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I got this 👍

Afternoon NYE gig for the jazz standards quartet at a nursing home. We have done this several years now and start at 1:30PM after the residents/patients make their way to the big recreation room. With staff and family members at least 120 people and some are able to dance, some are in wheelchairs and some are brought in right in their beds. It's a bit bizarre but we are used to it now and have a good time as the audience sings, taps, claps ,nods or dances(even in wheelchairs!) as we move through our carefully chosen two sets. We play less than an hour and a half and then the balloons come down and they break out some bubbly and we launch into Auld Lang Syne and then munch on cookies and other treats as we socialize with the staff and residents and pack up. It's a bit sad since some are in very poor health but everyone enjoys it and it has become a tradition to have us on NYE and it makes us realize how lucky we are to be healthy enough to be able to play the gig and bring some fun into the day. We also are paid so that makes the hour drive better but I know we would do this one for free. Count your blessings folks and have a great 2020.

My favourite colour is mint* green. While I have no basses in that colour for one reason or another, @Happy Jack has no fewer than two. The supercool curly lead is his Christmas present to me - but I'm so going to lend it to him at the next Damo And The Dynamites gig, when he'll be playing the Lull for a few numbers. 😎 *a.k.a. SURF green. 😉

Mrs Mep excelled herself this year.

to all my fellow bass chatters I wish you all a merry Christmas and a prosperous new year cheers stef

I have one account for flatwounds and one account for roundwounds. we both agree we don’t like tapewounds.

Well, I basically spent the entire afternoon and evening playing my latest Harley Benton. Very very pleased with it and will definitely gig it on Thursday.

Mine would be: Spend more time on Basschat Buy more basses Practice less That way nobody is disappointed.

I didn't see a comment for this, but noticed it on facebook Not sure if you have to be on facebook to see it, but it interesting hearing the differences (and in some cases, lack of) between these basses

What does it mean though? I understand the AC/DC thing here, but E A D G ? Doesn't ring a bell. 😐

Glad I bought a Harley Benton and not one of these Chickenbackers - they sound awful.

Im sure you'll pile on the pleasure in the Chalfonts.

That sounds rather painful!

Wishing everyone here a very Happy Christmas and grand 2020.

Thought it might be good too see what music related gifts we got today. Ill start. Although i did ask for it I'm very impressed with my Rumble 25 LT that my GF got me. just need to find a time to use it.

That, Sir, is bloody marvellous.

I grew up in the late 80's early 90's and I was a massive rock / metal fan. I loved ibanez, Jackson, Charvelle etc. To this day, i'd take a Korean, Japanese, or even Chinese instrument over an over rated, overly expensive American one, any day of the week. While classic Fenders are the ultimate bass for many (I 'm not arguing against it. Horses for courses) I genuinely think many of the "cheap" eastern instruments run rings around them. Too many people are more concerned with the label than the quality of the instrument.

Not today...in my Secret Santa I got a mug with a message "I might look like I'm listening but in my head I'm playing guitar" and some bass shaped spoons.

New Stereophonics album and my neighbour bought me a wooden box engraved with my name and “bass strings and things” which I thought was very thoughtful.

Only picked up the bass once this year while being deep in the depression that follows me around and just won’t quit resolutions ? Playing more often, finding a band and getting out there again

My New Year resolutions will be to drink less (being saying that since the mid 1970s!) and to play more gigs. 2019 wasn't a record breaker in terms of number of gigs played, but they were of a much higher quality than preceding years, and that's a trend I'd like to see continue. I will start my third year with the Grateful Dudes in January, and I am finally starting to feel like a member of the band instead of an imposter! My number one resolution, however, is to stay alive long enough to think about what I want to do in 2021.

Happy Christmas one and all..5.30, and now watching a Metallica DVD

I can set your mind at rest on that one, Osiris. I wouldn't allow it.

Take that bloody Takemine TB-10 out of my Thomann basket before I do something silly.

Has anyone ended up buying a bass from themselves, and if so, how was the haggling conducted? Did you have to drive to a distant motorway service station in order to conduct the transaction in front of a mirror?

