Cat Burrito

I play both having spent the majority of my playing career as a bassist. I got more into guitar circa 2006 because I was working with a multi-instrumentalist songwriter and wanted to stretch out. I reverted back to being a bassist when life dictated I cut my musical outgoings but wound up auditioning for a guitar gig a couple of years ago simply because I liked the band. I think what many musicians fail to understand is that just because you play one doesn't mean you can play the other. I had to work really hard to not sound like a bassist playing guitar and even had a year plus of lessons with exactly that remit attached to them. I enjoy both now. Bass is perhaps more natural but I like the fact I have to work at guitar and do get good feedback from audience members about my guitar playing these days.

Maybe 4000 as a top capacity, we've played the O2's C2C festival 4 times now. We also had a 5 minute slot on CBS in America which was our biggest online audience. You take these things in your stride though as it quickly returns to 12 people in Sheffield.

Playing with a 50s rock 'n' roll band this weekend, an audience member came up and said "do you know any Oasis?". It's stuff like this that happens all the time now. Having been around the live scene for the best part of 30 years I can only agree with the general replies here so far. I guess for me it's in my blood and I can't imagine not doing it. My view is I always play to whoever is there and try not to sulk / strop when playing to 6 people who are only half watching.

Some of the Japanese made 57RIs have a narrower fretboard / more conventional neck (mine!) but they are not easy to find. To be fair having played my original as my main bass for 20yrs+ the fretboard really is something you get used to and don't think about.

TV Jones make great fildertron pickups. I think you may have been unlucky though - the pickup on my Squier Cabronita was stock and stunning so I wouldn't rule out a like for like swap if you can find a cheap one on EBay.

Recently Facebook has been particularly good as it's often local pickup with no fees. EBay always gets a sale but the cut is massive. I have bought and sold on Gumtree too. And then of course there is here. Thankfully I sold off the last of my mildly silly ones last month so I am back down again to an acceptable working number of instruments for the amount I play.

I don't think any one era can lay claim. Personally I didn't like the 80s (when I started playing) but the OP makes a valid argument for it being something of a golden age. The 50s with the move from doghouse bass to Leo's electric bass must be a contender. Also the early 60s with McCartney's innovative lines, plus what was going on at Stax and Motown must be worthy of note. And the style in the 70s with players like Dennis Dunaway too. The quality of amps and basses now would even make today something of a golden era too.

I had a "buyer collects" Ebay auction about 10 years back and the buyer drove 200 miles to sit in my road, not knowing if he had won. I invited him in and we watched the auction end together. It would have been pretty awkward if the sale got bidnapped - thankfully his was the winning bid!

Other than a tuner (Boss TU3), no effects into an Ampeg PF50t head and Ampeg Portaflex PF115HE cab. Same set up from pubs to village halls to art centres. Bass wise usually a flatwound strung P-bass but occasionally a Hofner verithin with stock strings. All very old school (marmite!) tones. [url="http://s38.photobucket.com/user/Tim_73/media/pb1_zpskorbdskp.jpg.html"][/url]

I always found it was better to say "we are" rather than "what we want" - I never got why more ads don't do this. An ad looking for 20-25yr olds could miss out on a perfect 28yr old. But yes, I immediately switch off when I read really specific criteria, even if I happen to meet it. And no band is ever going to dictate to me what shoes I wear!

My bass in post #2 went after a recording session where the engineer moaned constantly about the intonation. I always regretted that so when I saw Hofner had brought out a long scale version I snapped it up. [url="http://s38.photobucket.com/user/Tim_73/media/DSC00340_zpsyuaqhph7.jpg.html"][/url]

[quote name='lowhand_mike' timestamp='1472229056' post='3119687'] no problem, Dunelm Mill purveyor of fine furnishings quite interested in what the child related inspection was does it do the ampeg thing well for a smallish amp? [/quote] I think so - it's obviously a practice amp but it sounds 20 times better than that little Belcat thing. I wouldn't pretend it's a 100% SVT sound but it's close enough to play along at home with. The "inspection" basically involves the appearance of a dent in the speaker cloth and a very farty sounding speaker. Inquiries are ongoing.

