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Yey I can join in again! I had my first gig with my originals band Genius the Fool last night. I’ve only rehearsed with the full band once, so luckily this was a small gig for a charity event and more like a live rehearsal really. It went really well. Pleased with the bass sound through my rig, we didn’t bother with DI from my board or amp as it was plenty big enough and we have all sorts of sequencers and samplers going into the PA so I don’t even think there was room on the desk! Allegedly this band play pretty big venues normally so it was nice to have an easy one first and we raised about £400 for charidee.

Last night- depping with the Manchester Ska Foundation at a wedding in Buxton. Specials, Madness, Bad Manners, Two Tone type stuff with a couple of reggae numbers thrown in. Good fun to play, great musicians (really have to raise my game which is a good place to be), and a cracking crowd - thought the roof was going to come off when we launched into One Step Beyond. Highlights were the Trombone solo in Ghost Town and the drummer absolutely leathering This is Ska. We got the groom up to sing Kingston Town, he did pretty well considering. Played the P (of course) through the Thumpinator and the Sansamp VTDI (set to flip top) - sounded immense, especially with a touch of Bass Boost on the Reggae numbers. Played pretty well and the band like what I do. They're grateful for me stepping in and I'm grateful to be invited. Had a couple of "I can't believe I get to do this AND I'm getting paid for it" moments. Black Sheep was £3-70 a pint, there was food and it was a good payer. The sort of gig that makes it all worthwhile!

First time out with a new band. Fair to say we were under rehearsed having suffered line up changes in the run up to the gig, but we got away with it. The wheels fell off a couple of times but we muddled through, the punters loved it and we got paid.

Was last week, on the friday. We started practicing in a new venue, one that we had played a new years on about 6 years ago and had been through managers since then. They said it sounded like their sort of music so gave us a gig there. Set up easily enough, not very crowded. Were supposed to start at 8:30, which is early for us but the landlord said it was up to us, the place was generally dead until 11 when the floods came in from the other closed venues in the town so we could start later if we wanted a bigger crowd. we opted for later and a longer break. There was a woman at the bar who was amazed the drum kit was seethrough and had lights in it, and asked if it was supposed to be like that (not sure what she meant, did it accidently have lights in it?) so was pretty blown away when I got my acrylic bass out, which I have now changed the blue lights in the body for green, and looks better. There was a buzz in the PA which was driving the singer mad but I couldn't hear (which is odd, I passed my hearing tests a year or so back), but we had 5 minutes trying to stop that, and then it just went, so I suspect it was a dodgy PA lead, will have to buzz them out again. first half went well, small but appreciative audience, no major issues. Second half quite a few people had come in which coincides with our more party / fun half (first half a bit rock and blues, second half more ska /. disco and pop) and that went down well. Sure enough at 11, there was a flood of younger people in, and it really picked up again. Could have done a few more songs in the end but as usual our guitarist decided we had to stop there, so we did. Still, better to go leaving them wanting more.

Sometimes the out-takes say it better than the in-focus photos! A typical Saturday night at a Dorset glamping site for Otis Jay Blues Band. Worried the rugby would restrict attendance, but thankfully no such problems. Threw in three pub standards we hadn’t even played together in practice to keep the atmosphere going. Used ‘Sonic’, my MIJ Jazz, whose pickups don’t drive the Elf/Barefaced One10 combo as hard as the Flea. Will revert next time or bring the second speaker.

Just picked up this very bass. Slightly over what I’d normally go for weight wise but it’s bloody marvellous.

