Burns-bass

The advice I gave is what I used to teach my post-16 students. They all went on to read much better than I do!

There are two books I would recommend my students: Simplified Sight Reading by Josquin De Pres and Modern Reading Text bus Louis Bellson I used to use it alongside Walking Bass by Ed Friedland. (It contains loads of simple, clear and accessible sight reading examples and because it’s jazz it uses lots of chord tones as well). These will help you build a great foundation for reading. Then check out @Bilbo archive and work from there. Working with a teacher is best, but the principles are simple enough to learn. I used to do 15 minute focused practice every day. You’ll crack on really, really quickly.

The Boss WaZa can be a bit fiddly to set up. I followed a really good online tutorial that made it simple enough.

It’s a really good point. The WaZa is only the one I’ve used so encourage others to add their perspectives.

I gigged as a support act for Wilko and Norman played his Fender Jazz then (through my Hiwatt rig, which he seemed to enjoy!)

Boss WAZA air is the best solution, but it’s not cheap. There is a used set on here, I think. I found I used it a huge amount in the winter but less in the summer. So much so, that I went back to a wired setup.

I can attest to @NickA’s point. At a regular gig we do Friday I forgot my pedal board. Nothing to it but to plug straight into the amp and EQ on the fly. Only for two people who have seen us a lot come up and tell me that’s the best bass sound they’d heard from me in months. And no feedback either. Anyone want to buy an EBS pedal? (Joke)

If this is your logic, so is putting money into a tax-free investment vehicle like an ISA. Terms like "tax avoidance" are used pejoratively. Graveyard of ambition this country...

I think you’re implying it, which is fair enough. I just can’t live my life assuming the worst of everyone. Guess that why I’d make a terrible tax inspector! Tax is like rent. The more you pay, the better the place you get. I voted for Jeremy Corbyn (remember him?).

The Government does this by applying a 25% uplift to post tax pension contributions. This equals it pit, pretty much. Many of the “benefits” of running a Ltd company are created that way to enable people to deal with a variable income. Mine fluctuates widely across the year, for example. Britain is a strange place where economic growth is vital, yet we often treat business people as if they’re all on the take. Strange.

Making Tax Digital means we all have to use systems like Xero or Quickbooks. They’re fiddly and annoying.

I find VAT to be fiendishly complex and the systems we use to record it poorly designed. A friend of mine runs several shops with turnover exceeding £1m. He was investigated by HMRC and they treated him with respect and understanding. While there were inevitably discrepancies with VAT, they dealt with him as a professional - not as an adversary. In many case, my own included, I’m sure I mess up my tax at times. But I do my best - as do most business people. I do l use pension contributions to reduce my corporation tax bill. This isn’t a tax dodge but one of the (rapidly diminishing) benefits.

Most touring acts, especially those playing festivals, will have people to do this stuff for them. Ticking boxes and moving gear is pretty tedious stuff. Probably a bureaucratic mess up rather than something more malicious.

This thread seems to be turning into a Q&A. Anyway, the diagnosis may be correct, but treatment may be flawed…

To be fair, at £300 they’re probably not an expert in it. When it comes to double bass, you get what you pay for. I’ve personally poured money into a couple of DBs and it’s cash you’ll never get back. (Case in point is my beautiful Musima bass which sounds and plays wonderfully and would make the perfect starter bass but will pay me back much less than it owes me.)

Interesting to see how the day after Keir Starmer directly threatened Russia that Heathrow airport needs to shut for an entire day as the result of some sort of "freak accident".