LukeFRC

A few things that you've said (this is directed to the OP) make me think that it's possibly more your left hand technique than your bass. When you play is your left wrist bent or straight? Where does your thumb sit?

a cheap one

[quote name='prowla' timestamp='1485421803' post='3223785'] I have to say, I've never been particularly keen on Yammy basses; I'd walk right past them... ...maybe I need to stop and try one next time. [/quote] me too - In fact I would have said they were the ugliest basses in the shop... (something about the switch position on the 2 pickup ones) Then someone did a trade where I had a old japanese BB300 - not it was a cheap bass, and I traded it knowing I needed to sell... but it was really really really good. Take my test - go into a music shop try all the fenders, and whatever else they have - then pick up the £300 BB424 they have and tell me it doesn't match or surpass everything twice it's price* *unless you're looking for something specific. It aint a jazz!

[quote name='tonyf' timestamp='1485528713' post='3224679'] ^^^^^ This Installed a Nordstrand 4.3 in a Sterling I used to have. Not that the stock pickup was bad but the Nordstrand was recommended to me. Wow. It was fantastic. Gave the bass SOOOOOO much Pre-EB vibe. [/quote] hmmm and my favourite jazz pups I've heard were nordies too - this could end up being expensive!

So I've got a project in the planning stage that involves making my bitsa stingray a bit more playable... Reality is that the only thing I might end up reusing is the tuners and everything else is up for grabs! What I'm aiming for is a bit more of a trad bolt on type tone compared to my other basses which are more modern sounding through necks. And I class a stingray as being in the same sonic ballpark as fender. So I've currently got a Bartolini musicman type pickup, two coils. It's nice. Thinking of picking up a neck j and having a j/mm setup. The Delano hybrid system looks good - any good experiences (ild go for the mm pickup in the right place) Otherwise a splittable humbucker like a fender roscoe beck could be interesting. Or even a $$, it would probably be as easy to find another Bart mm pup as a single neck pup. Any advice? I guess I would also be wanting to pick stuff up secondhand

[quote name='synthaside' timestamp='1485509635' post='3224412'] I have a MIM 70's Jazz I bought it because I really wanted a bound a blocked neck, it is a fantastic bass, but on the heavy side ,mine is a two piece body. The join only visible on the rear due to a slight grain change, the finish is immaculate, dark smokey black to orange sunburst. That coming from me someone who associates sunburst with a white plate , ( the colour of cheap starter guitars) as one I'd never own is high praise. If you can get one of these for £400 that is right on the money, if not a bit of a bargain they play like much more expensive instruments. If I'm trying to be super honest looking for negatives the bass does seem a little lower on the output side compared to my Bista J with SD's and a kiogon loom. If i A-B them and put both up to full the bitsa has it on volume. Secondly, as this is my first " FENDER" with a skunk stripe I am a little worried that the rod is trying to come out the back I can feel a tiny raise with my thumb, but I may be being paranoid. [/quote] lower output isn't a negative - that's why your amp has a gain knob. Some pickups' tone is partly due to lower gain.

I might be wrong, but looking at used fender prices things like the MIM 70's classic seem fairly high priced and doesn't seem to go for that much less than a secondhand Maruszczyk EDIT: plus if you've sold your cab sell your amp?

[quote name='EBS_freak' timestamp='1485350624' post='3223304'] Sounds like a big success then! [/quote] Definatly - I think I had the bonus that a lot of folk don' have of having a setup to play through designed for IEM so that hurdle wasn't there for me. But it's so good - in my case I'm a little at the mercy of the sound guy but it still is really nice way to play. I can get what I want, these headphones mean I can actually hear everything and yeah I'm chuffed. I'm not 100% I'm getting the best seal, but the more I use them the bigger the bottom end seems to get (oddly) - I got a bargain but easily worth £170. Recommended

So ive used my ue900s a few times now - practice and live - and it's a revelation. Mainly I can hear everything, I can run quieter and I can play better in time. i like.

you mean like this Yamaha BBs like this beauty?

[quote name='Kev' timestamp='1485033635' post='3220660'] I will second a vote for Alpher Instruments. Not as well known as others, but they build exceptional instruments. I have been through most British built instruments and nothing surpasses Alpher for build quality and choice of woods in my opinion, there is no-one like them. They only build two different model basses and restrict a few options for customisation, simply because they believe the design they have is the best instrument they can make. They give each instrument they build the proper time and dedication it needs. Some of the builders named in this thread churn basses out at an alarming rate, Alpher's output is much smaller (my bass was only the 30-something instrument they had built) and that is incredibly reassuring to me. Me and Chris have become friends following my commission and the guy honestly couldn't be any better customer service wise. Immediate response to emails and Facebook chat messages before, during and most importantly after the build. They are a joy to work with. Check them out, you won't regret it [/quote] I wanted a custom bass - then alpher sorted out the frets on my current bass and I don't want a custom bass any more - they are that good

The drummer i play with (also a lecturer in music, music tech and stuff) recommends these https://www.amazon.co.uk/MEE-Earphone-Replaceable-Universal-Microphone/dp/B00SLVB71Q/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1485113493&sr=8-2&keywords=m6+headphones

They really do know what they are doing. It's things like the 'no screws' policy where everything is a bolt with a coresponding insert that shows the quality and attention to detail

makes sense

Or maybe I'm in the wrong Facebook groups

But even the Facebook groups have few bits

So anyone else noticed there are way less bits of basses to build bitsas with in the for sale section- very few bodies and necks- is the done thing now to buy a Harley Benton and mod that?

[quote name='luckman67' timestamp='1484692154' post='3217650'] I am 50 this year & my wife asked me if I wanted a bass (not expensive) to mark the occasion. I have my Am.Std Precision in Olympic white / Maple neck strung with flats. I looked at the V4MTB only £248 classic look and if I put rounds on it, then I'll have the best of both sounds. Here is my question though is the body a full Fender body thickness,and not the thinner Squier type of body (it is a pet peeve of mine). And what is the weight like on these? Does anyone here own one and is the neck pocket thickness the same as a MIM/MIA Precision? I don't want her to spend a lot on a bass, that may not get used as much as my Am.Std. Just thinking as well how wide is the nut on this bass? Thanks in advance [/quote] If I were spending that kinda money on a new bass I would look at the Yamaha BB424 - lovely things and good value for money. Maybe not that classic look though if that's your thing. Secondhand... the world starts to become a more interesting oyster.

Learned on a passive bass, if it was good enough for Jaco... then... Oooh look at this new thing, some people on this forum say this thing is amazing I must sell off all my basses to have just active basses... then... Don't like active basses - not for me, going back to simple passive 4 strings, leo got it right... then... Ooh look a 5th string, some people on a forum say I should try it. I'm going to sell all my 4 strings and replace them with 5 - they mostly are active then... ooh look new bells and whistles preamps from East/ACG/Aguilar/Glockenklang/Ebay, people rave about these, I'm going to fit them on all my basses then... Don't like active basses - not for me, going back to simple passive 4 strings, leo got it right... repeat ad infinitum ....