Rayman

That I believe that every instrument, budget or expensive, has its own voice. My Mustang (about to buy another one) was 50 quid. I firmly believe that altering it in any way will take its vibe away, and it’s vibe is awesome as it is. Best p bass I’ve had, and I’ve had a lot. An upgrade would be a backwards step and remove its personality. Buy the right bass in the first place. If you f*** up and don’t like it, move it on. Don’t waste your money on trying to make a silk purse out of a sows ear.

Are these any good? Simple as that really!

Apologies if there’s already a thread on this I’m looking at a cheap Upright on the bay, it’s near to me, and only 300 quid. Me and Mrs Rayman are big rockabilly fans, and I fancy this for us both to learn on. It has an awesome (but un PC) confederate flag painted on the back, and with a pinup sticker on the front will look the dogs. I’ve asked the seller to tell me the make, and I suspect he’s going to come back and say Gear 4 Music. Question is are they any good, or should they be avoided? It already has a decent pickup fitted. Any advice welcome

I’ve wasted a lot of money on pointless “upgrades” over the years, usually moving the gear on anyway at a massive financial loss. In my opinion it’s almost always a waste of time and money, and like someone pointed out, an upgrade is a matter of personal opinion anyway. Most basses are just fine as they are. I recently restored a cheap P bass, only replacing the knackered EQ because it didn’t work, and for no other reason. The stock “cheap” pickup sounds fantastic with the new EQ, and banging in an expensive replacement would have been pointless. Modding a bass you love, that you’ll never sell, to tweak it to how you want it is fine, but honestly, how many of us move the gear on anyway? Loads, and asking an inflated price to cover your cost is optimistic at best. Most people will want to do their own mods if the bass needs it. My point……. move gear on in stock condition and let the new owner decide for themselves.

You only need one kidney

I have a bit of an obsession, for having two almost identical basses, a #1 and a #2, for gigs. So when I have my #1 bass I have to have virtually the same bass as the spare. Doesn’t have to be exactly the same, colour etc…. But there or thereabouts, ie: two P basses, or two Warwick Streamers… etc Anyone else the same? Or do you like to mix it up?

Ok thanks for that 👍🏻

I’ve always hated gigs, done it for 40yrs, still hate it. As a songwriter and creator, I adore the studio. Always have. The highlight of my musical life was recording a Radio 1 session at Maida Vale in the 80s. Gigs? Can’t really remember any of them.

The ones I've heard sound amazing

I always wonder with brands perceived previously as "budget", if people will pay money like that for their top end instruments. I wonder if snobbery creeps in when you're going to spend over a grand, and having the name "Cort" or "Sire" on the headstock, instead of "Mayones" or "Sadowsky" puts people off? Having heard the Sire V9s/V10s for example, and thinking how incredible they sound, I wonder if some folks looking for a super jazz would fork out for one at that price knowing that the brand is regarded (wrongly) as a budget one?

I just pulled the pickup from my Aria IGB68 5, as I'm thinking of trying something different in it..... any idea what this is? Standard 90s Aria jobby? I'm curious why a "neck" pickup would be by the bridge....

As a song writer, writing my own stuff is much easier to me than having to learn someone else’s songs, and much more fulfilling.

Colin Moulding - XTC He, Tina Weymouth and JJ Brunel were the reason I bought my first bass, a Columbus Jazz, in 1981.

If it was me..... If the answer was yes to the following: Do I like the music Does it pay money Am I available Then I'd be all over it. If no to any one of those points, then not on your nellie captain.

I really love the look of these, if I hadn't just pulled the trigger on two two other basses I'd be all over this.

That all sounds good then..... my days of clanking the strings like JJ Burnel are over, so it seems they'll be fine. I love the feel and tone, even smoother than TI flats, but still with enough brightness to cut through. My mate in the record shop downstairs said it sounded fantastic through the ceiling.

Thomastik flats, for me, are the king of strings. I've never had any issue with dead or unbalanced tone at all with them. I have a 5yr old set on a Yamaha, and they're still going strong and clear across the board.

So after completing the restoration of my fabulous Sunn Mustang, I picked D'Addario tapewound strings for it, and man, they are utterly awesome. I love the feel and tone, and together with the bass, non of my other gear is getting a look in, I can't put it down. I mostly play fingerstyle, but I used to be a pick player back in the day. So I've started using pick again for some stuff, SO good palm muted for funk.... My question is, has anyone had experience of picking tapes, and do they break up quickly? If so I might put flats on instead.

I've sold every bass I said I'd never sell.

Assuming they do a 5 string set

JBE (Joe Barden) blade PJ pickup set