chris_b

IMO the healthiest option would be to keep your thumb and hand moving when fingering the notes. Let your thumb position itself where it is comfortable.

Usually water (no ice), or maybe a ginger beer.

Great story.

Richard Briers said of acting: If you want to be an actor. . . . really, really want to be an actor. . . . don't, but if you have to act then give it a try. Most of the professional musicians I know, the ones paying mortgages from music, are also teaching. It also helps to have a partner who is in a good paying job!!

When I discovered the Aguilar TH500, about 10 years ago, it sounded so good I bought another as a backup.

Very sad news.

Any chance of changing the monitor to one that has a better sound?

GRAMMA pad. Beer crate. Move the monitor to a different position.

IMO the best way of improving a working relationship with the drummer is picking the right guy, then gigging. I play with some great drummers. Guys who listen. No show-offs, just a professional attitude, a brain, a good pair of ears and a desire to make the rhythm section fizz.

Never mind roadies. . . . I was shown how to look after cables by an electrician, so it's always option A. My Whirlwind instrument cable has celebrated its 40th anniversary.

Those Bergs and the SL112 would probably make me stop looking at the classifieds. My only suggestion would be to sell the SL and Ampeg and replace both with the SC, but as you say, "you're well cabbed".

Of the cabs I've used in the last 30 years, the best is Barefaced, followed by Bergantino and Mesa Boogie, with Ampeg a long way in the distance. I've heard others playing Aguilar cabs, and while they sound great, they are way too heavy to be of interest to me. If you can find a used Barefaced Super Compact in good condition I'd grab it. IMO these cabs can redefine your experience of playing bass. Only an hour away? Go and listen to it. Take the cash because it will be coming home with you.

Successful gig. . . . the audience and promoter have to be happy. Everything else is a nice to have.

Me, in various bands, headlining each night on the Pyramid stage.

IMO you need to change the balance point by extending the button on the upper horn. Replace the screw with one double the length and add a spacer to move the strap button nearer the 12th fret.

All amps can sound clean. . . . if you run them at half power. You want loud and clean? That's what 1000 watt amps are for.

Combinations that have worked the best for me in the last 20 years: Aguilar TH500 and Bergantino 12" cabs. All Aguilar amps and Barefaced 12" cabs. Thunderfunk amps and Bergantino and Barefaced cabs.

Do your homework, have fun and start filling that diary up with more gigs.

Hi Alan, yep, switch impedance selector to 2.67 and daisy chain the cabs. Excellent rig by the way.

I'd get a Barefaced Super Compact or the Compact T. I've used mine for the last 8 years. It's a small, light weight cab with a big sound and lots of volume. Also sounds good at a whisper.

I taught myself listening to records by the Stones, Beatles, Kinks, Animals etc, then moved on to Stax, Atlantic, Fame etc. Playing all the 45's at 33 so I could get the lines. While I was playing along to records I bought lots of sheet music and taught myself to read. My school band was a blues, soul and jazz band and the brass section used to bring parts to rehearsals, so my reading chops were pretty good by the time I left school. Sadly hardly ever used since. After 50+ years, I finally had some lessons, with Ian King. A great player and he learnt this old dog some great new tricks. Also made me realise how much better a player I could have been if I carried on with the reading and musical theory.

That's the reason I favour having 2 #1 basses and using both.

I prefer a clean bass sound so instead of running a 350 watt amp flat out I'll run a 700 watt amp at half power.

I'd not spend anymore money until you've tracked down what's going on with your current rig.