miles'tone

I've seen Gail Ann Dorsey live with Bowie a few times over the years. She gets some nice variations of the signature tone out of her Stingray "Marilyn". That's why it's my fave.

Very nice! Congrats for your new bass - the sunburst and tort look spot on, really neat job (I'm pretty picky when it comes to burst finishes). I recently bought a VM P5 in candy apple red and I'm loving it. It's my only electric now and more than good enough, really inspiring to play - insanely good value for money! Lovely trio of P basses you have there sir, the two 4's look tasty with the blocks

[quote name='danjones1807' timestamp='1410453626' post='2549625'] Thanks for the responses! I think I'm going to order some Rotosound Nickel Roundwound as they seem to get good reviews and don't cost the world. I'll see how the new strings are and then see about getting a professional set up. I play a Yamaha RBX170, not the best of basses but i quite like it [/quote] Check out the Rotobass series of nickel strings. Same strings as the regular Rotosound nickels but without any silks. Much cheaper! My mates got a Yammy like yours. Sounds great, nice to play and light too.

Seeing as they are the original strings and you find them clumsy to play, I wholeheartedly suggest you take your bass for a (probably first) professional set up. You'll get new strings included in the price and it will be a hell of a lot easier to play (and harder to put down ) - if you don't know of anyone who does this, any decent musical instrument shop should be able to help you out. +1 for Ernie Ball Slinky's as a starting point too. Widely available and not too expensive relatively. I like the Hybrid Slinky's as a great all-rounder.

[quote name='Guinness21' timestamp='1410176542' post='2546754'] I was just about ton say think I'm going to get the am. standard until I saw this. Is it delivered as a box of bits? Do you know what the shipping's like? [/quote] Well I've bought 3 necks from them in the past (on separate occasions that is) and basically I've found that the shipping is reliable and the cost reasonable. I'd expect that whatever you fill your basket with would be delivered in one box but wouldn't hurt to ask. They are very good at communicating and answering queries. You will get charged import fees/vat so whatever your grand total of parts and shipping is, expect to pay about a third again when it lands on these shores though you may well find that the total all in cost is actually cheaper than buying a new Am Standard in the UK. Of course then you have to put it together which isn't too difficult really, but if you have to pay someone else to do it then that's another potential cost... Another option is get the Oly White American Standard with a maple neck that fits the bill and live with it for a bit, see if you love it. If you do, just get it refinished in Candy Apple Red - you could use the white finish as the base coat to keep the cost down by rubbing the gloss back with 800 grit wet and dry to provide the key for the new colour. Options, options, options! :-D

http://www.stratosphereparts.com Maybe try the stratosphere and piece together your favourite bits from both models?

Surprised no one's mentioned that famous James Jamerson quote yet. On why he would clean his bass, but never the fingerboard: "Because the gunk holds the funk" I saw on talkbass once the method Roger Sadowsky uses, (which worked a treat for me too) and that is to use your usual domestic window cleaning spray, and a tooth brush which gets the grease and grime off lovely and then wipe it down with a clean damp cloth. Once dry, wipe a small amount of boiled linseed oil onto the rosewood (very small, best with a piece of kitchen towel) and wipe it off straight away, then buff with a clean cloth. Makes even average looking rosewood look deep and stunning.

Wow thanks for posting this vid Jack I've had lower back woes for nearly two years now - herniated disc, lost my business as I couldn't work, regular physio and now rehab sessions at the hospital. What you have posted here is invaluable mate, both for those of us with core problems and for those who can avoid problems later on. Hats off!

Dunlop nickels totally. They are really great strings that are made to have no break in period. Very stable out of the box and mellow nicely. Last for ages.

Brilliant, I haven't been to one before! I can bring my double bass if needed - a nice old Meinal plywood thing set up for rockabilly - good fun. Got a Squier VM Precision 5 string which has had a Fender/Bareknuckle pickup upgrade. It's probably my favourite bass that I've owned and it's the cheapest! I can bring my Zoom B3 too. Looking forward to it!

If the Squier VM Jazz 5 string is as good as my VM Precision 5 (don't see why not) then have a stab at one of those I say. I had mine set up professionally and slapped some nickel DR low riders on and it's brilliant. My P5 was £249 new so what are you gonna lose if you do want to move it on? £80 or so max? Safe bet really.

