chris_b

I had a 400+ and Mesa 115EV and 210EV cabs. That rig sounded great but caused all my back problems! I had heat dissipation issues with my 4u rack. I had to drill holes in the handle plate to stop the amp overheating. I'd start with replacing both cabs with a Barefaced 610 or a BT3. Think about the amp later.

Given a choice I DI post EQ. I've not had any problems from sound men on this. They are quite happy with the post signal I send to DI.

I just don't understand how people can treat playing bass like playing a round of golf! No wonder you all get disillusioned and fed up if you are only playing with people who think the same way.

If you are having problems with 1FPF you should switch to 1-2-4 fingering. It cuts out the stretching. Also reposition your thumb, ie move your hand, so that your fingers are always over the note you want to play. Don't stretch. Any technique that is causing you pain is wrong. Your teacher should know this and should change his advice.

What fingering system are you using? I hope he's not got you on one finger per fret!!

Playing in a great band with good musicians is what makes it all worth while. For me there are no downsides to playing bass. I can't think of doing anything better.

2 basses, 2 amps, 1 or 2 112 cabs, leads, 2 sets of moulded ear plugs, sometimes a trolley. . . . that's it.

My first car was a Morris 1000 Traveller. I had a Marshall 100 watt amp and 412 which fitted neatly in the back. Since the 80's it's been Volvo's. I have a V60 these days and can fit me and the drummer with all our gear and have room for a third person.

I had the same problem. I didn't see it as a faff, just necessary maintenance. If the wax is getting in the way then the moulds might not fit as well as they should. Olive oil is a good wax softener. It's cheaper and just as effective as proprietary medications.

If you have front of house available then your 20 watt combo might work, but only if you have good monitors. Without FOH my minimum would be 500 watts and 1 or 2 112 cabs.

How long do you need?

Why are Tabs always wrong? Because the people who write them don't know what they are doing.

I had one of those. What did I know, I was 17! It wasn't a great sound, wasn't particularly loud and lacked any definition. No handles on the cab, yet another UK design triumph!

I had 2 Two10's, fantastic sound, but I sold them to focus on the BF 112's. A different sort of fabulous, but the same level of fantastic all the same. @Wilvies8184 if your amp supports 2.67 ohms, you can add a One10 for a great 310 rig.

Separates are easier to transport, carry and upgrade. 500 - 800 watts will cover any volume requirement. 2 good 112's or 210's should cover different gigging requirements. Buying used will be more cost effective. What's your budget?

I'd expect those strings to fit. I always go for the heaviest gauge strings I can find. More meat as @Lozz196 says.

What can't the band hear you? If they can't hear you, why should they care whether you are there or not!! Sort your gear out and make the bass integral to the sound of the band.

Not since I was 16.

I've just got back from gigging my Aguilar AG700 and Barefaced SM and BB2 cabs in a very loud blues rock trio. So far the AG700 has seen off an 800 watt Thunderfunk, a Subway D800, a Quilter BB800 and a Bergantino Forte HP. These are all fantastic amps but after real life comparisons on gigs, I decided I preferred the sound of the AG700. I play an active 5 string Jazz bass and my Barefaced cabs are just ticking over. So far I haven't felt the need for an HPF. I also own a TH500. Aguilar just make amps that sound the best to me.

I don't think it got as far as court, but Led Zeppelin had to pay Willie Dixon a lot of money for Whole Lotta Love, which plagiarises his song You Need Love.

I buy the best sounding basses I can find. In the last 20 years, the 5 basses that made it to #1 status have all been in the £1k - £2k range. I have been trying to find cheaper basses (I have too much money tied up in gear) but I'm not finding any cheap basses that are even close to knocking my current basses off their perch. YMMV

Barefaced make a lot of noise for your watts. I use 2 in a blues trio and I easily keep up with the guitarist and his Twin Reverb. One Super Compact would be very good for your sound, even with a 200 watt amp.

Or you can look at it from the other direction. . . . We have to work at sounding the best we can sound. Some of the top players only play either flats or rounds, not both. A good bassist will use the gear that makes the sound he wants to make. Many of these guys don't follow the music but make the music fit around them.

I did a direct comparison with Happy Jack's Lull bass and his sounded better! I finally tracked down the difference. . . . his bass had flats, mine had rounds. As soon as I put a set of GHS flats on my bass I got that nice, big, warm thump. I hadn't used flats since the early 70's and my current set of TI's are now on my PJ5 for good.

5 string Danelectro Long Horn bass.