FinnDave

I used to use Chromes, but then discovered LaBella flats, which sound perfect to my ears, but feel like bars of steel under my fingers. I haven't tried any other brands, it can get quite expensive buying a different brand of flats just to discover they don't do what you want.

I recently (as in this weekend) picked up my Precision that has been strung with flats for a year or two, and has therefore remained unplayed for that time as I dislike the feel of flats, though they do sound good. Now it seems that both the bands I play with prefer the sounds of the flats as well, so looks like I just need to get use to the feel. In the past, when I have got fed up with the dead fuel of the flats, I have removed them and restrung with rounds. To avoid this, I ordered another Precision yesterday which will keep the rounds it comes with. I also have two Jazz basses (in theory - one had to be returned due to a truss rod problem and so far Fender have sent two replacements to the shop, each of which have had different problems). There is a fourth (third replacement) on the way, so either that or my old faithful will be strung with flats so I can choose between them without constantly restringing.

My number one bass is definitely my white US Fender Precision standard, acquired from a fellow bass chatter in 2013 when we met at a motorway services to swap my Jazz bass for it. Stuck the Precision in the back of the car, drove home, collected my amp & cab and went straight to a gig. I think I probably took my other Jazz bass just in case, but it wasn't needed that night. The white Precision is currently strung with flats (don't like the feel, but the sound is sublime). Absolutely my number one bass. Then again, I have had my Classic 60s Jazz bass a few months longer than the white Precision, and certainly won't be parting with it while I'm still able to play - maybe they are joint number one basses.

Thanks, Lozz - it's the first time my wife has stopped what she was doing upstairs and come down to tell how good it sounded. It's a reassuringly heavy old beast (the combo, not the wife!), but it sounds like it feels - very solid.

Having been without an ABM for the last year or two, I rejoined the ranks today with an ABM500 2x10 combo which I bought from a fellow bass chatter. My plan was to have a cheap combo that I could leave where we rehearse so I wouldn't have to take my gig gear (currently an Orange Little Bass Thing and Barefaced Super Compact) - but the Ashdown combo sounds so good I might reconsider that idea. I'm rehearsing with one of my bands in Oxford tomorrow and am very tempted to take the Ashdown along, but there are steps down to the rehearsal room, so will need help from a band mate.

I can hear the improvement when I look at the picture. I didn't keep my classic 50s Precision long enough to change the 'plate - I couldn't get on with the wide neck.

I'm probably coming to the Swindon show - an easy one for Rob B. as it's just down the road from his house! John R. told me about the tour a day or two ago.

You might regret that if you need to make claim on your way to or back from a gig. These days, the onus is on you (me, us) to declare anything that might affect our insurance risk, not on the insurer to ask every relevant question (fact checked by my tame insurance person, aka my wife). I also used to say as little as possible in order to get the cheapest quote, but these days it isn't worth it. Even you are the most careful and considerate driver out there (pretty unlikely for a musician!) you can never tell what other people might do. If your car got stolen from a pub you can be sure that the insurer will find out why you were there. I'm not on the insurer's side, I just don't like to see people fall foul of the rules for the sake a few quid more on the policy.

I was using a pair of RM 800s (one as a back-up) until a year or so ago, now have a Little Bass Thing with a TE Elf as back-up, less to carry and just as useful.

Blimey, that's a quote from over five years ago! Anyway, I was then, and still am, with A-Plan insurance, who I think are spread around the country, but their head office is in Witney, just down the road from where I live. My wife happens to work in the local branch, as well.

I used to have one of these, but couldn't adapt to the wider neck - I'm more a Jazz Bass player despite repeated efforts to give them up! My main bass is a ten year old Classic 60s Jazz, also MiM, which I have owned from new. A recently purchased Vintera 60s Jazz felt exactly the same but had to be returned to Fender as it had a truss rod problem. I am expecting the replacement any day now...

First gig this year yesterday afternoon - part of a seven band line up for an afternoon/early evening in Oxford with Franklin's Tower, an Oxford based Grateful Dead covers band. Several bands couldn't make it, some due to Covid, so we were able to play a decent set length. Seemed to go well, the audience enjoyed it and so did the band.

That was the explanation I was given when they introduced Invapay. I have avoided booking my band into GK pubs since that started, and the latest version seems even less friendly.

Thanks, the Brasenose (I think there is only one pub called that in the country - at least, that's what I was told by the landlord a few years ago) is the only pub around Banbury I've played in.

The place looks familiar, not the Brasenose Arms, is it?

Which part of Oxfordshire is that, or have you crossed a county border? I had my first time out this year at Stanford in the Vale, rehearsal first, then we walked our gear round the corner to the social club and played 4 songs. First time out with our new drummer - I think he's going to be just what we need!

I took my Fender Vintera 60s bass out to a rehearsal last week. I bought the bass new last September, had it professionally set up, played it once, then left it in its case (in the same room as my other basses). When I took it out of the case at the rehearsal, the neck had developed a lot of relief - I have my necks set flat (as advised my the local tech, who got me to try it and I agreed). so playing it was a bit of a struggle. Took back to the tech yesterday, he said it should be a quick job, just a tweak on the truss rod. Couple of hours later, he phoned me to tell me that there was no more adjustment left in the truss rod. I have contacted the shop I bought it from, but not had a reply yet. If you decide to burn your Warwick, I might jin you with the Vintera!