Telebass

That must have been at the Phoenix - play there as often as we can, go down well!

Ah, the Fender VI! Not a bass, but a bass guitar. And yes, this is my personal pedantry. I play a BASS, not a guitar. The VI even specifically says on its headstock that it is a Bass Guitar. A Vintage Jazz tells the other half of the tale - "Electric Bass". Guitar-like, yes, guitar family, no. Boring old fart, me? Too right.

"One thing to consider is your health. There isn't any sickness scheme if you break a finger or come down with some lurggy and can't earn blink. It isn't all doom and gloom but there are plenty of broken dreams along the way." As someone who's entire income is from music, though not what you'd call a professional (Guitar tech by day, gigging at all other times!), this has been brought home to me big time by the shoulder surgery I had recently. We'll make it through, good planning etc, but boy, it's tough. Lowdown, more great advice! But point's lost for misuse of apostrophe's...

Lovely. The only thing I'd personally change would be the fugly Hipshot string tree. Very inelegant. Otherwise, well, I'm an SCPB fan as you can see left!

Overall, there's simply no competition. 90% of everything you'll ever need in a bass is there, regardless of what you do. For me and many others, there's 110% of what you need. Basically, in 1951, Leo got it 98% correct, right out of the box. With the changes in 1957, in as far as it's possible, he hit perfection. No other bass approaches it for completeness of ability to do the job. The only downside is that the P fretless should never have been...the Jazz should always have been the smooth one. That said, I loved my fretless P when I had it!

Howdy!

Welcome!

Welcome!

Any recommendations? I found this thread: [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=18906&hl=comfort%20strap&st=0"]Thread on comfy straps[/url] Basically, it looked like a tie-ish between the Neotech and the Comfort Strapp. However, it seems the Neotech has been discontinued. So, those of you who have the Comfort Strapp, is it really the best thing since sliced bread? The incision from my op goes 3" front to back, right where the strap is going to be, and will be a bit tender for some time, so I really need this! Thanks in advance for your opinions!

Welcome!

Welcome back!

Nice when it happens, isn't it?

Passive. Active = just one more thing to go wrong. Ignoring extra tone control, which is, IMHO, superfluous with modern amps, the only other reason for active (and one of the reasons Alembic bothered to put so much effort into it) was to drive a long cable and reduce tonal loss that way. These days, cables are vastly improved, but I use a radio anyway (because I'm a clumsy oaf who treads on and breaks any cable, no matter how bomb-proof...). There's literally no place for active in my setup. It could be argued that the radio link is active, but it is supposed to be a clean link with no EQ, and that's how I run it. The bass version of the Samson Airline actually does have a pre-shape function if you want it, but it doesn't sound good, so I never use it. This also means you can save a few quid and simply buy the guitar version - they are otherwise identical. Sorry, rambled a bit there!

Howdy!

Welcome!

Oooh Mickey, no way that's going anywhere! Numero uno most of the time now! A great bass, and getting better. Fully dressed with the correct metalwork and raw maple finger rest, it's easily the sexiest bass of the stable!. I'd swap it for a black maple neck standard 70s P, but it would have to be a corker...it's that good a bass to me. But, should I need to move it, you're first in line! TBH, I'll probably be buried with it.

Well, I've been using the Yam as my 'learn-to-play-again-after-surgery' bass, and although the amateurishly beaten-in frets are all over the place level-wise, I reckon I like it. Quite a lot! Now, this may be cause for some serious therapy, as I'm never seen clutching anything but a Fender! If I can get the frets level, I'll gig it!

Welcome, MT!

I'm not a snob as such, I simply know what I like, or don't like, as the case may be. I love Fender Precisions. I doubt I'll ever play anything else, as they make me happy! Amps is different, although, having found Markbass, I doubt I'll change from that either. I do not like active instruments, full stop. I use a radio, for two reasons: eliminates cables, which I am particularly talented at stepping on, and, without a cable, no need for active. I used to be a bit iffy about bass speakers smaller than 15", but now use twelves...however, I want a Markbass 2x15! The Yamaha I recently acquired from the local dump is turning out to be a nice bass, which I may yet gig! (and it's basically a Precision!) So you must know what you like, keep an open mind, and never hit on anyone for their choice of gear, because it's THEIR choice.

Welcome, Simon!

Welcome!

Welcome, from another oldie!

Personally, I use an SM57 (for 30 years, the choice of mic for the podium of the President of the USA - good enough recommendation!), backed up by a Samson Q7 as a spare.

Ah, I'd forgotten those - they're really good! AND they're Hercs. Problem solved.

Rotosound Rotobass nickels. Change them around every 6 months-ish, per bass, but would likely last the full 12 months, just give them a good wipe off with a decent microfibre cloth after use. 90p from Tescos!