Jean-Luc Pickguard

I have an old set of LaBella short flats currently on my starcaster bass where the windings on the A string feel bumpy where the other strings are smooth — I think all string manufacturers can have the occasional QC issue.

Gangsters — The Specials

The ADI21 is rather good on electric upright bass. When I had a Dean Pace it was an always on effect. I've also used it to great effect with my NS-design CR-5M.

Forty Cups of Coffee — Danny Overbea

Spanish Stroll — Mink DeVille

Elon Musk — Carson Blanton

Easy Rollin' — The Rascals

I bought a lot of guitars and basses in 2025 and none six weeks into this year — so I'm still in. The bass I had on commission at the gallery has sold so I'm actually one down, and I'm planning to sell a few more. I have used my share of a recent gig's money to place an order for three mustang bass mutes for my JMJs. These are scheduled to arrive from the US in early March. I'm not counting these mutes as a breach of the abstinence rules as Leo Fender designed the mustang bass bridge to have a mute, however Fender don't fit or even make them anymore, so I am just facilitating completion of the basses to bring them into correct 1966 specs.

Lola — The Kinks

Life On Mars — David Bowie

Soup — Can

Bow Thai Daddy — Frank Zappa & The Mothers of Invention

Fattie Bum Bum — Carl Malcolm

There's a lovely fireglo 4005v in mint condition listed on the BassBros website. Very keenly priced, however I have challenged myself (and told the missus) that I won't be buying any guitars or basses in 2026.

I found some pics of the tuners on your bass (I think the 5 uses the same tuners as the 4 string version) Hipshot HB6 ultralites would probably be a good choice, but check the dimensions of the existing tuners & the holes they fit in to ensure that they'd fit. The US-made ultralites are reversable so buying five would enable you to reverse one, but there is also the cheaper 'licensed version' which is not reversable. https://allparts.uk.com/products/hipshot-hb6-ultralite-bass-machine-heads?variant=54942187880831