bassbiscuits

The 80s music went down the pan when Stock Aitken and Waterman raised their heads. Ive been watching the re-runs of TOTP from the 1980s and there’s a huge variety of stuff for most of the decade, some bad, some good. But by about 1988 it solidified into identikit soft pop dross by SAW and fronted by Kylie, Jason, Sinita, Sonia etc which just seemed to dominate the charts forever after. And that High-80s era of big shoulder pads, mullets, bingy-boingy electro noises etc seems to be the stuff that’s aged least well.

This is the only short scale I’ve owned (apart from a really short scale Satellite bass I started out on in the 80s). Its a cream white 2015 MIJ Mustang. It had a brown tort plate which I swapped for a white one. A shoulder injury four years ago set me off looking for a lighter smaller bass than my regular P bass, and led me to this. I love it. I’d be interested in other short scales to see how they compare. I prefer the tone and feel of my P bass, but it’s a close run thing and I’m very happy with both.

I'm glad I don't drink, but i couldn't help scoffing at the pronouncement from the Government that going out drinking at the pub is the "patriotic thing to do" and part of a great British tradition. Wow.

I like it. It's a good bass part, even if it's not a bass guitar part. I like a lot of dance music bass parts, regardless how they are created.

I hear from lots of people who've had lots of downtime to rethink their life/work balance, learn new skills etc. But that's not me. My wife and I have been working full time and caring for two young children since March (apparently homeschooling one of them too). Gigs are a valuable, but not essential source of income for our household. I've missed about 12 gigs so far from what was meant to be a busy diary. I've been playing at home quite a bit just for my sanity, but with no gigs on the cards its all a bit aimless. As soon as it's safe to gig, i'll be there.

That looks tremendous fair play

Definitely still happy using a LM2 and a LM3 - both Italian-made ones and quite old now. Had Peaveys, then Ashdown ABMs, and then a GK1001RB before settling on the Markbass stuff, and it suits me the best of the lot - a fraction of the size and weight of the others too and plenty of volume. Running them thru a Barefaced Big Twin 2 and/or a Genz Benz 2x12 and they sound righteous...

This one. I’ve owned it for 26 years and it was my only bass for a long time. It’s been stolen and recovered, has been round the block a few times, and refretted twice.

And I’m originally from Swansea just down the road. Welcome aboard!

I’ve always used index, middle and ring. The pinky is too short to join in but would if it could. They do each seem to have a slightly different attack tho, and the quest for me has been getting them consist, in terms of strength, timing etc. I don’t think about it that much when playing tho. I don’t usually start on a particular finger and sometimes find the middle and ring finger work as one for an extra thick thump.

I have a Hohner acoustic guitar I bought in 1988, along with a metal guitar stand and Arion tuner I got for Christmas 1986, all of which still work fine.

I used to love it in the early 1990s when I used to listen to David Lee Roth, Mr Big and Stu Hamm. I got quite decent at chucking in bits to the sort of funk / rock band I was in a the time (it was the early 90s, right?). Ive written a few nice little bass tunes with tapped harmonics etc, but not the whole super fast shredding sort of tapping anymore. Doesnt really fit in to anything beyond that slim genre, and I’ve never needed to use it since, er, 1993?

ha ha miaow! No offence taken don't worry!

Wasn't a value judgement on Girls Aloud BTW - it was just a spectacularly unlikely and implausible song to ask that particular band for, given the singer was a 6ft growly Northern Irish lad with a banjo. I don't mind singing female songs in my own sets, but its gotta be something that works.

I've been asked ; "Do you know any Girls Aloud?" by drunk women. The band was five 40-something men ffs.

It's definitely a yes. I only had one bass for years and years, and only got a second one cos the first one needed a refret. Nice to have a choice, and a spare etc, but not essential by any means. I only take one to most gigs anyway.

That’s beautiful.

Ooh a say that blue competition stripe Mustang would definitely be on my GAS list too. Alongside a black Gibson Thunderbird, and a 1957/58 style P bass in sunburst/maple and gold pickguard. Mmm. Not a hope in hell of getting any of them but it’s nice to wish.

I find the tension on the Labellas really nice but then I also use slightly heavier gauge strings generally - 105-45 on long scales. My mustang is currently wearing d’addario roundwounds, medium scale, 110-50 gauge which when combined with the shorter scale actually feel really comfortable. It had very light gauge strings on when I bought it - 95s or something - but I couldn’t really dig in on those. Sorry thanks just muddied the waters hasn’t it! Its definitely worth trying the Labella mustang flats as they’re designed with that bass in mind, and they do feel and sound just right.

Yup I second the La Bella Mustang Flats. Cos mustangs are strung thru the body you need to have medium scale rather than short scale strings, and the La Bella Mustangs are designed perfectly for the job. They sound ace too.

Nikki Sixx from Motley Crue for sure. And from around that same late 80s era, Rachel Bolan from Skid Row was one cool looking dude.