Cat Burrito

These are what I buy for my electric basses

My Dad's hearing is shot from playing drums in the 60s. He played intensely for less than 10 years. I've played for 30 and touchwood, I'm fine. I think it depends on what you've been exposed to. When you read the article it sounds like he was very much in the firing line.

In 30 years of playing nobody has ever bought me a pint for using my rig and I've had a fair few walk off without even saying thanks. There's some great advice on here and many players would be wise to adopt it. My two penneth is 1) say thanks and 2) don't assume. I'd echo the points on pints resting on the amp. It's never happened but I do wonder if anything got damaged how readily the other party would pay. But then all that said, in 30yrs nothing has gone wrong.

He actually seems like a really nice guy. Not to my tastes but then I could use the spare strings to hang my socks on once they come out of the wash!

The thinking on this was similar, to play along with my wife whilst she learns for her job. It already looks like it might venture into the studio with me this week though. It'd be good to get young kids playing along with other players though

It would appear only you, me & arguably Sybil think so!

I have different set ups in different bands so it is a mixture of the sound & the look. My amplification could be more practical in an age of class D & lightweight cabs but again, I like the tone and the aesthetics of it all.

I used flats for 20yrs but when I bought my T-bird a couple of years back I found the zing of the roundwound offset the incredible low end of the Thunderbird. My feeling is it would be too much, unless you went for the brightest sounding flatwound you could find & regularly changed them.

Clawing back a small victory for bass players

I suppose when I only used flatwounds (& the philosophy was they never got changed) it bothered me less, but now I'm using roundwound a lot more I'm needing to change strings much more regularly. It got me to thinking about the difference in cost between guitar & bass strings. For nearly 30 years guitar strings seemed set at £5 a packet and yet bass strings seem to range anywhere between £16 - £45. I get that they are thicker and maybe don't get changed as frequently but wondered if the increase in cost was directly proportionate to these factors? Interestingly, as an aside I am restringing my upright bass this week. Again same factors but my strings were £100 and the most expensive set I saw were these at £550 https://www.thomann.de/gb/pirastro_eudoxa_kontrabasssaiten.htm - I assume they must be pretty good?!?

Not only yes, but I did! My last album (critically acclaimed in Q, Mojo etc) was recorded on two Squire basses. I also took the Squiers out on the road and played London's O2 with them. Twice.

On the off chance anyone is interested, I went for a fresh set of the Gut-a-like Swingmasters in the end. https://www.thomann.de/gb/gut_a_like_swingmaster.htm I was tempted with a single string replacement, also with the silver slappers and thought there was some great advice on here. Thanks everybody.

My wife works in a Pre-School and because she is very musical a decision was made that she learn ukulele. Her setting bought her a rubbish one and we've both been messing around on it. One night when the kids were in bed we sank a few Staropramens and she said she'd like a better one. Then completely unprompted she said "and you should get a bass one". Now, I don't know about anyone on here but I don't need a big arm twist to get a new bass so we ordered a couple. Mine's just a £125 cheapy (funnily enough I'd seen it in my local music shop for £250 so no Kala U-bass but I am blown away with the sound, especially plugged in. The E rattles a little unplugged if I pluck it too hard and a couple of the frets stick out a bit (I suspect lemon oil will resolve this) but other than that it really is an incredible bit of kit. I'm going to have to use it on something but I don't know what yet.

I haven't got nervous since my Sixth Form band back in '89 - '90, which upon reflection we had every right to be nervous - we were shocking! These days I'm very relaxed about things.

Before I read this thread I would have said Semi-pro, simply because a lot of the gigs I do are of a high standard, sold out art centres, tours, professionally recorded albums on an Indie label etc that get good reviews in the National press. Financially though, like with a few of you, it goes back into the band and I make a tiny amount on just a handful of shows. Players in all but one of my acts are either pro or ex-pro. I don't see myself as a hobbyist or weekend warrior simply because it's such a huge part of my life and a massive commitment.

I hate being asked & feel obliged to help a mate out. It then becomes an expectation & often without a thank you. I've personally not had anything damaged or not returned but the faff of carting extra kit for someone who just expects it has occurred in a few bands recently and is now a situation I try to avoid.

£6k in basses, £2k in amplification, £500 in pedals / leads / straps. I'm comfortable with that. I'm less comfortable adding it up over time.

Thanks to everyone who has taken time to comment. To be clear, my only thought throughout has been I would personally always avoid steel. So any other suggestion, be it swapping a single string through to trying a new set, has potential.

Currently these https://www.thomann.de/gb/gutalike_vintage_double_bass_strings.htm Silver slaps I know of so that's interesting.

As a bass guitarist who has occasionally dipped a toe in the double bass waters over the last 10yrs I seem to have settled on gut-a-like strings because they suit the styles I play. One thing I have often heard is the E string is pretty dead sounding but I wonder if there is a brand where the E doesn't sound quite so flat. My current strings have been on my bass for a few years but I go through phases of playing it so I thought the E would last longer. Should I just bite the bullet and acknowledge I should be re-stringing more frequently or is there a good set that might fair a little longer?

Posted on Wednesday and just two potential sales. Ampeg will be delighted, assuming they get to seal the deal

I remember those. I was tempted at the time but they just didn't look quite right & the 32" scale put me off.

It's a poor effort on their part. I always try to rise above it and not get a bad reputation but I'd feel a little aggrieved privately. I appreciate some people would give it to them both barrels but I would rather have an untarnished reputation personally.

I never used to use effects until I discovered the Sansamp VT Tech 21. I now have a few that I use and my is VT pedal is usually left it on all the time. Very occasionally in a couple of venues it sounded better without it, I guess it depends on the room. Normally it improved my tone immensely. I also used it in the studio as a whole rig. Definitely easier getting it up the stairs than my Ampeg Portaflex all valve job!