Cato

I don't really know anything about Macs but there's a free version of Ableton live lite that apparently works if you've got the right OS https://www.ableton.com/en/products/live-lite/ As to interfaces, again I'm not sure what works with Macs but I'm currently using a cheap Behringer interface, the Guitar Link UC6102 which is as basic as it gets, it's really just for guitars, if you want to mic up other instruments or record vocals I'm not sure it's up to the job. It's also no longer supported by the manufacturer so doesn't receive software updates although that hasn't caused me any problems so far I'm looking to upgrade to a focusrite 2i2 or 2i4 in the next couple of weeks which looks like a significant step up.

This is the single most important bit of advice when it comes to batteries in basses. As long as you follow it a new battery should be good for several months. I've heard people on here say that they change batteries once a year whether the bass needs it or not but I suspect that those people are using more than one bass over the 12 month period, if you're using the same bass all the time I'm not sure that you'll get that much.

That spliced together 'rap' is astonishing. How much footage did the guy watch in order to put that together?

When I record i put the bass through a a Zoom B1on multi effects pedal then put the signal from that in to the PC. That gives me a range of basic sounds and effects,for any further tweaking of the sound I adjust the tone controls on the passive basses or EQ on the active basses. It's basically the most ludite/technophobe approach to modern recording that i coud come up with.

There was a point in the early 90s when I joined a band with a keys player who had a proper top end synth. When I first heard the bass patches I found myself wondering if the bass guitar had a future when it seemed like the synth could do it all. It turned out that whilst the keyboard player could make authentic sounding bass guitar noises he couldn't make the instrument sound like it was an actual bass guitar. He couldn't replicate basic techniques like hammer ons or slides and he couldn't imitate the fundamental dynamics of fingers interacting with strings. Mind you, that was nearly 25 years ago, I imagine the technology has moved on quite a bit by now.

Don't get wrong i'm not criticising the intinstrument or the player. it just seems daft and somewhat misleading to call the instrument a 'bass' when playing basslines seems to be a very small part of what people actually use them for.

I don't really think of these extended range instruments as basses, some of them have the same tonal range as a piano. Obviously you can play basslines on them, but you can play basslines on a keyboard too.

You want it to compliment your gold chaps?

After 25 odd years of using these https://www.amazon.co.uk/Jim-Dunlop-Tortex-Guitar-Plectrums/dp/B001DZTNS6 on guitar and ,when required, on bass, a couple of months ago I bought a pack of these. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Plectrum-Dava-Grip-Tip-Pack/dp/B00154OJOI/ref=sr_1_1?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1521634438&sr=1-1&keywords=dava+guitar+picks+purple I used to think Dunlop tortex were pretty much the last word in grippyness without resorting to the ultra thick picks with thumb indents, but the Davas are in a different league.

Raised a chuckle.

I presume you'll be posting links to these clips?

'Chemical Weapons, fine. Nukes, great. But even in the face of utter destruction we will never stoop to deploying weapons such as these against our enemies'.

I don't like any kind of burst finishes on basses but I really like an aged two or three tone sunburst on some guitars. I am aware this makes no logical sense.

Anything by Ennio Morricone.

I love Mexican Fenders. I've got a 2016 an MiM Precision Deluxe and 2 Mexi guitars, one from c2001, the other brand new last year. They are all superb instruments. My next purchase, if they are still around in 12 months time, may well be an MiM 70s Jazz. I think there was a period from the mid 2000s up to about 2010ish when they had a slightly dodgy reputation, but having never knowingly played one from that era I can't say whether that reputation was justified.

Squier Affinity basses have a bit of a mixed reputation, I think they've had good production runs and less good production runs over the years. The next line up, the VM series, seem to be universally well regarded and can be had for a couple of hundred quid, give or take, on the used market. If you want something cheap and reliable then, apart from some complaints about weight, I don't think I've ever heard a bad word said about Thomann's Harley Benton range. Certainly my brother in law's HB jazz is a very decent instrument for about £100 new.

That Ampeg is my 'if I won the lottery' bass. I'd probably just keep it on the wall as a piece of art.

Could be useful for gardeners. They could keep one up in the allotment shed. Handy for getting in some quiet practice and also for digging potatoes.

I'd say fingerstyle requires a bit more work before it becomes second nature, so it's worth prioritising as a technique early on. It uses muscles in the forearm that probably aren't that developed in most people, for most beginners a certain amount of practice time is necessary just to get 'match fit', that was certainly my experience when I first switched to fingers.

It took 8 days to get a bass I ordered a couple of weeks before Christmas, but a packet of flatwounds I ordered at the same time got to me in under 48hrs.

If you can play a fretted bass why wouldn't you want to try fretless? Theoretically at least, just about every member of this forum has the fundamental skills needed to play a fretless, it would be stranger if most of us didn't fancy giving it a go at some point.

I've found volumes 2 & 3 on Amazon, but not 1.

I recently bought myself a Boss G1on for silent home practice. To be honest it's not as impressive as the B1on for bass, most of the presets seem to be metal/thrash/djent/whatever-it's -called-this-week oriented, but there are a couple of nice clean settings suitable for funk or jangly indie and some less stupid distortion settings as well. You can program your own settings of course, but it's a bit of a faff and I can't be arsed. £45 new, if you can find one second hand for £35 or less, then even with it's deficiencies, it would still be a bargain.

I've been eating quite a lot of tofu recently. High protein, virtually cholesterol free , full of amino acid thingies and various nutrients I've never previously heard of and actually quite tasty once you learn how to press it and marinate it properly. I'm not even vegetarian, I'm just trying to lose a few pounds and because tofu is so low in calories you get bigger portions than you would using meat in the same dish. It's the future.

This guy is one of the best tutors on youtube. He starts with the basics but he also does some more advanced lessons. Also Scott Whitely. Don't let the 'Bassics' title fool you, the lessons quickly progress in to more advanced territory. He also does a series on 'advanced' techniques.