pete.young

The G&L2500 would be a great choice and there's no need to be intimidated by the switches. The first one is a 3-way pickup selector, the second is a series/parallel switch and the third one is an active/passive switch with a weird treble boost. I used to leave mine on parallel and active, and vary the tone with the pickup selector and tone controls. Full details on the controls are http://www.glguitars.com/schematics/ASATbass_L2000_L2500_controls_diagram.pdf I think mine weighed around 10.5-11 lbs. Not too bad for a 5-string. [quote name='MOSCOWBASS' timestamp='1446734759' post='2901864'] The BB NE2 has a 17.5 mm string spacing, i've measured mine. I knew it was noticeably less then my 19mm Xotics, it takes a bit to get used to the gap difference [/quote] I've just measured my BBNE2 with a calibrated vernier gauge, and the average across all 4 strings is 17.96mm at the bridge.

Bellowhead in Bury St Edmunds , for probably the last time since it's their farewell tour. Well the first one. Have s spare ticket is anybody needs one.

The BBNE2 is at least 18mm, maybe slightly more. You should look at the Sterling By Musicman Ray 35, the string spacing is 17.5mm and you should be able to pick up a second-hand one in your budget.

I'm in the 'Yes' camp, and The Admiral expressed it far more eloquently than I could, top post.

[quote name='Mickeyboro' timestamp='1446333848' post='2898700'] Have just retired after 30 years interviewing musicians [/quote]I am looking forward to reading your book when it comes out.

Greene King? Say no more. I love beer, but if they were the only brewery in the world I'd be teetotal.

[quote name='eude' timestamp='1445964187' post='2895758'] OK, well the well cut and set up nut still stands, no? To be fair when I said "cheaper bass", I mean really cheap, an inexpensive instrument without branded hardware from Schaller, Hipshot etcs. [/quote] My cheap, inexpensive mtd Kingston, which doesn't have branded hardware and for which I paid 400 quid second hand on this very forum, has a more tightly defined sound from the B than many more expensive bases including (just) my own Yamaha Bbne2, so go figure. It does have a 35”scale. Seems to me that you need to make individual judgements on a per instrument basis rather than worrying about spurious comments about hardware or original retail price.

Maybe 'Sing It Back' and 'The Time Is Now' , Moloko. Just about within your time period.

Evanescence.

Spray a couple of coats of clear lacquer over it.

[quote name='BassTractor' timestamp='1445715913' post='2893729'] Aye. This is how things are with us people. I do it all the time myself. It was just that I simply couldn't resist pulling yer leg a little. [/quote] in fairness, the search function on this forum sucks watermelons through elephants. I find I get much better results using Google and site:basschat.co.UK as a search term.

[quote name='Phil Starr' timestamp='1445330839' post='2890544'] My Hifi cabs always use MDF for example but my preference is for 3/4 ply as a good compromise for stage gear. [/quote] That's triggered an odd memory - I'm sure I read somewhere about some cabs that used MDF for the front panel and ply for everything else, but I'm damned if I can remember where I read it.

Colin Hodgkinson and Tony Hicks.

What are the dimensions of the failed pickup? I might have something that would serve.

Try a local search for car paint match. There are two places in Ipswich which do it, Movac and Cars-Paints. First one claims trade only but the second one has a web site and might be able to supply you.

You can do 1 and 2 with all three pedals. B3 allows you up to 3 effects in a patch, MS60B allows 4, B1ON allows 5.

It's all relative. Bass is by no means the heaviest instrument. For example, my tenor banjo is 12 Kg.

Another happy Smoothhound user here.

The best advice on compression I've seen is 51m0n's wiki posting, which is currently not available due to the continued inability or unwillingness of the site owners to fix the wiki. Compression is very hit and miss without monitoring. It might work for you, and then again it might not, there doesn't seem to be a lot of science behind it. I've tried Demeter, EBS and Tech 21 and have settled for now on the MXR bass compressor, which does at least have some rudimentary monitoring. You're probably looking for short attack, 4-8Db compression, soft knee, as long a release as your playing can stand. It always varies though, dependent on the bass you're using, room dynamics, so needs to be set up for every location. I agree with ProfFrink that it's not a fix for gain issues, but there are some pedals which seem a lot happier with a more consistent and tightly defined signal, the Markbass Synth being one example. That plus your playing needs to be super clean or weird sh*t happens.

Lead? How last-century.

Something like a zoom MS60B or B1ON would allow you to try out a lot of different effects and decide which ones you like, for not very much outlay.