Jackson JS1X Minion bass. Well, not quite today, but it arrived at in the office whilst I was on holiday, got it home on Friday and checked it over but didn’t get a chance to really play with it today. Set up this morning and band rehearsal this afternoon. I've been looking at lightweight 'hope-I-never-need-it" alternate backup bass options. It's become a pain dragging a spare full size bass to gigs that sits in a gigbag all night. Besides, I've also been instrigued by short scale basses and wanted to try something inexpensive. Even though I hope I never need it at a gig, I still wanted something I would enjoy playing at home, where I sometimes find my other basses unweildly to play whilst seated. After looking at various options I settled on getting the Minion. I’m a sucker for maple and black markers so I've been waiting for one of these to become available for months. I had a couple of email notifications setup and one came through from Mann’s Music on the first day of my holiday. Only one available and good price (£169). Tracking down the case was a little trickier, but found one from Musik Produktiv at a good price inc customs and shipping. Got both sent to work and collected on Friday What can I say. It’s so cute, and so much fun! Nice and light, almost too light to feel right. Dead easy to play - I thought the scale might cause problems with muscle memory but it didn’t at all, well not until I got up to the dusty end. Me and my band mates could not believe the sound that comes out of this thing. Seriously, this thing punches well above its weight. I might look a little toy like, but its certainly a most playable and giggable instrument.

Depped for a covers band on Saturday. I had agreed to dep for New Year’s Eve and a few weeks back was given a set list of 42 songs, of which I knew 6, had played another 10 once and the rest were completely new to me. Given the 3 month lead time, I was taking it easy learning one or two a week, until they contacted me last week to say they had a gig lined up for the 21st and their regular bassist was going to be in the US sorting out a family crisis. Somehow we fitted in two rehearsals beforehand and I did the gig on Saturday with chord sheets on my iPad. Amazingly, it went pretty well with me remembering most of the intro and must do cbass lines and jamming the rest. The punters at the village hall we played in the Norfolk Broads, were very complimentary and there were loads of dancers. No action shots but one of setting up below. All in all a great experience and good preparation for New Year’s Eve, despite 2 pm bedtime.

Is the answer you're looking for that modern pop is largely unmemorable, repetitive sheeeeeiiiiite with no discernible sense of melody and it's hard to sell fast food or insurance over monotonous, monosyllabic self-pity/self-aggrandising?

Seems most folks either want Scott to dull it down, or expect him to make the greatest fusion record ever. I think what he’s doing is pretty great and I hope he gets more young people into fusion, that would be cool.

Just realised i can post a pic in here now 🙃 My new Btb805ms

My rant; Just another thought for perspective. I'm 70 and I brag a lot about the fact that I'm still gigging 65 shows annually. However, it's because I'm in a good, smart band. Are we the best local band, no, but we're one of the smartest. We do things that are right for us. For those who follow my posts, you know I'm an advocate for good people over good musicians. I'm also into " good decisions ". For example, we've been around since 2007. We've been through the 3 gig weekends and the 4 hour bar gigs that are still prevalent in the States. When I say we're smart, I mean we're smart enough to know we've outgrown late night bar gigs. We've also avoided band drama and turmoil. Many of those band dynamics, drama, band turmoil and bad bookings contribute to guys giving up. It's not because they don't like gigging or being in a band but more not liking their particular negative band circumstances including age, medical and physical issues. I'll stop when walking on stage is no longer physically possible or no fun anymore. I can't really imagine it not being fun. Blue

Last nights gig rig Ampeg V4B with SVT212AV Fender Vintera PBass

Down In The Skewer ～ The Stranglers

After a break from playing i've been loving my Sterling 4HH in Trans Gold lately - checked out the website and they've totally decimated that range, 2 colours and single humbucker only?! Also can't believe the price these basses are running, I ordered mine through Bassdirect about 10 years ago and think I paid £1550! Calling their budget range "Sterling" is a crazy shout too, but I imagine there's already been plenty ranting on that front 😂

I'm not a Stones fan, but I think it's fantastic that they're still going and bringing pleasure to the many people who like them. If you don't like something then don't listen to it.

Went to see Mononeon tonight in Warsaw as it was cheaper than going to see him at Ronnie's. Unreal gig.

I love it (but I do love fusion in general). It's very dense and layered with loads to catch your ear. I love the fact that the guy who is the biggest name in bass education is a total fusion-nut and not afraid to drop total bangers like this record. Of course, if you're into stale blues, sleepy trad-jazz or other 'safe' music it might be a bit wild for you and that's fine, it ain't for everyone.

