FinnDave

I sold everything I had before moving back from Finland in 2012, so I have nothing more than 6 years old, but still two of the basses I bought in my first six months back in the country, a Classic 60s Jazz, which is a high-end Mexican Fender with a cellulose finish. I'm taking that out to a jam the afternoon. The other is my white US Precision, which I have probably played on more gigs than all the others combined. I couldn't sell either of those two unless it was a matter of life or death. My current number one, though, has to be my 1998 Alembic Epic, but as I've only owned it for a a couple of months, I don't have a sentimental attachment to it yet. Lovely bass though!

Got in half an hour ago from a gig in a holiday park. In contrast to last weekend's 260 mike round trip to headline a festival in Kent, this one was a 1 1/2 mile round trip to play with a local blues band in the village I live in! Spent more time loading/unloading the car than driving, which made a nice change. Gig was a bit loud, but otherwise fine, paid in cash, home and unpacked by half eleven. It was a bit of fun on a Saturday night and put money in my pocket, and that's what its all about, for me. Played my MiM Fender standard Jazz though my ABM 600 & Barefaced 1x12, bass strung with Labella flats and played with a pick, sounded good.

The Ashdown ABMs are good amps. I'm currently using an ABM600 (with a Rootmaster 800 as a back-up, or if I'm too lazy to carry the heavier ABM!) and they go through either a Barefaced Super Compact (1x12) or Super Twin (2x12). The Super Compact is an 8 ohm cab, so I'm getting about 350w from the ABM or about 500w from the Rootmaster. I always use the 1x12 for pub gigs, and the volume has never needed to above about 1/3. Like you, my pub bands don't put anything through the PA except vocals (and sometimes the bass drum). For larger gigs, I prefer to use the 2x12, so have the full power of the amp available, but again, have never needed to use more than about 1/3 volume. The 2x12 is then basically an on-stage monitor for me & the band as the bass is DI'd into the venue's PA. Two 1x12s would be a better bet for me, really, but I bought my Super Twin a few years ago, and the 1x12 only last year. I don't want to sell my Super Twin, so I'm stuck with more cab than I really need hanging around the house between gigs. Luckily, I have an understanding wife!

Here is a video (taken by a member of the audience with their phone) which isn't bad at all, the sound is particularly good (especially with headphones or through decent speakers) so I decided to share it. This was the final number we played as Saturday's headline act at last weekend's Summer of Love party in Kent. Bass is my Alembic Epic, played with a pick, through an ABM 600 and Barefaced Super Twin, with DI into the PA My fourth gig with this band since joining in January, and each one is better than the last. Hope you enjoy.

Surely even one hit would generate enough money to buy a whole room full of spare bows?

My nearest music shop is PMT in Oxford, about 40 mins drive when the traffic's light. I do make it my first port of call if I need/want something, as they are friendly and helpful bunch, greet me by name on my occasional visits and last year, when I had problems with an item I'd bought there, drove over to replace it. That's good service! I think I bought a couple of amps there last year, and a Jazz bass this year, also a set of strings, so I'm not a big spender, but they treat me as if I am. I make the longer drive (well over an hour each way and a lot more road miles) to Bass Direct now and then if I want something that only they have (such as the used Alembic I bought there last month). Again, they are friendly and decent people. Probably my favourite music shop, though is down in Devon, where we holiday several times a year (not in the music shop, though my wife might think we do), which is WM guitars in Ashburton. Always happy to see me and chat, even though I often buy nothing or just a few picks. I did buy a small combo for home use from them last year, mainly because it gives me pleasure to use something that reminds me of the place. So overall, the common factor is personal service, which all of these three offer.

The pub on the Abingdon Road? Last time I played there there were very few people around, and the pub refused to pay the agreed fee. I don't think we'll be back!

I can see it would have been a very different experience in bad weather, we were very lucky. And yes, it is very well organised. Because we are a 6 piece, with two drummers, they had set the stage with an extended drum riser, so I was a bit cut off in one corner, pinned in by the riser to one side, the edge of the stage on the other and the keyboard man in front of me. The sound crew took one look and added an extra monitor for me, which really helped.

Yep! (best as I can remember, I was supposed to facing the audience, not the backdrop!) But the guy said before we started he had oil wheels, and I'm pretty sure I saw them in action.

I'll let you know when the editing team (Bill the keyboard player and his son the cameraman) have finished weaving their magic with our raw material. There was a proper light show there, as well, so it should look good if you ignore the ugly bunch actually playing!

Got home at half three last night (well, technically this morning) after playing at the Summer of Love party somewhere in Kent (not trying to be secretive, I just followed the directions from my satnav until I got there!). We (Grateful Dudes) were the last band on the main stage, and were delayed by 30 minutes by the organisers for some reason, so had to cut numbers from our planned set as we went. Still managed to get 2 hours in, straight through, even if it did feel like 30 minutes! My fourth gig with this band, and starting to settle in. Played my Alembic Epic through AMB 600 and Barefaced Super Twin, but that was really just a stage monitor as everything was mic'd or DI'd. Good to meet another bass chatter there, Steve Browning played a storming set with the Aguilar Blumenfeld Project and Barry 'The Fish' Melton (of Country Joe and...). Two hundred and sixty mile round trip, the journey home was a lot easier in terms of traffic than the drive down on Saturday morning, the M25 was horrendous! I believe we made a 32 track recording of the event, plus high def video, so might have something to remind us of the tremendous summer of 2018 when winter takes over.

I'll own up to eight - a Precision, a Jazz, a Gibson EB4, an Alembic Epic and an acoustic, plus three that are currently for sale, so I no longer feel like I own them.

I've played quite large gigs with my RM 800 and Barefaced Super Twin and the volume has rarely been above 1/3 open, definitely a great amp.

I usually end up DI-ing straight to the desk when recording. I loved my old Selmer T&B 50 back in the 70s, but would rather do without the weight and general faffing about that a valve amp seemed to involve; the ABM and Rootmasters are simple to use and reliable (and light, well the RM is!)

As well as sounding good together, they are both a light and easy carry, an ideal quick-in, quick-out rig for pub gigs, which is what I use mine for. And thanks for the plug

I've got a Rootmaster 800 for sale on here, only selling it as I have two, plus an ABM. Sounds good for a class D, nice and light, too. Played many gigs with one or other my RM800s and a Super Compact.

I'll be playing mine through my Super Twin on Saturday, that should double heaven!

I gigged my new-to-me ABM 600 paired with a Super Compact last Saturday. Sounded superb!

Oh yes, I do remember, reckon to was more than a year ago, though! Glad it's still getting out and gigging.

The bass? Was it one of mine - I've been through a phase of buying and selling so many I forget what I've had!