Leaderboard

It's all cow manure till a blind test is done. Line up ten of the same bass, same pickups, same everything, maple board, except one of the ten has a different board. Choose which wood out of 1000's You play each bass behind a curtain, then ask the question. If anyone can pick out the odd one, i'll eat my pet goat

To hell with auditions, every gig I do can't remember the songs until we start playing them.

There are some tits on here though.

G&L Tribute LB-100 G&L Tribute JB-2 G&L Tribute Kiloton (B-stock) All £299 at Andertons right now. The LB-100 does P, the JB-2 does J, the Kiloton (sorta) does passive SR. All done with aplomb. Very happy with my Tribute LB-100.

After (mostly) putting together a cheap jazz bass kit from eBay the bug has bitten... I decided to put together something a bit custom that would hopefully get me the sound I'm looking for in a package that would be doable for a newbie. I have no real woodworking skills, no proper place to work and no tools (apart from a drill and a chisel...). Enter guitarbuild.co.uk - discovered whilst looking for kits that might get me heading in the right direction. So, then a question of whether to just buy "off the shelf" or go a bit wild. Went a bit wild. The spec I put together: Body: 2-piece walnut P-bass with rear-routed control cavity. Battery box routing. And custom routing for a Stingray pickup. Quite a lot of research, including some very useful posts on this very site led to deciding to put the pickup as near as possible to the proper Stingray spot. Neck: walnut with 38.8mm nut, maple fretboard, medium jumbo frets and abalone dot markers front and side. Headstock shape was going to be my own design, but ended up going for the "house" style as it was pretty much what I had ended up with anyway with my own design and I figured they had already got it right. Jasmine from Guitarbuild looked after the process from beginning to end with some very helpful advice about what would actually work and what was possible. For basses the choice is between p-bass and j-bass bodies in a variety of woods and for the necks you can choose one-piece or two-piece, woods and dots. Then it's just a case of communicating what you want in the way of custom routs. I found an outline of a p-bass body in a usable format for the graphic design program I often use for work. Adding the Stingray pickup outline was easy enough and putting writing on the picture to explain exactly what I wanted did the job. Only thing you can't change on the neck is that it has to be a four in-line headstock, which suited me fine anyway. I went for the option whereby they put together three body blanks and I got to choose one (though would have happily bought at least two of them... just couldn't afford to). One body was a definite "no" - just wasn't what I was looking for but it was a hard choice between the other two. Neck blanks was also choice of three and, again, it was hard to choose between them. From first email to the boxes arriving was just over two months and that included me faffing around some... Quality is excellent - the neck in particularly is very nicely made. The neck is made for the body and is a tight fit with holes pre-drilled. All that remains is finishing it, possibly a bit of light sanding on the body in a couple of places. The plan is to finish it using a Wudtone transparent finishing kit. I recently used a "Dark Tease" to finish the "zebrawood" composite body of the cheap jazz in order to dull down the stripes - was very easy to apply and gave a very nice result. I used Danish Oil on the jazz bass neck and didn't like so much how it yellowed the maple a bit much. Hardware is going to be EMG MMCS pup, with volume and EMG BTC Control for treble and bass, Hipshot Vintage bass bridge in black - all bought second hand. Machineheads will be Hipshot Licensed Lollipop Ultralites in black - special order from the US via BTN Music and a Hipshot 3-way string tree. Other bits and pieces will be from the parts bin. So far the whole process has been a lot of fun. Guitarbuild were (are) fantastic to work with - quick replies to emails and seemed to be happy to answer all my "I don't really know what I'm doing" type questions. Photos are below. And I'll add more as things progress. As browsing this particular part of BC was what got me thinking I might be able to do this, you all get to see the results

If Stanley Clarke, a very tall man with huge hands, and a highly skilled, accomplished and acclaimed bass player might I add, with some serious acoustic upright bass chops as well, can have a short scale bass as his main instrument of choice, then I am sure it will be good enough for you too.

My daughter: "Papa, WHY is this so beautiful?"

£300 doesn’t get much from a physical store, otherwise Thomann and an HB of some sort would be in play. It would need to playable and reliable straight out of the box and that shouts Yamaha to me, so a TRBX of some description, probably this one… At £259 I reckon that’d do very nicely.

Oi!

You'll be the right one....

Played two sets of blues with the Otis Jay Blues Band in our favourite club. Regret selecting the 71 Precision with flats over the Sandberg VM4 with rounds. My fingers feel very sensitive this morning! Guest sax and vocalist worked well. In some ways our temporary lineup has worked better than the original- singer/harmonica player has been away for two months.

