Linus27

I've just recently sold a bass and used Parcelforce Express as they had generally been absolutely fine in the past. Booked the collection on Sunday for Monday collection from my work address. This is the safe option as I work in logistics, shipping etc. so we know all the drivers and couriers. No tracking or anything available despite a tracking number so getting a bit worried. Parcelforce turn up at 4.30pm and the driver says he's come to collect the parcel but can't actually take it as head office haven't bothered to print the shipping labels but he thought he'd turn up anyway 🙄 So I make a few phone calls and its picked up the following day and delivered today. Quite bizarre really.

I'm local to Andertons and do use them on a regular basis and some of the service I've received has been a bit hit or miss, probably 60% good to 40% bad. The last time I was in there was to collect something I had ordered online. Went to the desk to collect and the young guy said I'll go and get your order, I just need to find someone to man the front desk as it can't be left unattended. I thought ok, fair enough, I understand. Lots of employees walked past and he asked if they could help and cover the desk as he needed to grab a customers order but they all said they were too busy. I thought fair enough, they are busy. So I'm waiting there for about 15 minutes and the guy kept apologizing but I said its ok, you're busy. Then an older guy, in his 60's, walks into the shop and stands next to me, blonde spikey hair, shades on despite it chucking it down with rain, for then out of the blue, three of the busy employees suddenly appear behind the front counter and gushing over this customers, just chatting to him about what guitar he has in his case, and would he like a new lead and basically all bending over backwards so serve him which was just mostly chatting about nothing. All the while, this poor young chap having to keep apologizing to me for making me wait and looking more uncomfortable and embarrassed. Other times have been fine and some occasions, depending on who you get, the customer service has been excellent, but then again, on other occasions, depending on who serves you, the customer service has been rude, nonchalant or disinterested, it really is hit or miss.

Cheers Phil, that's super helpful 👍

After giving IEM a quick go last year with a Behringer P2 and being pretty successful on the few songs at a gig I tried it on, I fancy giving it a more series go and going full on wireless. I'm thinking of giving either the Swiff WX520 or Xvive U45 a go. I wouldn't mind a personal monitor station and I'm ok for earbuds as I love the KZ ZS10 Pro's that I bought. The only bit I'm unsure about is how to connect the personal headphone monitor. I get that the XLR from my Sansamp will go to the FOH desk. Would I then run a line from the FOH desk into the Line Input of the personal headphone monitor and a line from my Output of my Sansamp into the Instrument In on the personal headphone monitor. This would give me the FOH mix and my bass mix that I can adjust individually to my taste. I would then plug the IEM base into Headphone Output and then the IEM backpack to my strap/back pocket. Does that sound about right or is that wrong? Is there a simpler way of being able to adjust my bass volume and the FOH mix individually in my IEM? Below is the personal headphone monitor I'm thinking about getting.

Gorgeous bass, I can see me getting one of these at some point.

I still have my mini rig which is kicking out about 150w but I'm going to upgrade the speakers in the TC Electronics 208 so it become 4 ohms and can handle about 400w. Its a well known upgrade, will only cost £100 and that way I can use all 280w of the Warwick Gnome iPro

I'm gonna sound like a broken record but here goes. I'd like Fender US to make an unlined fretless passive Jazz and Precision as part of their American Vintage range. The Jazz would have an unlined rosewood fretboard and be available in vintage white or natural and the Precision would have an Ash body, be natural with an unlined fretless maple board. I would also like somebody to make a compact lightweight combo that is around 300w-350w, with 2x8" speakers and under £500. A bit like the MarkBass Minimark but more powerful and cheaper.

That's a great find, cheers for sharing.

I'm a huge Talk Talk fan, probably in my top 3 of favourite groups and I listen to them most days. From a bass perspective, listen to Living in Another World, probably one of the best Talk Talk bass lines. Not super hard to play but certainly super interesting. Also have a listen to Tomorrow Started and Today. My favourite album ever is The Colour of Spring and the late Danny Thompson played double bass on it. The album is being released later in the year as a half speed remaster. My favourite Talk Talk song ever is It's Getting Late In The Evening which was just a B SIde but should have been of the album as its incredible. Its not a bass specific track but simply the most beautiful piece of music ever. Mark Hollis was an absolute genius.

I played a copy of this on fretless and Paul Webb sent me a message and complimented me saying it was pretty much spot on. The No Doubt/Tony version is pretty close, just a few differences in note choices.

Thanks for everyone's help, it has been super helpful and I do really appreciate it. As a side note, my daughter has taken up bass and as a first bass, I bought her the HB Mustang and I am super impressed with quality of it, it is a really good bass for the money, in fact way better for the money than expected. So I'm going to take the plungexand buy the HB MV-5PJ. For just over £200, I cant really go wrong as a tester into the world of 5 string bass.

