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WoT Snr is far, far handier on the tools than I am. He's just built me a stand, and it's marvellous. Have a look...

In the light of several recent threads, I felt I should, in the interest of science/justice, to clear up an argument older than an old thing “Tone is in the fingers” I played the same riff, for the same length, through the same amp, with the same setting, with each individual finger in turn. I then put the fingers down, and repeated the same exercise, this time using my own fingers. The results were (as I’d expected) quite predictable. All my fingers sounded the same to me. I now feel somewhat foolish, having collected 4 fingers and a thumb, twice over!!! Turns out I only needed one. So I’m keeping the middle one and selling the rest, to buy more Chilean merlot. Happy nude year!

MOD NOTICE: Right, you lot - to spare our sanity, I've just merged a load of 'same' threads into one king-sized pile of nonsense. If anyone has any objections, please feel free to write it on a bit of paper and put it straight in the bin. Cheers 🙂

That reminds me, I might have a chicken tarka for tea tonight. What's that I hear you cry, what's a chicken tarka? Well, it's like a chicken tikka, but.............. wait for it wait for iiiit............ it's a little 'otter. I thangyew

A jazz bass sounds like Cheltenham tastes like modern art feels like petrol fumes smells like introspection and looks uncannily like progress. Yeah... take that objectivity.

I used to be in a Hot Chocolate tribute band, and these were the only ones I could use to get that truly authentic tone.

My dad had the woodworking skills of an accountant. Sadly he was very keen to exersize those skills, and we had a lot of angled shelves, and wobbly cupboards! One day I came downstairs and he was fitting a sliding door in the kitchen. He was nailing the running board at the bottom in. I said "Dad, you are supposed to use screws for that", He said "Ah, ok, thanks". Next time I came down he was hammering screws in. I didn't say anything.

I use these to get a deeper, more harmonically rich tone.

Basschat for the win, no surprises there.

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When His Supreme Holiness St. Leo of Fender designed fingers, he got them right first time. Them he got them left, which were also right. First time.

As some of you know I have been having back problems, and to ensure I keep the back “working as required” one of the things I needed to do is shed weight ..... i.e. go for lighter instruments. After trading one of my Rays for an old Streamer (@3.7kg), I traded my Yamaha BBP35 (great bass btw, just too heavy for me to keep) plus a decent amount of dosh for an Elrick Gold 5 string. Wow is all I can say, well under 4 kg but really resonant and a neck that is really comfortable. Alfredo @siso0450 the seller has been such a pleasure to deal with as well, making the entire event a really positive experience. I truly hope he loves the Yammy as much as I do the Elrick. Anyway, a few way too dark pics (one includes the Wick too) ..... but I am off to play this bad boy!

This really was an impulse buy and came about after spotting a beautiful Spector Euro LX4 on Guitar Guitar and having the perennial "do I don't I?" argument. The 24 frets and tiny body of the Spector led me down the route of looking and my more favoured Fenders and I spotted a 2019 Original 60's P Bass in sunburst and after a few heartbeats the order was placed. It arrived yesterday and despite a bit of alarm caused by the factory "set up" it is now wearing a set of TI Flats and sounds and plays beautifully. If people have seen these yet, they really are of Custom Shop quality and fit and finish is exemplary. My old P Bass has been given a new set of Ernie Ball Nickel roundwounds and sounds amazing (the best P Bass I've ever played with rounds) and now, basically, I've got a P Bass with flats, one with rounds and a Tony Franklin Fretless. In all the years I've been playing and recording, most producers want either a P Bass with rounds or flats, so at least I'm ready to oblige without too much faff now! Attached are some pics together with a gratuitous family photo.

Am I too late to play the game? ABM500 with four10.

I'm trying to sound like Al Krow, but I always end up sounding like Carol Kaye, Bootsy and bloody John Paul Jones!!

New Bass just arrived, a little bit before I was expecting given the time of year. Unpacked, tuned and played with. All good Thumbs Up to DV247.

