We have our very own competition coming up on the Bass Guitar Blog, but first I wanted to set a challenge – especially for the solo bassists out there.

Myguitarspace.com are having a competition (thanks for Kristen for contacting me about it). After a little bit of dialogue, I can confirm that the competition is open to bassists. There are only a few days left though – entries are accepted through to the last day of October.  The winner will receive a check for $250. You’ll need to sign up on MyGuitarSpace.com (free) and enter a video clip of yourself playing your song. Voting for the contest is done by other members of the MyGuitarSpace.com network.

Then head back here for some other exciting news…

I’ve posted about the Lakland Owners Group, now it is about time for me to write about an actual Lakland Bass. This fellow here is the Lakland Skyline 55-02. The 55 denotes that it is a 5 string, and the 02 that it has a jazz front pick up and a musicman style one at the rear. The Skyline basses are made overseas, but to the US Skyline design, and finished in Lakland’s Chicago facility.

One of the first things you’ll notice is the optional quilt maple top. Very striking! Turning the bass over reveals a few surprises too: [More…]

I’ve been thinking about listening today. Partly because I’ve been turning the studio upside down trying to find my trusty Shure E3 in-ear monitors. They are missing in action. Not good. They were a very special part of my bass kit.

There is little that beats the feeling of your insides being liquidized by the sound of your own playing. Doing a big gig with a thousand people in the crowd and an 8×10 cab behind you is something that sticks in the mind. Even my Accugroove 110, with nothing bigger than a 10 inch driver, makes my clothes flap in the breeze. I love bass, don’t you!?! [More…]

I’m talking about the bit of the bass that keeps the strings on, not that funny bit of the song between the verse and the chorus. What we have here today, my fellow bass lovers, is a tale of three bridges.

It wasn’t until I saw a Badass bridge on a bass for the first time that I realised the importance of that lump of metal holding the strings on to the body. [More…]

Rather sad news in my inbox, re: BassQuake08, which is now cancelled. The organizers cited the current economic climate. Anyone where has pre-registered will receive a full refund.

Enjoy this clip of Pasadena Bass Day 08 to sooth your blues: http://www.xotic.us/video/pasadenaBassDay08/index.html

A 2009 event is still planned, and there will be the Namm Bass Bash 09 and Pasadena Bass Day 09. More news as I receive it…

This post was kicked off by Simon Little‘s comments on “Bass Guitar Scale Length – Stretching Too Far?” (do check out his blog). Talking about extended scale lengths, then comparing and contrasting upright and electric bass technique, got me thinking about the subject of injuries, stretches, strains and pains. [More…]