Thanks @Geek99 that's really helpful. I think, my thoughts are to play what I play as comfortably and as natural as what I do on a fretted 4. If I then find I use the B string for anything of any significance or as an extra dynamic then all good and well but the main aim is is play my 4 string bass lines just as competently on the 5 string.

When I started playing bass, 38 years ago, my goal was always to be a fretless bassist, and for the last 16 years, that's what I've been doing thanks to my wife coming home with a Squier Fretless Jazz bass after I played one for a bit of fun in a music shop. She basically said I'd never buy it for myself so did it for me. Last year, I took on a new challenge and decided to get an EUB but it sort of back fired as after a week of buying it, I was out gigging it and have since done about 25 gigs on it. So for next year, I'm going for a new challenge and I'm going to get a cheap 5 string bass and if that works out ok, then I'll give 5 string fretless a shot. I've got two on my list so I'm basically after opinions on them if anyone has owned or tried one. I'm looking at the Harley Benton MV-5PJ or the Squier Affinity Active Jazz. Both are just over £200 and should be a good starting bass to try 5 string on. Any thoughts on either?

Yes, 100% and even more so playing fretless. For me, I am the most comfortable playing a Fender, mostly a Jazz but a Precision is fine and Japanese Fender's are my favourite as the gloss necks are my preferred finish and the build quality is incredible.

For me, it comes down to what I'm going to be using the bass for, how often and then what I can afford or justify spending. I love vintage Japanese Fender's so anything from the 1980's and pre 1990's. The only mod I have to do is upgrade the pickups but these are good enough for pub gigs, club gigs and all the way up to big venues including stadiums and can be had for under £1k. I'd also happily spend a little more and buy an American Vintage Fender which will again, do all of the above, be a little more unique but come in at around the £2k range. I wouldn't however buy a standard American Fender as they are no better than the vintage Japanese Fender's and for me in a lot of cases, poorer yet more expensive. If I was pro or doing a lot of paid work then my budget would probably be between £2k - £2.5k and I would settle on an Fender American Vintage. I do have a bass on my list to buy, a late 1970's fretless Fender Precision. My budget is around £2k, anything over that and I feel it's a waste.

I've got a gorgeous 1987 Fender Japan 62RI Jazz that my dad bought me brand new when I was just starting out. It's the best sounding and playing bass I've ever had and is my no.1. I've played this bass at thousands of gigs and pretty much on everything I've done, from tours, TV, 2x John Peel Sessions, Radio 1 roadshows and so much more. Its incredibly sentimental to me as my dad supported me all the way up to getting signed but passed away a few months before I signed. The bass has been fretless for the last 14 years and still gets played at gigs all year. However, I got asked to play Glastonbury this year and it was a fretted gig and I was so torn from putting the original fretted neck back on or use my Fender Japan Precision. I felt so bad for not playing Glastonbury with the bass my dad got me and have that extra bit of history sealed into that bass. In the end I did use my fretted Precision but I felt very guilty for not using my no.1 bass. What it does mean though is I'll never sell my Precision bass as that's the bass I played Glastonbury 🤣

That was super helpful, I hadn't seen it so thank you. I'm actually liking the AG more than the TH after watching that video. As for the AGS on the TH, I have no idea but I think everything was flat and it sounded very bright.

For anyone who's had or knows, what is the difference in tone between the Aguilar Tone Hammer heads and the Mark Bass Little Mark heads? I currently use a Little Mark IV and I generally find it clean, punchy, fairly versatile if perhaps a little sterile. I do like it though and have been happy with it if not perhaps finding it a little underwhelming. Lets say it does a solid job without too much fanfare. I recently played two of my basses through an Aguilar Tone Hammer 350 and I was pleasantly surprised at how clean and dynamic my basses sounded. They had a lot of sparkle and definition, and one bass in particular, a passive Fender PJ with fretless Status graphite neck and flats really came alive. I'd read previously, comments saying that a graphite neck can really show up poor technique or be quite noisy as it's very clean and accurate but I'd never found this in the past until I played through the Aquilar head. I had to really focus on my technique but what I was rewarded with was a gorgeous tone that just sung. Both basses which are fretless sung beautifully. My understanding was the Tone Hammer heads are generally warm sounding but the head I played through was super clean, punchy and sparkly. The head was connected to an Eich 1x10 so that may have also played a factor in the clean tone but either way, the tone was quite special and its piped my interest. So I'm interested if anyone can comment on comparisons between the Aguilar Tone Hammer heads and the Mark Bass Little Mark heads.

I have the very same head and I'm a big fan of it. I keep toying with the idea of moving it on but every time I gig with it, I'm super happy. Its punchy and the tone shaping is versatile but even running it flat sounds great. I've also tried the MarkBass Little Mark Tube 800 and that sounded really nice as well.

Looking awesome Mick, its gonna be stunning when its finished. Keep us updated with the updates.