Leaderboard

We played at The Palm Court Hotel in Scarborough last night - Milestone duo. It’s a lovely hotel with great staff, and load in is very easy. We set up in the lounge whilst the customers were having their dinner in the restaurant, which made things easy. Used two JBL powered PA speakers which run on batteries! Sounded good too, although I took my Rumble 100 combo so I could monitor my Ibanez acoustic/ electric without overpowering the system and it worked fine. Did our requests thing, and had plenty of the usual tunes asked for, along with some rock stuff - did ‘Stairway…’ ‘Layla’ and ‘Dakota’!! Despite being a more mature audience, they wanted a wide range of songs, including the inevitable ‘Driving home for Christmas’. All in all an easy and relaxed evening. Played 3x40 min sets, and done by 10.30pm. We took our ladies with us, and they got free bubbly, whilst I availed myself of the excellent ‘Neck Oil’ IPA on draught as my buddy was driving. Some nice comments from the punters ( including cricket umpire Dickie Bird ), so hopefully will get the gig next year. Home by midnight which was fine by me as still fighting the tail end of manflu. We’re back there for NYE which is my next gig, so a week to rest up Seasons greetings to everyone on here, and all the best for 2025. Pete. ( Clip on tuner / music stand haters look away now….😆 )

Korg MicroKorg 2 I know, I know, but it does really good bass sounds too ...

Apparently I was irreplaceable when I handed in my notice back in July - the other guys decided to fold the band rather than find a replacement. Devasting good looks and unbridled talent would be hard to replace I thought. Or maybe it was because I got all the gigs, did all the social media, sorted all the lighting out and stopped the drummer killing the singer and guitarist... 🙂

New look on my 424. I recently bought a pickguard and a controle plate for my other 424 and made an "X" version out of it. This one was black too like it's brother. A new string tree is the only thing I wanted to improve.

I wouldn't worry, that carpet takes the win for sins committed 😎

Musically? Yeah. Most of our audience could knock me into a cocked hat.. But my footwear collection, charming audience banter skills and of course my effervescent good natured bonhomie are untouchable. 😁

Name and shame. I doubt it would affect us as we're unlikely to travel that far north, but others might benefit.

Well, Merry Christmas, you bunch of sentimental, low frequency noise generating, filthy animals!

Craftsmaship notwithstanding, those are some shockingly ugly basses.

My brother gave me a very nice leather strap and one if those 'neck support' blocks for luthiers. Not much later he asked me to tweak the nut on one of his guitars... coincidence?

My band has been going three years, in which time we have done 50 gigs and used 16 people. As a blues band we seemed to cope well. Until November just gone, I was the only person never to have been depped. I lined up a replacement but despite six months notice he cried off with a family commitment. The others lined up someone equally good who then got hospitalised. The third choice was apparently awful. I returned, and after one gig the singer and the drummer both quit. Not sure what this proves… answers on a postcard!

Two one-legged musicians in the same band! What a coincidence!

Luckily, if I can't make a gig, the deps who cover for me usually have pretty horrendous depping skills, or have serious personality flaws 🤣🤣🤣 When I play the next gig the band members are really grateful that I'm back. Thankfully, I don't book the deps I leave that to the band leader, because I'd make the mistake of choosing a good solid bassist, with a pleasant personality.

It may... Might also be worth unscrewing the bridge and making sure that that end of the tape is making good contact with it.

I could be replaced by any reasonable standard bassist, although some years after being kicked out of a band because the lead guitarist and drummer (brothers) wanted to bring their mate in, they tried to re-recruit me. There were a couple of bassists who had passed through the band, and the guitarist's wife told Mrs Zero that it hadn't been the same since getting rid of me. However, as the true nature of the others as a bunch of racist Islamophobes had become evident, I politely declined. As for the current band - I play, do the website, do some of the Facebook stuff, and contribute to the general melange of organisation. Oh yes, and provide the PA and lighting (such as it is). We've become quite a cohesive unit and I think losing any of us would be regrettable. No virtuosos but no weak links either.

