la bam

I take spares for everything really. Taking a second bass covers most bases. Even things you dont think of that could get damaged - strap pins, machine heads, strings .... and then of course you (or some idiot) could drop a bass and snap its neck. I also take spare strings just in case, as well as tools - screwdriver and allen keys. I always have a spare amp too, and a spare pedal for DI purposes if need be. I draw the line at taking a spare cab, although I do take a monitor which could be used to feed the bass back through should the worst happen. I think I've only had to use a spare bass once (snapped a string), and a spare amp once which just didnt get on with the venue electrics and had a terrible hum.

I have the version 2 of the V7 (jazz style) and version 2 of the P7 (pj hybrid) and they're fantastic. Very easy to play, sound great and excellently made. They're quite a bright sounding bass, which is good for me as I seem to suck the sound out of basses that sound great in others hands. This bass makes me sound a lot more present, cuts through great in the mix and every note is clear - wherever on the fretboard. Highly recommended.

Loved that Rio vid!

I think on mine the scratchplate was partly shielded, so covering the rest sorted the issue.

If you have any issues, covering the backside of the scratchplate with aluminium foil should solve it.

That Christopher cross song always reminds me of the same style (kind of melodic but sad) as the Theme from Cheers. I know that was Boston, but similar feel.

Cheers! I'll give that a go. Thanks.

Less is more.

Hi all, After loving the sire v7 2 jazz, I've got a sire p7 2 p/j. Absolutely love it. However, it's slightly different to the v7 as it has rubber knobs instead of slick plastic ones. The stack knobs (volume and tone and mid range and boost) are slightly sticking together - ie if I move the tone off, the volume goes with it (both knobs move together instead of independently). I can get around it by holding the one i dont want to move with one hand and moving the other with me other hand, but really it should be a one handed operation. Does anyone have any experience or tips on how to sort the stack knobs?

Loving these vids. Such a good brain to create lines like this. Love how he makes it so simple. 6 chords on keys, drum beat, add bass - done!

I was thinking that, but then again shouldnt it read " the bass player from the faces didnt want it back!"

Haha, yes definitely!

Makes me sad listening to the absolute quality here, compared to the drivel we get treated to nowadays.

For me I suppose it's the way it just pops up in all of the demos, but doesnt demonstrate anything to me as one slap sound is the same as all the others to me. However fingerstyle, tone rolled fully on, tone rolled fully off, and then pick style (even though I dont play pick) tone on and off, gives me much much more of a demonstration of the range of emotions I can get from that bass (for my own purposes). It's one of those things that doesnt compute to me - I've tried half heartedly to do slap and it's completely alien to me - I'm just terrible at it. It must feel good when you do master it though, as those who can do it, seem to do it at every given opportunity. It does sound cool though in the right place.

Always annoys me how rock and pop stars can pull off wearing a vest and ripped Jean's and look cool, no matter what age they are. When I do it I look like Rab C Nesbitts fatter, less successful brother.

Agree on the CTM300 fantastic amp and a straight DI and a tube DI. Honourable mention to the Laney NX400 tube. Great amp, and a valve and mosfet option - kind of 2 amps in one and blendable. They come up quite rarely, but can be got cheap. Just be careful - there are 2 models, one in the full on valve and one the solid state one. I love the self biasing option on the ashdown. That should save a fortune in trips to the tech etc, and it's a fantastic sound. More of a classic valve sound than the laney which isnt quite as warm to my ears. Also, check out the impedance out of your amp - some will only do 4ohm or 2 ohm (no use if you have an 8ohm cab). The CTM300 and NEXUS have outputs for 2, 4 and 8ohm. The one major thing I'd take into account is protection. Both the valve amps above I've had in pristine condition and you really want to protect them. However, a hard case makes them pretty uncarriable - the 2 amps above are around 30-35kg - with a case pushing 40kg. So I had a padded cover made from hot covers. Fantastic quality. Will protect against scratches and minor dings. Also keeps handles free, so literally you only need to remove the cover when it's in position on top of your cab, and only put back on when ready to move off the cab. With a hard case it's the lifting in and out of the case and extra awkward carrying that really get to you.

