fretmeister

Best thing I ever did was learn to read. I got through the first 20 years of playing without, then started to play with my kids who were getting lessons on clarinet and sax. Learning to read loads of different stuff when those 2 instruments transpose differently was a real development point for me. So many more pieces of music are now accessible. If there's no bass part then the trombone or the bass clef part of a piano score is all there. It also allows me to properly play stuff from different arrangers. The Hal leonard library stuff has multiple versions of the same tune but arranged differently. Different styles come through even more that way. If you read at all (only Grade 2-3 level) then there is loads of HL stuff on youtube where the entire score is on screen and flips as needed. If you watch it on a big enough screen you can read it straight from the telly. Here's an easy big band arrangement of "Think" - the bass part is nearer the bottom With Youtube's speed controls it can be played back really slowly while maintaining pitch. It's great for learning. There's loads of similar stuff on youtube, as well as loads of No-Bass backing tracks in a variety of keys / styles / tempos / time sigs. Like this

Still can’t have a J neck on a P.

No idea. I’ve seen short tang frets before but usually short enough so the slot doesn’t reach the edge of the fretboard at all, to make it invisible. Are you in a particularly humid place where the wood could have expanded a bit?

Tiny blob of superglue and then sanded would have sorted that, and been invisible.

I came here to say this too.

I've only ever seen American youtubers complain about it. It's a fantastic bridge. And once it is set, it stays put.

That might be a really clever idea!

I should also mention that as soon as my Lionel is here I'm planning on ordering another Sandberg too. Probably a Central (the new stingray inspired one) but maybe a VS4 (P bass) Sandberg use the same neck for their P and J types. I love that as it's my favourite neck shape anyway.

I've had a Cali 1 TM4 and TM5 and I currently own Cali 2 superlight TT4 and TT5. They are my main basses. I love them. I've got a Lionel on order at the moment for delivery next year too. I think they are fabulous basses.

Is the Paradriver drive sound the same as the BDDI?

Might as well go with Ultralights while you are at it. Makes far more of a difference than you think it would.

500w More headroom and it has a volume control.

Good luck!

I once went to a shop event where Billy Sheehan was the guest of honour. As he walked in I was trying to play one of his tunes... and I completely frakked it up. I was mortified.

I might have to give them a go.

£19 delivery! Also - I like 40-100.

Strewth! On an Ibby Mezzo and on my P bass shorty I have Dunlop flats. Last time I changed the strings the sets were about £50 or so. Expensive, but they last many years so I was ok with that. They are now £95!! (Or £115 for the 5 string set). I realise the exchange rate with the USA is in the toilet, but this is shocking. Wish I had bought a few sets last time.

Alas those are nickels. I don't get on with them.

I’ve got EMG j set in mine with their preamp. But with all jazz basses I think they need a boost at about 100hz to give some proper welly but without the flub of boosting lower than that. So a preamp with a variable mid that goes down to 100hz is really useful.

https://www.markbass.it/product/gouche-series-electric-bass-stainless-steel-low-action-semi-exposed/ I bet it is these. Purple and Gold are his colours too, for the ball ends.

Are they yellow silks? Could be Mark Bass. Their Andrew Gouche sig set has tapered / bare core at the bridge.

i certainly couldn’t name the pickup in it, but I could tell you if I preferred it. Apart from the SD quarter pounder. Because it doesn’t sound like a p pickup at all.

I looked at some but they seem to all be nickels, and I don’t get on with them. has to be steels really.