chris_b

Many? I don't know of any numbers involved (and I suspect no one does), but I would expect 99% of the bass world is carrying on as before, with amps and cabs.

I make John Entwistle look animated and full of fun. I'm at the age that if I change direction too quickly I'm likely to fall over and and wind will probably be the cause of any facial expression.

Smooth radio just played George Michael's Faith, again! I always listen to that bass line. It's very good.

I once tried to play along with What Is Hip and nearly caused myself an injury.

I know I sound good on a gig (I've been told!) so when playing at home the sound isn't important. I'm working on ideas, technique, strength, muscle memory and songs. You don't need a "sound" for that. My 2p.

Disclosure: I'm a 4 controls on the front of an amp guy. . . . . and have never used a pedal in my life. Since discovering Bassworld/Basschat and falling into the buying gear trap, I have owned many amps. They come and they go, but Thunderfunk is the one make that has stayed since 2007. First the 550 then the 750. Lately Aguilar is giving it a run for it's money, but deciding which to use is a great problem to have.

. . . . and back in the days of 45's and albums, if you couldn't hear the bass, the trick was to play the record on 78rpm and the bass line would magically stand out (most times).

This is one bass line I play pretty much as written.

I was in a straight ahead blues band called The Soul Kitchen. That name caused us a lot of grief when people discovered they hadn't booked a band they could dance to!

In Sydney, Oz, there was a band playing the pubs called Free Beer. Advertising that band caused landlords a lot of trouble when punters discovered the beer wasn't free!! They had to change their name to The Free Beer Band. Also Ken Dodd's Dad's Dog's Dead had nothing to do with Ken Dodd or dogs, dead or otherwise!

I can't remember if I put this up before. If I have twice can't hurt. The fabulous Nikki Glaspie on drums and her band The Nth Power, featuring 2 bass players on the first video.

Basically, love the one you're with. I'd say this a very sensible view.

For 90% of bass lines a 2 fret or 1 octave span is all you need. Any more and you move your hand. Trying to play with your thumb routed to the spot is very limiting. A mobile left hand gets you around the fret board and is the way to create good bass lines.

A good fretting hand technique isn't about reaching as many frets as you can in a stretch. It's about accuracy, control and flowing smooth movements across the board. How do you manage fast runs with your fingers extended like that?

I'd keep on saving then your £300 will increase and you can buy something you can use, rather than just keep in a bag.

IMO the best 300 watt head is a 500 watt head turned down a little. Especially if you are using a single 8 ohm cab.

I've broken a strap. Luckily the guitarist had a spare, so I spent the night playing the bass under my chin. I've carried a spare strap ever since. I carry an accessories bag which has a spare for most things. Strings, gaffa, batteries, strap, pens, ear plugs, fuses and 2 full sets of leads. I even have several picks, which I don't use but I did lend them to the guitarist when he forgot his pick tin. I also have a set of everything for home use. I never take any gig stuff out of the bags or cases. I've left stuff at home in the past!!

I take care that these things don't happen in the first place, and not be grateful that a piece of gear bounces!

I've had 2 amps fail on a gig and they were both valve amps. In 20 years I've never had an SS or D class amp fail. My Aguilar amps are "flightcased" in aluminium foam lined cases I got from Maplins. The combined weight of 2 amps and 2 cases is about 10lbs so taking both to every gig isn't a hassle at all. I don't get the "buying a backup amp, just in case" idea. I'll often sound check both and use the one that sounds best on the day.

Delbert McClinton Live.

I wear 28db ear defenders over 20db moulded ear plugs whenever I'm near those things!

Tony Williams Lifetime at the Marquee, with Jack Bruce on bass. I got there early to get one of the seats at the front. That wasn't a good move. They all had Marshall 200 watt stacks and used every last watt. It took 3 days for my hearing to recover. Since then, one of the loudest experiences, after Santa Pod, was seeing the Saints in NOLA a couple of years ago. The sound system must have been on 21. It was painful and I spent the whole match with my fingers in my ears!

I don't know the bands you see, that could be so inconsistent, but the guys I see, as I say, are consistently good. My experience trumps your cynicism.

Does your bass sound right out in the room?

I see bands and artists who I know and know are consistently good. No crystal ball required.