chris_b

Stretching to reach notes is physically bad for you, poor technique and unnecessary. If 1-2-4 is more comfortable and you can achieve an even flow of notes, then do that. There is no benefit in using force during any technique. IMO, if it's uncomfortable then you're doing it wrong. If you are going to use one finger per fret on a chromatic scale make sure you DON'T anchor your thumb and then stretch for the notes. Always move your thumb/hand so your fingers can reach the notes without stretching. You can play a chromatic scale with just one finger. Try that and see how many times your thumb moves. That's how mobile your hand/thumb should be.

Shredding videos are just that. Technique show off pieces. They are not how players play when they are in a band or playing an ensemble piece. People who are this good know what fits in and where. Listen to Victor Wooten playing with Bela Fleck and Keb Mo and you'll hear all the right notes in all the right places.

This. Learning songs you'll never play live is still teaching you about rhythm, technique and chord changes. You are building up your library of riffs, licks and lines, which you will go on to adapt and play in many songs in the future.

If you've got it, flaunt it! I'm jealous of anyone who can play bass better than I can, especially 9 year old kids!!!!

Double post!!

You're very kind. I still think I should have worked harder to make myself the first choice, but Phil Chen was a monster player back then. It was a bit of a David and Goliath situation for me.

In 1971 I joined a band when Phil Chen left. Several months later, when his band folded, they kicked me out so he could rejoin!! Like so much in music, you just have to put it down to experience and move on, or you'd go mad!

Yes. All Parts strap locks are made under licence from Dunlop at half the price. They don't fail either.

Why would you have more than one strap lock system? All my basses get standardized to Dunlops as soon as they arrive.

Easy, start up 2 new bands.

But, I'm always looking. I could have bought a couple of amps and half a dozen basses in the last 2 years, but my "Must be better than what I already have" rule has kicked in and stopped me.

The only thing I've bought since my BB2 2019 has been a lead, and that was only because I lost mine at a rehearsal studio, a couple of months ago.

Check the classifieds and get a Super Compact. That cab will be good for many of the larger gigs as well. I briefly used a BB800 with my Super Compact. They sounded pretty good together.

Probably understandable when you hear most of the basslines they were expected to play!

For starters, listen to any of the dozen or so A list bass players on Keb Mo, Bonnie Raitt, Robben Ford, Steely Dan, Delbert McClinton and Crusaders records.

Good move. The criteria for upgrading a bass is that the new one has to be better. If it's not better then wait until you find one that is.

Mustang Sally

It doesn't mean you weren't good enough. You probably were, but people can be greedy and there is always someone who is better.

My 68 P bass needed the bridge realigning as soon as I bought it and a refret after 3 years!! I know there were good ones, but it was a lottery buying a Fender back then. The only vintage Fenders that haven't been worked on probably spent most of their time in the case.

If you are really never going to gig, I'd recommend something like the Palmer Pocket Bass Amp and a good set of head phones. Connect it up to your music source and you have much higher quality bass sound than you can get out of a small or practice amp, and it takes up no room at all.

My passive Mike Lull PJ5 fits that description exactly. . . . and it's 3 tone burst, with rosewood and tort. With flats and foam it's a perfect Soul machine. Take the foam out and it slots into any genre. I bought it used, 10 years ago, in unplayed condition. It's 8.6lb weight is very playable, even on long gigs. I fell on my feet with this one. There have been some fantastic basses in the classifieds lately. I'd check the adverts out for a few months before I'd consider buying new.

I've put Dunlop strap locks on all my basses for the last 30 years. I remain incident free. Last month our guitarist just caught his Gibson just before it hit the floor. His Schaller strap lock failed!! It's not unusual to hear about Schaller strap lock problems.

About an inch up the B string (from the ball end) the string narrows. Can you thread it through the bridge slot at that point and slid it along? Does that make sense?

I've worn my ACS plugs to gigs, at Santa Pod (with ear defenders over them!) and In Atlanta and New Orleans watching the NFL games. They have saved me many times.