bassbiscuits

I thought it was slightly more useful than all three of us being bassists in the same house…. Besides, good drummers are as rare as chicken lips, and the guitar lad is already well on his way to fronting bands, so good luck to them.

Ah no, that’s really sad. Was just listening to Driving Home for Christmas the other day and enjoying his voice. Tasty guitarist too by all accounts.

Alas, it is guitar and drums which are their calling….

We’ll have to refer to the small print for that…

I’m pretty much done in terms of my own gear. If Ive survived this long without something I probably don’t need it. But with both my kids now learning to play, my plans for an acquisition-free 2026 are already perilously holed below the water line….

The most I’ve ever spent on a bass was £2,200 on a Lull PJ4 about eight years ago. It was a necessity as I needed a lightweight bass at the time and sold two other USA Fenders to fund it. That was a big investment for me (though ultimately it wasn’t the right bass for me anyway). Apart from that one-off, I don’t think I’ve ever spent more than £600 on a bass. Plenty in that price range and below that work just fine for my needs.

I think I’d consider £1,000 as the threshold for me, based on the difficulty I’d have replacing something of that value. Mind you my cheap basses are also hard to replace as they’re all 20-odd years old. Just slightly less crippling financially if I needed to do so.

Ha ha yep I do the same. I find joy in playing cheapy basses even though I know my “better” ones would be great. Sometimes I just love the chance to play seven shades out of a cheap bass on stage and making it work for me. I do feel bad when I leave a bass at home as they are meant to be gigged. First world problems tho eh

PM’d you

Depends what the other issues are. The wood grain in the top wouldn’t bother me at all, but if you’ve had two basses each with problems I’d be more concerned about deciding whether those are acceptable.

Yeah it’s got a definite “stable” vibe on that pic! I’ve only been there for the guitar Christmas shows but yeah maybe it doubles up as a gazebo in the summer….

Just back home from the annual Christmas guitar club concert in my local village hall. Two concerts - one for the younger learners and one for the older more proficient kids. Amazing to see them progress over the years in confidence and musical skills. I bring the PA, the lights and an extra pair of hands to help with setting up and sorting/tuning etc between performers, as well as donating my bass rig for the evening, being their soundman and guesting on the odd song. Proper Christmas thing. Excuse the dull pic but it’s all I managed.

And I had some Ohm PA speakers up until a few years ago. Very decent.

I get that it’s modelled on his original P bass before modifications. But surely if it’s meant to be his signature bass, then it’s exactly those modifications which make it different from a bog standard P bass? Seems a bit “couldn’t be arsed” on Fender’s behalf. At least the Dave Murray black Strat reflects his World Slavery Tour-era HSH modded Strat.

Last gig of the year with the Andy Wales Band at Bar Dos Hermanos in Leicester. Busiest I’ve seen it in all the times we’ve played there, tho thankfully a massive crowd of really rowdy chanting lads moved on elsewhere before we started yay. Good few friends and family of various members were there which is often the kiss of death in my experience but not so. Went with Elton’s Step Into Christmas which mostly worked (complete with surprisingly fiddly bass part) and also chucked in Green Onions and I Am The Resurrection in tribute to Steve Cropper and Mani respectively. I was wedged against a pillar unfortunately so tried to lean on it nonchalantly from time to time and attempted to look cool. I wasn’t having a great day up to then and was a bit narky so it was nice to have two hours of leathering my bass onstage to get it all out of my system. Cheaper than therapy. Gear was the usual Markbass Traveller cabs and LM3 head; pair of Yamaha basses, various pedals, Mackie powered cabs and Allen and Heath desk. Footwear by Converse. Tea by Twinings.