chris_b

String height is a personal choice. What do you think? If you think your fret buzz is excessive, check the neck is straight, check the frets are level, raise the action or play with a softer touch.

At this time of the year, Christmas lights would look cool. Better still, if you got those flashing ones.

I use the same two basses for all my gigs. One is active with rounds, one is passive with flats. I sound check them and choose the one I prefer on the night. All my basses sound great with the controls on the amp set to 12 o'clock. Buy the right amp and you probably won't need the EQ. Very bad sounding rooms can throw a spanner in the works, but usually the master volume is usually the only control I use. IMO if you regularly have to take big swings at the EQ to get a sound you like, you bought the wrong amp.

Aah!

I put my basses back in the gigbags when they're not being played.

Says it all.

I'm suffering the same problem with a couple of lightweight basses that weren't expensive, look nice and play well, but are not quite there with the sound. I'm getting the same hollow clonk instead of a full blooded tone. Do I cut my losses and sell or do I spend more than the basses cost on high end replacement pickups and preamps, and still end up with a bass that doesn't sound right. I'm reluctant to throw cash at a problem with no certainty of the outcome. I'm thinking I should sell. IMO the Bart Mk1's do not sound good enough on any bass I've played.

Nice one.

One of the greats. Listen to any Stax record and there's a 99% chance it's him on bass.

Play with other musicians. Get more experience, improve in leaps and bounds.

Some fabulous New Orleans musicians. . . . . . .

Where does your age come into this? Your "limits" are self imposed. Stop that!! Push those limits every time you pick up a musical instrument. You're not spectacular? Very few of us are. Just put more effort into being the most "spectacular" you can be.

Learn to play your favorite numbers and the ones that interest you. That's the best place to start.

Many years ago we had a drummer who was about the join the band when he dropped a bomb-shell, he'd do the gigs but wanted to dep out the rehearsals!! He didn't join the band.

A giant in his field. Even so, I didn't like the way he shoehorned strings and choral arrangements into everything.