Bigwan

Had a 6 string built by Jon Shuker a couple of years back. He built me exactly what I wanted, but my tastes have changed considerably since then - gone all 4 string! As a result I'd say buy off the peg UNLESS you are sure - entirely sure - what you're ordering is what you'll need. I wouldn't go custom again I don't think (not in the near future anyway) - having said that the 6er is a cracking bass for what it is and great value compared to similar 'off-the-shelf' basses.

At the risk of sounding like a broken record... Line 6 Studio 110.

Yup, I'll take one too!

So what is it then?

It had an inherent tone that I just didn't find that appealing, unlike the Ashdown ABM which has the perfect sound for me with EQ flat, pre-shape on, Valve drive 1/2 way, gain and volume to taste. Sold it and bought a Thunderfunk TF550 and didn't gel with it either! So straight back to Ashdown and happy as the proverbial pig... Just wish they were smaller and lighter. I'd like a micro amp that'll do the Ashdown thing (something that'll fit in my gig-bag pocket - not the little giant stuff though, seems a bit half baked), but don't think such a thing exists - the Orange Terror bass is probably close (doesn't fit in the gig-bag though), as is the Markbass Tube, but I think a markbass little mark/F1/Ibanez promethean + VT pedal is probably the way I'll go eventually. I've no experience with any of the heads you mentioned I'm afraid - I'm on the wrong side of the Irish Sea, same as you!

I wasn't overly impressed with the AG500SC that I owned. It was ok, but I went back to my trusty Ashdowns without a second thought (don't believe everything you hear about them!), although I'm considering moving one of my Ashdowns on for something more lightweight (Markbass LMII/III, Orange BT500 or Ibanez Promethean). Will always have one about though. I agree that Aggie make great cabs. My GS112 is a fantastic cab!

I've only played the 15" version, and only fleetingly, but it sounded very lush. Another bit of gear I have on my "to own" list!

[quote name='Pkomor' post='856163' date='Jun 3 2010, 02:48 PM'] New rig! [url="http://img155.imageshack.us/i/03062010028.jpg/"][/url] Uploaded with [url="http://imageshack.us"]ImageShack.us[/url] [url="http://img688.imageshack.us/i/03062010030.jpg/"][/url] Uploaded with [url="http://imageshack.us"]ImageShack.us[/url][/quote] Considering a very similar rig myself. One of my Ashdowns will be moving out to make way for either an F1, F500, LMII(I) or Orange Terror Bass, depending which I prefer the sound of. Might add another Aggie too.

[quote name='gadget' post='822704' date='Apr 29 2010, 09:15 AM']This pic shows the flaming a little better!! I have tried to track the origins of this body down... I bought it from Physco Andy originally, so he may be able to shed more light on it?? Either way, it looks like its a factory reject (it had some minor flaws in the finish, and then had been refinished over the top of these flaws), and could possibly even be a Lakland reject (Korean ratehr than USA of course)... So hence thats where the name Shukland came from, on account of the possible Lakland connection! Of course there is actually no way of proving or disproving this theory, so the name remains!! And the body as it was originally just after purchasing.... Enjoy!! G![/quote] Wrong shape/pickup routes/control layout for a Lakland... looks almost like a Warmoth Gecko, although the horns are a little too fat.

Nice playing! I assume the iSight cam flips it so you're left handed? Bound to be a way around that - MarloweDK did it the same way so there must be some way to do it!

Meths in a haribo box... soak strings for 24 hours and bobs your uncle. Sound like new.

You sound like you'd fit with my previous cover band - I used a Line6 Studio 110 with them. My only concern would be they're not a loud 75 watts. Our drummer used an electronic kit and the guitarist used the Behringer POD thingy through vocal monitors for practice. I doubt the 110 would keep up with a real drum kit (especially if the drummer is anything other than mild mannered!) unless there's also PA support (unlikely in most practices) - admittedly I've never tried it myself. Other than that the wee amp cannot be beaten. I gigged with mine DI'd into our PA and it was a great live sound. The only thing I'd change would be to add a kick-back stand. They're so portable it's hilarious! At the time I bought mine it was the best for what I wanted. For £400 there may be something better, but I doubt it would be better all round... unless you can find a Markbass 121P combo for that sort of money, but I highly doubt it!

[quote name='Doddy' post='854397' date='Jun 2 2010, 01:50 AM']Lucas Pickford's site is great... but it's not exactly "easy pop stuff" is it [/quote] It's easy if you can do it, as the man said!

I like trying new basses, but, as per Gareth's experience, it's hard to find instruments to compete with the gear I already have. I still have a pseudo-list of basses/amps in my head that I've never owned/tried and would like to. Unfortunately I live on the wrong side of the Irish Sea to experience most of them without shelling out some cash... humbug... I'm pretty close to my ideal now, but still have massive GAS pains sometimes - too much time spent in the 'For Sale' section here!

I used to play the old 'they all look the same when hidden in the case' game, but I've given it up as a bad job... I'd 'promised' no more basses for 'a while' after receiving my Fender P as a wedding present in January. I'm doing pretty well so far, but spending time on BC can be pretty dangerous. There's been a few basses for sale on here in the last while that I'd trade body parts for - Toasted's AC 5 for one. I was sorely tempted by that 5 string Streamline the other day too. I'm starting a new job in 3 weeks so might treat myself! After all, a Streamline is small, so it can't have cost THAT much... Oddly my wife doesn't like me selling basses. Not quite sure why... A bit of an inconvenience that, as I'd rotate more than half my collection if given the option at the minute - Warwick, 55-01 and Bongo - love them and they're 3 blinding instruments, but I just don't have the need for so many basses. Between them the P, J and Shuker cover the same ground and each of them has sentimental attachment so aren't going anywhere while I'm still upright!

[quote name='farmer61' post='846617' date='May 24 2010, 04:23 PM']+1 on all of the positive comments, however the Interest Free is on 'quality' instruments not on amps etc, shame or else I'd have walked away with a tonnage of Genz Benz gear. If you're buying a higher end bass, game on!!![/quote] According to the credit section on the BD website: [i]You can use Take it away to finance the purchase of any kind of musical instrument, whether new or reconditioned, from a tabla to a tenor horn, a bass guitar to a berimbau. You can also include music stands, stools, sheet music, amplifiers, equipment and sometimes tuition as part of your loan. Recorded music, PA systems and computer hardware are not eligible to purchase under the scheme.[/i] So no excuse!

I bought half a dozen of the standard guitar shop jobs off ebay and they're rock solid - I used longer screws/rawl plugs than usual to mount them and they're going nowhere. Been up for nearly a year now (my shuker 6 must be in the region of 12lbs+, although I've never weighed it). If I'd only been buying 1 I might have been tempted by the Hercules stuff, but I've seen one of their guitar stands fall to bits with little abuse so then again maybe not...

What he's saying about tension is technically correct, but total nonsense in practice. He's basically talking about a different scale length increasing the tension of the string. Identical strings on 34 and 35" scale lengths will have different tensions (the 35" scale length having the higher tension). It's exactly the same when you pull the bridge setting back, but it makes little sense since your intonation will probably be totally out of wack, although heavier gauge strings will typically need the bridge moved back further than lighter strings for correct intonation.