FinnDave

My band headlined a festival in Kent 6 or so weeks ago, and for reasons I won't go into here, I played through a Fender Rumble 100 combo. As it was DI'd, it sounded every bit as good as the Ashdown/Barefaced rig I had planned to take.

Give us a clue about where you live and I am sure someone on here will be able to recommend someone local to you.

Down through the night is my bass fav on SR.

I usually use my ABM 600 with my Super Twin, and the Rm 800 with the Super Compact, large fairly light rig, and small lighter rig.

It's really worth finding someone who knows what they are doing - it was uneven frets that first had me look for a proper tech - not a kid in the local guitar shop! I am sure someone on here will be able to help if you let us know your location. I only know the area around Oxford.

My current main amp is an Ashdown class D - the Rootmaster 800. Sounds good to my ears. The ABM (I have a 600) probably just has the edge in terms of sound, but the RM is smaller and lighter, and that counts for a lot to me as well. As nearly all of the gigs I play the bass is DI'd into the PA, the amp & cab I use are just one stage monitoring anyway

I did my own bass set-ups for years, then one time needed some work done that required more than my basic skills, so took the bass to a local guitar tech. He did the work and also set it up perfectly. He now knows exactly how I play and every bass I have has been through his hands. I now use only two on a regular basis, and will be taking them to him once year to ensure they stay in peak condition. Costs me 50-60 quid a time - for the difference it makes, it is money well spent.

Eric Gales is not just a guitarist - he is an exceptionally talented guitarist.

I had the (mis)fortune of meeting John Burt. You're not wrong at all!

I've been on stage when we've invited our ex- singer (used to be full time, was something of a 'name') to join us for a song. First one was fine, half an hour later when we asked her up again she could barely stand and was incoherent!

And yet people mock plywood basses!

I was in TVC basement (VT) from 82 until 85 or 6, then moved up to the 4th floor spur when I got a job with News, apart from the attachment to Doc Features in Ken House 88-91/2 that was where I stayed until I left in 96. We were certainly in the same building for a couple of years, though.

Our paths may have crossed, I was in TV News picture library and then on attachment as Clive James' picture researcher for a few years. Started out in BH in 1980-2, TVC until 96, KH 88 until 91 or 92.

Luck was a typo, lack was the correction!

You know what they say about pictures, or the lack of them….

Which part of Aunties' glorious empire were you working in? (another ex beeb man)

And very few of them musicians!

If you gave up every other option to be a full time muso when you were 18, what else are you going to turn to at 60+? I've worked with people like that, it's the only thing they know how to do as they didn't get into bottom licking career ladders in the 20s and 30s. No money to be made in old album sales now, the internet put paid to those guys' pension plans!

It's a careful balancing act between the pre-gig drink of water and the length of the set - I've struggled with 2 1/2 hour sets this year! And I'm no longer in my 50s - it doesn't get any easier you get older!

Same here.

Are you sure that's not what they'll pay to have it taken away?

Take me an hour and a half on a good day to get to london, but it's something I never do voluntarily. if we have to play a gig in London, I grit my teeth and drive there, but nothing else is going to tempt me. I dislike crowds, and the thought of spending the day surrounded by bassists doesn't fill me with cheer. I know very few other bassists, there's usually only one per band, and in the bands I play with, it's me!

Just back home from depping for my old band, in a large pub in Marlborough. Great to see the people I played with almost every week for five years, and to play the old familiar songs, but very few people there, no advertising about the gig that I saw. Having played only Grateful Dudes gig for the last year, where we always get very enthusiastic and knowledgeable audiences, the contrast was rather sad. We played OK, enjoyed ourselves and will get paid, but it was more like a social evening with music than a gig.

There's a Sandberg Thunderbird just been advertised on Facebook. It's in Yorkshire, I think I it's only on his personal page at the moment. I can put you in touch if anyone's interested.