Pro Musicians as a result of being a bedroom musician now thanks to Youtube All in all, there's so many crossovers and exceptions. Si

Hilarious! That's made my day, and it's only 11 o'clock!

I think that was an ad-hominem attack aimed directly at me. Once I'd looked it up, having not heard the term, I was offended. But I am resolved not to engage in a battle of wits with the unarmed.

I suffer very badly with nerves. I’ve been playing for 37 years and gig regularly and it seldom goes away. Doesn’t matter how rehearsed I am; I can know the material back to front and inside out and it makes not one jot of difference (and I’ve always written all the bass lines too!). I used to deal with it by having a couple of drinks, but several years ago gave that up except for the odd gig. I have PTSD and suffer very badly with anxiety and depression which I’m on medication for (and I’m currently undergoing my 2nd solid year of therapy) which I’m sure factor in a great deal. Often it’s pretty paralysing.

Don't get me wrong, I like enclosed tuners, mine are Sperzel, but open gear ones just don't get gummed up with anything.

I don't get nervous about audiences, playing with other musicians who are more accomplished than me or, the material I'm going to play. However, if I'm singing, and that one little thought enters my head "what's the first line" that's it. The panic sets in. The audience usually notice what's happened by the time we've done the intro four times😂

After what has felt like a while, but was in fact only a week and a bit here's the new acquisition courtesy of Freddie75 of this parish. I've been on the hunt for a Spector to replace the original Legend I had 7 or so years ago and which has proved elusive to track down and buy back.

I've ordered two sets of Diamonds - one 4 & one 5. Delivery time is up to 14 days, so might be a while before I can post what I think.

I get slightly nervous, but it always settles after one or two songs however... Last night I was absolutely bricking it. We had Eric Bell, (guitarist and founder member of Thin Lizzy for younger members. ), joining us. I settled after the first song and by the time he decided to do Whiskey in the Jar, I was OK. And for the record, he was a pleasure to play with. Humble, friendly, funny, and what a guitar player! Frank.

That`s it Bas, we do it for the sheer fun of it, recording/selling the material, and having people sing along with the words at our gigs all being part of that fun, hence why i say hobbyist even though the band does earn from it. Due to none of us taking any money from it I couldn`t say pro/semi-pro as it would be a very poorly paid profession Same here, sure we`re not a "big" band, but it`s far bigger and more sucessful than anything else I`ve ever done, and we only decided to do it for fun, see where we could go with it.

Before I read this thread I would have said Semi-pro, simply because a lot of the gigs I do are of a high standard, sold out art centres, tours, professionally recorded albums on an Indie label etc that get good reviews in the National press. Financially though, like with a few of you, it goes back into the band and I make a tiny amount on just a handful of shows. Players in all but one of my acts are either pro or ex-pro. I don't see myself as a hobbyist or weekend warrior simply because it's such a huge part of my life and a massive commitment.

It depends if I'm being thrown in the deep end or not. 49 gigs out of 50 I won't feel nerves because I'm in my comfort zone but occasionally, usually when I'm depping and am unsure of the songs, I'll feel a bit anxious. I like to feel a bit of nerves, because it shows you're stretching yourself.

Not bothered about his hair. His face is looking more like his old "Karloff" guitar graphic!

I tried to mark out the neck pocket and pickup cavities but realised quickly that I’ve messed up big time and have cut the body too short at the neck pocket........ So now need to either extend the neck pocket....... Or remake the body completely......

Thanks for all the suggestions, but I'm liking this option. A UK company too. I can see a couple of Diamond sets being ordered shortly.

Or just buy them off this eBay seller. Which I have many times and had no problems with custom charges. https://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/DR-NMLR-45-SUNBEAM-NICKEL-BASS-STRINGS-MED-LIGHT-GAUGE-4s-45-100/122957356084?epid=2255520033&hash=item1ca0d45c34:g:GEIAAOSwcdBWS40X

("etc" should have a full stop, ie. "etc.")

I hate this thread. By which I mean I love it and am deeply jealous of you all.

