Linus27

I look at playing bass and being in a band like its a job. That's not in a bad way and its a chore but I didn't get a proper job until I was 30 as I was doing music from the age 17 and played in a band that was signed or a band that was semi pro. After I got a proper job in my 30's, I still played in bands and was doing over 100 gigs a year including touring and releasing albums. So all in all, I've probably spent more time playing bass and playing music and making a living from it than I have done doing a proper job. So if I ever stop then I don't look at it as giving up a hobby, I just look at it as retiring from a job which is not always a bad thing. If I do stop then it will be because I'm done, or other things like family are more important or something else has taken my fancy. At the moment, I've spent the last 2 years playing in a small acoustic group with friends playing around 40 - 50 gigs a year. It is a hobby and at times I do feel like stopping, especially as playing gigs is not what it used to be when I was in my youth with these days there being less venues, less public interest and less of a music scene. Now I'm in my 50's, I'm thinking, do I want to keep doing this after 37 years. Plus my daughters karting is also taking up a lot of time and we are travelling pretty much most weekends with her racing. Then on the other hand, I adore playing fretless bass and consider myself to be a decent bass player and at times I fancy starting up a club band again as it was amazing fun and half decent money. So I've decided to to get to 55 which is in a year and a half time and see how I feel musically and go from there. I may still have the energy and passion for it and new and exciting things may have landed on my doorstep which would be fantastic. Plus, my daughter would be at the point where she may be moving over to racing cars so that may take up all my time and energy supporting her. So we will see, I may just be done with it, retire and take up domino's 🤣

I'm really liking the idea of a V7 and the 112 cab

So, by all accounts, I've ended up modding all my basses, not from boredom but just because I can never get what I want. So my oldest and most loved bass is a 1986 ESP 400 Series Jazz Bass that I bought from new in 1987. The best bass I have ever owned and I found out, came from the same factory that Fender Japan basses were made. It probably accounts for why Fender parts are interchangeable and has exactly the same headstock etc. Anyway, a year or two after owning it from new, I had a set of Bartolini's fitted which transformed the bass. I then about 12 years ago, had Jon Shuker make an amazing ebony fretless neck for it which is where it has remained. Its got 36 years of battle scares but its still amazing and gets played to this day. Next is my Fender FSR 70's Mexican Precision that I bought new is 2018. Being a lover of 70's natural Fender Precision's and a huge Sting fan, I got Jon Shuker to make a high gloss fretless maple neck which again is where it has stayed and it has turned out to be the best sounding bass for recording. Next is my Fender Japan 62RI Precision. An absolutely lovey bass to play but I felt there was more on offer if I changed the pickups. So as my Fender FSR 70's Precision as above came with Fender 62 Custom Shop pickups and sounded so good, I had a set of them fitted to it along with new pots and it sounds fabulous. I also changed the pickguard from Tort to Black.

If you do, then put something different on the other bass like LaBella's or TI Flats as a way to compare.

Ok thank you. The Rotosound's are quite high tension but I can cope with them. The LaBella Low Tension Flats are as they say Low Tension. I'm hoping that the LaBella 760's are not as higher tension to the Rotosound's as I'd like to give them a try if you say they sound good.

Is the tension on the LaBella 760FL's higher than the Rotosound 77's?

Yep, I'm exactly the same. My hand is on the neck when playing so the bass tends to always be in the right place and if by chance I'm not playing, my left hand droops over the neck under the top horn so again never dives.

Brilliant, thank you very much.

What's the tension like on GHS Precision Flats?

I have Rotosound 77 on one of my Precision's and I love them. They were the nicest sounding bass in a recording session so I stuck with them. Do be aware that they are quite high tension and if you are used to rounds then they may be a shock. Another Precision has LaBella Low Tension flats are they are lovely to play. Lower tension than the Rotosound flats so easier to play but possibly a bit more thumpy. I really like both sets of flats and I can't decide on either as a favourite.

Fretted: Late 80's - D'addario Rounds 1990s - 2010: Elite Stadium Rounds 2010 - 2012: Ernie Ball Super Slinky Rounds 2012 - Present: Rotosound 66 Rounds Fretless: 2018 - Present: Rotosound 77 Flats/LaBella Low Tension Flats/LaBella Black Nylon Tapewound Need to try a set of TI Jazz on one of my fretless basses at some point.

Martin at the Bass Gallery might be able to do it.

I just tried my red Precision and zero neck dive. It literally doesn't move. This is using a standard Fender strap.

Gorgeous bass, very envious but nice one. It won't be long before I have one in my hands 😁

Yeah, I totally agree, thank to @Frank n funker for bringing this to our attention

Thank you, all corrected

Its not something I've ever thought about but recently I watched a few videos of my playing and I noticed that for the E and A string, I primarily use my index finger and then for the D and G string I switch to the middle finger and then go back and forth between fingers as I cross between stringers. Sometimes I'll use both fingers on a single string depending on what I'm playing but most of the time, its index for the E and A and middle for the D and G. I don't even know I'm doing it and has never slowed me down or caused me issues. You can see it a bit in this studio clip, https://www.facebook.com/timshezmusic/videos/766042981206589

Interesting as I get comments at pretty much every gig about how great it is to see someone playing a fretless, I love the sound of your fretless, you sound like Pino/Mick Karn and at one venue, the bar staff have renamed our band as 'Tim Shez and the Fretless Bass Player', much to our singers annoyance 🤣

Thank you 😁

I'm thinking of attending this as well although I've never been to one before or know how it works

Thanks @SamPlaysBass this is great info. I loved my PF500, it just so suited the sound I had in my head and the tone was perfect. I also recorded with a PF20 which again, sounded brilliant. Both amps with a fretless Precision and flats is heaven. I do like my MarkBass IV, I'd be more than happy to keep it and certainly would if the new Ampeg amps didn't exist. It creates a great sound and super easy to get a good tone from it but I do miss my Ampeg tone. Plus, hopefully with Yamaha onboard, we get the reliability although I never had any problems with any of my Ampeg gear.

Thanks @SamPlaysBass it looks like I will sell my MarkBass IV which is really good but I love Ampeg gear and I've been considering an SGT-DI so this will tick that box as well. I'll go for the V7 when funds allow.

Great rehearsal last night and a little different to normal. We got ourselves a drum pad and we've been programming in various sounds, pads and layers that our drummer can active during a song. So this week we decided to have a stripped back rehearsal which was a nice change as its usually always too loud. No effects, just an acoustic guitar, voice, fretless bass and drums with brushes. We also wrote a new song which was sounding pretty good so far.

Awesome, I'd like to see the vintage white in the flesh as I love the surf green but the vintage white I think is more fitting. The feedback so far from those who have tried them has all been really positive so it sounds like a winner

Are you going to buy one? I know I will be when funds allow.