Frank Blank

Isn't this some kind of ancient coracle we should be rowing across a ditch?

I have a 23.5" scale Taylor Mini-e bass that changed the way I think about basses forever. I went from struggling to play (small hands, smaller talent) 34" scale basses straight down to the little Taylor and found myself able to do so much more on it than I thought myself capable of, the realisation set in that I'd not been playing longer basses for thirty years but I'd been fighting them. Now I don't play anything over 30" scale.

That's a great name.

I believe there was a funk/punk band in Essex called Funky Monks once upon a time...

Genius...

Where are you dude, you are more than welcome to have a try on mine.

...apart from the one going to PMT because it’s mine!

That's simply too complicated for a Friday before midday.

I totally missed this post somehow, even though it answers all the questions I've emailed you about *cleans glasses*.

It took me a few goes just now to Google it in order to spell it right just now!

We were young and a little whizzed...

...mind you I was in a synth duo once for a total of one gig going under the snappy moniker of Batrachophrenoboocosmomachia.

This is really interesting, learning about other players' techniques, it does make perfect sense.

Absolutely.

See I never really vary my hand position between neck and bridge.

I was in a thrash band for years and we could never settle on a name we all liked and we went out under a compromise moniker that I disliked but what the hey. We were discussing a name during a lull in a rehearsal and our drummer crossed his arms and said "Why don't we just call the band Scotland, no explanations, just Scotland", I loved the idea but singer and guitarist quashed it. I wish we'd pushed a bit harder for it, just for the incongruity.

So the tone is purely controlled by the weight of the pluck? I'm not suggesting anyone is right or wrong, just ascertaining how others play btw.

I play finger finger-style, never got on with a pick. I play with a pluck of the tip of the finger in combination with the fingernail, I'd say 80% fingertip, 20% fingernail. This percentage varies with how hard I'm plucking as the fingernail gives the note more attack and a brighter tone. Consequently when I break the nail I have a slightly duller overall tone until the nail grows back. Is this common among finger players or am I a tip/nail freak?

Yes, but I wouldn’t like to paint it. Welcome, and on behalf of all Essex residents, sorry.

Oddly enough I have never chinned anyone, I’m all talk. Do as I say, not as I do as my c*** of a mother used to say *spits*. No issues there then...

This, with bells on. Just add on a chinning...

Don’t forget to chin them...

That, Sir, is superb news.

And as I said, your drummer is a reasonable exception. As someone who relied on being driven to rehearsals by a bandmate with my bass gear for a few month before I passed my driving test (I hope I behaved very professionally) perhaps I am being too harsh.

Bit of a Clash of content there...