FinnDave

The one thing (pair of things) I wouldn't gig without (apart from my bass!) is my earplugs. There is no way I am going to let my ears be ruined by drummers and incompetent monitor mixes.

As far as I'm concerned, electronic music starts and ends with Tim Blake.

The one I have now is great, thought I prefer to use my RM 800, simply because it's lighter and smaller. I did have a couple of ABM 600s that failed before I got this one, and they were replaced immediately by Ashdown.

I don't care what they call me, so long as they call me!

Think I'm out - I bought a Super Compact a few weeks ago. Mind you, it replaced the one I sold earlier in the year, so might not count! That's my only acquisition other than strings this year.

Even the NHS can't manage that!

My 'music' room is currently home to 7 model boats, some are built and used regularly, others are still kits in boxes. Their main hazard is getting hit by the headstock of my bass when I practice!

I'm depping next Saturday with the band I left a year ago. That should be an interesting experience!

The rhythm guitarist in my band is a bass player in a couple of other bands, so we even have a spare bassist if we need one!

Is that a Dean's Whaleback there, or is it larger than 1/24th?

Only thing I can think of is a clip on tuner. I use an old plug in tuner I've had for about 15 years - takes AA batteries but can't remember changing them!

I have a Sansamp di box in the bag with my leads, etc in case of amp problems. I've only had to use it once, but worth carrying just in case!

My T Birds are long gone, I've still a Jazz and Precision, but they haven't been out of their cases for over a year now. I've been playing my Ibanez sixes instead. Perfect for the Dead stuff I do with the Dudes, and my hands have got used to the wider necks now, so it would be hard to swap between 4 and 6 strings now.

The Focus is one of the cars I'm considering to replace my Mitisubishsi Outlander which has proven itself to be very unreliable. If I can get enough gear into a Suzuki Swift, a Focus or similar sized vehicle would be a breeze!

I listed a double Hercules in the for sale section a few days ago, like new and still available.

I took two basses to last night's gig, as usual. My car is sat at the dealership while they stare at it and try to work out why it keeps breaking down, so I had to use my wife's 12 year old Suzuki Swift. Super Compact, Rootmaster 800 and bag of leads, etc just fitted in the boot, two basses just fitted across the back seat. Back up bass stayed in the car for the gig, but knowing it was there was good. The only time I haven't had a back up with me was our trip to Germany earlier this year where there was very little room in the vehicle taking the gear. Nothing went wrong, but if it had, I'd have been stuck.

I'm another user of 3mm big stubbies. They're the only pick I've found that works for me. Played 2 1/2 - 3 hours last night, Ibanez six string bass and one of the pair of big stubbies that live in my pocket. Despite the length of the shows we play, and the round wound strings, my picks show no sign of wear at all.

Just back from a Grateful Dudes gig in Cockfosters. Difficult acoustics, but the soundman had it sorted by half way through the first set. Audience all up and dancing around - they're a lovely bunch, the Deadheads!

B - but quite honestly wouldn't be happy with any of the options suggested.

You must be using a fairly long strap for that BTW, do you find a zip or a button fly more effective (for adjusting EQ, obviously!)?

If it sits here for more than a year unused, it will have to go. I last used it at our Hebden Bridge gig, late May. Couldn't take to Germany the following week, loaded it into the car for our SoL slot in Kent early August, but my car broke down and had to use my wife's which was too small for me, bass and the ST, so borrowed a combo when I got there. It all goes through the PA anyway, so makes little difference really. I used the SC at our recent west country gigs, and will be using it in Cockfosters on Saturday (my car is broken again!).

I have an ST and an SC and have considered using them together - with a separate amp for each, but either is more than enough for the gigs I play, so it seems a waste to carry so much gear around. If I ever become sensible, I'll probably sell the ST. It is the first one they made, and I've owned it since new, so it will be hard for me to let it go.

What strikes me as the most 'wrong' thing the guitarist and bass player are doing is expecting the OP to book gigs on the basis that they can then cancel them nearer the time if it doesn't suit them. That simply isn't going to work. No band I have been in has ever cancelled a gig, simply because it lets people down and gets the band a bad name. My band has a google calendar and we all input dates that we are not available for - mainly other gigs as some of the guys play in other bands. I quit my other bands to concentrate on this one. I arrange holidays for dates on which other band members are already unavailable, to avoid clashing with potential gig or rehearsal dates. I would only cancel for a serious medical emergency that rendered me physically unable to attend or play. Even when I was taking my wife for radiotherapy for three weeks, we arranged for someone else to drive her on the one day I had a gig to play. In fact, she organised the replacement driver herself, as she wouldn't dream of asking me to give up a gig like that.