Sean

The one for me is my BB2024x. Why? It looks totally rawk! It cuts through the mix even better than my Sterling. It's outrageously brutal in the best kind of way. The pickups are jaw-droppingly hot. So much so that I think other basses are faulty when I initially play them. It proves beyond all doubt the the P/J configuration is a valid pickup combination and not a P with a placebo. It's the most resonant solid body I've ever played. It feels just perfect. It's full of techy gadgety magic nonsense and I love that kind of pseudo-science.

[quote name='dannybuoy' timestamp='1334930848' post='1623660'] Only James Lomenzo's custom jobbies have the maple board. [/quote] I don't know whether I'm more surprised that James Lomenzo has bespoke faeces or that said faeces have a maple board!

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1334907457' post='1623161'] Your band like all the other suppliers (PA, catering, bar etc.) are adding value to the event. Therefore you should get paid. If the others have reduced their fees to reflect the nature of the event then you should too, but none of them are going to be out of pocket at the end so why should you? [/quote] [quote name='silddx' timestamp='1334915872' post='1623331'] I don't think you have grasped the situation here. There seems to be a prevailing attitude that musicians will/should perform for free 'for the exposure', or because musicians would do it anyway because it's a vocation. The musicians are part of the 'service' providing the audience at the event with entertainment to go with their food and chit chat. The other service providers are getting paid. So should the musicians be. If it's a charity event, then why are the other service providers getting paid? It's unfair and unequitable. [/quote] My previous band were constantly asked to do charity events for no fee and we would go through a check list of questions before agreeing to do them: Will all bar and catering staff at the event be giving their services FOC? Are all profits from the bar and kitchens being given to charity? Are any of the other service providers being paid? Are our travelling and subsistence expenses paid? The usual reaction was disbelief that we were being so cheeky and unreasonable. The best charity events we played were ones where we were paid a substantial function band fee for being part of a well organised event that raised a lot of cash. Better entertainment = more money raised. One time there was a magician on the same bill who was getting a fee but we were being expected to a freebie. No chance. [quote name='Conan' timestamp='1334922515' post='1623477'] The problem with "one offs" is that they can be seen as custom and practice. [/quote] I totally agree, it sets a precedent. [quote name='MetricMike' timestamp='1334933616' post='1623729'] I think that you also have to consider that people do not value what they do not pay for. My personal experience is that unless the event is organised by someone who is a musician or who understands the work/time/effort that goes into a band then you will inevitably be messed around to the point where it may well spoil the event for you (and potentially mar it for the audience). [/quote] I concur absolutely. You have to put a value on yourself and you get taken more seriously and command more respect otherwise you end up being treated like an overgrown child that is being humoured by being let to play with his favourite toys. On principle given the fact that everyone else involved is cashing in on the event (and good luck to them) I would have politely refused but only after employing charm and salesmanship to try to get a decent fee.

+1

John at Dearnaley Guitars in Cardiff has always been good too.

Where can I get a custom scratch plate done? I need a simple three-ply black/white/black cut to a suit. Would I need to send the bass (body) away to someone who could do that for me? FYI, this is the shape I want (or near enough would do):

Absolutely gorgeous! Well bought!

[quote name='hamfist' timestamp='1334504319' post='1616919'] Also plays as nicely as most USA Fenders too. [/quote] Oh, I'm really sorry about that. Did you drop it in front of a speeding bus?

[quote name='skankdelvar' timestamp='1334502786' post='1616900'] Whatever you go with, slap a percentage on top to cover the haggle-factor. [/quote] Or for when people annoyingly muddle "haggle" with "barter", you could ask for a few goat fleeces and some eggs in exchange for your performance I used to do exactly the same set up as you and we charged £150-£250 depending how much we thought we could get. Smaller pub = £150, wedding = £250, mates rates wedding = £200.

The BB414 is an incredible piece of kit for the money, there's a couple for sale here at the moment but they get overlooked by many people maybe because the prices are so low. Anyone starting a "recommend a bass" thread would do a lot worse than pick up a used BB414/614 and spend the change on a case/set up/strings/effects/cables etc. It's versatile, great quality and those pickups...

Who makes the axesrus pickups?

[quote name='Spike Vincent' timestamp='1334356160' post='1615261'] Dead Boys. Sonic Reducer. Yeah! [/quote] I've gigged this song over a hundred times! Never on bass though, vocals and guitar. It's amazing. It was always a real buzz when someone came over and responded positively to it too, they were usually older muso-punks or deeply geeky Pearl Jam fans. My last bassline learned was I Need a Dollar by Aloe Blacc, nothing much to shout about but that was the last one I learned on Thursday night

[color=#0000ff][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]I've posted this in another thread but thought people might miss that so I've copied it here too.[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]I've recorded some samples...[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]I said earlier that BB400S has a very polite pickup compared to what I'm used to; see what you think:[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]BB400S stock reverse P pickup (rotosound flats as supplied with BB1300) [/font][/color][url="http://snd.sc/HAIGL9"]http://snd.sc/HAIGL9[/url] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]BB415 P Pickup [/font][/color][url="http://snd.sc/HAJ4tg"]http://snd.sc/HAJ4tg[/url][color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif] (TI Jazz flats - old, bought from [/font][/color][i]Paul, the[/i][color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif] in '08)[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]BB1300 neck humbucker (Rotosound roundwounds - new) [/font][/color][url="http://snd.sc/HAJ9NC"]http://snd.sc/HAJ9NC[/url] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]BB2024x P pickup (Rotosound roundwounds- new) [/font][/color][url="http://snd.sc/HAJjV1"]http://snd.sc/HAJjV1[/url] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]When the Wizard Thumper I've ordered comes I'll do another sound file for comparison.[/font][/color] [i]All samples were recorded using a Zoom B3 into Garageband with no effects and no level changes of any kind; all I did was swap basses.[/i] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Listening back to them, they don't sound anywhere near as good as MP3s, the BB2024x was far meatier before the conversion and the BB415 wasn't as punchy. A lot to be said for how the processing affects the sound, I think. [/font][/color]

It's like Groundhog Day on this forum sometimes The search facility on this forum is an excellent tool and will bring up dozens of [i]Jazz vs Precision[/i] threads all of which have some excellent comment and I promise will answer all the questions you will ever have about said basses and also some you would never think of.