Agreed, our lead singer is also the band leader. We're so lucky. She has a genuine gift of gab and the audience loves her. Ever watch a band comprised of 4 " old guys" with absolutely no personality or ability to speak or work up a crowd? Daryl

There are not many bass players that do what I do either. However, I could be replaced by someone else that does what they do all the same. Here's another thing. We played 65 gigs this year. I didn't miss one of them. A lot of weekend warriors don't want to commit to 65 gigs. Here's another thought if Freddy Mercury can be replaced I can be replaced. Realistically Freddy Mercury was never replaced. Adam can do the job but there's only one Freddy Mercury. Daryl

Very easily just like anyone else. Don't ever fall for the trick of thinking youre irreplaceable. It doesn't necessarily mean the replacement will be as good or that the band will be better (or maybe they will), but replaceable we all are. Quite easily too.

And it can work in a positive way as well. 5 years ago our old 2nd guitarist moved out of state.. He was replaced with a much younger super talented lead guitarist with a great singing voice. He changed us from an everyday average blues/rock band to one of the areas top blues/rock bands. Daryl

I spent my entire playing life looking over my shoulder and there isnt much I cant play. There's always someone new around the corner who's just fresher than you, got little to do with your chops.

In my main band I’d be quite hard to replace. I’m one third of the band - I play bass, sing harmonies and a couple of lead vocals, am involved in songwriting with the band leader and also own the PA and lights. As a three piece with plenty of room in the music we each sound quite distinctive and removing any one changes things a lot. In my other bands, yeah I can be replaced quite readily and occasionally I am when gigs are depped out. I like to think they miss my input if I’m away, but I’m sure they survive perfectly well.

I once got sacked for being too 'widdly' and was replaced by the rhythm guitarist playing root notes. So no-one should think their level of technical ability makes them irreplaceable. But if you can get on with people, pull your weight and have the ability to pull a song back together if things go pear-shaped you will probably last. Ideally, if you can achieve a real musical rapport with the other musicians- when you are playing off each other and anticipating where they will go before they do it - then you should be securem

Not strictly bass related per se, but as it features some great bass playing, hopefully it qualifies 😀

As a resident of the Isle of Wight ( where every second person walking down the street is a bass player ) - I think it’s called the Mark King Effect , I could be replaced at the drop of a hat. However 2 band members don’t drive , and a LWB Landy carries all PA and band members to gigs . Half our gigs are with no drummer , and I’m the only one who can provide suitable back up drum machine tracks for these gigs , as well as backing vocals for the singist ( no one else does BV ) As previously said , no one is irreplaceable, but I bring a lot to the table .

I’d go gracefully, I won’t stay where I’m not wanted but I’m also too long in the tooth for kicking & screaming. If the reasons for my firing were honourable, such as them suddenly wanting to do gigs every weekend from the 10 or so a year we currently do, or if the increase included flying gigs (I hate flying and unless for an emergency I’ll not fly again) then I’d agree to help out if ever needed.

Its not all about your ability on bass and what you bring to the band musically. There's more to working band than the mechanics. Its how you gel with the others, sense of humour, knowledge on gear, how you cope when there's a problem, so many other little things that come into it. Don't get me wrong if a band is solely in it to make money and nothing else then you are probably just a paid employee and they won't bat an eye-lid in replacing you but for most of us on BC its not a contracted band and a big part of it is friendship to a degree. If the band are all relaxed with each other it just seems to work better. I quite believe i could be replaced. I'm just a bass player, its not rocket science. I'm good at what i do but there are better players out there who could easily do what i do. In the glam band there is the image thing that i bring to the band. The band might miss me as a person and how i play but they'd get used to someone else and just carry on i reckon. They wouldn't have anywhere to store the PA right enough so i'm safe The punk band has gone thru so many people i'd be easily replaced there too. The one thing they did say after i joined was that i have a more aggressive style and that comes thru in the punk so that's a bonus. Dave

Replace me, why? What have you heard? 😬 In short, all too easily, I imagine.

My specialty 😏

Hi everyone, I just wanted to say a huge thank you to all of you who have supported the site this year—whether by becoming a Supporting Member or purchasing tokens for the marketplace. Your contributions enable us to keep improving the site, reduce our reliance on advertising, and dedicate time to supporting our community. I mention this now because December typically sees a noticeable drop in revenue, and with the challenges many individuals and businesses are facing right now, I’m especially grateful to those of you who continue to renew your subscriptions. Of course, I also deeply appreciate everyone who visits the site, shares their knowledge, and offers support to others. A site like BC is only as valuable as the knowledge contained within the membership. So, thank you once again. I’ll be taking a bit of a BC break over Christmas and New Year, so I want to wish you all a relaxing, joyful time with your friends, family, and instruments 🎸. Cheers, Ped

Et tu, Brute?

