neepheid

Given the choice of those three, I'd probably go for the Mustang. Shocking admission from a man with tastes like mine, but it's probably the all-rounder of the three, the other two being at various extremes of either sound or ergonomics - in my opinion neither things are desirable when you're starting out. My first bass was an Epiphone EB-3. I bought it because it looked pretty. Ergonomically it was a disaster (horrible neck dive which I had to constantly fight against when playing, and a thin neck which I later found out through playing other basses that I dislike) and as such it was a pretty ornament for something like five years, years that I now regret as being wasted (from a bass playing point of view - I did other stuff!)

This is precisely why I have my reservations about the practice of putting Fender logos on non-Fender instruments. People get hoodwinked - not necessarily by the person who applied the logo. I firmly believe that the only appropriate place for a Fender logo is a Fender, perhaps as part of a renovation/restoration. I don't want to come across all preachy - in an ideal world everything would be above board and full disclosure with every item sold would be the norm. Unfortunately we don't live in an ideal world, and it's a simple fact that through either fraudulent greed or unfortunate ignorance these non-Fender instruments will get passed off as the genuine article somewhere down the line and for every knowledgeable expert out there there will be ten people who aren't nutty mad about instruments and their geeky fine details who will get fooled. This is the world we live in, and seeing as we can't change it dramatically by ourselves we have to best fit our practices and behaviours to the parameters we are presented with. You want to curtail fraud? Stop creating opportunities for fraud.

I did this once to a Squier and I went down the amusing "almost real" route (Fecker Imprecision Bass in the late 70s style) rather than try and pass it off as a Fender. I'm not comfortable with that. I'm not suggesting that you would try to pull the wool over someone's eyes if you were to sell it, but there's nothing to stop the person you sell it to from trying to hoodwink someone into thinking that it's a genuine Fender.

[quote name='The Dark Lord' timestamp='1362561158' post='2001195'] I hope you're going to Police this. It could be an invitation to the hidden traders who masquerade as basschatters. There is a particular piss-taker on here who has annoyed me in the past with his dodgy dealing and who still irks me with his regularly posting of many more items for sale than any normal bass player would do. [/quote] What is there to police? If they pay their sub then surely they can sell as much stuff as they like, as they've paid for the service. If there's a limit on the "year's unlimited listings" then surely this should be made clear?

[quote name='thisnameistaken' timestamp='1362512639' post='2000622'] I think most basses are good enough to do anything you want. The really valuable factor is whether a particular bass makes you want to pick it up, and that's usually a combination of it being (primarily) attractive and also comfortable. [/quote] Agreed. If it's not "good enough" to do the things I want to do then I don't own it.

Yay, another box of 10 Procells arrived today. £7.50 delivered. 75p per (decent) battery. Sorted.

[quote name='Machines' timestamp='1362435322' post='1999864'] I want to try an M series to see what they're like compared to the L2000. Wouldn't ever change it though. [/quote] SImple solution - have both

Yup, Procell 10 packs all the way for me. Not just for the active basses - tuner pedal needs them too

[quote name='solo4652' timestamp='1362128906' post='1996032'] [color=#0000FF]"Cba lookin it up"[/color] [/quote] That's the sad part right there. Information at our fingertips these days, and they "cba lookin it up". I weep for the future.

[quote name='Skinnyman' timestamp='1362080675' post='1995562'] I tried cocktail sticks and no joy. The dowel solution seems like the best with Araldite applied to the screw when it's inserted. I think I'll drill a little pilot hole for the screw though just to try and avoid any splits. Thanks all! [/quote] You absolutely must drill a pilot hole first. Without it you could split the wood or strip the head off the screw when you attempt to drive it in.

There aren't any wires hanging down from the drivers and making contact with one of the cones? This happened in my Zoot cab. A second pair of eyes (thanks, Rich) a couple of cable ties later and the problem was solved.

My wife has one rule (which I heartily support) - all instruments are to be played. I can have as many as I like, but if any fall out of favour then I must sell them. No basses under the bed/stashed in the attic in my house.

[quote name='omikin' timestamp='1361800914' post='1991036'] Okay, so I took the neck off, adjusted the truss rod, put the neck back on, applying a bit of pressure to push it back into alignment. Result? Strings aligned, action nice and low. Plays just like my other P now. Panic over. [/quote] Only some of us were panicking Glad you sorted it out.

There might be a minuscule amount of "give" in the neck pocket so the neck can be loosened and then tilted ever so slightly left/right as needed. Don't need a lot of lateral movement to make a big difference to the overall alignment.

[quote name='bluejay' timestamp='1361731152' post='1990034'] I had them on my 4 for a while - far too high tension. I've now gone the opposite way and fitted a set of TIs. [/quote] Same here. My second most disliked type of flatwounds (the first being Rotosound). About as compliant as a stroppy teenager.

[quote name='xilddx' timestamp='1361559588' post='1987668'] WTF is that? [/quote] A split P pickup, mirrored. Hutton said it was all done with mirrors.

[quote name='Hutton' timestamp='1361558790' post='1987651'] It's all done with mirrors Matt. [/quote] But then doesn't it end up looking like this?

This is quite surreal for me, as it's usually me getting frothy mouthed at people slagging off Gibson basses. I'm not sure who's genuinely upset, who's taking the mick and basically why the world appears to have turned upside down

[quote name='EssentialTension' timestamp='1361548506' post='1987391'] Are those Thunderbird type pickups? [/quote] No, they're Z pickups, able to be coil tapped (hence the mini toggles).

Is it OK to be SG and long scale?

[quote name='PaulWarning' timestamp='1361193549' post='1982455'] was the bass player in the Stereophonics doing an 'economical' bass line to standing there? This is the one I've been unsuccessfully trying to play, at the right speed anyway D--------6-----9-----7--6--------6-----9-----7--6 A--7--7-----7-----7--------7--7-----7-----7------ E------------------------------------------------ G------------------------------------------------ D--------6-----9-----7--6--------6-----9-----7--6 A--7--7-----7-----7--------7--7-----7-----7------ E------------------------------------------------ but I can manage the Stereophonics one comfortably . [/quote] Is this right, or is this a simple version? http://www.ifb.co.uk/~matthew/mp3/sgz%20soundclips/01_neck_series_tone10.mp3 I'm probably still a bit slow... McCartney I ain't.

[quote name='ChickenKiev' timestamp='1361485290' post='1986585'] I wonder if there will ever be an epiphone version..hm. [/quote]

[quote name='richardjmorgan' timestamp='1361475617' post='1986396'] Yeah, I totally wasn't suggesting there was - I assumed the fact I phrased my original post predominantly as a question would've been enough to convey this. Seems I've stirred up a bit of Fender rage though, which absolutely wasn't my intention! [/quote] I know you were merely being curious