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I have just got hold of a 2014 Fender Rascal. They were not made for long and are short scale; a bit like a 4 string BassVl. I wanted it because although short scale, which I like, they are not small - the bridge is not at the end of the bass. I am very tall so some SS basses look daft on me. I also wanted a bass that worked for palm muting and playing with a pick and this is ideal as you adopt a more guitar like playing position. Although I also play “finger style” I use other things for that and this should work brilliantly in my 60s band, especially since I have now changed strings to LaBella black nylons.

I'd never heard of the Jad Freer Capo, so I had a look, it's now all I want in life 🤣

Excellent, I hope these photos help you both. 😂

I made one for my old shell pink jazz that I put together as a project, I think they work quite well, I play with a fairly light touch so it wasn’t a huge difference but if for some reason you wanted to reduce digging in it would work

Well, a first for me - playing with my acoustic duo at a baby shower! Must admit I had to ask someone exactly what one was. Turns out it’s just a get together of the mum-to-be and her friends and family. Gig was at a local Italian restaurant earlier today, and they asked for some quiet-ish background stuff during and after the buffet. The father-to-be was a lovely bloke (who we later found out is a well known footballer) and had invited some of his mates along too. We played a mix of recent tunes as well as some older stuff which I was surprised they knew / requested. We were well looked after, and nice comments from many of the guests. Gave out a few business cards as well so hopefully may lead to some more stuff. Home by 6pm so a nice change for me.

Made by HW.

To my surprise I can sing Merry Xmas Everybody and play it!

Unless someone travels back in time to get them to make one in 1963, I'd say it's very unlikely.

I just can't get this being picky about what people will and won't play.. If you're in a covers band, and getting paid for it, you're an entertainer and your job there is just that.. if a band member doesn't enjoy or at least accept that then they maybe they should find something else to do!

Just a cheeky plug for my bands new video. We have changed are name to Erronaut. Hope some of you like it.. and yes that is a bass wah in the middle of the song

If you want to play along, and like harmony and counterpoint, then I'd start with baroque music, as it tends to have strong rhythm, making it easier to keep time with, and the harmonies are generally not too obscure. Can't do better than JS Bach.

Still ramping here

Me too. As have my hips, belly and jowls. Any connection, do you think? Is that where we store new music? Possiibly the wrong thread....

Depends how popular you want to be. Play whatever the punters want and do it well with enthusiasm if you want a full diary. Play only the songs that the band members want to play if you're less concerned about it. By all means try new stuff, its really important to keep the set list fresh and relevant, but be objective about what is working and what isn't. Don't flog a dead horse because someone in the band loves it and don't dismiss anything that an individual hates until youve tried it. Be aware that singers may struggle with the odd song and, if changing the key doesn't help, there will definitely be some limitations there and you'll have to respect that. If I'm in a covers band, which I am, I'm more concerned about what goes down well than what I love playing. I've heard loads of bands say "we want to do some slightly more obscure songs" but they rarely work that well imo. If you have band members rejecting suggestions just on personal preference then you're on a hiding to nothing. If they're rejecting songs because they're not well known bangers then they might have a point.

I, personally, don't see that as a mistake, but a definite rhythmic choice. 🤷‍♂️

I used to play with my brother in law years ago - he is the front man and plays guitar. His usual bass player couldn't make a gig and he asked me to dep for him. After the gig he said how impressed he was that I played all the songs in his set flawlessly. I told him that it wasn't such a big deal, as he hadn't changed his set for 35 years (we played that exact same set together, for 10 years, until I left 25 years ago). Some people are just resistant to change.

Hello all, I’ve been itching for a gold paisley something for ages, and recently I’ve been wanting a 51/68 style Tele Bass. So I thought I’d stick those two ideas together! 💡 I’ve done 3 parts builds that I’ve sprayed myself, and 10 scratch builds. As well as copious amounts of spray work for neck breaks etc. So going all out doing some stuff I’ve not done before on this. Never down paisley, and never done any bursts, so should be interesting. This will be a fairly long on going project but thought I’d start a thread as I’ve been buying some bits. I got this body in Black Friday deal so this is the start. The neck and some other bits are on their way from Allparts. So if your a tele/precision bass, or a paisley fan then watch this space. 👍

