simes

I was originaly a guitarist then about 7/8 years ago I was talking to a mate about doing something acoustic together, he promptly hands me his hohner P copy and said 'do you want to play bass'. I thought, in for a penny in for pound i'll give it a go. With in 2 weeks the duo became a trio, 1 acoustic guitar, 1 hybrid guitar and me on bass. I LOVE it, I've learnt so much more about music, I have lessons, I study, I practice just about everyday. Hell I'm even having a crack at Teen Town. I've never looked back since taking up the bass and feel I've improved soooo much. My band mates have even accused me of turning into a musicain and I've been called far worse in my time .

Easy - Commodores Teen Town - Jaco.....well the first 4 bars and only at half the speed it's supposed to be but it's my long term practice piece to work on at lessons. Not my usual musical fare but good for improving and learning. How the hell do you play that fast and maintain accuracy .

Band been asked to do gig on Friday night. Sadly it,s a wake for a fellow muso and bass player who sadly passed away last week. Both he and his wife came to see us play. Lovely bloke all band members free Friday and didn,t hesitate saying yes.

Don,t know about gas blockage I took my 5 string out of it's case tonight and had a noodle and my wife didn't notice it was new bass which I bought 2 weeks ago.....I didn't mention it mind but had my defence ready......it was a bargain......to good to turn down.......needed for Eb......good upgrade project......etc etc.

Chilled lesson after work, we were both dog tired but I learnt and moved forward so job done. Also discussed replacing pickups on 5 string, teach going to do it for me cos cavities need routing. Plus got talked into replacing white scratch plate with black one and discussed fitting active controls. Going to have hot bath and an hours practice (alcohol will consumed as I'm off work tomorrow)

My new bassline pickups came for my squier precision 5 string today.......you know whats coming next..........yes they are not a straight drop in replacement, buggeration. I have a lesson tomorrow and my bass teach just happens to work at Overwater (I bought it off him two weeks ago). So the lesson tomorrow is............... route out the pickup cavities. Might put flats on as well. My TC electronic switch 3 also arrived too but have'nt had chance to try it yet as amp is in practice room. plus I have listened to Easy by the Commodores for what feels like a million times to nail the timing for the tripplet run.....god I'm beging to hate that song.

I play (bass)....therefore I am (a bass player)

I was blagged into playing bass by a mate for an acoustic duo which quickly turned into a trio, I now study music, I am learning to read the dots and practice much more with bass than I ever did with guitar and basically rediscovered my love of music through the bass. I wish I had made the switch from guitar years before. The other two can pull off an acoustic gig with 2 acoustic guitars if I can't make it but they have to admit it's not the same without the low end. I do have to shamefully admit to a bout of foot on monitor posturing even though I'm 50 bald and overweight but some mates from work were there who were pissed and it was a good laff. Just for a second I was a ROCK GOD.

Christ my memories bad (an age thing) I did audition many many years ago for a well astablished celidh band with a good rep in those circles (I worked with the caller). They knocked me back saying I was to RAWK. Me thinks they were letting me down gently cos they were bloody good.

Loving all the audition advice here even though I've never been to one. The bands I've been in were a a case of a collegues/friends do you fancy knock type senario panning out into gigging bands. First time I was bricking it mind as they were experienced gigging types and I was just learning to play guitar. Jacked that in when my mental health went a bit wobbly due to work. Jacked the job and got blagged into playing bass by a friend and formed an accoustic duo which became a trio within a week and never looked back. If this folded I would audition for definate as I just love playing and have an hankering to play soul music as I'm learning to read music and find soul tunes realy good this. I've done a few dep gigs on guitar with people I know and don't know if I'm brave or foolish cos I just throw myself into music situations and love a good jam/open mic night with other musicians even if some one has to shout the chords out as we're playing. BTW much prefer playing bass

1979-Thin Lizzy at Sheffield City Hall absolutley amazing. Interesting to see Janick Gers and White Spirit referenced earlier, I saw them a few times in the late 70's when they used to play a Working Mens Club in Doncaster called The Yarborough. Another good band called Limelight used to play there as well I thought they might have made it but seemed to disapear. I think they were from Hull.

Funds in place and two days off work next week........I'm as excited as a dog with two wotsits.....

I was at the Penrith Guitar show yeasterday, not a lot of bass action but interesting enough. What was there though was Everson Guitars. Check him out he makes Guitars and Basses and the two basses he had on display and were for sale, were IMO aching beautiful and desirable and one was marked up at just over £1300 which for a handcrafted instrument seems very reasonable. p.s I have no affiliation and he just came across as a nice guy producing a great product.

Thanks for the advice etc people it's much appreciated, the more I hear about Bass Direct the more I want to go there and an away day in the not to distant future is definatly on the cards. It's true that the traveling cost wil be a fraction of what I might spend so what the hell probably even over night in a hotel and tell my beloved it's a romantic break for us .

Have'nt tried anything yet bit of a trek from my neck of the woods to anywhere selling anything other than small combos. Glasgow 2hrs away, Newcastle 1 1/2 hrs. I am planning an away day soon and have been looking up music shops in these cities. Also have a weekend break coming up in Liverpool soon so I'll check out there as well. I will try before I buy.......like the look of the Markbass's as well.........oh god where's me medication......

I've have indeed checked out the Reidmar thread and very interesting it is.... Sound is such a subjective thing I like my tone not too bright and a touch mellow, only way I can describe it, guitarist/vocal and good friend I might add wants me to sound like double bass with 30yr old flat wounds on and prefered it when I played my old Squire P fretless with flats on but I paid for the Overwater/Tanglewood and I'm damn well going to use it. Can you be in love with an inanimate object. After lots of trail and error eq'ing plus serious scouring of the BC forums for info I now have the tone I like from my combo but it can be under gunned gigging and feel an upgrade would be in order, plus, I would like to spread my musical wings in the future after learning some classic soul toons in my lessons. Mmmmmmm a Genz head and cabs.......more choice.....more research.....I'd have a lie down if I wasn't at work......

Ok, I've lost my BC virginity and posted in the Introductions forum so now I'm getting brave and need to calm brough to my confused brain. I want to up grade from my combo to a rig, I've researched here, there and everywhere. Took note of what other BC'ers say about various amp and cabs. Finaly decided on a EBS Reidmar (EBS highly recommend by my bass teacher). Found a company that can do a package of the head plus a pair of EBS classic 112's. Looking good so far. Bassdirect do the same deal, but, recomend the Reidmar head with a pair of Genz Benz 112LT cabs. They have said more people are opting for this combination and it sounds better plus it's £70 cheaper. I know GB are good gear as well. But, they just might have a shed load of GB cabs to shift....... Advice, thoughts, a slap with a wet kipper..........anyone..... Si

My first post to say hello, I've been viewing these forums for a couple of months after being introduced to the site by my bass teacher. A very brief musical history, started off on guitar then a few years ago myself and a friend who I was previously in a band with discussed doing some accoustic music. He promptly handed me his old Hohner P copy saying "you can play bass" and I've been hooked ever since. Now taking it a lot more seriously having lessons as I want to improve my theory and reading. Loving every minute, fellow band members have accused my of turning into a musician, I've been called worse in my time. Used a Squire P converted to frettless for a few years, one good one made from two battered wrecks. body stripped and stained ( never again ). Have a Ibanez AGB140 semi which I never use now. Squire retired for a Overwater/Tangewood Contemporary J4 (Love it). Only small scale gigs so I've used a Laney 160watt combo for a number of years. 20watt Warwick practice amp. Soooo hello everyone in BC land.