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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...

I used to love Andy Stewart on NYE when I was a kid!!! And shortbread and Mum and Dad drinking whiskey. And then my Mum would always go first footing to the next door neighbours, with salt, mince pies and a piece of coal. NYE doesn't seem so special any more. But that said, Happy New Year everyone and enjoy whatever you're doing (even if just staying in and watching Jools, like me) x

Sorry.... *snicker*

I've been playing keys now in Petrichor (leeds based Doom band) for the best part of a year and things have been fantastic. Joining a band that's been going for in the region of 3 years with plenty of shows under their belt (so right in the deep end). We started the year playing some shows spread across the country including some pretty big "pre-festival" type slots, charity events and all dayers. Later in the year we're supporting some world touring acts (Christian Death, A Pale Horse Named Death... apparently we do well with bands with death in their name) However, the BIG win was landing a slot at "Under The Doom" festival in Portugal. My first outing in Europe. Flights out weren't too pricey and accomadation was dirt cheap so it was all very feasible (thanks Air BnB!) At the festival we were supporting bands I've grown up listening too as well as some more recent additions to the playlist (Alcest Particularly!) This was the final lineup Unfortunately I couldn't get my keyboard out there (cost of putting it on the flight was ridiculous due to size and weight). So I hired a keytar (YES a keytar) and learned how to play it the day before the show Nothing like making things easy for myself! The show went great though! Lots of great pics out there and some awesome videos which I'll link below Self indulgent rant over https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8cyTEvP1ow

Thanks for all the replies and support peoples, it’s really appreciated. To update I did my last gig as a substantive member of the band last night, not too many details as it’s in the gig last night topic for anyone interested, but was a gig I’d really wanted to do, in Hamburg with friends of ours. I’m sad it’s over but I’ve had 6 wonderful years in the band, I’m looking back at the whole period with a smile 😃

I like Jools' Hootenanny so much I'd happily pay double the license fee just to keep it on air. That said, it shouldn't all be about what I want and I think poor Mr Holland deserves a rest from all that running around so next time they should bring back the much-loved all round entertainer Mr Andy Stewart to compere a Scottish-themed Hogmanay show with musical contributions from Mr Jimmy Shand (and his band). Sneering pedants might point out that Mr Andy Stewart went to God in 1993 but I see this as no insuperable obstacle. The BBC could just get some old footage of Andy and tap it into a computer and superimpose his face on a hologram or a picture of someone of approximately the same height and weight. An initiative of this nature means that Jools gets a year off and young people can discover the pleasure to be had from a toe-tapping Scotch reel, possibly The Dashing White Sergeant. That way, everyone's happy.

Ohh, you said clock. I really should increase my font size!

Here are some of mine, I really don't like lined fretless basses because you tend to play with your eyes and not your ears. De Gier Origin Deluxe Fretless 6 Ernie Ball MusicMan StingRay 5 Fretless Fender Precision Bass Fretless 1970 Fender Precision Bass Fretlessised 1978 Laurus Quasar SL 190 Leduc MP 628 SF AA Leduc MP 631 SF Leduc MP 628 SF MTD 635-24 Fretless Nexus Gom Jabbar Magellan Fretless 6 Noguera Fairplay Fretless 6 Noguera YC Signature 8 Fretless Paul Lairat Gabriella 5 Fretless Stradi Symphony Bass #6 Most of them have gone...

We were off out tonight but I think I'll stay home and follow this thread instead!

Constructive? Judging by the opening post the thread has fallen at the first hurdle!!

Couldnt wait till tomorrow! Play great new set og chrome flats. Lovely.

Hmmm, what is this that has just arrived in the post?

Whatever you do, don't ask to borrow a Pixar movie from Rick. He's never gonna give you up.

You may find this interesting , he’s now moved but Andy Baxter’s shop was not far from me , fast forward to 4.30 🙂

I was reflecting how I used to spend hours rehearsing on the day of a gig. How times change. Nowadays I have come to realise that once I've decided which amp/cab/bass combination I'm going with, the only important thing to do is assemble, take, apart, and reassemble pedal boards. All day.

“Never gonna give up yer troosers”

It's just occurred to me that there's a way for us to enjoy the hootenanny (see get sloshed). Hootenanny bingo! Make a bingo card of the acts and/or anything else you expect to see and cross it off when it occurs, whilst taking a drink for every cross. Now that's entertainment! 🥴 Happy New Year, everyone. 🍾🎉

Step 1. Check that my rig is still working and nothing is missing. Step 2. Check that my main bass and back up bass are in fully working order. Change strings if necessary. Step 3. Load gear into car/van. Step 4. Check where the gig is. Step 5. Unload gear again as gig is on another day.

Did someone say orange...

Here you go 😄

🤞A man dressed as a clock, please let there be a man dressed as a clock 🤞

Yep, I play unlined fretless almost all the time. In fact I've played unlined for so long now I am completely disorientated on a lined! Here's my squeeze: a beautiful Franz Sirius from Germany.

Righto, I've set Jools to record (in case I need to look back for forensic pedantry purpose later on). Nothing on there is going to top this though, from a few years back: May all your new years be the greatest, fellow bassers!

