casapete

Of course it’s all relative. My AH500-11 is around 22kgs, around half the weight of my old SVT head which is why I sadly had to move it on. In today’s world however, am not so sure many gigging bassists would refer to a 22kg amp head as being feather light 😕

Just watched it, very enjoyable although I did prefer the drum episode to be honest. Looking forward to the guitar one now.

Really looking forward to watching this now...😄

Just been reunited with my old AH500. I had it in the 90’s and it just resurfaced so bought it back! Seen some active service, but still working okay, although I’d forgotten how heavy it is 😕 Used it for gigs in Morocco along with an equally weighty Peavey 4x10, and remembered it sounding sublime and didn’t miss a beat. Going to keep it for a while and wallow in some nostalgia, at least until my back gives out of course...

Played at an agricultural college event in the late 90’s , me and my guitarist mate backing a singer doing Simply Red stuff ( I know, but I needed the money, OK?!! ). Crowd was mainly aged16 to 20, all a bit pis*sed on cider so you can imagine how well we’re doing. Me and the guitarist not too bothered as we’d taken advantage of the cheap bar so a bit tired and emotional etc. This young lad steps up and asks the singer very politely if he can just use the mic to give a shout out to his mate as it’s his birthday. Singer duly obliges, so the young lad grabs the mic and shouts “ Feck off, you’re a stinky poo band” and runs back into the crowd! Me and guitarist collapse with laughter as the singer storms off, trying to identify the culprit to the college official. We got paid anyway.

If I have I can't remember. I've been a pro bassist for 25 years, and believe me when you're getting paid to play as your main source of income then you become less picky pretty quickly! Of course we've had band decisions on songs over the years that may have been based on personal likes/dislikes etc, but the overriding outcome has always been ' will it help us go down better / get work / please the booker' etc etc. My worst scenarios (thankfully rare) have been when recording - some songwriter wanting bass on his (not great) songs. Having to keep schtum / not laugh / try and polish a turd etc is always really difficult, especially when you know it's got your name on the finished article. Same as backing dodgy acts - it's my job to try and make them sound as good as possible, end of story. 🙂

And me too, although it's the guitarist who gives me the nod! Thought it was just me, phew.... Can you imagine if everyone in the band flatly refused to do certain songs / anything by particular artists? In my old 8 piece band, it would have made for a few pretty short sets! In cover bands we all have to bite the bullet sometimes and play stuff we consider crap / embarrassing / beneath us etc etc, but that's what its' all about - giving whoever is paying / supporting you what they want. The Mavericks tune mentioned above is a classic example, and when I went to see them it was that song that got their audience dancing in the aisles. Job done.

Getting laughed at by all the 'rock' fans in my case...….🤨

Absolutely. When the Bose line array type systems first came out, a DJ we used to work with let us use this system to save space on a gig. Sounded great when he used it for recorded stuff, but we couldn’t get it to work for our band at all so ended up using our PA alongside his. Am sure they’re okay for some applications, but for a loud 8 piece band they just didn’t suit.

Agreed! Not a big fan of S.C's drumming, but thought he presented the programme really well, very entertaining and informative. Looking forward to the next instalment of the series.

Love a Hammond. There’s just something about that sound as it fills each chord which makes it so exciting. Combine it with horns and it’s sonic heaven for me. Favourite players of mine include Billy Preston, Gary Brooker, Ian McLagan, Booker T, Danny Federici & Steve Winwood.

I play acoustic, at home only though. Always have it to hand for working out songs etc, and love to hear one played properly. Players I've always admired include James Taylor, Robert Johnson, Chet Atkins, Eric Clapton and Mark Knopfler. As with electric guitar, I've never gone for the 100 notes a second approach. 😉 This was on Radio 2 recently. Was never a big fan of Dire Straits, but Mr Knopfler is something else.

Vibration causing a dry joint in the amp to disconnect the signal somewhere?

I saw Lizzy at Bridlington Spa, probably 77 or 78? I was working in the record business at the time and got some tickets via their record company rep I think, as TBH they weren't really my bag. They were great, tight as and really loud! Classic line up of Robertson / Gorham IIRC. I have to say though (contrary to nearly every other post on this thread) I never thought Phil was that cool, and looked to me like he was a trying too hard doing the classic 'rock pose' thing a lot of the time, ending up looking a bit daft. Great band with some ace songs though, and very sad Phil died the way he did so prematurely.

Two sets of Fender 8060 Phosphor Bronze Wound acoustic bass guitar strings. Gauges 45-100. Lightly used but still some life in them, especially if you don't like them clanky new like me! Cut (only slightly) to fit my Washburn AB20 (2+2 headstock), so should fit most standard 34" scale acoustic basses, but probably not those with a Fender style head (4 in a row). Can sort out UK postage etc, cheers.

Fender actually produced plastic moulded protectors for their range in the 1960's. Manufactured by Parker, they were call 'Bodyguards' and came in a variety of colours although clear ones seemed to be the most common. They were made for all of the main styles in Fender's catalogue - here's a rare Jazz bass one in (off) white - https://reverb.com/nz/item/3255277-fender-parker-body-guard-for-jazz-bass-1960s-white

Our first gig of 2019, and a special one in our home town of Hull at The New Theatre. Capacity audience of nearly 1200 who were in top form making for a great atmosphere. We took a long time soundchecking and it definitely paid off, with the best sound we’ve had in this venue. As I’m the only one who doesn’t use IEM I could really feel my bass in the room as well as onstage, which is something I really enjoy. The band played well, no dodgy moments at all, and it’s given us a renewed sense of optimism for the rest of the year. Feel a bit knackered this morning though, probably due to having not done it for 7 weeks!

Just watched this and realised the guitarist /MD is an old mate from this area, Gary Miller. I was (briefly) in the same band with him, and he's an amazing musician as well as being a lovely bloke too. He went on to work with loads of big names ( Lionel Richie, George Michael) and thoroughly deserved to do well. He's now a Malibu resident, and comes home occasionally to see family and friends - last time he popped in to see our band play! It looks like his saintly patience would have been tested a fair bit after watching the rehearsals in the Bros documentary...

Think it wasn’t a full capo Paul, probably as you say. I haven’t a clue how they’re used TBH!

Surprised nobody has mentioned the bassist’s use of a capo in one of the songs by The Record Company ?

We do exactly this,minus the slap though...😄

Just watched this and really enjoyed it. Suggs not a technically spot on vocalist but his delivery and personality more than make up for it IMO. On 'Wings of a dove' he appeared to be having trouble with his monitoring, singing a couple of tones down from the band for the first part but then back on key for the rest. IEM problems maybe? In the second part he was back using regular foldback. The band sounded great, and Bedder's bass looked and sounded ace through my TV anyway. A good show, and easy to forget how many great songs Madness have, both old and recent.