I know what you mean and in a way Piano has made my bass playing more interesting. I've spent the last 3 years not playing in a band and just being dad to my two young boys mostly. Things got so busy that I didn't have time to even get my bass out of it's case so I didn't bother for a long time. I just would noodle around on an old piano we were given here and there. Now this year I've started playing more bass again and immediately found my 4 string to be really limiting as it didn't go low enough! Been really spoiled messing around on the dark end of my piano. I sold my 4 string and now have a 5er, something I was never interested in previously but now it makes total sense and I can't see me ever going back. Found the transition a lot easier than I expected too. Didn't hurt after all! So yeah, the piano has opened up my musical world. Loving the low B and playing more chordally now too.

Sorry about this one, the sound quality isn't good but it demonstrates why I love them. Totally into it, balls out. Kinda the band I always wanted to be in (Should really try being in a three piece one day. Played in a 6 piece for years so not too much room to wig out there) The Entrance Band: http://youtu.be/uonZ1Tru2oc

The Entrance Band Live: Grim Reaper Blues: http://youtu.be/MJMdNNSE0KE

This thread has been fantastic because it has brought Paz Lenchantin to my attention. Because of this I discovered The Entrance Band, a great rockin three piece who have been on heavy rotation every day for a couple of weeks now. I doubt they are everyone's cup of tea but together they really have something special. Works for me anyway. So cheers Basschat, thanks to you I've found my new favourite band THE ENTRANCE BAND - FINE FLOW - DALLAS TX: http://youtu.be/1w95c6g0UNk

Saw them in '92 supporting Guns N Roses. They blew GnR, off the stage. Made them look cabaret by comparison. I've had Angel Dust on a lot in my van this summer actually - found my old tape(!). Hadn't heard it for nearly 15 years but my, it really is a timeless classic. Peerless band.

Nice one! Saw that on the website myself (twas my fave on there actually) Congrats, it's a belter

Armstrong pickups can help you there. http://www.armstrongpickups.co.uk/repairs-rewind-services/

Nick Oliveri used/uses GHS Bass Boomers .115 and .095 for his C and F strings mixed with Ernie Ball Power Slinkys .075 and .055 for his Bb and Eb strings. Gives him the right string balance and flub according to the man himself in a YouTube interview that I can't find again right now. You can make up this set if you want by going to www.bassstringsonline.com and ordering the single strings (they are cheap compared to UK prices and you don't get charged import vat or anything.) You're welcome

Yes, mostly. I've always been very rhythmic and danced a lot as a child plus I've always picked out the bass first when listening to music. My initial approach to playing bass was "play the drums on the guitar". Still is really.

I do actually have the candy Apple red Squier VM Precision V, and I also need a lighter bass due to a bad back. Mine weighed 9.8lbs when I bought it and I did actually consider returning it because of that. But, after playing it I decided it was a keeper as it really is a cracking bass for the money and the candy apple red is gorgeous. I was expecting it just to be metallic red to be honest but it does kind of change colour in the light and has a copper-like hue to it too. It's really nice to look at. Another deciding factor is the neck. It has a great profile that is really comfortable and reminds me of my old AVRI '62 P neck profile in a way. I have modded it with lightweight licenced by Hipshot tuners, an American Standard P5 pup, a KiOgan wiring harness, a pro set up (dropped the nut slots a tad plus a fretdress) and a set of DR nickel Lo Riders (which take this bass to another level as the B string is stonking now! Fantastic string to string balance). I have also drilled out the body under the pickguard to reduce some weight and after weighing it properly now, it weighs 8lb 10oz which I can hopefully live with. I love this bass, it plays and sounds amazing and is a total keeper. My perfect bass all in cost me £420 which some may see as a lot for a Squier but I don't care, plus I'm not too precious about where I take it and I'm happy to gig it anywhere I suggested the Luna Paz above as it's very lightweight to begin with and had I known about it first I may well have taken a punt on that one instead as it costs about the same as my Squier has with all the mods. No regrets though.

Luna Paz P5 maybe? Within budget and only weighs 8lbs. And it's black.. http://www.gak.co.uk/en/luna-paz-lenchantin-signature-bass-5-strings-black/28134

The most success I've had with finding peeps to form bands with that have had any longevity, is to go to open mic/jam nights in pubs/cafés/artys-fartsy venues. Not sure if you can do this where you live but getting the chance to meet and hang with folk in person is always great for feeling each other out and making sure you start a band with the right people with like minds in the first place. Hope this makes sense as I've just woke up and can't find any coffee :-P