I dont know your guitarist but please forward this on with my regards

I recently found out that the NWOBHM I was in in the 1980s told their previous bass player before me, after the fact, that they thought they would have had a better chance of making it if he hadn't left. Now, bearing in mind my bass playing was very much controlled by the guitarist and singer (the songwriters) in the band and bearing in mind that the band had more national recognition when I was with them that when the other guy was, I have no idea where that rationalisation came from. I am glad I found out now rather than then because it would have destroyed my confidence as a 17 year old whereas, as a 56 year old, I couldn't give a rat's derrière what they thought. 😃 The truth is that they probably didn't make it because they weren't actually very good. A lot of issues around band membership have no musical roots but are linked to human relationships. People get on with some people more than others and being liked and fitting in is probably more important than being a great player. Be selective about the f***s you give. 😉

I use these. They're great for metal.

Well it’s official - not all bass forums and senses of humours are the same, after less than 24 hrs and 3-4 uninspiring responses the same thread started on TB has been closed. Proposterous BC defo wins that battle

Period.

I've been wanting to go short scale for a while but up until now, every time I've gone out to look at getting one, I've come home with another long scale. I've dabbled in the past, with a couple of cheap violin basses and a couple of Mustangs , one US, one Jap. Anyway, I did all my research and lusted after all sorts of obscure makes and models but all these basses were very long distances away and I do like to try an instrument before I buy, where possible. So I decided to try out one more Mustang. An American Perfomer series from Fender, in a lovely aubergine. This one had an added Jazz Bass pickup, by the bridge. The only other shorties in the shop, were an Italia Torino bass in blue, which looked nice but wasn't much fun too play and had rather dire pickups in my view and a Hofner Ignition Violin bass. The cheapest in Hofner's range, it was actually not that bad, although it was crying out for some flatwound strings. But the baby bass that I went to see was all I hoped for. Quite a looker, although I think Fender could reduce the size of the headstock a tad. Very playable, with a nice neck and good overall balance and feel. And those PJ pickups really, work together well, with a lot of super useable tones. It didn't sound like a compromise to my ears, it just sounded like a really cool Fender bass, that really benefits from the added Jazz pickup. And the finishing is really of a good standard. The metallic augergine paint job is super handsome. My only 2, minor gripes are the sad little gig bag you get with it. Fortunately the shop threw in a very nice MarkBass gigbag, which was a vast improvement. And for some reason, Fender put a protective plastic sheet over the bridge plate, held down by the bridge saddle mechanisms. That's just bloody annoying, as it's a hassle to remove and it buzzes against the strings until you do. Had a couple of good sessions at home with it now and I'm loving how easy and comfy it is to play and the strong tones it produces.

My fretting hand has gone weird

Done sir, but halfway through the edit I forgot the full title. Soz. But it’s all the same.

✌️ 🇧🇬 🖕

Excellent chaps. I gigged mine on Saturday night through a Barefaced Super Midget as stage space was tight. It was a well packed medium sized bar. It performed really well. Great sound and power to spare. Some thoughts... the fan is noisy but you only hear it at home and never at rehearsal or on a gig. The case isn't great but better than nothing. The tuner seems to be accurate and a useful feature. The build quality is high - not the highest in the market but perfectly functional. EDIT If you want to remove the silly sticker on the top, do it after using the amp for some gentle heat. Mine came off in one piece quite easily. I hope you enjoy yours. Frank.

You wouldn't think fret wire was so heavy, would you.

I'm sure you still are. Skizzer: Well, hello. Sit down here and make yourself comfortable.

