Rayman

There's 2 ways of looking at your plans: 1: You really love how the bass plays, but you want to improve the sound and performance, and most importantly!..... you're going to KEEP it post modern. 2: You're clutching at straws as it's not quite what you want, and you might move it on anyway. Take it from someone who has thrown a fortune at modding basses over the years, and STILL moved them all on..... If it's A, do it, but honestly don't spend a lot, don't end up in negative equity, and be sure you want to keep the bass OR be sure you can get your money back if you sell. If it's B..... big fat no.

I've been a bass player for 40 years. I, like many of you have had hundreds of basses over that time, every make and model you can think of. Around 5yrs ago I hit hard times. Horrendous times, personally and financially. So everything went to pay rent and survive. My last basses.... 2 Stingrays, 78 P bass and a Gretsch Thunderjet plus my TC rig, all gone. I've had nothing since. Literally 6 weeks ago life turned around financially, new job, new hope. So..... I'm starting to rebuild gently at first.... In: Yamaha RBX460 Hohner B Bass TC BG250 Totally delighted with all 3, under £500 for all 3.... the TC was £40!! Looking forward to a P bass, a Jazz and a Stingray joining the gang next year. The RBX460 was the start of my new journey, a gift from my new partner....and I couldn't have started with a better, albeit modest instrument, and honestly the Hohner is immense, up there with basses 3 times its price. NEVER give up fighting. I'm proof that life can turn around, even when there seems like there's no hope.... keep fighting. It WILL get better.

I'm baffled as to why SGC Nanyo basses aren't expensive to buy.... they're superb, and mostly overlooked

I agree. Old tw*ts like me remember the 70s, looking to buy a bass back then as a teenager meant Columbus, Jedson, CSL, Westone etc as we couldn't afford Fenders. Funny how those brands are thought of with such fondness 40 years later.... because my memory is that they were mostly pretty bad.... with a few exceptions. Old, does not necessarily mean good, it just means old. SO yes I agree with you, the more affordable basses of today are head and shoulders above most of that "vintage" Japanese stuff that I remember.

Another vote for Yamaha... I've had loads, from a BB3000S down to my current RBX460. £170, and it's a cracker with a good setup and flats. Even an RBX170 I found for a friends son was a belter and under a ton on fleabay. Anything from Yamaha or Ibanez can stand up against gear twice the price. I love to find good quality affordable gear, and as long as it's set up correctly and sounds how you want it to, it's a bass for life. I'd rather have a few sub £500 basses to chose from than a couple of expensive ones.

Massive attack vs The mad professor is a great album for the more contemporary minded.

My first bass, around 1980ish was a Columbus Jazz.... meanwhile my mate bought an SD Curlee... I remember being very jealous, because his bass was really lovely. It played so nicely and sounded great, it felt like a "proper" bass.... my Columbus was a very different story.

The Dudepit had their own Läkland colour….. I THINK there was Dudepit edition bass… can’t remember what it was

Bassworld was run by Crazykiwi, I think Basstalk was Peds' first incarnation? So long ago, I can't remember what happened yesterday...

Yeah, before Basschat, there was Bassworld (I'm going way back, I've been here that long) and I think Steve was on there, then also one of the first members on here, as I was. There was a "falling out" and he set up Finnbass as an alternative. Chris has done such a fine job here, Finnbass didn't quite reach the heights of Basschat in terms of popularity. It was a good resource though.

Good site, and I liked its slightly left field vibe and humour.... very knowledgeable folks too... But having been away from bass playing myself the last couple of years, I lost touch with everyone there and here.

Yes, I agree Chris, but I guess what I'm asking is, is "your tone", in your head... The sound you like to find, regardless of the gear.... whether you're playing an Ibanez, Fodera, Fender whatever? Obviously the gear provides the actual "sound", but do you dial in YOUR tone, regardless of the gear?

As I've gotten older, I listen to less and less... which is a bit depressing. I have predominantly podcasts now in the car.... it's been a long time since I've discovered and got excited about anything new.... 🤨

Yeah, and regarding the "not all expensive basses are better" theme... Scott Devine was talking about Victor Wootens Fodera on his podcast..... "Meh" was Scotts opinion after playing it.... a bit bland and uninteresting apparently, but in the hands of Victor, it's sounds amazing. The bass? Or the player?

I recently bought a Yamaha RBX460, stuck TI flats on it, and it sounds fabulous. £150, and honestly, to me it sounds as good as basses I've had 3 or 4 times the price. The Hohner B Bass sounds immense, and again only £175..... But STILL, they sound like me, like the Stingray did, like the Marcus Jazz did, etc..... I just think whatever the bass, I search for and find MY sound. Is there any point in buying something expensive? Even though I still plan to 😆

Yeah ok, it IS important, but HOW important. How many of you and your favourite players, GENERALLY get your/their sound WHATEVER gear you're using? I, always seem to find MY sound, regardless of the gear, there or thereabouts.......and I don't believe that expensive gear will make you a better player at all, in fact I've always deviated towards modest gear, even when I could afford something more expensive (not often). You can find an amazing tone, YOUR tone, on a £100 bass, it doesn't need to be £1K or over does it? So I believe, that it's NOT all about the bass, I think its all about YOU. The funk's in the fingers, not the instrument, isn't it?? Or am I very wrong?

Yeah, pics mate. I'm sure P bass experts, such as WOT will give you an idea of what to look for

Hangin' around, Peaches.... anything by the Stranglers. Also check out Stuart Morrows amazing pick playing with New Model Army. The Vengeance album is immense.

One of the reasons I started playing bass, and definitely why I love simple, deep grooves. I've never been a fan of basslines that are complicated and fussy, and Robbie is one of the reasons why.

Oh no!! ☹️

Yeah we watched the final part last night, and I really enjoyed it, much more than the first part. Fascinating insight, and sad to know how many of those in it are no longer with us. Despite my struggle with the length of the documentary, I just can't concentrate that long.... I really got into the final part. The police were hilarious.

I wonder how many people, like me, have spent wedge, on putting new electrics, tuners etc into an instrument, when it really wasn't necessary? I've done it..... Nordstrand into an OLP Tony Levin.... Villex pups into a jazz copy..... EMG pup and EQ into a Fleabass (water bass) etc etc, there are SO many .... all affordable basses with expensive upgrades, and all moved on shortly later, because I STILL didn't like them. Now.... IF the upgrade turned an ok bass into a great one, and you KEPT it...... then fair enough, good move ..... but, there MUST be a ton of money spent out there for no reason? I can't be the only one?