AmsterdamAsh

Yeah I read a while back about how we can become allergic to things through over-exposure to things. I was sent into this research by a second bee sting - the first just hurt. The second swelled up. Apparently a third could be quite dangerous, which is nice. Shame to be allergic to the thing that’s your job! And at least you have alternatives in bass strings!

Hi, I’ve been here before but not for a couple of years. I got sick of another bass forum and all its posturing and pretention, so thought I’d see if this one is a nice place I’m British, but these days live in Amsterdam. Been here three years, been in 5 bands and finally in one that has potential to be all fun and no ego! I own Fender Standard Precision, Ibanez Jet King and Jackson Minion basses, though the Ibanez will be retired as soon as I can purchase a new backup to the P. I play flatwounds, with 45-100 Chromes on the Ibanez and 50-110 Rotos on the Fender. Tuned to drop-C. The tiny Jackson is brand new so on stock rounds and tuned to E. I play through a Markbass Nano, purchased solely for its weight and portability (I used to cycled 5km across the city for rehearsals) but it’s a really nice amp. It powers two Hartke cabs - a 210XL and a 115XL I have a homemade tube screamer clone (with bass boost) running at all times as a clean boost, a Rat clone and a Big Muff Pi, one of which is usually running. Also an MXR Bass Octave Deluxe for fun bass solos. Our band is currently meeting twice a week perfecting 6 songs with the intention to record our first EP sometime, whenever we’re ready. Originally based on stoner rock we’ve expanded, brought some of my punk and thrash sensibilities to the table, and created something very tasty.

It really plays very well, much better than I expected. It’s got me looking at its big brother Jackson as my next full size bass. Pickups are good, fit is good, finish is good. Small imperfections but it’s better than a more expensive Ibanez I have. I’m waiting for next pay day to buy the Randy Rhodes guitar version

Hey I was shopping this week for a shortscale, but instead of splurging on something classier I decided on a Jackson Minion... It’s awesome.

When I started playing bass full-time all I wanted was a Precision. No particular one, so I set out and played every P in Amsterdam... bought the best one I played, which happened to be a MIM Fender.

Well done, very honourable. Homelessness is a horrid horrid thing, one that needs some more compassion. I was in a local supermarket here the other week and the manager was marching a homeless man out of the store, pinching her nose and waving her other hand in front of her nose, demonstrating her disgust for the customers to see. I don't go there any more.

Any further thoughts or reviews on this? I have a CE-2 which sounds delicious with guitar or bass, and I'd love to use it with my band but I would be too sad if it went missing so it stays at home. My thinking is to get the wazacraft version to which I'd be less attached and would not mind quite so much if something happened to it.

My only amp now is a Mark Bass Nano which sounds awesome. Once the time comes to gig I will probably get a second one as backup. It's 300w and plenty loud, weighs 1.5kg and fits in my guitar bag. And costs €400 so no need to think of anything else.

I saw these a year or so ago when they first announced. Especially liked the look of the orange (coloured) one with comes with a black and a white pick guard. Then they revealed the price and I changed my mind. There's a place for cheap instruments, I'm certainly not against them and own a few, but I was really envisioning this as a premium instrument to go with their amps.

My grandad told 12 year old me that my dad was disappointed I'd never picked up a guitar. I'd been brought up to enjoy music, and had lessons in violin, trumpet and piano at school. Naturally (perhaps especially because my dad had left a year or two previously) I wanted to get a guitar. After long arguments with my mum, who wanted me to get a classical for reasons I still don't understand 23 years later, I finally got an Encore Strat and a 1Watt Marshall amp off a friend of mine. Stepdad and mum though saw music and the pursuit of it as nothing more than a hobby - as valuable as video games - and let me know. So I ended up in rubbish job after rubbish job, denying myself anything more than a non-serious role in various pub bands. Thankfully my situation has changed significantly in the last couple of years, and now I find myself leading a band with a few half decent songs, and real talk about getting it out there. So yeah anyway there was some clear musical influence in my family but only from one angle. Most people just don't see music as a serious pursuit.

Hey all. I stumbled upon the forum this morning. I hail from the hole known as Watford, but have spent the past two years living it up in Amsterdam. I played guitar for around 22 years, until I joined a band here - the bassist didn't work out so I decided to have a go at it. In the past year I've learned a lot and come a long way, though I continue to effectively fulfill the role of rhythm guitarist in our now-trio. I also sing, and my baritone voice sits nicely with the bass. A year ago I bought a Mark Bass Nano - our rehearsal room was a 5km bike ride away and I didn't have storage there so 1.5kg won. Now I have storage and play much closer to home so recently I purchased my first bass stack - a Hartke 210XL and 115XL. Still using the Nano, it sounds fantastic so I don't see myself replacing it soon. Influences are broad but most prominent in my writing would be any number of punk and thrash bands I've enjoyed through the years. Bit of Blur in there for good measure. I enjoy playing along to most anything. Hope to have some fun and make some friends here whilst chatting about all things bass.