SteveXFR

Sponsor a bassist. For just £5 a month you can help toilet train a bassist and teach them basic English. Help integrate them in to normal society and buy them basic hygiene products. Get regular update with photos and you can choose the name for your middle aged bassist.

Some of them don't even change their strings because they can't afford new ones. They say they like the sound of dead strings. Some of them can't even afford a decent effects board.

Plectrums are a good present. It seems many bassists just can't afford a plectrum so resort to finger picking

We just got back from my daughters bands gig. Their first headline show. They filled the venue, I've never seen so many people in for a local band. The support acts were good and then her band, Butane Skies, were amazingly good. Loads of confidence on stage and a superb performance. All band parents were proper proud of them

Beer, wine, whisky or something herbal

@Kirky they're excellent. Plenty of energy and great playing

The event was organised by Riverside Studio in Chippenham who also recorded and filmed all the bands who took part. It's really good for a live recording.

This is my daughters band (she plays bass) playing one of their original songs at a young bands competition they played last year. There's no single winner in this event but a group of promoters pick their favourite band in the finals to play their festival. They ended up getting three gigs out of it.

My daughter plays bass. She took on my first bass when I upgraded. Over the last four years, she's got far better than me. Her alternative rock band have played a ton of gigs this year after winning a battle of the bands competition. She's just started a commercial music degree at Bath uni so now playing lots every day.

For me, playing in a band was all about the sound of the whole band as one. I'd get my moments to shine but if I was concerned about expressing my emotions I'd have chosen to play guitar. The bass is about putting in the groove and making people move.

I want to know how he got that sound. There's certainly more than just a cranked SVT and funky EQ going on there.

You are (of course) correct. I read that it was 32 years. I guess that makes it less of a triumphant come back.

I've never been much of a Cure fan, always enjoyed the odd song but not really a fan. I was talked in to listening to their new record and it's blown my tiny mind that a band can come back after a 32 year break from recording with such a great record. It doesn't feel at all like a record to refill bank accounts. The bass is absolutely killer. Great playing and some amazing tones.

Yes, sort of. I changed to an extra long scale 5 string fan fret Ibanez which was perfect for the job. Then I sold it and gave up playing.

Thanks for the offer. I ended up getting a Valvestate 60 a while ago.

I just looked up the serial number. It's tidepool blue

Personally I wouldn't go valve. I managed to get some disgusting sound with an Ashdown ABM600 and a Two Notes Le Bass valve preamp pedal with the dirt wound up.

I think it's lake placid blue

It's very tempting. It's being seriously considered. They're really excited. It's in the venue where they played their first support set and now they've got two support acts with them.

Now I've just got to find somewhere to hide it until Christmas. Her band are headlining a show for the first time next weekend, it's so tempting to let her have it for that.

Here it is

New Cure record. They've always been a band who I sort of enjoyed but I wasn't really a fan. This new record is absolutely brilliant. The bass tone on this is absolutely filthy

After getting no response from people selling a Sadowsky Metro and lovely 1984 Tokai Sound, I spotted a MIM Fender Player II which I don't think has been played, its still got the cellophane on the pickups, tuners, pickguard and control plate and its £250 less than rrp sp I bought it.

@d-basser I saw them at Arctangent last year. Amazing band. Gnosis is one of my favourite albums at the moment.

A few lessons is definitely worthwhile. Sometimes you don't know you're doing it wrong or doing it the hard way until someone else points it out.