Cat Burrito

As someone who didn't used to practice much (& certainly not constructively), I found little and often worked best when I decided that I needed to raise my game, with a view to learning new things - rather than repeating the phrases where I thought I sounded at my best. I agree with the earlier comment that a block of time simply won't suit - from experience if it didn't work before it almost certainly isn't going to be the way forward. Good luck.

I travel an hour for my main band but we don't rehearse too regularly. I've travelled further in the past. The issue to me sounds like the effort isn't worth the band. I'm happy to put myself out for the right band. A lesser band would frustrate me over lengthy travel. Next week I have to cart an upright bass from Swindon to Camden for a gig that will barely cover my fuel costs. For me it's a complete non issue as I love the band, love the music and for the record I'm 45 and it'll be at the end of a long week at work.

And they've pulled the listing!

My favourite one was back when I was in a rock band trying to play country, We landed a show at a country festival. As we came off the motorway we saw a massive festival and the boys in the band were elevating my status as booker to that of legend. However SatNav took us past that one by two miles to a run down rugby club. On the bill was a young lad singing along to Karaoke hits by all the greats. The girls loved him and he was decked out all in black with a black hair and a black cowboy hat. We quickly realised we were more Lynyrd Skynyrd than country but went through a set, being repeatedly asked to turn town by some rather grumpy old folk dressed as cowboys. When this singer went on he did some fairly bland takes of Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson et al classics to his backing tapes. Afterwards he was lecturing our singer on how you don't need a band, just get a box with all the tunes and you can earn more. Our singer was politely taking it all, when Colin, our gentle giant of a rhythm guitarist lent in and said, "Excuse me Barnaby... can I just say what a massive fan I am of your music?" He cut for quite an intimidating figure and young Barnaby replied "er, oh, thank you, thank you very much" to which Colin than added "not so much you doing them, but those original versions are great!"

Ah ha! But I try to keep up with all the new Britpop bands... Def Leppard, UB40...

Of course there is an app these days - great idea! I remember in the 90s when another band on the bill were knocking my band because we had typed set lists! I suddenly feel like a bit of a dinosaur!

I picked up a second hand Epiphone T-bird a couple of years back, where the previous owner had re-badged it with a Gibson Trussrod cover. A great bass - I liked it so much I bought a proper Gibson Thunderbird within a month! So it's not all bad news

The Date; March 1995. The scene; The Flying Machine in Brockworth (now derelict). Scuzzy Glam / Sleaze merchants SkinTrade arrive, resplendent in lace up leather trousers with long black hair and eyeliner to discover the locals are all skinheads! To say the reception was frosty would be something of an understatement. A bar stool came flying through the air and hit the stage towards the end. We had enough punk rock spirit to do a very unwanted encore and left with an escort of irate skinheads who'd also offered there own unique interpretation of a "carry to the car" service with our gear after the show.

Rob Grill playing like he means it (although it's actually Carole Kaye)...

An Epiphone Embassy or Newport... and I have absolutely no idea why I feel the desire to update such an old thread! He also had an early 50s P-bass and one of those Micro Frets basses. when not on the upright.

I had one and it was stunning for the money. As said, swap out those cheap strings and you'd think you had spent double the money. I only got rid of it as I am 6ft 3 so it looked like a toy on me.

I bought a Dodge Brothers album about 10yrs ago, upon a recommendation. I like him, probably more than his band (if I am honest). he seems like a cool chap.

At 20 playing bass in a band was everything. At 45 playing bass in a band is right up there still. Only now I am more focused on being good rather than just trying to look cool.

I think I'm in touch and friends with pretty much everyone I've played with, across 30 yrs & over 15 bands. Life's too short.

I have the Gibson Thunderbird, having briefly owned an Epi model, I decided I wanted the main model. It's probably my favourite bass. The thing is just so cool looking and has the most low end I have ever heard from a bass, to the point I had to use brighter strings! I like the look of those Epi T-birds with the chrome hardware. if you like the look, I'd always recommend getting one.

A lot of the 80s! Reverb on snare drums, chorus on bass - a lot of great stuff sounds very dated now and not in a good way like some of those earlier recordings. I think the 80s was responsible for a huge leap in technical advances but sometimes the kit was used as overkill and hadn't fully developed its potential.

They seem to be the current hate figure on Basschat. I think if you want one, get one, if you don't, they probably aren't for you. I love mine but it is part of a varied collection. I'm using it on a New Wave-esque project but it probably wouldn't suit some of my other ventures.

My first ever bass was a Fender 57 reissue Precision bass, back in the 80s. It was made in Japan. Since then I have owned several P-basses (all Fender or Squier, from USA to Mexican) and they've all delivered. Standouts for me included, a 51 reissue, an all original 1978 and a 70s bitsa. However, they came and went. A couple of years ago I bought a new 57 reissue, also Japanese. It reminds me of my first bass. As others have said I've tried, owned and enjoyed several basses from Gibsons to Rickenbackers to Danelectros and beyond. There is something about the P-bass that means it will always be part of my life, even if I happen to be doing a gig on a Jazz or an upright. Anyhow, here's mine pictured just this afternoon.

I suppose I've done a lot of recording over the last 30 years and I know stories of other players who have had their parts replaced when they have left the studio. To the best of my knowledge this has not happened to me. It's important to me that the recording reflects the band so I want it to be my playing. Simple as that really.

Strengths: I get both the instrument & my role in any band Weaknesses: Not great at harmonies & keep buying kit!

Last night I was thinking that the 60yr old drunk woman dancing right in front of my mic was really drunk. And I kept repeating the phrase "avoid eye contact, avoid eye contact!"

My father was a professional drummer in the 60s. He favoured jazz but as a session player did everything from TV commercials to playing with Dudley Moore and even depped with The Wurzels. He got disillusioned and gave it up to go to teacher training college. I can't complain, it's where he met my Mum. Dad showed me 12 bar blues and also at 15 showed me how cool drum brushes sounded against bass strings.

The Harder They Come was one of my favourite albums in my late teens and I love all the classics from Vietnam to Hard Road to Travel to You Can Get it If You Really Want etc.

I'm in 4 bands and have found time to dep on a couple of occasions too. None of the bands are regular function bands so it is quite easy to juggle. I'm always as busy as I want to be. If a band isn't fun and isn't your livelihood, I would ask anyone, "Why stay?". if it's still giving some enjoyment then you can juggle but don't juggle just out of some misguided loyalty. If you want the gigs, personally I'd be straight with them and stay as long as it took to find a replacement.