Rayman

I've modded mine with an EMG-35HZ pup, and I love it, great little bass.

Sex on a stick Clarky, the perfect pair. Hang on to 'em both for dear life, and don't let 'em go. You'll never need anything else again.

The new MIAs are a return to form in my opinion, especially the P5s, they're great basses. I think though that the Japanese models are outstanding, and as you say, is an American model worth the extra cash? For what it's worth, I've owned/played loads of Precisions down the years, and my favourite one of all is the 200 quid early 90s Squier I now use. It's perfect ([i]for me[/i]).

Yeah, a nice old Fender, they really do have a soul other basses don't seem to have. I miss having a '78 Precision I foolishly moved on last year, but strangely an old Jap Squier Precision has filled it's boots admirably, I think I might prefer the Squier, it's fab, and in fact the Sado hasn't been out for a while because of it. If I was in the market for something special, I'd be looking for a [i]nice[/i] vintage Jazz or Precision. I'll be 50 in 5 years time, maybe then.

[i]For me personally[/i] I think the tone is vital. Everything else has to come second. I've had dozens of basses I loved in terms of how they look and play, but they didn't [i]sound[/i] right to me. I mean I won't buy a bass if I don't like how it plays, looks etc, that's paramount too, after all, the look of the thing is what attracts you to it in the first place, but if the [i]tone[/i] is right, if it sounds great to you with eyes shut, then that to me is the most important thing with any musical instrument, how it sounds, I mean we are talking about music after all.

I'd still say that the Ibanez K5 I had a year or two back was maybe one of the comfiest basses I've ever owned, it was a dream to play. My only issue was the tone. I struggled to get a clean punch in a live situation with it. Massive bottom end and a nice click to it too, but as per Fieldy's chosen sound, the mids always seemed very scooped no matter what I did. However, I certainly echo the fact that the SR design is a future classic, great basses.

I've been lucky enough to have a quick go on that Precison at the Colne Blues festival a few years back, it was pure magic. Classic photo Dave, but I can beat that on the embarrassment stakes. I've recently come across some 20 year old pictures of myself in my days as the lead singer with an 80's metal band. Scary stuff I can tell you.

I was gutted Rhonda wasn't with Prince's band at the O2 last year, I'll definitely be checking her out with Jeff, I haven't seen Jeff Beck live for years. By the way, I bought Tal Wilkenfield's album on iTunes, and I'm a bit underwhelmed by yet another Jazz orientated "bass" album, nothing new there at all.

Here's mine: I've had a few Precisions, including a '78, a new P5, a MIJ Fender, a MIM Fender, and now this early 90s MIJ Squier, and I have to say, apart from maybe the P5, this one is the best of the lot. It's brilliant.

We do mate, always.

[b][i][size=4]VILLEX[/size][/i][/b] !!! I had a set of Villex Jazz pickups in my Highway One Jazz, and they were monsterous!! and passive.

Yeah, I've seen him he's good isn't he? Obviously there are other EQ factors involved in his particular recording, and his tone with the EMG is too harsh for me, I'd be rolling some top end off that. His original pickup actually sounds quite nice on a couple of those sections I notice, especially the first one.

I'd rather live in Moffat than Stockport I can tell you, I'm just waiting for Alan to offer me a job making cups of tea @ ACG. Yeah the Flea sounded nice up at yours a couple of days ago, but cranked up it sounds [i]really[/i] sexy. Not the most colourful palette of tones available, but all up full it's rock and roll all the way. Something along the lines of the Precision Deluxe I had, a kind of cross between P bass and Stingray, quite middy, but bright and punchy too. Not as clean and bright at the top end as a 'ray, and not as thumpy as a Precision, but somewhere in between.