bassbiscuits

I suspect a few hundred quid. I think they’re happy to be guided by me towards something suitable and decent. There’s a music shop in town so I’m going to take her there to have a look and try a few things. And keeping an eye on BC too obviously. I’ve got a surplus Markbass 2x10 cabinet that’s probably too big for her to practice with but she’d be welcome to use for gigs. I suppose at that age, relying on lifts to and from places etc, it needs to be something portable to be of any use. Some good suggestions tho folks - I’ll keep my eyes peeled.

I had one by the time I was 16 ha ha! Great amp. Silly heavy tho

That’s the thing - I have memories of several early years of thrashing some awful underpowered bass practice amp and wondering why it didn’t sound like the thunderous bass on the records I loved! Good call on the Eden stuff. There's a Roland Bass Cube on here for sale too but it’s far away from me. Wasn’t sure what people thought of Fender Rumbles? My own practice amp is a knackered old Orange Crush which farts out almost immediately and has been relegated to the garage, so it’s not much to go on.

Looks cool. That’s the main thing.

My friends 14yr old daughter is learning bass (her mates all play guitar so I’m quite proud of her for taking the bass path…) Weve sorted a Squier Bronco bass from BC for her. Any recommendations on decent small practice amps, sort of 30-50watt I’m guessing for playing at home with her mates? Anything too big and heavy will be a nightmare to transport. I know Blackstar are good for guitar stuff, but the Roland Bass Cube range seems to have become just one very small amp. Any suggestions ?

Be interesting to see if the loose lacquer can be removed and then a new thin coat applied to protect the graphic. Given the overall condition id want to check that its structurally ok in other areas before deciding whether its practical to restore as a working bass. Good luck tho. It’s a cool bass

I played a Fender Custom Shop one some years ago. It looked amazing and I really wanted to love it (I’m a P bass fanboy). But no it was very different from the 57-onwards style. Not for me at all. Bummer. That one does look beautiful tho.

Sorry to hear that too man. Glad you got to see him afterwards though. That must have meant a lot.

The other gift I’d like is for my kids to stop saying “Six Seven”.

Thanks man.

I’m hoping to spend some time with my brother at Christmas. He has stage 4 cancer so I don’t know how many more goes I’m going to get. I don’t need any more gear at the moment.

Ditto. Deleted my FB account back in 2017. Never had X, Instagram, Snapchat etc (I’m a few years too old for all that). I suspect I’d be better connected / better publicised if I did bother with social media but I can’t be @r$ed frankly.

Er quite possibly!

I’ve still got my first acoustic guitar - a Hohner Leyanda series thing I bought from Argos in 1988. I played it to destruction - the frets are wrecked, part of the fretboard fell off and after a few months stored without strings the neck has gone off piste and buzzes everywhere. But I can’t possibly throw it away, it’s worth nothing to sell, not worth repairing and currently doesn’t even make the grade as a campfire jam instrument.

I stopped playing bass completely between about 2002-2005 after a really acrimonious parting with my band which just took all the enjoyment out of things. I was also quite bored and burnt out by it all. Focused on enjoying my guitar playing for a bit instead, eventually gigged a few times with a local band on guitar, and then that folded shortly before I moved city anyway. I wasn’t looking to play bass in a band but it was an easy way to get to know people in my new home city and I fell back into it eventually. Certainly that break for a few years gave me breathing space to get out of old habits and come back with a fresh pair of ears and some new ideas too.

Oh wow that’s cool. I think I played a Westone thunder 1A round about the same time then (when was it? 1988/9 or so?)

Some great bass playing by Dee Murray on a live Elton John album called 17-11-70. It was recorded when they were just a trio (Elton, drums and bass) in America really early on, so no big Elton hits yet, but some really fiery, tight interaction of the three instruments with plenty of room to explore.

Aye good cabs. I only sold mine cos my two smaller Markbss cabs fitted more easily in my Ford Fiesta.

Aye. My old Aguilar GS410 cab sounded divine but weighed 44kg. Insanely heavy and it put me right off ever taking it out.

I expect so. If I recall correctly the MK500 is 500w at 4ohms, and the 2x10 part of the combo will most likely be 8ohms. Look at the back of the amp - there’s likely to be an external speaker connector for adding another cab. If so, that’s your answer.

New Model Army - Thunder and Consolation. The band was a trio at the time (with a violin player coming in on a few of the album tracks) but the interplay between bass and drums is exceptional. Sounds like a P bass with a pick cranked up loud, locked in with a really “busy but good” drummer. Try “Family” and “The Ballad of Bodmin Pill” for starters. Inspirational stuff.

Gigged a Mustang bass for ages until I sold it (stupidly) last year.

That’s lovely. What a find and at the perfect moment too by the sound of it. Then again, bass is all about the timing, right. Nice one.

Prior to the pandemic the band I was with had got quite sniffy about how much we felt we should be getting paid for gigs etc. But when lockdown allowed it, me and a few mates put together a classic rock cover band and did some free gigs primarily to help some struggling local venues. Made me realise how much of it is actually about the human contact, not just money.

I'm coming up for 52, and I sometimes regret not having gone further with music in my life (whatever that actually means in a practical sense I don't know). But lately I've realised that actually not being obliged to do it for a living is what has kept it still being fun. It's my little thing, my way of regulating my emotions, meeting some cool people, having little musical adventures and friendships etc. It hasn't had all the joy beaten out of it. And that's what keeps me in the game. I still find it interesting, I'm still learning new things and being curious. If this had been my job, I doubt I'd still be getting much enjoyment out of it. I'd probably be some bitter old bloke. Instead, I have a lifelong companion as long as I've got an instrument to hand, and doing that with other like-minded people is a great feeling.