Marc S

Back when I was starting out on bass the first time around (early 80's) Me & a pal found out where Ex Eddie & The Hotrods, and current (then) bassist of the Damned, Paul Gray lived One sunday morning, a mate & myself just cold-called at his house, and asked him to show us some Damned basslines - cheeky gits that we were! He showed us into his house, and sat us down in his music room, gave me a free bass lesson, let us play on his Rick, which had been on TOTP, OGWT, and several albums. He said it was time for his lunch, gave us his phone number and invited us back Thing was, next time, instead of phoning well ahead & planning, we didn't give him much notice again (think it was about 2 days), saying we wanted to learn a couple of Damned songs, and a Hotrods song for a gig next week,and the legend of a guy accommodated us! Again, free lesson, and got invited back. Shortly afterwards, Paul joined UFO, and offered me tickets to see them live in Cardiff Now, years later, I bump into him locally from time to time. He's always friendly & chatty, shakes hands, and even remembers my name He was very ill a few years back, and I was gutted, and told him so. He said he was overwhelmed by the amount of good wishes he'd had from locals, and even facebook friends who he's never even met. Still as nice a guy as anyone could ever wish to meet, and still one of my main influences years on. Great guy PS. As someone else said earlier, so is Billy Bragg. I've met him & chatted a couple of times. As suggested, I think the money secondary for him, he's a man of principles Good to read similar stories from other BC'ers - Nice thread

Wow! That's a lot of projects. Didn't you just sell off a whole load of gear too? Good on on you beedster. Some nice work there

[quote name='Sausages' timestamp='1455194856' post='2976888'] This is true for me also. I find it difficult to find anyone to play with nowadays. I am 52, so that makes it more difficult...... [/quote] I'm of a similar age, and I'm playing more genres and with more musicians then ever now The thing is, getting older has somehow made it easier for me to meet other musicians and bands... I probably had more hang-ups about other musical genres when I was younger and somehow, I'm meeting more musicians than ever now I'm older Go & join in with some open-mic nights, meet other players, of all sorts of music

[quote name='Bigjas' timestamp='1455181993' post='2976666'] For me, playing Bass is all about the journey, not the destination. I am not the greatest player but enjoy learning new songs, even the easy ones....... ....There are a lot of other musicians in the same position as you looking for a starter band. Jas [/quote] As Jas says, it's about the journey as much as anything. I think you may just need to take a step back a little, just for a while - but don't sell your gear! Definitely join a band. That's the best thing - making music with like-minded pals, and seeing other people tap their feet, sing along or dance So many of us look to other bass players for inspiration. We can beat ourselves up, for not achieving their levels of ability But think how many keen footballers out there, who will never be as good as their heroes, like Ronaldo or Gareth Bale? That doesn't mean they should give up. It's partly about realising your own strengths & weaknesses. Improve on those weaknesses as and when you can, but others may see strengths you yourself don't realise you have That's one way joining other musicians can help - they may see & hear something in you, that you weren't aware of... I gave up playing for over 20 years - and boy do I now wish I never had. I had to start over again.... I often think how much better I'd be, if only I found time to practice for a few hours a week It's a shame your G/F thinks you should give up - but maybe she's only seeing the downside of your mood? Sorry to hear your hand is a problem. Perhaps a doctor could suggest some strengthening / stretching exercises? Hang in there mate. I'm nowhere near as good as I should be either.... But then at my age, every time I'm loading the car, I ask myself why I haven't got a road crew too

Hi Stamford, Don't worry 30's isn't late. You're never to old to try something new I took up bass as a young man, the stopped playing for over 20 years! So I essentially had to start again anyway..... at 40 something But I enjoy it more than I did when I was a lad Welcome to basschat

[quote name='Twincam' timestamp='1455031645' post='2975208'] It is true some basses sell almost as well with wear and tear..... It's funny but since starting this thread I've started to more and more like natural playing wear and tear (not abuse). Also started to like pre roadwork, reliced etc etc much more. [/quote] Yes, roadwear / relicing does seem to look better on Fenders, and I can't work out why Is it at least partly down to marketing? Or is there something in the overall design or shape? Do we convince ourselves of this? And is that because we have seen so many well known players, with roadworn instruments? You have started to like "pre-reliced" instruments - but of course, it all depends on just how well it's done. There are plenty of horrific examples around. The Fender Roadworn series are particularly good, as are Limelight basses - although I've seen some of those that IMO have gone "a bit far" That again is all down to taste. I wasn't particularly a fan of relicing, as I've already said - but I can't express just how liberating it is to gig my RW Jazz, as opposed to a mint condition instrument. I don't know how they've achieved it, but Fender have managed to make the bass feel as if it's worn in (and not worn out, I might add) The 2 Limelight's I'v e played also felt this way. No amount of sanding on my part could achieve this, I'm sure