Hi all, I'm pretty new here, and new basses do not come around too often for me, so I'm excited to share this - a new Made in Japan Hard Puncher TPB97. But first - what a lovely, respectful community you have here; I've thoroughly enjoyed stumbling upon this website, and the couple of dealings I've had with people on the marketplace have been first class. I love Ps, and have only gigged on two basses prior to this - a second-hand Godin PJ that lasted me 15 years before age-induced niggles made it worth upgrading, and an American Fender pro ii precision, which I owned for a year, but never really gelled with (and a number of little quality control issues were enough to put me off - although that's a story for another day). Since summer, I've been getting around the country, visiting shops, and generally playing as many Ps as I could get my hands on. It's been great fun, making a day of it with friends on a number of occasions. This Tokai was one of the first I played, and for me, none of the subsequent Ps I played felt or sounded as right to me. It also has a feel of sturdiness and quality to it, that many of the basses I played did not. The fit and finish are genuinely first class, and it has a hand-wound pickup apparently, which has a really resonant, piano-like vibe. It cost just north of a grand, so not exactly cheap, but it is lovely. Apparently, Tokai do a factory setup, and then export models get a second set-up at the closest distribution centre to the shop, so it has a nice action out of the case. It was very hard to find anything at all about newer Tokai basses online, or on English speaking forums, so hopefully this will be useful to someone who is curious about their quality. I also played some of the cheaper new Made in China Tokais, which were not nearly as nice. I've had it for a week, and I'm not gigging until NYE now, but can't wait! All in all, just a very well made P Bass, but for those who like some specs: U-shaped neck, but it measures 22mm at the first fret, so not too chunky. It suits me just right. 42mm nut. Rosewood fretboard. It comes with Gotoh hardware, GHS boomers on it, and has a compound radius (7.25 - 10). The only downside so far is that the tweed case it comes with looks lovely, but there is a bit of play in the sides, and I wonder how sturdy it will be long term.

Glorious, just glorious. Why did I wait so long? It brings a joy to our kitchen that has been absent since my family decided that Heart FM was their preferred station about 5-years ago (I know, but some battles are not worth fighting). And the songs I'm hearing that I'd forgotten, I even heard one of my old bands from 1984 the other day (a reliable sign of quality curation if ever there was one). And the basslines? Seems the editorial policy is defined by the two questions 'Is the artist credible?' and 'Is the bassline creative?' Love it. Renewed my faith in the BBC 👍

Now this is the kind of feedback I like 😁

Bach cello suites….

Had a random gig between Christmas and new year that was packed and would’ve been fun had I not been so rotten ill, I even sat down for a few songs. This Saturday I was feeling much better and was back to business as usual. Standard pub rock covers, great fun was had, great crowd up dancing from song one, the sound in my IEMs was fab. All good as far as I’m concerned IMG_0635.MOV

Yes alive and well!!! Although I must confess I’ve lowered the ramp a lot more recently.

Assuming basic performance competence, the USP of a paid covers band is the set list. A band that keeps up with the latest hits as well as keeping the classics will get more work, and keep a wider audience age range. The classics to me are not the same songs as the classics to a 20 year old. Being able to chuck in a few No1 singles from at least the last 6 months is always a crowd pleaser.

Very nice Andy 😎👍. Funnily enough a black/red theme is what I had in mind for the Dano that got me out of this thread. Kind of like this.

To be fair, I managed to persuade the wife that we didn’t need the £50 a pot Valspar special mix paints for the bedroom… Johnstones had similar colours for £14 a pot 👍🏼😉

First gig of the year last night at The Fighting pink torpedos in Kingston. Used my Orange LBT head and venues GK cab. Lots of compliment over my tone, which was much appreciated. I've been thinking about swapping out my sansamp VT Bass DI for an Orange Bass Butler, but all the compliments are now making think maybe I should just save my money and stick with what I have...

Some people (not you @JJTee) have way too much time on their hands.

They were a solution to a problem that doesn't exist, like those sweat bands people loop around their basses nut for whatever reason.

