bassbiscuits

Yeah they’re cool. I’ve had to get last minute strings a few times and they’ve always come the very next day. Top marks

I’m the first to tell people how much my cheap secondhand Yamaha bass cost (£200 including postage) when I get compliments on how nice it sounds at gigs. But I’ve also got a 50+ year old vintage Fender too. I must admit at first I only bought the Yamaha as a spare but it’s proven itself to be a great all-round gigging bass regardless of the value or (lack of) prestige. Good and bad basses exist at all levels and prices I’ve learned…

I've been round the houses with various combinations of 10s, 12s and 15s over the years, but I'm really digging 10s at the moment. Good 10s have enough of everything I need - tight low end, punchy mids and enough highs. If we imagine I have a crew to move it, then an Ampeg SVT and 8x10 would be glorious.

It might be because so many of the songs are piano led that the thumping low end is already covered by Freddie’s left hand. Therefore he’s weaving his bass lines in the space that’s left. I say this as I’ve played with tribute acts doing both Trevor Bolder era Bowie, and vintage Elton John, and both those bassists take the same sort of approach.

Was booked to do a solo acoustic guitar/singing gig at a country pub in Leicestershire on Saturday along with a few other acts - one of which wasn't well enough to play, so I extended my set to do 5 x 45 min sets to cover both of us! Actually worked out pretty well - under a big beer garden gazebo which kept out the rain showers, and a decent crowd of people up for a few afternoon beers and barbecue. My voice held out nicely (my main worry) but my finger tips are still hurting today. Decent result though.

Not yet sadly.

I don’t get jazz. I’ve tried, but it leaves me cold. I can’t play any of it anyway.

May I chip in with Phil Collins too?

I love playing live. It’s what I wanted to do from the time I saw those cool gatefold sleeve live LPs in the 80s from bands like Iron Maiden, Scorpions and Kiss. I’m lucky enough to be out playing fairly regularly at the moment, and doing some good gigs with some great musicians. Everyone knows the downsides, which are many if you choose to focus on them. But the feeling of doing a cool gig, playing with musicians who fire you up and an audience who are really up for it - that’s the nearest thing to magic.

It was great. Biggest venue I’ve played apart from outdoor festival slots etc. Really enjoyed it.

Er yes. I couldn’t agree more!

Played at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall on Monday night with Elton John tribute act I’m Still Standing, as part of a four date tour up there. Had a grand old time.

When I was about 11 it was through my older brother's friends, who were into 70s/80s metal - which in turn led us to the Friday Rock Show, Kerrang! and the local record librarym where we'd swoon over the cool pictures in gatefold sleeves of live double albums. Beyond that it was a case of hoping to catch odd snippets of singles from bands like Alice Cooper, Whitesnake or Kiss on things like America's Top 10, and a little later on came taping specialist rock and metal programmes like Raw Power.

Pennard - nice! I once slept on the cliffs there when I was a student. Seemed a good idea at the time honestly officer...

Yup - same here. Been using them for a few years on my long scale basses and they're great. They feel nice, and have a long lasting, punchy powerful sound. I really like them. I've got regular D'addario nickel wounds on my Mustang bass and they sound good too even after maybe a year on the bass. But yeah, NYXLs are worth the money in my experience.

Currently mostly theatre gigs in a tribute band, but also depping in a mixture of function covers bands. And then solo gigs on guitar and vocals - at various times these have been my main gigs tho I haven’t really pursued it with much enthusiasm of late.

I’d drink up and get the hell out…

I agree with part of the original point - not buying basses unseen. I am one of those fussy folks who needs to avoid heavy basses - not for fun, but because of an injury that gets aggravated by stuff that’s too heavy. Unless a bass is at least as good as what I’ve already got, then it’s not going to get used and there’s no point keeping it. Unfortunately that’s not always obvious even if you play it in a shop, let along buying it unseen online. Too many variables to take a punt. (Someone remind me of that next time I spot a bass online that I like).

I have a hiscox Liteflite which I keep for those gigs which either involve flying or ones where the bass goes in the back of a van full of other heavy equipment. It’s come out on the luggage carousel looking like s**t more than once (splattered with mystery liquid) but the bass inside is fine.

I’m bit late with this one from Sunday afternoon. Fair weather vintage rock band we put together during lockdown but which has run it’s course really, so this was probably our last planned gig. As a result it was super chilled and a really good fun vibe. Had a great time and went down well - judging by some snippets on Facebook it sounded half decent too.

I had an odd few on Gumtree recently. First time I was selling a pedal and some guy jumped in straight away to tell me he had paid already thru some system I’d never heard of and just needed to go to the link to accept the payment etc. I was out at the time and in no position to sort it out and told him so but he kept on insisting so I just withdrew the item. Last week I put something else up and literally within 10 seconds for a message saying “is it still available? How can I pay you etc,” from a number in the Philipines! So I edited the ad to remove my phone as a contact method and never heard from them again. Weird. For the sake of less than £100 I’m not getting involved in that sort of shenanigans.