Paul S

I have this constant inner turmoil. At best I am an average player but I am also a perfectionist. So, generally speaking, the basslines that make me happy are the simple ones that I can play comfortably and perfectly. I tend not to play too many notes but like to make each one count. I can then relax and get into a zone of enjoying the music. Most of the blues/rock I play now falls into this category and as @chris_b said earlier to lock in with a drummer during a good ol' fashioned shuffle is a thing of joy, get the rhythm bouncing along. One of my favourites at the moment is the old Freddy King instrumental 'The Stumble'. But every now and then it has been forced upon me to learn more complicated bass lines. I struggle but always get there and these type of basslines also make me happy - to have successfully ventured out from my comfort zone for a short time. An example of this - when I was in a Bon Jovi tribute band the song 'Keep The Faith'. Better players than I would listen to it then play it straight off but, to get it absolutely spot on took me a lot of work. I am a primarily a pick player, which didn't help - a finger player would have done the trickier bits by grazing across the strings I am sure but bouncing around octaves and strings with a pick I found hard. Still I got there. Didn't help that the drummer would always speed up, either.

It's kind of an accepted thing that maple boards are brighter. but nice to have proof. I changed the neck on a bass from one with a rosewood board to all maple and difference was amazing.

Sorry, I thought it said 'ring for sex' so I popped in to get the number. For a friend.

One of the many reasons I need regular rehearsals.

If you fancied something Gibson flavoured I would heartily recommend the Les Paul Junior Double Cutaway, more manageably written LPJnrDC. Pickup position plus coil tap means there is no mud.

I've never tried a Wal and sometimes think I'd like to. Then I quickly remember they are far too heavy and expensive and immediately the GAS disappears 😁

This. Hiscox are good but I prefer the SKB for the above reasons.

Do it, Lozz. It doesn't have to cost you a bean, just leave the backline at home (or even in the car first time) to see if you like it. I'll not go back. It is so liberating not having to worry about backline gear - lifting, storing, maintaining, adjusting. As long as the monitoring is good enough and FOH is good.

Friday night, my blues rock trio Toredown played our regular 4th Friday of the month gig at The Shamrock in Ipswich. Great excitement as I brought a mate along who was recording it with a view to having a live CD put together. Holiday traffic on the A12 north was horrendous but we had left early enough to get there on time. Drummer - who has the pa - hadn't had the same foresight and arrived at 8:15 for a 9pm kickoff. Using my mates desk for the recording meant everything had to be done from scratch so it was a bit tight. Especially as a mystery crackling through the pa was apparent - eventually traced to an issue with the mains socket we usually plug into which then meant fiddling about taking power from a remote socket and taping an extension lead out of harm's way. Anyway, all sorted, got underway at 9.10, so not too bad. About half our regulars turned up plus a load of new faces who hung around until the end. Place was never packed but I think they were collectively as enthusiastic and noisy as we've had. Which was good for the recording A few mistakes here and there but second set was storming, really great vibe. A couple came up to us at the end and almost begged us to play at a blues festival they are organising in July. 2 hr set to finish the evening, food and drink provided, name your price. That was nice. I managed to get lost when I picked up my car from where I had left it - there had been a shop fire and the road I needed to take was shut - I have no idea of the configuration of Ipswich and kept going round in circles until I stumbled upon a road that looked familiar. By the time I got back we were pretty much packed up. Bonus was the fastest journey home ever. Heard rough versions of the recording yesterday and with just a bit of polishing it should be just what we were hoping for. The main problem will be choosing which songs to leave out.

Bit of a late starter - 50. Marconi social club in Chelmsford with a 'blues' band called 'Still The Thrill'.

I reckon Lee Brillo could keep pace.

I had no idea. When did that happen? Edit - Google - Feb last year.

I believe all the Hohner B basses, B2 range of cricket bats, Jack etc had two octave necks. Some were active, some passive.

Horses for courses, indeed. I am the other way inclined - tight spacing for pick but wider spacing for my clumsy fingerstyle.

Crowd surfing again, Baz?

My blues/rock trio Toredown are playing our monthly residency at The Shamrock in Ipswich this coming Friday 28th. All being well this will be recorded and some of it turned into a CD, so come along and make some noise!

I've seen them loads of times but find, increasingly, Derek the Draw thinks it is all about him. He swears constantly like a 14 yr old with Tourettes. Don't know if it was just a one-off but they were majorly off the boil, nowhere near as tight as they had been previously.

Clearly you are a discerning couple with exquisite taste. Or, at least, were around 20 years ago.

Snap! Probably similar vintage. Yours looks cleaner, though

Sereks aside, love the rug. We have one. Habitat?

Need names L-R please

Thank you! Yes, does everything I need. Which isn't much.

Here's my rather minimalist affair. @Smanth posted her Rockboard Duo which was just the job for my little set up. Assembled it this morning - took me ages, at least 15 mins. 2/3 the size and half the weight of my old Pedaltrain Mini.

At least it is only collateral damage... Sorry, shouldn't jest really as I have a poorly knee too and know what a pain it is.

Rather a personal question for a public forum, if you don't mind my saying.