If just playing the notes then, yes, many people could replace me in any band I've been in. But a band has a community element to it as well, and of course people (and thus band dynamics) are different when personnel change. Being helpful and committed is often more important than being a whizzy player (so I tell myself!). More generally, singers probably have a greater variability than other roles so I think are harder to replace. Also original bands tend to revolve around one or two individuals who would be irreplacable if they took their songs - certainly in one band from a few years back we lost a few songs when various people left, but otherwise tended to be led by the chap who had written the majority of the repertoire, and indeed promptly folded when he didn't want to do it anymore.

This is very important too. I seriously doubt my band would carry on if any of us left. We clicked at our first meeting and have always got on unbelievably well. I am blessed to play with them.

Thanks Ped, Wishing you and all the Mods here a fab Xmas and very Best Wishes for 2025! 😊🎄🤶🍾 Basschat is very much like home, or a second home, as others have said here and I sometimes have to remind myself just how fortunate we all are to have such a safe, welcoming and inclusive place to share our passion for all things bass! Many's the time I wished that there was something like the Basschat community around when I first started playing bass in the 1970s... But hey, it's been a blast this last 18, 19 years or so ( has it really been that long! 😮) and I'm sure all of us here wouldn't have it any other way... Thank you 🙏 Enjoy your Xmas folks! 😊

As @tauzero added, put all the chances on your side. 😉 That said, only a full shielding with cavities star grounded really resolves these issues...

Happy Christmas Team BC

No, but I’m in one! Happy Christmas 🌲

The band would never find someone with my dazzling array of trousers...

In my case, easily as long as the replacement has a van and PA. 🙂

I'm Always Touched By Your Presents Dear - Blondie

merry christmas to you all, here's to 2025 I'll see you in the bar somewhere

Second the jam / open mic night networking. Personally, I believe that when people meet in person *ahem* they are quite open-minded. Aspects such as age, likes, dislikes and skill-level are quickly overlooked in favour of interpersonal skills and getting to know someone new. If you are at a gig, already kindred spirits. Like dating - online presence and advertising invites quick judgement: "says here they like cats. Well I don't, so this won't work" Despite Facebook being a lot less popular than it used to be, any advert I post, no matter how vague, receives a large response (I post to music groups with large amount of members). Much like with contacting venues for gigs... most responses will be a waste of time, for whatever reason, doesn't take long to filter them out if you know what to look for. You could offer yourself a deputy. If your local groups all share a bassist, then a single booking leaves the other bands without a bass player. A foot-in that could lead to more. There is a method I'm not keen on, but it's somewhat amusing: Book a gig - find a band. A paid gig is very enticing, it is possible to form a group to fulfil a booking, and you've therefore networked too, with the foundation of "hey that went well, let's do more"

I discovered Haley Reinhart and subsequently Post Modern Jukebox. Totally not my normal bag of fish but oh my word, what a singer! (And the second video is of PMJ with Morgan James singing one of my faves)

The question the OP asked was "Will BassChat survive the Pnline Safety Act". I believe the answer is yes. Merry Christmas Everyone!

I picked this up yesterday after having discussed the build with the luthier around 10 weeks ago. Walnut / maple / shedua body Maple / mahogany / cherry neck and board Herrick multicoil pickups Lusithand Double NFP Sandberg bridge. look close and you’ll see many differences compared to the bass it was inspired by.

