FinnDave

Gibson ain't interested in us bass players. The only half decent bass they've ever made was the Thunderbird, and it's still unplayable in standard form.

[quote name='josie' timestamp='1475106585' post='3143184'] A good word for Dawsons. We bought my son's Ibanez acoustic guitar from their Stockport branch (now sadly closed) [/quote] I bought my first half decent bass from Dawsons in Stockport, a Framus Jazz bass in 1976 or 7. I don't suppose the Rhythm House on Hillgate is still there? Seemed like a relic from a bygone age 40 years ago!

[quote name='project_c' timestamp='1475082514' post='3142930'] Nice! Love black & maple Fenders, here's my 3 main basses, the 2 Precisions get the most use but love all 3: - 90's USA body with 78 USA fretless neck, CS62 pickups, tapewounds, missing tone knob (keeps falling off) - 83 USA with Quarter Pounders, tapewounds - 2011 USA Jazz Dlx, stock, strung with Hi-Beams - overweight ginger cat, born 2015, has wind [/quote] Nice. Very nice (though I'm not convinced about the cat!).

Thanks I really like the Jazz, but our guitarist prefers the thump of a Precision behind him, so it hasn't had as much use as I'd like. I'll take the black P to tomorrow's rehearsal and see if it meets with his approval. If it doesn't, I might bung a Quarter Pounder in it. My other (white) P bass is a current US Standard, and the pick up is good in them.

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1475073439' post='3142822'] Staff in music shops haven't changed much in 60 years. [/quote] That would explain the smell.

Last March I splashed out on a Fender US Standard Jazz, black, n maple, then I put a black scratch plate on it. Love it. Still paying for it, though! A few weeks ago I saw a similar (though MiM) Precision for sale on Facebook, decided to sleep on it but it had sold by the morning. Then I saw another, so I jumped on it. Arrived today, well packed, only needed tuning (and nothing was out by more than 1/4 turn) and then I played for the hour or more. I'm in Fender even now, but will need to shift a couple of other basses to make room for them. Here's a family pic of the new ones: [attachment=228819:14449058_10154564056564313_4046513831905709023_n.jpg]

[quote name='BottomE' timestamp='1475046014' post='3142485'] This is about as lightweight as it can get. One of these plugs into my bass. Phone goes into it as backing track source. Boom. Works ok when on the road and in hotels. [/quote] Exactly what I use if I feel the need to play without disturbing wife or neighbours.

My arms aren't long enough for a selfie with bass.

OK, not exactly selfies as I haven't worked out how to play the bass and hold a camera at the same time, these two are from summer 2015 when Ms Haan was still with us. Taken at a bike rally north of Banbury. [attachment=228780:10339341_481273958714804_8347888790453307091_o.jpg] [attachment=228781:11698925_481273665381500_4211478583293442056_o.jpg]

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1474981719' post='3142015'] There used to be a card tucked into the back on International Musician that allowed you to get more information from their advertisers simply by ticking the boxes of the manufacturers your were interested in. Then many weeks after you'd sent it off and complete forgotten about it, catalogues would start to arrive in the post. I think I ticked every single guitar and synthesiser manufacturer, and as a result had a whole stack of brochures for gear I could only dream about affording one day. I think my favourite was the John Birch catalogue full of photos of weirdly shaped guitars. [/quote] I'd completely forgotten that, but you're dead right, I did exactly the same thing!

1969 for me...moving up to 'big school', learning to play the trumpet (!) and making little model planes. Didn't discover bass for another 5 or 6 years.

[quote name='lowdown' timestamp='1474969660' post='3141855'] What's a C between friends? [/quote] It can be as wide as an ocean

Yes, didn't see it taken, just gone when I got back to the bike. Had all sorts of stuff in it I could have done without losing.

Last time I was in Henley, someone nicked one of the panniers off my bike while it was in a pub car park. Can't remember the name or location of the pub, it was 4 or 5 years ago.

I reckon my first gig was about 40 years ago. My most recent gig was about 2 hours ago.

We had a bloke wander onto the stage and try to talk to each of us in turn during a recent gig in Swindon. He then tripped and hit his head on the wall and laid himself out cold. We had to stop while the police removed him. He was last seen being carried into the back of an ambulance. Later turned out he wanted to buy us drinks and was trying to fin out what we wanted!

Well, an entertaining afternoon at Lils. We owned and played 4 or 5 songs, then let the rest of the gang there use our gear, which was educational, not having heard my amp from out front before. I was tired after last night that I was nodding off in front of the PA, so moved outside so the cool air would wake me up (it didn't). Got called to play a few more songs to close and was drifting towards sleep while standing up and playing. That's a first, anyway!

I have several basses to choose from but end up playing my 2012 US standard P at almost every gig we do. I often wonder why I keep any of the others!

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1474809097' post='3140649'] Signing for the cash is fairly normal for us these days especially in brewery run pubs with a landlord running it rather than owning it. [/quote] Yes, I had to sign for our band's cash last night, probably 50% of the places we play as for a signature.

[quote name='TimR' timestamp='1474807843' post='3140632'] That sounds an odd thing to do. If I was selling something, I'd pass on all the details of any arrangements made and let the new owner decide whether he wanted to continue. Landlords really are an odd bunch. [/quote] I'm almost certain that the tenancy hasn't changed yet.

Pubs seem to be changing hands increasingly often these days. We had a gig booked at a place we had played many times under the previous tenant, who then cancelled because the pub was being sold. Drove past yesterday and they have another band advertised for the day they cancelled just a week ago.

Well done mate, it's highly addictive, half my life feels like just waiting for the next gig (most of the other half I spend asleep!)

Fat Lils this afternoon! We'll be setting up from three and playing by around half past. Come along, bring something to play or just come and listen. Say hello to the house band bass player if you do turn up! (Though I might be a bit vague, played a long gig last night and crawled into bed at half four).

Just back from one of our regular gigs near Swindon. Place was quiet during the first half (and half of those who were there left during our set!) but filled up again in the second set, so we played a double length set to keep them there. Well work out by the end, but we had plenty of them up and dancing and singing along. Landlady pleased and wants us for a couple of dates next year as well. My £150 Ashdown combo (Ebay bargain) received compliments on its tone and punch.