FinnDave

Yes, but you are talking about times past, when the market price for grandmothers was not what is today. I really think that has to be taken into account.

This might help. http://www.stringtensionpro.com I used it when I need to re tune a bass to DGCF for a particular project, by using the string suggested, the bass felt and sounded just the same as it did with standard strings tuned 2 steps higher. Just lower in pitch, of course! The band didn't work out, I think I still have the strings, must put on the for sale section sometime.

A lot of us would have sold our grandmothers for something the quality of a Squier when we started out.

I didn't know Squier were offering a cellulose finish option these days.

The pills are working then, Trom.

You should try it in Finland: Hei! Hei! [several hours of total silence, probably punctuated by the opening of bottles and the hiss of water hitting the stones in the sauna. Hei, Hei Hei, Hei

The only people I know who make jokes about cancer are people who have, or have had, some form of cancer. I am in the latter category but can't bloody well think of one right now!

Root AND fifth, well that's something for me to try.

I would have thought so, but I have tried it only with my own Ashdown amp.

I bought it with the Babicz already installed, so no idea about the bushings, sorry.

I've played a two set gig with no drummer when he fell ill and the replacement was my right foot on the wooden stage floor. I reckon I could do a gig as a bass player on anything with at least one string. It wouldn't be perfect, but it would be better than cancelling. The less you've got, the simpler the music, but I reckon that at least 90% of the audience won't notice.

No shim on mine, works just fine

Always good to meet another Daevid and Gong head! Really enjoyed listening to that, though I kept imagining little Moonweed bubbles floating through, and maybe a touch of Shakti Yoni's space whispers, but simply beautiful.

Which Thunderbird? I have an Epiphone pro vi upstairs that was fitted with a Babicz by a previous owner, I can pop up and take a look if it's the right bass. One thing I can reassure about is that you won't regret buying the bridge, it's a beaut. My Epiphone with that bridge was a better bass than my Gibson with standard bridge; when I needed to cut back, the Gibson was old and the Epiphone stayed.

Yes, but we did that one last week!

So do I!

Once the poop starts flying in a thread, it's probably best to keep our heads down or leave!

Blimey, that's ugly. But I was a Harley rider until my accident, so obviously used to nothing but the best

Yes, but my current role is playing the bass!

Yes, I hadn't read it that closely, but you are right. Though no matter much we agonise over the sound of our bass (and how much we spend trying to achieve 'that sound', in my experience, not only do the audience not notice, most of the time, neither do the rest of the band! I admit was answering on the basis of 'if you were in a hole and the only thing available was a Squier, could you use it'.

I have no idea what a Zongshen is, but I suspect most, if not all, Ducati owners would turn their noses up at it. I know quite a few Ducati owners and most of them turn their noses up at anything except a Ducati. But 'could you ride it' doesn't ask whether you'd enjoy it, see the light and flog the rattly old Duke and buy one, just whether you'd be able to. Assuming it has 2 wheels and a throttle and brake, I can't see any reason why any able-bodied biker would be unable to ride any kind of bike. Unwilling, maybe, but not unable.

But even then it would get the job done, the other option would be to cancel the gig or busk it vocally!