neepheid

Main differences: 1 has 1 pickup, 1 has 2 (no prizes for that one, I guess) The VM P has a wider neck (41mm at nut) than a Standard P (Jazz width - 38mm). May not seem like a lot, but crucial for some. The VM range probably has a slightly better value retention than the Standard.

I think they're (RD Artist) awesome and it is an ambition of mine to own one, one day. A later model with the independent switches for expansion/compression and bright mode.

I also did similar upgrades to a Squier P: solid shaft CTS pots Sprague orange drop capacitor Seymour Duncan quarter pounder New pickguard (get the drill out, you will have to fill and redo some of those holes) Reamed out the tuner holes and fitted full size open gear tuners "Big F" Fender neckplate Chrome set screw fitting barrel knobs Comedy "Fecker Imprecison" headstock logo It was a lot of fun and turned an adequate bass into a good bass imho.

Welcome to the forum

The hardest working band in Aberdeen (ha!) will be back in action soon. Got a birthday party to play at on the 27th February, and although it's a bit of a way away, have a gig booked in the Moorings in Aberdeen on May 29th. Hoping to get more gigs organised between now and then.

Nothing, honest guv! Having said that, I just bought a Tokai Thunderbird for a laugh on Friday

Welcome to the forum

My first and still current rig - Hartke 3500 head into Ashdown ABM 4x10 cab. First gig was with a Squier Bronco.

Maybe we need an outroductions forum...

[quote name='Bucket Head' post='744356' date='Feb 13 2010, 10:01 PM']i was thinking about getting one of those gibson g3 grabbers, i think there the same thing..... but was just wondering what other people think and what the average price is ect and any other general advice. cheers[/quote] Careful what you mean, there are confusing uses of the term Grabber. The original Grabber (G-1) has a single sliding pickup, 1 volume, 1 tone and the G-3 (I don't like the way Grabber gets applied to these - there's nothing to grab!) has 3 pickups, a 3 way switch, 1 vol, 1 tone. Grabber: [url="http://www.flyguitars.com/gibson/bass/grabber.php"]http://www.flyguitars.com/gibson/bass/grabber.php[/url] G-3: [url="http://www.flyguitars.com/gibson/bass/G3.php"]http://www.flyguitars.com/gibson/bass/G3.php[/url] I have a 1978 Gibson G-3 in Ebony (Gibson speak for black), and I have to say I love it. It has a big, chunky neck, a big but not thick body and those blade pickups sound great. Things to watch out for - the stock bridges -while functional enough - are pretty basic and use slotted grub screws for height adjustment instead of hex ones. It would seem (on mine anyway) that these tend to break at the slots. I'd say between the two I'd take a G-3 any time. The Grabber sliding pickup, while a novel concept, seems like a bit of a pain in the butt to me. The one I had a go of had a warped pickguard which made the sliding action difficult.

Hi there Yesterday and today I seem to be getting doubled email notifications of PMs, can't remember if it was happening for thread subscriptions too sorry. Matt

On a related note, I feel I've reached a point of diminishing returns for the extra money it would take to "upgrade" some of my basses. Case 1: My Epiphone Les Paul I got the bass for £170 and spent same again on EMG pickups and EQ. So now I have something which cost me £340 total but is probably only worth £200-250 to sell. What benefit will getting a Gibson Les Paul bring? A name? A better bridge, a selector switch? Nicer wood? It's black, who's going to see it? Not for a net difference of around £500-700, thankyouverymuch. It's just a (I think rather pretty and unusual) container for an EMG suite of products after all. Case 2: My G&L Tribute L-2000 It has the same pickups as a US G&L, the same design of bridge, better shielding (I'm told) than a US G&L. What benefit will spending another £4-500 on a US G&L bring? A name? More expensive tuners which were put on by someone who didn't forget to take their glasses to work? Nicer wood? Body binding? Oh big wow. No thanks. Just how much of an "upgrade" is it when the "budget" bass is everything the "premium" make/model is in terms of sound if not fit and finish? I'll bet some people stick at this point with Lakland Skylines, the new Warwick Rockbasses and other "top end budget" models.

Welcome to the forum

[quote name='4 Strings' post='742104' date='Feb 11 2010, 02:03 PM']Good choice not to make enemies, if the 'experienced' guy defaults in some way you're likely to be the first call (by which time they might have found a decent guitarist)[/quote] +1 - I got my first (and current) gig because I couldn't do it when I was offered it (too busy planning a wedding), they tried another bass player in the meantime, didn't work out, came back to me once all the busyness was over and I got it.

Try soaking the screws in diet coke (cheap stuff'll do) for a few hours. Rinse and dry thoroughly before putting them back

Welcome to the forum - that's a tasty, well looked after Lyte there

[quote name='Bassassin' post='740773' date='Feb 10 2010, 11:09 AM']It's a looker alright, whatever it is. Wonder if the fleamarket story's true - I go to my local car boot religiously (well, it is on a Sunday morning!) every week, hoping to find something like this for £25! Jon.[/quote] A mate of mine did find a 16 channel Studiomaster mixing desk in a wooden case in a bin last year. He gave it to me because I "would know what to do with it". A few hours of Servisol (so many pots!) and it was revived! That's the best "lucky find" I can come up with.