chris_b

The thumb should move whenever the note to be played lies outside the natural reach of the fingers. Learning to stretch is not the right way to play. The thumb should also be moving in anticipation of the next note or phrase to be played. The thumb should never be "planted" but should either be moving or preparing to move.

Buy the bass that sounds good to you, feels good to play and that makes you happy when you pick it up. A happy bass player will sound much better than the best gear.

One of each. Very very nice. 10 years ago, when I put a wanted post up, asking if anyone was selling a 5 string Sunburst, tort, rosewood board P bass, you PM'd me about a guy selling one on eBay. That Mike Lull PJ5 has been my #1 bass ever since. Many thanks Clarky.

In lockdown #1 I charted all the Stevie Wonder albums. Getting into those bass lines was an education, and fun.

At home I put a 1200 watt amp into a BF One10. I don't know how anyone can get that wrong at front room volumes.

I used a BB2, SM and Berg Forte HP last night. It was loud, vibrating my diaphragm loud, but it sounded great. I had 2 people come up and compliment the sound of the bass. After a 3 month break with that band I was rusty as hell, but no complaints on the gear front.

I've owned lots of perfect basses and a few keepers. I've owned my current basses for 10 years and 5 years respectively, but I wouldn't rule out finding a better "keeper" at any point.

When I tell my wife I've seen some interesting gear, she just says, "If it's that good, get it".

That works for me. I've "volunteered" to take my wife to a very expensive restaurant because I played on New Year's Eve!!

If you are experiencing discomfort or pain stop doing whatever it is that is causing the problem. The bottom line. . . if you are experiencing pain then you are doing it wrong. If the cause is 1fpf then stop and use 124. On the lower notes, for most people, 124 is the better technique anyway. This is not because you are a learner, it's because you are trying to use the "wrong" technique for your hands. If you have big hands or are double jointed and can get away with 1fpf then OK but if you haven't got those hands, don't do it.

Lots of awesome. I mainly use Aguilar, both the TH500 and AG700, but recently I've been running a Berg Forte HP, which sounds very special. Try whatever amp are you using now. Bottom line, any amp you choose will sound great.

Sky Arts for me.

I'm currently using 2 neo 112 cabs and a 1200 watt amp. The whole lot weighs a total of 50lbs. I can go louder with better tone than any of the "old iron" I used in the 70's and 80's.

I'll know the bass player from the song long before I've worked out their tone.

It was my first experience of internet bullying. I'm sorry we had to witness it. The people who took part should be ashamed of themselves.

Guitar Guitar in Epsom and Camden. Andertons in Guildford. GAK in Brighton The Bass Gallery in Camden Bass Direct in Warwick

Heinz got more coverage for his bleached hair than he ever got as a performer or musician.

Spit.

I met up with JTUK outside of BC several times and he was an OK guy. More than can be said about the people who hounded him off the forum.

That doesn't surprise me!!

@Happy Jack You're hard work was appreciated. Many thanks. All the best to you and @Silvia Bluejayin 2022.

At various time I've used all of those, and for awhile, 18's. The nearest I got to having a favourite was the Electro-Voice 15's, which I used in several cabs over a 20 year period. I started with 12's, went through 15's and 10's, now back to 12's, but the size of the driver is the least relevant part of the tone equation. Trouser flapping doesn't necessarily make a good sound. The definition and clarity of my current 12's will clearly reach every part of the room, and that's the definition of a good speaker cab.

What spacing don't you get on with? 5 string basses come in all sizes, from 14.5mm to 20mm, and all nut sizes. If you can play a 4 string you can play a 5 string. You need someone to tell you you can do things, rather than you telling yourself you can't!!

Very good. . . she's getting better every time she puts out a video!!

1970 albums I bought. . . . Stage Fright - The Band Bridge Over Troubled Water - Simon and Garfunkle Workingman's Dead - Grateful Dead Deja Vu - CSN&Y Let It Be - The Beatles Mad Dogs and Englishmen - Joe Cocker Jesus Christ Superstar (EP) - for Alan Spenner's bass lines Scott Joplin: Piano Rags - Rifkin There must have been more but the memory is fading.