Chatted it through with the Guitarist, he had already signed us up for the gig, putting himself under a big bit of pressure. I didn't know the gig was definite, so I apologised, he thinks he told me, I cant recall that. Told him how it was handled made me feel disposable and I'll do the gig as I won't leave him or the band hanging, but Im not sure about going forward. I'll be keeping an eye during the practices and after. I'm either an employee of the band leader and will happily do as Im told and get paid for my work or I'm an equal member and get a say, or they can find someone else...all depending on how the vibe is with a new guitarist that is.. Cheers for the input guys....bands eh, who needs them??? Never fall out with backing tracks

I'd say it's a community and a resource for information. I'm a Yankee and have learned allot about the difference in band and gigging culture between both sides of the pond. Blue

I used to sleep grounded, but then I began to develop a hum, so I lifted myself off the ground. It worked, too 😀

Well, I couldn't sleep...so I got up and did stuff to it...the bass! Finished the wiring, it's very simple. I'm still waiting on the PU's. Fitted the nut, put on a set of cheap strings. Installed the string retainer. Rough tuned it up. Of course it needs a set up and nut adjustments. But it plays. I'm letting it sit overnight for things to settle in. A bass is born…

I'm very fortunate to have (happily!) been in my covers band, with the same three people. for nigh on 10 years. In a couple of weeks we're playing a small festival that we've played at a few times in the past, and been it's interesting - well, to me at least! - to compare our set lists over the years. Because we only get 45 minutes or so we tend to play our favourite songs, on the basis that if we're having fun, then that gets the audience involved and we all have a good time. And they keep asking us back, so it must be working. Anyway, this is what we played in 2015: Black horse and the cherry tree Monkey man Don’t stop Tears dry on their own Feeling good Upside down Love foolosophy Crash Maria Black eyed boy Need you now I only want to be with you Ready to go My favourite game and this is what we'll be playing this year: Cum on feel the noize Are you gonna be my girl One way or another Call me Heatwave Feeling good Gimme shelter Titanium Bad romance Whole lotta love Vertigo I predict a riot I bet you look good on the dance floor Chelsea dagger Saturday night’s alright for fighting Tainted love Feeling Good has stayed, but the rest of the set has changed considerably. And that's not because we don't play those other songs any more (we'll be doing most of them at a social club gig, along with a bunch of Abba and Beatles songs, at the end of the month). It's more that our preferred style of song has definitely taken on more of an 'edge'. It's not been a conscious decision, but more of a gradual evolution over the years, and I'm not sure why that is. Anyone else been on a similar journey?

…… there’s a gig tonight, and you can’t access your gear. There’s an amp at the venue, but you need a bass. It has to be new, from a store, today and there’s no time to modify it. What are you going to buy?

To catch all those up who need it (which I hope is ok?) - our wonderful friend @Dood put a message on Facebook that he’s thinking the unthinkable due to the current state of affairs and his monetary situation. His Shuker 7 string is synonymous with him, was entirely conceived by him and built to his specs by Mr Shuker. It’s a true one off for a one-off lovely guy. I for one am happy to help out a brother in need.

Of the songs I actually gig at the moment.... Anything by Queen Anything by Bon Jovi It's My Life by Talk Talk Head Over Heels by Tears For Fears I Won't Get Fooled Again by The Who Two Tribes by Frankie Goes To Hollywood Mr.Blue Sky by E.L.O. Dancing in The Moonlight by Thin Lizzy Footloose by Kenny Loggins Video Killed The Radio Star by The Buggles True by Spandau Ballet Jump by Van Halen Venus by Bananarama Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go by Wham! The Final Countdown by Europe Geno by Dexy's Midnight Runners

In a moment of madness, I wondered what would make a cheap cover for my bass chat 112 mk3 cabinet Taa daa! An old work uniform Russell athletic 262M sweatshirt in 3XL is just the job Stitch up the arm holes and jobs a good'un. Jeez I'm so professional Thank you Pearson Hydraulics! 🤣🤣🤣

**** it, I've changed my mind. I'll buy the cheapest bass in the shop which meets the criteria: Do the gig, then at the end smash it into the (not mine) amp they've supplied, and/or the drum kit, AND DEFINITELY the guitarist's kit too (will try to get the pedals in a golf club sweeping motion also). Because its less than half the £300 allocated, upon the howls of derision and "that could have made a perfectly good bass for a child to learn and enjoy music on", I STILL HAVE £190.01 to buy them a bass AND A CHEAP AMP! Win-win all round. Except for the guitarist. And maybe the drummer.