[quote name='SubsonicSimpleton' timestamp='1455015700' post='2974965'] If you have issues with your EUB rotating, you could try something like this modified endpin which prevents unwanted rotation. [url="http://www.talkbass.com/threads/stagg-eub-megathread.344951/page-14#post-10319425"]http://www.talkbass....4#post-10319425[/url] There are a bunch of interesting solutions to making EUBs behave more like a DB when it comes to playing them on the various megathreads. Try playing sitting down instead - I started off only playing standing up, but my arco tutor has converted me to the benefits of sitting down on a lowish stool with both feet flat on the floor, it makes everything easier as the bass is completely stable with no input from either hand. Might take a little experimentation to find a seat height that works for you. [/quote] Thanks for the link to that endpin - a useful idea / adaptation And yes, I have tried sitting. Last gig I did with DB was sitting, but it wasn't the most comfortable feeling, somehow.... I suppose it's a question of getting used to it really. But my intonation was definitely out a little. Sadly, I can't get a stool into my (home) rehearsal space. ideally, I'd like to be able to do both - eventually

I'm not familiar with the Kania, and not sure what fixings you have on it But I'd thought about this previously - the Stagg I used to own had a 1/4" threaded bolt fixing socket on the back I'm sure it would be fairly easy to adapt a Cymbal stand, to make a good hands-free EUB stand If you could find one going second-hand, it's a low cost option - just a thought? (EDIT: As the ebay hands free stand was quite expensive, I seem to recall)

I think there are some who would be horrified at the thought of playing your bass on a stand. I've heard some people saying you need to "dance" or move with your bass. However, I've had a very painful problem with my foot, which precludes standing in a fixed position for too long So I hardly play my DB now - as it causes pain if I do it for too long My EUB (Eminence) came with a stand, which allows me to play the bass while on the stand, and access most of the fingerboard quite easily. This has been a real revelation for me. Although I haven't had much time to play it lately, it does mean I can play for longer, as I can move about more. Usually, when I'm playing DB / EUB, I'm also doubling up, playing bass guitar for some songs too and the stand has really helped reduce time switching between the two, and I have more confidence, knowing the bass is secure, and won't fall etc Indeed, had it not been for the EUB on the stand - I probably would have had to give up DB! Perhaps it would be good practice for you, if you practiced both methods, if possible? I did once see a "hands free" DB stand on ebay, sometime ago....

I take the best care I can of my basses, but as others have said, they are working instruments / tools and so a certain amount of knocks, dings & scrapes are expected, over a period of time.... However, when an instrument is new (at least to me) - I do tend to fret over it a bit more I once had a mint condition unmentionable, and I was just too overcautious about gigging it Partly cos, on its' first outing, our singer had caught his foot on a cable, which pulled over a cymbal stand - narrowly missing the bass! I previously didn't particularly see why anyone might buy a Roadworn or reliced bass But after trying a RW Jazz (and buying it immediately) - I suddenly saw the merit on having a bass with knocks, scrapes & dings already in place. I still take care of it, of course - but there's something quite liberating about not having to be too precious about your guitar at a gig A mate who works in a guitar shop says it's funny how some brands of bass & guitar sell well, despite or because of wear & tear (eg Fender). Whereas some brands simply won't sell if they have even the slightest scratch. He always cites PRS as an example of this

If you're specifically looking for low tension - try Innovation strings You won't be able to bow them though....

A few months back, I picked up an old Japan built P bass (may have been early 80's) The logo had been removed (badly) and the neck was bu**ered I put a second-hand neck I'd bought from a local facebook group on to it And I then sold the bass. It had been a cheap, easy-ish project.... but I really wish I'd kept it The pickups were powerful, and sounded very vintage Fender-like. The bass was a bit beaten up, but it had some real mojo about it I'm a fan of some of the 70's & 80's Japan basses - many of them are much better than the awful name people gave them What surprises me, is that even now, there are "brands" I've not heard of before I've got GAS for a Tokai P Hardpuncher, in sunburst..... help!

I've not heard of anyone use this method myself - of course, I'm a relative newcomer anyway So there may be plenty of players out there who do this - I've just not come across any personally The world of DB, and strings is a whole can of worms - there's much more choice than there is with bass guitar Thinner strings doesn't always equate to lower tension, it must be said... When I first got my Eminence EUB, it was strung with really narrow gauge strings - much thinner than any DB strings I'd previously encountered. - But they were quite high tension, and so narrow - I really didn't get on with them I now use Spirocore Weich's - they are steel (with nylon, I think) core. They are lower tension than other steel strings I've come across, and quite nice to play. Innovation make some lovely low tension strings, which are made of a nylon type material. I first used their Silver Slaps They are low tension, but quite chunky. I have to say, I found these much easier to get on with than other strings at that time and they're reasonably priced too. Keep your eye on the DB / EUB for sale section. It may seem a strange concept, for people to be selling second-hand strings But a lot of folk on here swap strings, and decide they don't like them after all. If they haven't been used too much, or swapped to too many basses, you can pick up a decent set of strings for a reasonable cost I think as you're at the beginner stage, I'd stay away from unusual tuning for now - at least until you've found your feet a little more Good luck Marc

Not seen one of these before, and not really aware of the brand. However, it looks a well built bass, like so many Japan made instruments of that era Good luck with the work. And if you got it for a song - hang on to it Looks like a real gigging workhorse

Brilliant news!