[quote name='4 Strings' timestamp='1334274361' post='1613829'] These are cheap bass strings: http://www.stringsdirect.co.uk/products/597-legacy_4_string_nickel_bass_strings_40_100_45_105_ [/quote] They are Rotosound Rotobass unsilked strings packaged up under the Legacy name. They're pretty good and if you like changing your strings a lot then you can't go wrong.

[quote name='ColinB' timestamp='1334212091' post='1612517'] Tag-Team entrants..... Fender Modern Player jaguar: Squier Vintage Modified Jaguar Bass Special: (I have one of these with Wizard p/ups (pacified), it's very good) Squier Vintage Modified Jaguar Bass: [/quote] [quote name='Prunesquallor' timestamp='1334218152' post='1612568'] Adding to the line-up... [url="http://www.sandberg-guitars.de/basscat-overview/calv-series/calvt"]Sandberg California VT[/url] (There's also the Basic version, of course.) [url="http://www.guitarguitar.co.uk/bass_guitars_detail.asp?stock=10031710495738"]Fender Deluxe Precision[/url] [url="http://www.guitarguitar.co.uk/bass_guitars_detail.asp?stock=07061913292629"]Sadowsky RV4 Hybrid PJ[/url] Don't know what you're budget is. These are high-end, obviously. [/quote] [quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1334218888' post='1612577'] Fender Deluxe Active Precision Special at Coda Music in Stevenage, for £499: [url="http://www.coda-music.com/product_info.php?cPath=170&products_id=12011"]http://www.coda-musi...oducts_id=12011[/url] [/quote] Folks! Really! You'd do a hell of lot worse than buying [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/172940-far-sale-rare-jackson-concert-xl-professional-japanese-made-l250/"]this[/url] It's Japanese, it's PJ and I'll bet it's better built than anything else mentioned so far in the thread [i]for the money[/i]. Add to that the fact that it's already played in, has bags of character and also that you'll be saving the planet a bit by buying second hand and you just can't go wrong. I love it! Also, if you don't like it, you'll get your money back all day long selling it on. Let's some pics of your smiling face playing it when you get it, eh?

I've recorded some samples... I said earlier that BB400S has a very polite pickup compared to what I'm used to; see what you think: BB400S stock reverse P pickup (rotosound flats as supplied with BB1300) [url="http://snd.sc/HAIGL9"]http://snd.sc/HAIGL9[/url] BB415 P Pickup [url="http://snd.sc/HAJ4tg"]http://snd.sc/HAJ4tg[/url] (TI Jazz flats - old, bought from [i]Paul, the[/i] in '08) BB1300 neck humbucker (Rotosound roundwounds - new) [url="http://snd.sc/HAJ9NC"]http://snd.sc/HAJ9NC[/url] BB2024x P pickup (Rotosound roundwounds- new) [url="http://snd.sc/HAJjV1"]http://snd.sc/HAJjV1[/url] When the Wizard Thumper I've ordered comes I'll do another sound file for comparison. [i]All samples were recorded using a Zoom B3 into Garageband with no effects and no level changes of any kind; all I did was swap basses.[/i] Listening back to them, they don't sound anywhere near as good as MP3s, the BB2024x was far meatier before the conversion and the BB415 wasn't as punchy. A lot to be said for how the processing affects the sound, I think.

[quote name='charic' timestamp='1334210790' post='1612510'] Guitars are cheaper though from a basic price so why's he getting more? [/quote] I've looked into the details of this and trust me, he needs the extra fifty quid

Basschat string co-operative anyone?

He's also advertising...[size=3]"[color=#000000][font=Times]PS - My supplier for this particular bass will declare a value of $100 to lessen any import tax/ duty. This means maximum duty that could be charged on that value is about £13. Not bad."[/font][/color][/size] [size=3][color=#000000][font=Times][font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]What a twat.[/font][/font][/color][/size]

[quote name='lowdown' timestamp='1334157604' post='1611779'] Comes from days gone by. IE - On the Titanic gig, the band had to learn around 300 songs. The songs were listed and numbered in a pamphlet given to the passengers. The band played in various rooms around the ship all day long. Passengers would choose a song from the pamphlet, walk up and shout out the number to the Band leader, who shouted the 'Number' to the band. [/quote] From a Health and Safety perspective, this is a superb idea and probably saved lives. Imagine if they had to remember 300 song titles rather than just numbers and then suddenly mid-gig one of the punters from steerage started shouting, "Iceberg! Iceberg!", the poor cellist would be fumbling around thinking, "Cor, blimey, I dunno that one, is it to the Rhythm Changes in Bb?" and by the time he's realised the ship's in trouble, he's lost his footing and fallen overboard. I might even try and adopt this system for my band, just in case. And the phrase I hate is when punters that have booked you ask you, "Do you think you could[b][i] tone[/i][/b] it down a bit?" Uh, yeah, I'll roll all my EQ off except the low end which I'll max out and I'll scream the nuts off the compressor, is that dub enough for ya, guv'nor?