Rolf Harris was…..

I recently modified my Fender Player P bass with a high-mass Kickass bridge and some Geezer Butler EMG pickups... It's sounding pretty massive. This one has an Ebony fingerboard.

Probably this. £229 at Andertons. Great upper fret access, lightweight and great looks.

Yamaha or Ibanez.

No contest? A G&L Tribute will kick any sub £300 Squier up the road and back down again. Twice.

A Sire for £300? That would be the one, or maybe a Spector, but then the Squier PJ is good value for money. To paraphrase ole Winston "never before, in the field of human bass playing, has so much been available to so many, for so little.."

I started a band over ten years ago, we limped along (the various line ups read like a version of one of Pete Frame's Rock Family Trees), but there was chemistry and fun. We bought in a singer that needed us more than his old band; don't get me wrong, he was a great lyricist (let's leave it at that), but he kind of took over. Toxic personality. Guitarist left. Drummer sacked (because he didn't like him). His entire outlook was that despite the band being mine (in the purest sense) and although I was writing 95% of the material, I was made to feel dispensable and easily replaceable at his whim. When I'd had enough, I left. That SoaB broke me and it hurt deeply. They went through five bassists after I left (which must say something) and the band folded for good earlier this year. If you're doing something and you're made to feel worthless, just walk. It took a long time for me to accept that. Plenty more bands out there. I've done some of my best playing since I left.

Express Yourself - Charles Wright & the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band I Gotcha - Joe Tex

Or as an alternative, and to be a tad different, you could do what Robin at Manton Customs did to fretless my Peavey neck There's no nasty superglue either. Smooth as a grass snake on syrup.

I've had both (Tribute). The SB-2 is very high output (been mistaken for an active by sound engineer), and it's really its own tone. Body is smaller than a regular P (cinched waist). Neck is Jazz width, but reasonably deep front to back. No tone control, as already pointed out. The LB-100 is G&L's P bass - "regular" Alnico split P - very nice sounding P pickup. Body still a bit streamlined vs. a regular P but not to the same degree as the SB-2. Neck is P width. Regular controls (vol/tone). IMO If you want a P bass, get the LB-100. If you want a quintessentially G&L product that kinda looks like a P, get the SB-2.

Wilton Felder’s bass line on Don’t Interrupt the Sorrow by Joni Mitchell is lovely to play. Cool, groovy, slinky and perfect. There’s also a little motif/phrase up towards the dusty end that is great fun.

If anyone is in need of keeping his bass its the The Dood. Im aware he loves that bass. With his input to the bass world through YT i think he deserves to keep that bass..I dont mind putting some cash in to help . Anyone else in.? Would hate to see him loose it. Im not sure how to do a crowd fund but PM with any ideas. This is BC we could probably do it.

Final got the neck in to finish this bass, it’s a standard burst squier vm jazz, but I fitted a Avedissian T bird pickup in the bridge, even added some black pickguard screws! And the standard for me upgrade to a high mass bridge. obviously the main change is the aluminium neck from Baguley, custom spec’d to have reverse headstock and block inlays!!

The most wondrously musical DB player i've ever heard. If anyone doesnt know the Solid Air album by John Martyn, it's worth every penny. Thompson is prolific on it https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kg_Utj4Aljc

Some Leduc's on the dressing convertible couch where I like to play. From left to right: Masterpiece MP 624, U-Basse UMM 4 SF, Masterpiece MP 524 and Masterpiece Headless HMP 624.