Yeah normally behind static keys. I used my smoothound wireless I use for bass and it did great! 😁 Was nice to be able to move around again and get in on the action Yeah would have loved a black keytar but beggers can't be choosers and hiring my usual keyboard would have cost me nearly £300 a night so not really a viable option. This was my favourite shot of the night

off next door to see the New Year in Happy and Prosperous New year to all

Played my last gig as a substantive member of my band last night, at Knust in Hamburg. We’d been invited to do the gig by friends of ours, Razors who are a great bunch. Set off at 5:30am, got to our hotel at 3pm for a brief rest before getting to venue for 5pm. Quick soundcheck - awesome sound for all 3 bands both on stage and out front, then off for a quick meal before the fun started. First band on at 8:30, Sixteen Again, a Buzzcocks tribute - they really got the crowd going, then we were on at 9:30. And it was amazing, crowd singing along with the songs, the reception after each song was jaw-dropping. Then Razors on for the end of the night, and as always delivered, they’re so good - and should be seeing they’ve been together since 1978! Back to hotel for 2am, set off at 11am to airport, just got home at 5pm, rather tired. I’m so glad I managed to get to do this gig, we were asked over a year ago to do it and when I said I was having to leave it was the one gig we had that I still really wanted to do, fitting then that it was my last, I went out on a high!

1. Smoke ½ oz dub cabbage. 2. Summon ancestors. 3. Turn up at gig with golf clubs instead of bass. 4. Tee off.

Agreed! Consumables, repairs, servicing ≠ new gear. New gear = new gear! Simples Blimey after this year's gear fest, it's gonna feel very virtuous not buying any new gear! Although if I said I was up just one bass, down a cab, and down 3 pedals for 2019 you might consider me to have been very restrained? But if I explained that was the net result of 9 basses , 6 amps and cabs and 43 pedals or pedal-gear being bought, sold or traded you'd get a better feel why @bassfan's 2020 challenge is going to be (a) very cathartic (a good word) and (b) almost impossible 😁

Now that's just against the spirit of this place...where would the whole industry be if we played cheap basses that were just fine? 😕😁

Luckily, I don't have any back issues, but the heaviest bass I have is just under 9lbs, and now I wouldn't consider anything heavier. My 7.5lb Dingwall is fantastic for a long gig: the difference, even between 7.5 and 9lbs, is huge.

Unless the postie magics up in the next hour or so, I won't know if it's the best or worst but it's definitely the last of the year, an old Aria Pro II IGB-600. I started playing in the late 80's and I have a real soft spot for basses from that era. I'm really looking forward to checking it out.

It looks like it's sunk into the floor.

Hi Basschatters, Realised that I joined nearly a whole decade ago and thought I should probably introduce myself!! What a decade its been!! My names Ben and I love playing bass! At the start of the decade I was playing an Epiphone Thunderbird IV through a Laney RB9 head into an old HH 15" cab. Played some cool gigs with that setup in my old band including the first time I played at Guilfest. Around 2012-13 I went to andertons and tested out the Ampeg PF350 and the Orange Terror Bass. They both sounded awesome but the Orange was something else! At the time I couldn't really justify the extra money so I walked out with the ampeg (up until that point I had always wanted an Ampeg) but kind of regretted it from day one. The Orange was a monster! Blind brand loyalty can be a nightmare! I became a Dad in 2014 and the band split up not long after. All of a sudden I couldn't just do what I wanted when I wanted. Didn't really know how to deal with that! Then my best mate died. Sold my Thunderbird, sold my Ampeg, totally gave up on music and basically got myself in a bit of a pickle(did keep the old HH cab tho!) After a year or so of being a bit of a plonker I spotted a Goth Thunderbird for sale, I bought it and started playing around a bit. That bass came at just the right time and really helped to sort me out. I stopped being a Richard and embraced being a Dad! End of 2017 comes round and Id been thinking of trying to start a band when I got a call from a guy I used to play guitar with. I hadn't spoken to him for about 12 years! He asked if I wanted to play bass for his band Señor Fire and I jumped at the chance! Remembering my trip to andertons a few years previous I found an Orange Terror Bass for sale in Bristol and when I got there he also had 2 Bill Fitzmaurice Jack 10 Lites. I grabbed the lot!!! Thanks very much!! Played my first gig with Señor Fire in 2018, had another kid and haven't looked back since. I came across an Orange SP410 cab at the beginning of the year for a bargain although I still can't decide if I prefer the sound of it over the Jacks. Does look cool tho!! I modified it by moving the skids to the side to make it a vertical cab and obviously had to rotate the logo! Shortly after that I bought the Epiphone Thunderbird Vintage Pro with some money my dear Nan left me. We came second in a battle of the bands comp and recently won an award in Alton for best Alt/Grunge act of the year! I can't wait to see what the next decade brings............ Happy New Year fellow bass players Ben P.S If you click on the photo below you can have a listen to my band Señor Fire!

To stay off social media. It doesn't make sense or mean anything and everyone's gone mad.

I tried so hard to be last here and still I got here first I cannot beat this band for tardiness, so my gig prep involves lying in a hotel room typing this.

Well that didn't take long. Thanks to xzodar who actually delivered this to my gig this evening.

The likeness is uncanny; supernatural even (shivers).

I'm depping tonight with my old band, so an easy and pleasant way to spend NYE. We're somewhere in Swindon we've payed before, but I can't remember it - we played a lot of gigs there back in the day. I'm told there's a dress code - no T shirts, no jeans, no trainers. It's going to be a cold night!

No, but apparently his hat is making a special appearance.

No, Richard Madeley was busy as lead singer of The Fall

An actual Frankenbass - classic. I did an understated one from scratch.

Aha! One of my projects is a Frankenstein bass with a Status neck...

I've only ever had unlined and quite honestly have never understood the lined/unlined thing. If you have side dots then I really can't see having lines or not makes things any different. On a fretted bass surely people aren't leaning over the front to see where they are by using the fretboard dots or blocks over using the side dots, same with fretless. I much prefer the look of unlined as well and would always buy unlined over lined if a choice was available.

Thanks for the replies. The consensus seems to be that I should go. Read a statistic saying the average earnings 5 years after graduating are £25000 so it looks like I’ll never earn enough to start repay the student loan so there’s no point worrying about it!

It puts the “no” in ergonomics.