neepheid

Exclusively fingerstyle here. Having no real background in guitar beyond abortive attempts in youth I came to bass fresh and the bassists who inspired me to take the plunge (principally Steve Harris and Jack Bruce) play(ed) fingerstyle. Odd then, that the first bassline I ever played on a bass was Peaches by The Stranglers. I learned it on the lowest strings of a guitar I had lying around then headed to the music shop to try basses I've tried using a pick but it feels so alien and disconnected to me not to be directly addressing the strings that I don't enjoy it and see no musical benefit in the bands I'm in to make it worth persevering with. Come to think of it, that's maybe why I never stuck at the guitar... Not anti-pick though! Some great players use 'em and to great effect. With a pick I am neither great nor effective. With fingers I'm not bad and make the correct noises most of the time...

I can't tell you anything about these basses. Speaking as someone who is geographically remote from guitar shops which carry a decent amount of basses, I have tended to gather as much info as I can - YouTube videos, any press reviews these instruments may have had, in addition to opinions here then gone for the one I like the look of best. Order online - with distance selling regs you can try it out in the comfort of your own home and don't feel bad about invoking those rights to return the bass if it's not for you. If your situation is anything like mine, it'll cost you about the same to courier it back to the vendor as it would to travel somewhere which has the instrument you're looking for, and a lot less time. Just remember not to rip things open in your excitement - you'll need that packaging to send it back if it doesn't work out, so take your time

This makes me sad. You deserve better than this. I personally have no time for divas and disagreeable folk who fly off the handle and need intervention to calm down when they receive criticism. On the other hand, you've committed to a gig. I'd tend to agree with the opinion that you should see the gig out - if the gig turns out to be a s#itshow (as I fear it might be) then you've got all the justification you need to pull the plug because I know it won't have been you that bingoed the show. Come to think of it, I chose a time when there weren't any imminent gigs in the calendar to quit the one band I quit on purpose/principle.

My backside being well and truly kicked, I'm off to play my Embassy

It's starting to sound a bit koolaid-y in here...

Guitarist? I'll show you! Get me a cup of tea, I've got practising to do!

Let's try the loafer, if that doesn't work then at least we'll have a level higher to try

Got a rehearsal in 3 days, a gig in 5, 6-odd songs to learn (Christmas ones, use twice then discard, yay), a dozen more that could use work and I can't be ar$ed doing any of it

It does have a blend. That's why the middle knob hasn't got a V or a T on it. It's centre detented and everything. And on mine, it's permanently turned towards the neck pickup

I went on a diet and I currently have 4. At one time it was probably up at 12. I would say that as long as they're all getting played then fair enough. Instruments != ornaments. Who do I think I am, issuing diktats? Own as many basses as you like as long as it isn't harming anyone. I guess the potential harm is chiefly financial, but I guess you could hurt someone if a bass fell on someone...

Wouldn't that have happened the first time the headstock was breathed upon?

How would we know? I'm just stirring, I know exactly what they look like

Seeing as I don't teach anyone and play my own stuff half the time, I don't think terminology matters as long as I know what I'm doing Playing my JC or wunkay helps at least makes it unambiguous which pickup I'm using

Rock-wire == obbm, no?

Yeah, come on Shaun!

Not that this is particularly relevant to what you want but I just thought I'd mention the production king of options - the G&L L-2000/2500/ASAT. 18 different options (27 if modded) Passive, 2 band EQ pickup selector (back, front, both) series/parallel (can replace this with a 4PDT on/on/on switch for single coil/series/parallel) passive/active (line boost)/active with treble boost Three knobs, three switches. Much more than you wanted, but I thought I'd mention it in case it offered any ideas.

Anecdotally, I read D'addario EXL170. https://www.bassesbyleo.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=1693&p=19796&hilit=Stock+strings#p19796 It's what my USA G&L came with too, so I guess it makes sense to use the same strings for all your basses regardless of where they're made and maximise economies of scale.

There have been 3 types of bridge on Epiphone Thunderbirds. I'm pretty sure you're talking about the three point bridge (where the saddles are just sitting in the bridge plate and will fall out if the string is removed). Can you put up a picture of the bridge?

Sounds legit to me, take your share. The songs wouldn't be the same without your input.

Does he write the bass lines and tell you what to play?

2023 though, that seems insane

"Be with you shortly, just cooking up some bass lines"

You after a particular colour? I've seen limited stocks of gold and red still going around... EDIT: Andertons have 1 red and 1 gold left. PMT have gold. Bax-shop has red. Thomann have black. No luck with green. Now suspecting that it's green you're after

I was looking for something specific - I do not respect this Black Friday "tradition" at all, but Andertons are having a bit of a price blitz on G&L Tributes: https://www.andertons.co.uk/bass-dept/bass-guitars?#facet:3074457345616676675713876327111710511697114115&productBeginIndex:0&facetLimit:&orderBy:3&pageView:grid&minPrice:&maxPrice:&pageSize:& £250 for a G&L Tribute JB-2? Not my thing at all, but 7 lucky folk are going to get a bargain. When the prices go back to normal you could probably sell it second hand for £250!

What a bummer! Get some Lemsip down you and hope you can make it through. Good luck!