ezbass

I’ll get my coat.

For those with vintage, Fender type instruments that normally need a screwdriver and neck removal to adjust the truss rod, rather than laying out for the Stewmac tool that makes this much easier, get yourself down to B&Q. @mcnach discovered this cheaper alternative that, with a bit of fettling, works a treat:

Personal influences, but hopefully highlighting some lesser known bass warriors, rather than just the famous names. On that note, a player who impressed my greatly back way before I ever took up bass was one Joe Fagin. He played in a local organ, bass & drums trio at a local boozer. A great player with an even more impressive voice (your may know him from the theme tune to Auf Wiedersehen Pet and some ads around that time). He was the the first person I heard use tritones and double stops. My chums and I got him to show us what he was doing after one show, which he was gracious enough to do. He told us that he’d learnt them from Stanley Clarke, who he had met.

Ah, but the problem there is that OP asked who it was that turned them onto bass. None of the many exceptional female bass players did in my case (my age and timing being a contributing factor). That is not to say that I’m not aware of them, or that I’m not mightily impressed by their work, it’s just they didn’t turn me on to bass at the time and no offence or bias was implied by their omission. However, a list of female bass players whom I really like since taking up the 4 stringed beast would include: Rhonda Smith Yolanda Charles Tina Weymouth Gail Ann Dorsey There are, of course, others but these would top my list.

I’m afraid not, at least not my one. He’s an Essex boy. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Childs_(bassist)

Pino, notably his ‘80s fretless work. Tony Levin, his work with Peter Gabriel Roscoe Beck, he worked with Robben Ford & Eric Johnson, 2 of my all time favourite guitarists. Chris Childs, better known for being a member of Thunder, but I used to see him regularly at a local music venue playing with Bad Influence.

🤞 Let us know how it pans out, but only when you feel up to it.

Screw it! Get a Stingray 🤣

No issues with mine at all. Sounds like a rogue, or damaged in transit.

As I was in B&Q today, I bought one of these today to give it a go as it’s significantly cheaper than chips. After a bit of fettling with a file and a pair of mole grips, it’s the perfect tool at a bargain price. Thanks for the heads up @mcnach.

Close to the Edit - Art of Noise

Suspended in Gaffa - Kate Bush

Road To Hell - Chris Rea

Still has the testicular threatening gear shift though. He always seemed to be a bitter man afterwards. Carole Kaye was cool before she became a the ‘I know all, I played on everything’ harridan. For me, the man in the first post of this thread is the epitome of cool, then and now. Full disclosure - TL fanboy here.

OK, not a bass player (AFAIK), but...

If this had come up 6 months ago when I was living about 20 minutes from Horley, I would have been all over this, pretty pronto. However, I’m now 530 miles away.

Funky Moped - Jasper Carrot

You Can’t Always Get What You Want - Strolling Bones

^^^ this. Enjoy the new beast, but don’t forget to share.

Best of luck, Nik. I’m in a similar position with having to start over in a new location. We moved to Perthshire last December and have only just moved into our house. I keep getting, “Have you joined any new bands?” from some friends who seem to have forgotten that we’ve been in various stages of lockdown for over a year. It does seem very daunting.

The Great Escape - Boys Like Girls

I Can’t Stand Losing You - The Police

This was always my experience with that branch, a really nice bunch of folks.

Slave to the Rhythm - G Jones