chris_b

I'd suggest an East Unipre with Bart split coil pickups. Or an out board preamp, such as the EBS MicroBass II Preamp Pedal.

That's the place. Thanks.

The TH500 is 250 watts into 8 ohms.

I don't know. I'm sure it rankles that he can't make a successful solo career.

Electrical stuff will always have a failure rate. These days its a pretty small number but it will never be zero. My brand new Mesa 400+ blew a valve the first time we plugged it in, in the shop. I'd email Aguilar and ask their opinion and if they have a service or repair centre in the UK.

Keep the bass and buy the wife something. Bribery always works.

My wife used to try on the old, "I've had that dress in the wardrobe for years, it's just that I've never worn it" trick! I'll usually tell my wife if there is a bass that I'm interested in. I'll list all the reasons why this new bass would be better than what I've got. She doesn't understand a word, listens like she does and usually ends by telling me, "If you think it's that good, get it". Mostly, by the time I've finished talking through all the points I've decided to keep the old one.

Really?? I think we've seen experienced players didn't react.

While Keith Richards said he "considered" BF to be a Stone, BF was more realistic when he said he'd "been a side-man for 30 years, but he'd never be a member of the Stones". I don't think Keith cares but Jagger seems to be the one wanting to share the pot with the fewest number of people. I believe Ronnie Wood was on wages for 25 years and the others thought he was a "full" member and were surprised to find out that he'd never been signed up.

I've seen a couple of good players using Sire 5 string Jazz basses and they sounded pretty good. I even went down to Andertons and tried their entire stock, but sadly, these basses are heavier than my current Jazz by a couple of pounds, so that's not viable for me. If the weight isn't a problem then these are a lot of bass for the money. Good choice.

For "click-bait" read head line. Newspapers and advertisers have been doing this for a hundred years and more. He says active basses are not better, just different. I agree. These are major points (big steps) not an comprehensive list down to every last nut and bolt. I can't see a reason to be negative about this video, or Scott Devine.

I just watched the video and I don't have any disagreement with anything SD says. This is just main points on a flip chart not a thesis so there is nothing controversial or inaccurate in the video.

Billy Cotton and Alma Cogan.

Brian Jones first asked Paul Jones (Manfred Mann) to be the singer in the band. Jones turned him down because he didn't think a band playing Blues would have "any future"!! Everyone else in the band had a tough time when the Glimmer Twins ego's (stoked by the even bigger ego of Andrew Oldham) kicked in. Bill Wyman was a reason why I picked up a musical instrument. I saw them in the 60's in a Cinema in Greenford (now a Tesco). I managed to get on to the Earl's Court security crew for several of the 1976 shows. And went with my son to see them at the O2 about 10 years ago. For me the stand out of the O2 show was Charlie Watts. He's not a technician but he never missed a beat and just pushed the band along, all night. The Stones were writing hits over a period of 20 years, from the 60's to the 80's. That's a very long time for a band to be creative. IMO the high points were scattered throughout that period. The entertainment and music business will be a poorer place when they stop touring. Edit for spilling

Who is suggesting this course of action? Is it Aguilar or one of their authorised service/repair centres?

Depends on how good you are at writing songs and where you are playing. Playing to impress yourself is a totally different thing to playing to an audience. Especially if you are expecting someone else to pay you.

Buy something that you like to listen to. That gives you the sound that makes you go, "Wow!!!" There is a myth that valve is the "best" sound. It isn't, or they wouldn't have totally disappeared from pro touring PA systems and from most recording studios. They are just another method of creating a sound that is available to us as bass players. In 25 years I've gone from a Mesa 400+, through SS and D class and none of them sounded any worse that the other. The Aguilar D class I'm using right now sounds better than most of the valve amps I heard when I was starting out. Most players can make even the best amp sound bad and make any amp sound good, if they know how to use the EQ. As has been said, don't get hung up on detail. Listen to the amp and then decide.

Ringo wasn't a technical wizard on drums, but he changed the concept of the instrument for every drummer that came after. He introduced the idea of "lead" drumming. After Ringo, drummers could play anything. Listen to Steve Gadd on 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover. There is a direct line from Ringo to the drum pattern on that song.

I understand, but when we are playing in a band we have 3 things to do: play our instrument well, play in the band well and play the songs that an audience wants to hear. There is only one of those that is important for an audience. There are songs I play that I like and songs I definitely don't like, but whichever one is liked by the audience will have my vote to get into the set. If you are good enough you can make an audience like what you are playing but most semi-pro bands aren't that good or interesting enough, so covers it is. The era of self-indulgent bands has long gone. Ignore your audience and you'd be better restricting your playing to rehearsal rooms or taking up golf. If we're not putting bums on seats, or selling beer (however you want to describe it) were are failing as entertainers, because and at the semi-pro level that is what our job is. . . entertainment and sales.

But not when I'm playing it!!

This is the last song of the night for one band I play with. Bass starts and it turns into a big sing-along. A great song and sends everyone home happy.

For me it would depend on the band and the musicians. I've played with some great guys who were shambolic, disorganised and sometimes a pain, but the playing was so good I just went along and enjoyed the ride. I prefer to be more organised, but if good players just want to jam then I'm all for it. Edit for sense!

And he produced, amongst others, some Little Feat records.

Pete, your post reflects my experience. . . . . . I've also lost gigs because I don't sing. One guy told me he'd give me loads of work if I learnt to play double bass. I tried once, when I was 20. It wasn't pretty!!