Lfalex v1.1

A generic observations from electro-acoustic (fretted) ownership; They only produce limited volume when played acoustically. They'll not keep up with an acoustic guitar being played hard. Fretless may prove worse still. They do sound nice through amplification, however, the large top can make them prone to feedback in louder environments. A soundhole bung/plug may help in this regard.

Worked for me!

What? The Bass or the Band? "It's a S*** business" - Les McQueen

^^^^ I had the good fortune to see that live when it aired. Classic TV!

They'd have done better if they'd got one of BassChat's better fretless players to demo it. Or, in fact one of BassChat's worst fretless players...

And then there's Phenolic boards instead!

I've used a small, compact mixing desk into a QSC PLX1202 power amp. Sounds great, and you can easily run items like tuners from any unused outputs on the desk. Better still, if you're amp sharing at gigs, you can set up spare channels for other people, spare instruments etc.

I was going to disagree with the notion of spending 2k on a bass in your position, but based on personal experience, I wouldn't rule it out. Over 20 years ago, I saved up what seemed a ridiculous sum of money, went to the Wapping Bass Centre and tried out everything I could get my mitts on. I ultimately purchased a Vigier, and I still have it today. It's as good as ever, done some good stuff and has lots of good memories attached to it. It could be argued that you could achieve the same with a cheaper bass, and that's true. If you can get yourself a "keeper", cost becomes less relevant. It depends, of course, on your financial position. I did it when I was living at home and had no outgoings except running a car. In that respect, everyone's mileage may vary (pun not intended) If you can find a real winner, almost irrespective of cost, then grab it.

Challenge accepted. Translucent Snotburst.

If we are to go "nuts", may I suggest "Filbert"?

Is it really an issue that the MFDs are too hot/bright? The instruments do have tone and volume controls. That, or roll off the gain and treble at the amp end. It's easier to remove something that there's to much of than to try and add something there's not enough of ( Confucius probably didn't say that!)

Crime of the Century? Masterpiece.

I wish they would. Nasty, scratchy little things..

Sh*tburst.

It surely is! Criminally overlooked, and not on Spotify...

An old Westone Raider body? Fill in the pick-up routing, sand it back, and off you go. Not an exact Explorer shape, but quite close.

Both underrated and excellent albums! But neither would make my list, I think; Crime of the Century- Supertramp Split Milk- The Jellyfish Boys for Pele- Tori Amos Time- ELO English Settlement- XTC Dynamite Boogie Monster Concert- Raging Slab Dragline- PAW Foxtrot- Genesis Aqualung- Jethro Tull Deicide- Deicide (for the bad days!)

4 that I feel influenced my decision to take up bass... Nilsson Schmilson - Harry Nilsson (Herbie Flowers & Klaus Voorman) I'm the Man - Joe Jackson (Graham Maby) So - Peter Gabriel (Larry Fast and Tony Levin) Graceland - Paul Simon (Bagkithi Kumalo) In all 4, the bass is often central to the song, and at very least quite to the fore in the mix. And all of the playing, whilst diverse, is excellent and generally tasteful. I don't think I really registered how much they influenced my choice of instrument until I look back. Shame I can't play like those guys though!!

I refer my learned colleagues to the Kubicki not-exactly-plywood necks..

Worst cab I ever played through was an Ampeg 8x10 driven by a GK head. Worse still, it was on a hollow, temporary stage. It just kind of honked and rattled. As there was no FOH for anything but vox, everyone else had to endure it, too.

"They're Grrrreat" (Allegedly)

What amp is that in the background? Looks meaty..

Given that my take on bass purchasing is "Try before you buy and buy the one you tried", it's got to be 2 or 3 for me.

Hmm. That headstock is not good. Seems overly long and clumsy. While it's nice that they do P/J and reverse P pick-up options in both P&J bodies, it's all a bit Fender-Centric. It'd be nice to see a JPJ, JJ/J, MM/J, MM/MM or just MM options... Not sure I like the defiantly anti-active stance, either. If the build quality is good, then that will help.