Enjoyed that, I still think hes one of the most underrated players ever. His bassline are out there - I cant think of another player like him - kind of rock/punk then real funky and all over the fretboard, stitched together perfectly.

Flippin eck! It says that bright box is 14kg!! How times have changed! Theres full range 15" combos that weight less than that now!

Hi all, From as far back as I can remember until the start of the lockdown I've always liked tasteful basses. Strictly safe style. Sunburst, White, Black, Natural, Tobacco burst etc.... Hardware - strictly shiny silver or gold. Pickguard strictly white or black. But now.....I dont know if it's a consequence of the lockdown but I now absolutely love crazy coloured basses! Bright, loud, colourful - combined with colours that shouldnt really go together etc - what's going on?! I've recently got a sparkly placid blue jazz, and a pink/purple jazz too..... but now I'm loving the look of the new fender player in this colour! Anyone else lost all their sense of taste and style?!

I'm not sure you know.... I used to love going to the local music shop and aspiring to the basses and guitars on the wall. Really make a day of it. I think they're a vital part of wanting to be a musician, but this lockdown (if you can call it that) has been an eye opener. Theres been SO many online deliveries about just in our street it's been crazy. Even myself I've treated myself to a few things online music wise. Things I wouldnt have necessarily got up and travelled to get pre lockdown. I think it's the way it's all going to go unfortunayely - especially with companies offering 30 day returns - you cant really lose. It's just a shame that some people will go to the physical shop when things reopen, try things out, then buy them cheaper online. That's not in the spirit of things.

My reasons for suggest the version 2 Sires are: 1. You can easily get the colour style you would like - from traditional single colours to sunburst and even classic colours. Might not sound a big thing - but you really need to look at your bass and love it. It has to have something to make you want to pick it up. 2. The basses come set up from the factory. This is a big thing. It means the basses are playable to a high standard right away and wont need adjustment. This is especially helpful when you are starting off and dont really know what to compare an un set up bass to. 3. The value £300 - £400 new, means you arent terrified of dropping, scratching or damaging it as much as a £1500 immaculate custom fender. As also said above - you'll be happy to take this to a gig and not be terrified you or someone else wont scratch or damage it. I had a USA precision years ago - a work of art - I used to love just looking at it. Then one day I dropped it off its stand and it had a slight scratch on it. I could never look at it the same way again! No matter what I did, I could only see that scratch from then on (even though it was hardly noticeable). It was too expensive to get another one and I was gutted. 4. The active / passive options will allow you to see if you like that type of bass. 5. They are fairly easy to play, sound great, and will last you no matter what standard you play at. 6. Thay hold their value well should you wish to sell. 7. You can tell they have been helped in design by Marcus Miller. He hasn't just put his name to it, he has genuinely had a good input. The rolled frets make it smooth to play. The active pre amp is astounding (probably worth £200 on its own). The bass sits in the mix perfectly. It's very well built and finished. I genuinely think they will take over the market in the mid price range. 8. If it helps - and its horses for courses - I have a £1000 fender precision for sale. I love it. It looks unbelievably cool to me. Sounds fantastic. It was the bass of my dreams and my main gigging bass. I'm selling it. To replace with Sires. Oh...... and everyone is right. You'll never stop chopping and changing when on here! Your favourite bass in the world today, the bass you love and will never sell, will be sold and replaced by your new favourite bass tomorrow. And so on, forever.

Sire V7 rev2. Fantastic bass. Brilliant sounds, playability, options and colour schemes. Sires are now my number one basses.

In all honesty, I'd buy a Sire jazz and a Sire Precision. You could even get Sire M as well for that budget. That's 3 basses for your budget and everyone will be unbelievably good and give years of service.