fretmeister

You can't learn to love a bass that's too heavy, doesn't balance, has a neck so big it causes hand cramps etc etc. Those things are only ever tolerated, and with hundreds of thousands of P basses made, why tolerate it at all? Several that suit will be out there.

It was an organised stunt but the chap looks quite happy about it. I don't kink shame. Whatever floats your boat!

DR Pure Blues - the slipperiest rounds I've ever known - even more than the GHS squashed Pressurewounds. BUT - you could try the Ernie Ball Cobalt flats. They sound very round like - not identical, but maybe close enough, and they are really slick.

I'll start by saying that I love pedals / effects on bass. Probably to unhealthy levels! But, adding a bit of drive or chorus and playing the same part rarely does anything worthwhile as a 'behind the solo' thickener. If you listen to the great 3 piece bands in the vast majority there is no change in bass sound behind solos, but the bass part changes. Sometimes it stays on root notes, sometimes Root and 5th, maybe on the kick drum and snare to lock in, sometimes the bass part is completely different than before while still following the same chord structure. Walking bass part or a full blown JS Bach contra-part or even a bass solo of sorts intertwined with the guitar part. And if it's Jack Bruce he fit all of those options into a song so the bass part built to a crescendo as much as the solo did. The guitar part itself will often use a lower register than a 2 guitar band and use more double stops rather than a widdle fest for the whole solo (ZZ Top). But in a 3 piece you also have to enjoy the space. It's not "empty" it's just more dynamic space! A nice rest from the wall of sound. You won't need to change anything in the tone if the arrangement is right.

I have one of those for my iPad for mobile practice and recording. It's very good!

Found these....

I have a Sandberg SL TT4 and I really hated the stock pickups. I swapped them for a set of original EMG J as they were designed to be a 1960s jazz tone just without the noise, and Bobby Vega can't be wrong! I also swapped the preamp while I was at it for an EMG one. The EMG J does a pretty good P bass impression when soloed with a little mid bump on the EQ - but it has to be said, no J will ever sound just like a P. Even just the pickup placement is different enough. I did get it sounding closer to a P with different strings - I put TI Flats on it as they are quite strong in the mids without too much treble and bass. It's not a sound I particularly like when playing alone, but in a mix it sounds great. I do get what you mean about finding the right precision. It took me about 30 years! I've had a few but settled on an American Special from 2012/13 that had a nice low weight, a slightly slimmer neck, and felt really good to play. For the first time in ages I took it to rehearsal on Saturday after taking my EHB or my Sandberg regularly and there were a few "What's changed? It's all sounding better today?" type comments. They are brass and reed players mostly so they wouldn't know what had changed, but I heard it too. Nice and thick but no unnecessary high end getting in the way, no boominess at the bottom, it just fit nicely. And to think I nearly sold it!! Now I'm wondering about another one so I can have one with flats and one with rounds!

I looked at this a while ago. EMGs or Barts if you want covered PJ 5 string. There’s not many options, and depending on your string spacing it might be limited even with pole pieces. FWIW I really rate the EMG X series. Loads of headroom and the P actually sounds like a good P pickup. Nordstrand will make you a custom set if you want but it’s a bit spendy!

Even though the P bass is a relatively clunky old thing today it sounded particularly good with the older tunes (Basin Street Blues and that sort of stuff) but the amp did need a tweak from my usual. Mostly 12 noon on the controls but with a bass cut to stop it getting boomy, and a twist of the Character control (It's a Tech21) to get a bit more mids. Lovely!

But until you can actually review the overheads - the salary total, the building rent, the insurances, shipping, the electricity and increasingly world wide differences in compliance requirements you don't have anything to base it on. I run a business, I know my overheads and I know the charging levels as with many / most other businesses the profit levels are far smaller than wild speculation would ever believe. We can all say "Thing at £200 is really expensive" - but we can't say "Thing at £200 is a rip off" until we know whether it cost £5 to make and get it to the shop or £180 to get it into the shop.

Line 6 Helix rack unit. Soon to be augmented with a separate interface so I have more options. The Helix is a great interface but only has 1 mic input.

I write rock and funk stuff but I play in a big band. Same amp and cab but with different amp settings. I play whatever bass I fancy on the day. Over the last few weeks it's been my Ibby EHB or my Sandberg TT4, both with roundwounds, but we've now got a new set list that includes older classics from the 1920s so this weekend I'm going to dig out the Precision with the ancient TI flats on it and see how that goes.

Dunlop flatwounds on one of them, Newtone platinums on the other.

I've got two 32 scales with Low B. They work great - but the string choice will be the thing that makes it work.

I do have to say though... Darkglass and their sibling NeuralDSP do modern advertising and social media better than anyone else. For new amps / pedals / plugins they make sure their favourite demo youtubers have a unit in advance and they get a dozen videos ready for launch day, in many different styles. There's been a few non-DG product launches over the last few months - like the Ashdown Guy Pratt amp / John Myung preamp / Geezer preamp - and yet there's still no demos. Darkglass put more effort into a demo video for a bag than Ashdown - and others - do for a new amplifier.

https://darkglass.myshopify.com/products/darkglass-bag-by-lamanta 199 euro ha ha hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha! They've even done a demo video for it!

This. Or 'Of course - just give me £2000 in cash as a security deposit first"

Just tell her - can't stand losing you.

Congratulations!

I think there's 2 that have really stood out for me. Dead Daisies - Holy Ground and Cory Wong's Paisley Park Sessions with Sonny T on bass. TBH I've only bought a few 2021 releases so far, and several of them have involved Cory Wong. Wildhearts '21st Century Love Songs' gets an honourable mention though.

HMRC are understaffed for giving money back and yet have plenty of resources to pursue those who owe it. Funny that!

I never knew that it would get close to DC. Now that it's been mentioned it's so obvious!

Who set the rules? Oh yeah. Politicians. And if the rules need to change - what would be the process? Politics. "I don't do politics" is acceptance of a situation and passive support of the status quo.

import / export is politics. Vat / taxation is politics. Every single thing that is subject to rules and regulations is politics. Even the very existence of this forum is subject to regulation set by politicians. It cannot be avoided.

Weird. Was that an upgrade? When I tried one the fans came on instantly.