Some people thing they're pointless but my favourite thing about the xmas and new year downtime is the opportunity for reflection and to gain some perspective. Over three last two or three years I've managed to make some real progress following a 10 year hiatus from the bass guitar. This process followed some challenging but realistic new years resolutions: I found a terrific teacher and took some lessons, listened to lots of new and old music, attended local open mic gigs and because of the networking opportunities these offer joined a gigging band. I videoed myself playing and was able to address my duff stage presence and miserable demeanor. I finally smashed my confidence barrier and started singing backing vocals and later took over lead vocals on one song. I've taken a few singing lessons to improve my technique in this area as well. I am now in a new covers band with some great players and I've also taken over bass duties in the local open mic house band which is every week. So finally, my new year resolutions for 2020? 1 I want to become accomplished at reading chord charts so I can open up more varied gigging opportunities; 2 I want to make original music. Covers allow me to scratch one particular itch but I'm craving some deeper creative satisfaction. I think these are realistic aspirations. Does anyone else plan to set themselves any new challenges on 2020? Merry Christmas and happy new year to all BCers 🍻

I accept Scott Devine has a few mannerisms which could annoy, but I think he's producing an excellent service for bassists around the world. I'm very happy he's created such a successful business.

Haha, i obviously should have asked a typing course. Then again, yes...yes she does....

You’re very lucky. Mine would sooner walk over hot coals than buy me something guitar/music-related.

I was impressed to just how good the Aria sounded.

Nah, it's a very nice place, but space for the band is tight. We've played there before, so we know the drill. We'll be fine.

It's difficult to say what was my best or favourite purchase. This is because I'm old and can't remember what I've bought. I suspect it will turn out to be the Yamaha BB. A seriously good bass.

The look is more understated with two of my own basses.

SORTED - Happy Christmas all Well Christmas morning, what else is there to do? Found and downloaded the Toneprint Editor onto my Mac, synch'd the head and Mac via USB... hey presto (like what you put on prasta). So I'm currently running one of the Chorus and a Zen phaser, which happens to complement a pick sound really well, quite 90s but so what. Having loads of fun with the fretless through this head now - has a really good flat sound and the EQ is 'substantial', liking the split mids (hi and lo). Touch of chorus and we are off. It's a very good chorus for bass, I have a Boss (CEB5?) but don't need it with this. The phaser is a bit mad but handy for upper-register fretless mullarky. So, thanks for all the help above... back to it 👍👍👍

For the last few years I’ve got into the habit of vetting prospective gig bookings from venues I’m unfamiliar with for ease of nearby parking using Google Street View. If parking is too far away or non-existent, or the locality looks dodgy, I’ll reject the gig, as the stress and jumping through hoops involved invariably just isn’t worth it.

For sure. Here are mine. Hohner B Bass VI, Revelation fretless P Bass, Vintage 940FL PJ: £195, £120, £120 respectively. Considering I used to spend up to £600 on basses these are amazing value and very well made. I have had much more expensive basses with much clumsier neck work than the Rev, which is only £199 new!

ABBA Tribute Show in Aschaffenburg. Done by 8:30 and the whole crew are good mates. It’s way away from home so we’re in a hotel and I can actually relax for once at Midnight. I’m just glad not to be home (Berlin). NYE is like the bleedin’ apocalypse there. My wife and kids are safely at Grandma’s in the countryside.

Superb! HB really make some cracking instruments for peanuts. Can't wait fur my new 6er to turn up.

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Under the heading of 'be careful what you wish for...', I'd be happy to oblige once these festive days are past. I don't think that I'm overly reputed for my 'supportive ethos' (ask Lenny, for instance...), and I doubt it'll take me months to come to an opinion, so if you can bear the waiting... I'll be back. (And no namby-pamby hiding behind PM's or the like; shot straight from the hip, full blast and in full view. Regretting your participation already..? ...)

Playing a rather large club which is ticketed. 2 x 1 hour sets and we'll finish about 12.30am. We are getting paid £2k. This is for 5 band members and a soundmen. We are also booked for NYE 2020 in a different club and getting paid £2.3k.

You can have a custom Bulgargaz one 😉

How about British GAS. 😂

Nothing on NYE but we’ve a gig the night before in Hamburg, with friends of ours, Razors. Aside from my fear of flying am really looking forward to it.

Wishing health and happiness to you and yours peeps. .... and that Santa brings you whatever Bass related gear it was that you asked for!

I am really struggling to think of a good reason to have a second (or more) account on a forum. I really can't think of anything that doesn't suggest it is an underhand way to create trouble.

One resolution is that I’m going to spend more time practicing, and less time on basschat (like that’s really gonna happen🙄) 😁

Well... that is indeed something to behold!

My pleasure. 🙂