We did our 2Young2Old gig at my favourite old dive downtown again. One of the founding guitar players has returned to Boston to finish his music degree , so we have a new youngin in the lineup , things went well. No real rehearsal , just a list of songs to listen to. We’ll be back at the end of next month. And try to get a real rehearsal in too. The kids are enthusiastic , jumping up on tables and stuff. The old guys don’t have to bother with that. It works.

Afternoon all! When Knower Forever came out on Bandcamp it absolutely blew my mind. I’ve loved them for years but this record went to the next level. One song in particular stood out for me - Do Hot Girls Like Chords. I obsessively tried to work it out by ear from the record - no easy task given the amount of stuff going on - two keyboards, bass and guitar doing all kinds of stuff sorta/kinda in unison. I knew they’d recorded it live so I thought it would be interesting to compare what I’d worked out by ear with what Sam Wilkes was actually doing when I could see the YouTube video. Needless to say, as soon as I saw it I had to go back to the drawing board. Wilkes is a brilliant player and although Mononeon gets a lot of the attention for his performances on the record, Sam’s stuff is absolutely incredible. Anyway, I did a YouTube cover mainly to give myself a target to aim for and a bit of accountability to help me keep working at it. Have a look and let me know what you think - I’m currently able to play the verse chromatic riff right about 80% of the time on a good day which I’m ok with, but any tips on how in god’s name to play Wilkes’ fill out of the solo section will be most gratefully received. Anyone else enjoy trying to learn stuff way out of their comfort zone, obsessing to the point where you neglect family, personal hygiene etc? ✊

Been meaning to update. Didn't get the originals band. I hadn't heard so I sent a message and got an apologetic reply the next day. Wonder if they would have sent anything unprompted? Anyway, I had a play with the covers band (last Wednesday) and they asked me to join during the audition! So that was nice 😊

The Shoes Of The Fisherman's Wife Are Some Jive A$$ Slippers Charles Mingus

I guess that is what she meant, but hard to get the whole story as it wasn't from her, it was from her friend who was kind of taking the p out of her. She was pretty impressed with the bass though!

I read it as a a clumsy way of asking if it was supplied like that, or was modified in some way after the fact.

As a child I was obsessed with bass but didn't know it, at the time but I used to turn my stereo speakers upside down and put my ear on it for that pumping sound which was the bass.. I then discovered if I play my records faster speed the bass line pops out..at 12 I got a violin bass I didn't learn untill I was 17. I gigged in bands from 18 till 40 odd. I now teach kids with special needs musical workshop. I haven't gigged for years but !!!! November 3rd this. Year Am gigging again at the age of 58 in a function with some guys I know who are in their late 60s. Ha ha I feel like the kid in the band.... Now days I do a lot of recording writing songs. .... Just hang in their buddy. It comes back when ya don't expect it

Our acoustic duo played this evening at what is now approaching a residency at The Lookout , situated on West Pier in Scarborough. The recent storms fortunately subsided so a mild evening with plenty of people around the sea front. Usual requests led set list from the capacity audience, with plenty of variety to keep us on our toes. We also had a bloke in from the PRS, who needed to know which songs we were playing, and seemed amazed that we didn’t know until we got started! Highlights included ’This Masquerade’, ‘Fire and rain’, ‘Watermelon Sugar’ and ‘Wichita Lineman’ amongst many others. I absolutely love playing this venue, the audience are all there to listen as well as help with the song selection, and are very appreciative of our efforts. We’ve just been given another half a dozen or so gigs there for early 2024, along with a couple of Xmas parties too so pleased we’re part of their ongoing business. The pier is being developed soon to be focal point of the harbour area, with shops and bars/eateries planned. The Lookout is going to be extended which will mean more tables / covers , so should hopefully ensure that our gigs there will continue.