Some early thoughts on the short SBMM Stingray. . . I am still yet to plug it in, so these are just first impressions / observations from playing it on my lap: Firstly, whilst I expected this with the Ray being in a different price range, it just seems like a real quality bass, and a big step up from the only other 2 short scale basses I've tried (Squier VM Jaguar & Squier VM Mustang), and feels like it will be a lot of FUN to play. Let me say that at this moment in time I am considering going short scale more out of necessity than actually wanting to. . . as much as I love my P bass, my back always aches after playing & carting it about, and my left hand aches going from G# to F. So the lighter weight (I mean playing and load in/out too), lesser stretch, and fun factor of short scale is starting to appeal more and more. The Stingray weighs in on my digital luggage scales at a manageable 3.3Kg / 7lbs 8oz, almost a pound lighter than my Player P bass (which itself is light-ish for a P). I just realised that using the weight conversion, the 2 are slightly out of kilter, but that's what the scale read for both after several goes. Always nice to get a sub 8 pounds bass anyway. I've never had a Stingray before but own a fair bit of music that features one, so have always been curious. I've had it in my head that they are heavy and expensive, also I prefer a passive bass and to my knowledge they are generally active. So I've always passed on them, until now. I wanted to try another shorty for the above reasons, so getting a short Stingray was a 2 birds with 1 stone thing. Visually it's quite a departure for someone who is more used to Fenders. I still need to get used to the sight of the huge banana control plate. I guess this is just part of the quirky nature of a Ray, speaking of which I quite like the 3+1 headstock. I've only ever had 4 inline tuners before, and I like this headstock more than I thought I would. Also the string tree notches are a nice touch, never seen those before. Soon I will actually plug it in and play it, then will have to get my head around the controls - the somewhat bizarre push/push volume boost/cut thing, and the series / single coil / parallel selector knob. I'm normally a tone wide open guy, but I've read where some roll this off a little to take a touch of the zing / brightness off if needed. Interested in thoughts on the different modes. . . It feels well balanced, and the very cool looking quality bridge is very close to the end of the body, the 1st fret does not feel far away at all. The body doesn't feel particularly small resting on my knee, but it does look it in the mirror when standing. The cutaway seems to offer decent reach to the upper frets, though I doubt I'll be going above the 15th anyway. Not sure I've ever had 2 full octaves before - the shortest bass ever but with the most frets! It's a real joy to play on my lap, and nice to have a good body contour, which I missed when trying a Mustang. I must say that white on white isn't my first choice of colours, but the creamy white finish is very nice indeed. For sure looks better in person than in photos. Also I like that white doesn't show up every scratch & bit of dust that black does. I can live with the white pickguard for now, but may look into other options. That said, I'm not sure there are many outside of importing from the USA. Has anyone here got a replacement 7 hole guard for their short Ray, and if so where was it from? I do like some contrast, so quite fancy a black or black pearloid plate, I think those would look better against the white body. This may sound odd, but I've always like the pickups to be 'hidden' against a darker plate rather than standing out on a white one. That said, the big fat humbucker with its large pole pieces does look rather badass! Also I'm normally a maple guy, but when I saw this, GAS got the better of me. It's a lovely dark rosewood board, a world away from the indian laurel board that was on the short Jaguar I had briefly, and the 'dry cardboard' Pau Ferro boards I've seen. I like the big dot inlays too. The neck is an absolute delight - fast, smooth, looks & feels great. It seems a tad chunkier than what I'm used to, but the slim nut & obviously shorter finger stretches make it so easy and fun to play. It came to me with Ernie Ball Super Slinky 40-100 nickel rounds on - they feel & sound good enough to me acoustically anyway. I don't think I will be fiddling about with setup - there's no buzz or rattle, it just feels great. It came with a well padded matching gig bag, which was a lot better than I'd expected. From reading a ton about these basses on TB, it seems pot luck whether a gig bag was sent out with these, so I guess it's good to have one anyway, especially if I want to shed even more load in/out weight. But I'd already ordered a Gator ELEC XL hard case, which is awesome, and a perfect fit for the short Ray. The combined weight of bass & case is 1.5Kg down from the cased P bass. A bonus is that the hard case fits in the boot of the car, a long scale case never did. Now, I just need to plug it in, get my head around the controls, and get over the 'big guy/small bass' / 'this is a toy' / 'this is not a proper instrument' thing in my head. Given how much fun this is to play, that shouldn't be too hard.

Sivcak has a lot of choice, including Sadowsky/Pope like aluminium knobs : https://www.shop.sollerguitars.com/guit-control-knobs

Where are you based? It’s always extremely likely that someone might be moved to offload one of their collection to a nearby BCer.

Thanks for all the great posts. Given me a lot of food for thought. A few bass guitars I hadn't even heard of before. I would definitely prefer to get second hand. I don't mind a couple of dings and you get more bass for your money.

A similar finding to wine experts who, when various wines are chilled to the same temperature, can struggle to differentiate red from white apparently

I would actually be pretty annoyed about that

Pretty much anything from Stax or Motown. Just as well as I'm playing in a soul band these days...

I'm not really sure what to say. I'm really touched that anyone would even want to do this for me, it's a really thoughtful thing to suggest. You'll have to forgive me if for once after many years of recording review videos, I am lost for words. Things are really tough at the moment and I can't help feeling a little bit like I've been thrown under a bus. I think the reality is that I'm not singled out, everyone is being stuffed financially and I feel for those who are in an even more difficult situation than I. I'm trying to figure things out. (Long story) I'll keep everyone posted. Thank you, really.