bassbiscuits

In 2026 I’ll have been playing bass for 40 years. How the hell did that happen? (And I’ve still got the Arion tuner and guitar stand I got for Xmas 1986). Here’s to the next, errr, 40 years.

My final gig of 2025, with the Elton John tribute, at Bibi’s in Leeds. The usual matinee and evening gigs, both really well attended with the audience up for singing and dancing. Its a long day with travelling and a gap between sets so I came prepared and had a nap in my car between sets. As ever, plenty of good food, good vibes and a lovely way to round off my year musically. The usual rig of P bass and Yamaha basses (for the different 70s and 80s sounds), Markbass Traveller cabs, Little Mark II head and effects board. Just about managed to cram it all, along with the drumkit (and drummer) in my car. Long live old Volvo estates.

My main band is a blues/soul trio which I assumed would be P bass with flatwounds all the way. Not so. I use a Yamaha BB604 active bass with roundwounds. It’s a very loud bass which pushes my amp to the edge of distortion when you really dig in, or ease off for a really textured, chiming sort of warm rasp which really fills out the space in the trio format when needed. Play softly near the neck with your fingers and it’s smooth, dig in with a pick by the bridge and it’s a full-throated roar. It’s a wicked sound. If I have any sort of signature tone, it is accidentally that one.

Er, no… schoolboy error. Entirely my own fault.

I was waiting for someone to buy this for me. Alas none did.

Sorry to hear so many people have been having a hard time. Take the time you need to be kind to yourselves and work through it. Not a vintage year here either tbh. My brother was diagnosed with stage 4 sarcoma, my mother in law had two strokes and most recently pneumonia. These are tough times when you’ve got relatives in the later part of their lives and trying to cope with the complexities of that. As others here have said, help is available if you need it. A lot of places offer low-cost or “pay what you can” counselling services, and organisations like Andy’s Man Club offer a supportive place to talk without the expectations of formal counselling sessions. https://andysmanclub.co.uk Take care of yourselves and here’s to better times ahead.

I got a new wallet. Which will never have any money in it as long as I play bass. There. That’s bass related.

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