Yes, originals is a much harder one to pigeonhole. Was very much in the hobbyist camp, and now in my mid fifties, didn't think it would ever be more. All of a sudden, our band having moved over to writing our own material, have a 9 date tour booked in November, a festival in January and are running our own self-promoted nights in Brighton. Still a long way from giving up the day job though

It's a Harley Benton : https://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_hbz_2005fl_nt_deluxe_series.htm Some strange beliefs are living hard. If you want to have that characteristic mwah that everyone is waiting for use roundwounds, the fretboard is made for it except if you buy a fretless from a crazy maker who uses soft wood. Take a look at my yellowish Leduc over here or the other one shown a bit upper, they have been used heavily for 20 years for the yellowish and close to 30 years for the other with roundwounds : there are only slight marks after 20 years of intensive use that will disappear after a very slight dressing. And almost nothing after 30 years of moderate playing. These marks don't affect the playability or the sound at all.

+1. If you're going smaller and don't want to lose output you need not only a lot more power but also a driver with sufficient displacement to make use of that power. The drivers that Barefaced uses have the highest displacement available with electric bass drivers. Other manufacturers might, but there's no way of knowing, as they don't reveal their driver displacement.

There is a flaw in your logic.

Here's a couple more of my Adamovic Jupiter 4

There seems to be some kind of weird 'honour' in playing very long sets. I say they're vastly overrated.I'd much rather watch a great band for 30 minutes than a mediocre one for two hours. Some covers bands in particular seem to think that quantity is the equal of quality. it is not. That's a sweet cherry. Makes life much, much easier. And more pleasant.

Get the gig then put the band together. If you know good musicians then this is no problem.

Yes, agree it's definitely more to do with whether your band is playing reasonably well paid functions (if it's a covers band) or making recordings which sell / playing festivals (if you're an originals band) but potentially nothing to do with whether or not you use a compressor, right?

I just about qualify for semi-pro. The day job is classroom music teacher- but I’m adamant that career is the craft of education first subject specialism second. I do ok as a reading bassist round here, the function band does 20 or so gigs a year and I pick up the occasional session or two a year. Of course semi pro can mean lucky to get paid as well!

NBD! Actually thanks to Utterly Pathetic Service (UPS) and Interparcel who can't deliver on time, delivery will now be next week. But I have been waiting for six years to find a Hohner B Bass 5. Only saw two for sale in all that time and both for sale abroad and expensive. Just bought one in Bicester for under 200 notes. So another week isn't much. See how tolerant I am? Me nice.

Or Status want more mileage out of him! "Come on Mark, nobody wants your Kingbass things these days, you have to do a tour with this or it's over, ok?!"

It's back. The donner calzone. What a beast of a feast. Have to say this may be my favorite apres gig snackette but you can't get it everywhere. This one courtesy of the ever splendid Night Bar in Horwich.

Please moderators close this thread as it's going nowhere because it started the wrong way with a totally impossible to understand message. That is what started all the, hélas, justified shootings. The OP is an engineer, so he knows better than anyone that he wasn't able to synthesise clearly his feeelings, certainly because he was upset by that "ghost" buyer and wrote it all while angry. We've all been through that once in our life, now lesson is learnt. Period.

Yeah, join the club Karl. Some of us don't let it turn us into judgemental people though. (For greater clarity I messaged Karl privately to quash this 'debate' and was swiftly rejected). I learnt and grew from my issues and don't act vindictively against others because of it. Hence my adversity to being called a bully for things that are as light hearted as can be. Lets all just have that damn beer already!!!

I’m just picturing the OP swapping out his 15” cab for a 12”, saving 3” of floor space. Wife takes one look and says “it’s still a bit big, isn’t it?”

Your 1x15 is more or less the equivalent of a 4x8. What do you think? As for the wife, so long as she's not the one hauling it what should it matter to her what you have for an amp?

Get the hair clippers out and give it a number one all over ("number one" refers to length of cut - I don't mean pee on it).

Finally had chance to take a few photos of my latest acquisition. Ever since seeing photos of Cliff Burton with one back in the mid 80s, I’ve wanted one. Got some new Rotosounds today, first set I’ve bought in years. Man, do they feel rough 😂. It’s in very good shape. Yes, is has some chips and plectrum marks, but it’s 34 years old! I’m so bloody happy, I grin every time I see it! I need get some tiny gold screws for the trussrod cover as they were pretty chewed up.

Stripped and non original parts though.