My Favourite Prog Band #23 - Baroness Hale on Barclay James Harvest As the first female President of The Supreme Court people often come up to me and say "Baroness Hale, your wisdom, your modesty and your trademark insect brooches are an inspiration to us all. But which is your favourite prog band?" Goodness me! It's so difficult to make a choice from such a wide and flourishing genre. Does The Pink Floyd still count as a prog band? I asked the Attorney General about this. In his characteristically fruity tones he demurred from the proposition, arguing that the Floyd had proceeded in an unbroken direction straight from psychedelic pop through sui generis neo-atonalism to meat and potatoes Classic Rock. So, not The Pink Floyd, even though I must have played Dark Side Of The Moon at least five or six times since it came out. Genesis? Well, early on but not later, obviously. Yes? Certainly. Van Der Graaf Generator? Indubitably, though to my mind VDG's early commercial success in Italy contaminates the notion of absolute progressivism. In the end I reclined upon the judgement of that simple girl who rose from obscurity to become the venerated Focus (another one, ha ha!) of so many ordinary peoples' admiration, i.e. me when I was young. I would have to ask myself 'Who did I like when I was a tousle-haired, dope-smoking bit of alright?' and answer came there 'Barclay James Harvest' Ah, Barclay James Harvest: the wild, shirtless vocals of John Lees, the bong-rattling bass of Les Holroyd, the plangent mellotron of Woolly Woolllstenholme and the competent drum work of Mel Pritchard. It may shock my admirers to learn that at the tender age of 26 and prompted by a flatmate's purchase of BJH's second album Once Again I hitchhiked in June 1971 to see the band at the Clitheroe Festival where - despite the obviously insanitary nature of my fellow attendees - I was transported to a fairy land of blissful awareness by the delicate filigree of sounds emanating from the stage. It was during this concert that - as if by magic - a voice suddenly thundered in my ears "Give up the drugs, Brenda! Devote yourself more assiduously to your legal career and be the shield that the little people need!" So that's why Barclay James Harvest is my favourite prog band. I liked their music and still do. But they set me on the path to being who I am today and that's what's really important, isn't it?

That's sort of how I play anyway....

I hit each of my fingers in turn with a mallet - yes they all sounded the same. Sadly I can no longer play bass.

I thought they all sounded the same...😕

You need two fingers in life , an index for pointing at things accompanied by shouting loudly at foreigners in English and a middle one for indicating your displeasure at other drivers

The beast has arrived... It also doubles as a device to create earthquakes on the other side of the planet.

There haven't been different versions, technically, but there's been at least three different kinds with regards to the glue and/or tolex used to finish the cabs.

I have no desire to sound the same but here’s Jah Wobble with what’s probably my favourite wobbly line...

I was in a very similar situation in 2014. I'd been with the band about a year, the original bassplayer having had a nervous breakdown and quit playing altogether. Fast forward to march 2014, we're playing Behind the Wall in Falkirk and the singer says quite innocently 'would you mind if the old bassplayer gets up for a tune'? A month later I'm out of the band on the pretext of 'musical differences'. The old guy was only back with them about 6 months before he packed up again and they were advertising for his replacement. Think they've gone through 3 other bassists since then. I was lucky enough to audition for a bunch of guys who are both superb musicians AND more importantly have become great mates.

No. But I prefer a mattock. Mattocks don't sound the same.

My Jazz bass with a John East pre amp built in works better plugged into the passive input of my Rootmaster head. I was told to use whichever input matches the output level.

All of my power cables sound the same. ☹️

Right that's it! There's so many rediculous topics on here lately and this is the last in a long line. I've had enough of it now, it's just utter nonsense. If all sounds sound the same Mr. Hellzero, answer me this......... How come most of mine sound wrong?

It just used to be called rock when I was listening to it. Now it’s a few years old and it stands the test of time it has become ‘classic’ rock. Rock is just rock - enjoy it for what it is. It doesn’t have to be deemed ‘classic’ or anything else really.

That's why I have so much stuff.. so I can sound MORE! Some of the stuff is in very nice colours..

I've joined bands that started off as "classic rock" (that old chestnut debate again) playing Deep Purple, Rainbow, Sabbath etc but after a few months rehearsals the singer wants to do a Metallica song, then the guitarist suggests doing a Motorhead song and so it went on for couple of months to a point we had more metal songs than what i regarded as classic rock. I'm not a big fan of metal altho Sandman by Metallica was actually a great song to play but the overall feel of the band had turned into a metal band and the songs i had suggested before i joined were gradually getting phased out. I decided to leave at that point saying it wasn't really my kind of music anymore and not what i signed up for. (They had a decent set list made up before i joined and when i saw it i thought this could be good) Dave

I played my band to the young newbie girl at work, who clearly liked her rock. "Old school" she said. "nah," I replied, "we're just old!"