Hope you guys don't mind but i had to share this local reviewers comments from Sat nights gig courtesy of Big Hastie (Alex Hastings) Just makes me feel good knowing that people enjoy what we do for fun. Dave "On entering the Dreadnought on Saturday it was obvious there was going to be a 'bit of a party', as the tinsel wearers and battery operated plastic glasses wearers were in evidence, in amongst the 'doon the fronters'. Blockbustarz were in town for their customary Christmas Soiree, and it was going to be a belter going by the number of folk in the house.... Before we start, let's not kid ourselves, Glam Rock must be one of the most uplifting genres of music ever . No twenty minute guitar solos, no meaningful lyrics, just in and out 3 minute simplistically written songs, Before you could say "Pass me my tinsel please", we were all hand jiving and giving it some fancy footwork. Within seconds I was the proud wearer of a pair of the aforementioned lit up glasses.. ... All the classics were here as you'd expect... 20th Century Boy/T-Rex, Ballroom Blitz/Sweet, The Cat Crept In/Mud... (Best lyrics EVER in my book...) "The Cat Crept in, crept out again..."....Beat that Chris Martin.. .... "Hey Rock and Roll" sang the masses as Micky Blitz and Lynn led the way on vocals... Barry 'Bazza' Haywood was in his element, clattering his glammed up drum kit and suitably attired in silvery /gold garb , Colin was in 'full disguise' mode also glammed up assisted by a belter of a wig, playing some incredible guitar riffs. David too was in "Who's that playing bass??" mode. Barely recognisable from the lad I was speaking to before kick off... And how does Mike look 6 foot 8?... Oh wait, the 9 inch heels are a give away.. The long blonde haired Lynn doesn't need a wig gimmick but she was also tinselled and glittered up . We had Sailor/Glass of Champagne, Devil Gate Drive, Suzi Quatro and Roxy Music/Virginia Plain all added to by the folk 'going for it' doon the front.. None more so than my good mate Chris who is a one man 'what's what' of music in his choice of clobber. Rock and roll beetle crusher shoes, punk drain pipe trousers, a Rod Stewart leopard skin top, Elton John sparkly glasses, a Bing Crosby Hat, and a Wattie from the Exploited Red mohawk underneath the titfer.. Remarkable . We had Bowie/Rebel Rebel, Mud /Rocket, Elton/Saturday Night and a sing along rendition to Let it Snow! , Let it Snow! , Let it Snow! Great stuff.. "School's out for summer! " yell the punters as Micky Blitz spins his baton. .Who let the horses in?, here come the Osmonds.. "Crazy Horses" roar the crowd. Hell Raiser from Sweet takes us to the interval and a well deserved break for the band.. (I'm knackered just reading that back and that's only the first half of the gig. )...Part two began with Waterloo/Abba, Little Willy (who's been talking?) /Sweet, and my all time favourite up beat song, Tell Him by Hello..What a song!. It was a case of "Hold my pint please" while I had a wee jump around (for the 40th year in a row to this song going back to Thursday nights in the Greentree in 1984!)... Joan Jett/ I Love Rock and Roll and Suzi Quattro/ Can the Can took us to our first Christmas song..."It'll be lonely this Christmas" sang a swaying crowd to the Mud classic.. Brilliant... We had more Bowie and more Roxy Music before another Christmas Classic, Here it is Merry Christmas from Slade... "Are you hanging up your stocking on the wall?" sang everyone in unison.. ....More Sweet , T-Rex and another Alice Cooper number Elected, took us into the Mud classic (Have you noticed how many times the word classic has neen used so far. ) Tiger Feet which was followed in turn by Blockbuster.. "Does anyone know the way.... TO BLOCKBUSTER!". Class.. Now it was time for our third Christmas Cracker, Wizzard's, "I Wish it Could Be Christmas Every Day".... More crowd participation as my mate Chris turned from being Johnny Rotten to Bing Crosby by just putting his hat back on .. "Let the bells ring out for Christmas" sang the tinsel wearing crowd.... A spine tingling Loch Lomond /Shang a lang ended the night.. No Scottish person and I mean NO Scottish person doesn't have a wee tear in their eye listening to Loch Lomond, especially a rousing Shang a Lang assisted rendition.. Tremendous.. .. What a gig, what a band, and what a crowd .. Thanks to all concerned in making this another great night. Band, staff sound engineers etc.... Big Hastie over and out from the dread... "How was your night bigman.?"... "It was a classic!"

All this drama could have been saved if you hadn't gone off the deep end...

I'm looking forward to getting back to doing some pedal building. It's been a while since I've wielded my soldering iron at a pedal but I'm getting a Megalith kit from Fuzz Dog for Christmas. Should be fun and filthy! https://shop.pedalparts.co.uk/product/ultr-fk

You'll be an asset to any band that you're part of, if you're doing that! The life blood of any gigging band is quite simply gigs and, as you noted, if the gigs dry up the band can easily come to an end. In my experience getting gigs often goes hand in hand with the skill set of being band leader, but it absolutely doesn't need to be and I've always really appreciated bandmates who are prepared to roll up their sleeves and put something back into the gig pot, as well as benefitting from what others are putting into it. I'd definitely mention in your ad that you have had quite a lot of success in finding gig venues for previous bands, and would be happy to be involved in supporting the band in that way if you came on board. I guess it's the same as applying for any role: if someone can set themselves apart from the pack by bringing something extra, that can only help?