Simple, tidy, light and ample for what I need. I build a main sound patch for each song using the ms60b then have the option of three "live" stomp pedals with the B3. Topped off with a HB wireless pedal on a Warwick Rockboard. The whole lot probably cost less than £250

With Zappa as your reference frame, I'd say: keep to the biggies first, and take it from there. Bach has been mentioned already, and forgetting the play-along bit, some names I'd add could be, starting with older music so as to hear music developing: Palestrina and Monteverdi for yer renaissance and early baroque. Palestrina: Missa Papae Marcelli Monteverdi: Orfeo, Scherzi musicali (with that glorious song "Non cosi tosto" a.o.) Bach: what has been mentioned already plus say the Mass in B minor, the St Matthew Passion, Christmas Oratorio and the Brandenburg Concertos. Also give "Bist du bei mir" a listen. It was traditionally, wrongly, attributed to Bach (but he simply couldn't have written it) and is absolutely gorgeous despite its awkwardness. If you play Haydn (say Die Schöpfung (The Creation), piano sonatas and a symphony like no 104) and Händel (operas like 'Julius Caesar' and 'Oreste' and oratoria like The Messiah for example), then do absolutely not forget Henry Purcell - a great composer. My brain refuses to remember pieces right now, but he's up there with the very best. Mozart: late works like his Requiem (which turns away from the perceived lightness of many an early work, and reflects Mozart's understanding of and love for Bach). I'd do the "light" stuff later. That's all for now. Brain is closing down, so best hit the Submit button. Enjoy! Edit: rectified a few wrong entries.

Well an update to this, I’ve now got my gear sorted - tho not yet delivered - for this. Fender Telecaster Deluxe Squier Telecaster Deluxe BluGuitar Amp1 (3lbs) 2 x Marshall 1912 (1x12 @ 13kg) TC Spark Booster (for solos) The BluGuitar Amp1 really sounds like a Marshall so I’ve a nice portable modular set up to use that will give the sound I want. Still gotta learn to play tho….

Good choice! And, for fun, listen to and watch this bass line. At 2'37", listen to the ascending chromatic scale - so clever, so musical. Slow it down to half speed and you may be able to play it on a five string, once you realise that most every note has a second note an octave away from it.

Nice to see some other examples around. Pic is my Ortega Guitars LZZY bass. Been a bit too long since one last went out - main gig changed from folk to rock and pop, so not as much call at the mo…

Catchafire - Bob Marley &

How you learn can vary from band to band. In ours we agree a tune, singer let's us know the key, we learn it and then either in rehearsal or sound check we make sure all the wrinkles are ironed out and we gig it. Everyone is up to speed before we enter a rehearsal studio / venue and it's very rare that it takes more than a couple of runs through to make it work. We do over 100 gigs a year and charge £100 per song for requests (usually a first dance) so regularly have to add songs quickly and don't really want to go through tha hassle of hiring rehearsal space when we don't need to.

Babylon's Burning - The Ruts

Grapefruit moon. T’waits

It’s so beautiful. I think I might just order it and worry about the money later 😂

I bought two hb guitars two years ago which are still great and have served their purpose really well. guitar 1 - a Hendrix esque strat , left handed for my eldest son to learn on. About £125 he’s doing really well to be fair and now two years in yearns for an American fender. guitar 2- a rose wood telecaster (a la George Harrison) for me. Just for at home playing. Im a bass player (ovs) but have the occaision noodle on the racing snake and so not worth spending big money but nice to have around…. mine did need a bit of attention to get it set up right though but as I’d only paid £150 I had no hesitation in getting the sandpaper out leveling the frets and re crowning myself. plays great now…. so not the gear your asking about no, but in terms of “can this be any good because it’s so cheap”…… yeah , I’ve no idea how they can make and ship these guitars for these prices, other than they must be made by 7 year old luthiers…….

In principle, he's not wrong. Once you have a 'full' set of songs then inevitably any incoming song will result in an outgoing song. That said, if you need three sets of material then the best place to be is to have FIVE sets of material fully-rehearsed and gig-ready, so that you can shuffle the deck and keep things interesting. On the 'playing all the parts' thing, it's easy (as a keyboard player) to think that you need to supply the horns AND the strings AND the piano AND the Hammond, and no, you can't do it all, all at the same time. But you don't need to. The audience will be hearing the song in their head anyway. Just so long as you don't leave out any vital hook, lick or riff to snap them back into the real world, you'll be fine. I have plenty of songs where the intro is on organ, the verse is on piano, the bridge is on strings, but all the audience remember later is the horn stabs in the chorus. 🙄

half a person / smiths

Yeah. You will never unlock the secrets of the fretboard (try this one weird trick) without them.

Finished!