I like Scott. I think he's made an outstanding contribution to online bass education and I think he's a genuine guy. As a fusion semi-fan I will give his album a listen but whatever I think of it I will not be posting anything negative here because we are not down the pub, we are on a public forum. He is also a fellow Basschatter 😉

Ernie Ball flats possibly.

Lots of audioligists will do the impressions. I used Boots hearing care cos those are the local ones to me. See my post earlier for top tips as to details of what to do.

All finished except strap locks. Plays really well after a quick setup. The sound is very different from my usual Spector tone as you can imagine, but I really like it, especially with a pick.

Agreed - just listened to it and sounds fine to me. Nothing to convert Stones haters, but a good return to form. The McCartney fuzz Hofner bass on 'Bite my head off' is great too!

I Wool Survive - Gloria Gaynor

I adore fusion - there, I said it - and I like what I've heard of this so far, enough that I'll probably stump up the cash for the whole thing. I agree with @Bevan7, fusion seems to be an easy target for scorn - indeed I recall one former member of this parish making more than one 'joke' about what he believed were the illegal sexual preferences of fusion fans. Laugh? I nearly did. Anyway. Whilst I'm quite happy with the guitar as the lead instrument, I agree that it would be interesting to hear another on there. Much of Mike Stern's work involves a sax taking a co-lead role and it works very well.

We had a paid rehearsal last night. This was at the Bricklayers Arms, High Wycombe. Everyone was in the pub for the rugby, so we decided to start our first set as soon as the match finished. It was all going well until about three minutes from the end when South Africa overtook England. The atmosphere in the pub vanished and at the final whistle most people packed up and went home. We ended up playing to 5 people, or 7 if you count the bar staff. If England had won it would have been a different story. I've never been to this pub before, our singer, who is local-ish, said he thinks they are trying to set themselves up as a music venue. I got the impression this was a bit of a country pub and everyone there could walk home, so not much footfall.

Sweet, stop making me GAS for the 6! But your pic made me think of this...

Done 2 little demos over the Echo And The Bunnymen meets Pink Floyd outfit. enjoyed that… https://drive.google.com/file/d/1o-axbSv64PgxJuQvGh5roxdI4wA_3BvL/view?usp=drivesdk https://drive.google.com/file/d/1pmezlX187jyGrJWH_lRRJXWbsbvb4gKM/view?usp=drivesdk First one fretless, lots of nods to Guy Pratt - got strong later floyd vibes. And the second was the BB614 with a pick.

It is, unashamedly, a fusion album. Through-composed, very challenging to play, challenging to listen to, and lacking in hummable tunes or much repetition of themes. Scott's making of documentary is clear on his references and influences- Tribal Tech and Weather Report get named, as do others I haven't heard of. https://youtu.be/xFhGLnvilEE I've listened through it twice now, while doing other things,and I am beginning to pick out what's going on and start to enjoy it. I don't quite get it, but then I still don't quite get B!tches Brew, Heavy Weather , or several other albums in the same genre. There's enough in all of them that I keep coming back though.

I like it.

A privilege for my crew to be invited to play at the inaugural LGBTQ+ Defence Awards at the De Vere in Holborn on Tuesday night. Loved it! LA Mixtrax (@lamixtrax) • Instagram photos and videos

It’s not next but yesterday I bagged tickets to Smashing Pumpkins plus Weezer.

If I can find just one person in the audience (and most of the time there's usually one, no matter how small the crowd) who's listening with some interest, I play for them. If no-one at all is listening, I play for myself: I concentrate and play the very best I can, which is an achievement in itself: getting through a couple of hours of live playing without dropping a single note or a single beat or a single nuance and staying right in the pocket with the drummer is an achievement, and that's a good thing. I work on things like playing without looking, too. Then somebody pays me for having done that. It's all good, sometimes you just have to look a little harder...

Bridge and pickguard screws arrived... and I've lost the pickup screws! Pickguard modified to accept the Tbird pup, just gotta wait for new pickup screws now.