[quote name='lowhand_mike' timestamp='1472223443' post='3119612']did that rug come from ikea,[/quote] Dunelm, if my memory serves me correctly. Thanks for your interest in my attention to good home furnishings

[quote name='bigjohn' timestamp='1472224873' post='3119637'] I was also a big fan. [/quote] Good man!

[attachment=226442:Amp.JPG] Having lost a Belcat tweed practice amp to a "child related inspection" this week, I thought I'd pick up something a little more sturdy. Over the last 5 years I've got through that Belcat amp and a Vox practice amp. As I use Ampeg for my main amp I thought the 20w BA108 would be okay. It arrived today. Early thoughts are it is much bigger than I thought (some negotiation has already occurred as to what can stay in the living room), it sounds fantastic (and particularly so for a £100) and it is loud. Having the dial on about 3 keeps up with a loud record. Just hope it lasts longer than the previous 2.

Everything was about the Dogs D'Amour [media]http://youtu.be/JyXq7Qmua7A[/media] Probably should give Hanoi Rocks and the New York Dolls an honourable mention. Back in the days when men were men...

My Dad was a pro drummer in the 60s and the saying used to be the less drums the greater the talent. I don't work with any drummer who uses more than a max of a 5 piece kit and certainly brushes, rods and sticks for variety. My old 90s band did a reunion in 2011 and I'd forgotten the drummer was Keith Moon like. I had ringing ears for days. It's impressive but a bit one trick for my tastes these days.

[quote name='Ghost Rider' timestamp='1471964423' post='3117294'][font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif]Does the PF50t come with any kind of case or is it meant to go into the cab? [/font][/quote] It screws onto the top of a portaflex cab and then is flipped into the cabinet for storage. If you had two cabs the lids are interchangeable. So no case, but I guess if someone wanted it one could be acquired.

I've seen that before but didn't pay it too much attention as I'd talk myself into buying something I don't need. It looks great.

I do like Fender flats normally but on my hollowbody (Hofner) the strings sounded fine so I just left them alone.

[quote name='Ghost Rider' timestamp='1471940442' post='3117040'] Have you got a porteflex combo or head & combo? There is that many portaflex options (Or so it appears). The PF50t looks great. [/quote] I run the PF50t into the Ampeg Portaflex PF115he. I've had that cabinet for about 3 years and originally had the PF500. However when I saw the PF50t I had a rare relapse of GAS. However what Ampeg got wrong was the first run of cabs (6 months of production) had different internal bracing so the head didn't flip over properly. I liked the head enough to sell my cab and re-buy the same cab but newer - so perfect fit. Luckily I sold on Facebook locally so I didn't take much of a hit. It's a great rig now. Perhaps unwisely I flightcased it for tours but have an amp cover for local shows. [attachment=226204:RetroRig.jpg]

I had an old 1978 Bassman 135 until I started developing a small but manageable hernia. The B15 would be my dream rig but I've never personally played through one. I have wound up with the Ampeg Portaflex now, which seriously raised its game with the introduction of the PF50t head.

[quote name='Funky Dunky' timestamp='1471897320' post='3116843'] Am I only allowed to upload 30mb of pics, ever ever ever? Surely some people have posted loads of pics? I haven't posted that many. [/quote] If you host pictures on Flickr or Photobucket you can keep going but yes, there is a limit due to the sheer number of members. You can go and delete old pictures if it helps but most regular picture posters tend to have Flickr or similar.

I use Gut-a-like as they are more stable for tuning. I can't imagine ever using steel again. https://www.thomann.de/gb/gutalike_vintage_double_bass_strings.htm

Updated on p2!