martthebass

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1479376063' post='3175992'] After all isn't that the point of further education, that you should learn how to think for yourself rather than simply regurgitating what you have been taught. I was on one of those 9-5, five days a week university courses in the late 70s and the information overload was a significant contributing factor to my failing the year and leaving. [/quote] Not entirely BRX, a degree like most other qualifications also serves to inform prospective employers and other bodies of your state of metriculation. We're you able to thrive and demonstrate your capabilities when put under time and academic pressure. I did a 9-5 degree in the early 80s, hardly any continuous assessment and lots of timed final exam summative assessment. I was lucky to get a Desmond. 7 years later I did a higher degree that was modular and got a first. I didn't get any better or cleverer in the intervening years.....

[quote name='TheGreek' timestamp='1479147572' post='3174338'] Believe it... http://s1167.photobucket.com/user/FairfaxAikman/slideshow/Alembic-esque [/quote] Now that's just taunting! The bass is currently in Advanced Guitar Solutions in Sheffield having phase one of its beautification treatment....the horrible black gunky varnish is being stripped and the headstock sprayed over. The rear of the neck is having a vintage gloss tint applied. Not cheap, hopefully it will be worth it. Phase 2 will be removal of the 'cinnamon artex' that passes for paint on the body. I expect final cost will be more than if I'd bought a full fat Sterling but the sub is basically a 3 band stingray with the pup in series - a much better sound (to my ears) that the stock US Sterling.

Watching with interest Andy. I Think you could really help turn my ugly duckling MM usa Sterling sub into a swan.

My main gigging bass at the mo is a mm sterling sub usa. Been through a few full fat Stingrays and a US sterling but the sub just seems to have 'it'. Missing it badly as it is currently in the shop being transformed from an ugly duckling to a swan.....

[quote name='cd_david' timestamp='1478454042' post='3169136'] I love this bass. [url="http://s519.photobucket.com/user/cd_david/media/Basses%20To%20View/F7A6B436-72F3-4D86-A67A-9BF4B4ED0535_zpspu9kj68y.jpg.html"][/url] [/quote] I can see why.

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1478463499' post='3169234'] I've felt like this and I'm nearing that age, the trouble is I think it might be me that makes the bands dodgy! [/quote] I wish there was a like button for this sort of post lol.

I've got a Sterling Sub (USA) that's apparently wired in series....unfortunately it's in the shop having the neck refinned....sorry no help there then.

[quote name='MoJo' timestamp='1476707472' post='3156446'] I've been giving this some thought this morning. I've often thought that my apparent need to swap gear every few months was GAS (Gear Acquisition Syndrome), but I realise now that it's just boredom or familiarity and wanting something new to play with. I've never had a lot of disposable income and have, in the past, owned basses that cost around the £200-£300 mark. A few years ago, I came into a little bit of money and decided to treat myself. I ordered a brand new Rickenbacker 4003. Once it arrived, I played it at a few rehearsals and one gig before coming to the conclusion that I fancied something else. I traded it with another BC'er for a 30th Anniversary Stingray, a great instrument but after a few weeks, I regretted letting the Rick go and got in touch with the guy I'd traded it with. Happily, he wasn't feeling the Ricky love and was happy to swap back. A few weeks later, I'd grown tired of the Rick (again) and agreed a trade with another BC'er for a beautiful US Fender Custom Shop Jazz. That was sold a short time later to a BC'er in Belgium IIRC. Each sale since that has resulted in small losses, until most of the £1800 I'd invested in the Rick had disappeared. I now sit here, looking at my Squier Jazz and think to myself, "What on earth did I think that I was going to find that was better than that Jazz? Why didn't I just hang onto that?" Even now, I have searches set up on Ebay and Gumtree, looking for the 'next bass'. When will I learn Has anyone else gone down this road? [/quote] Hi M, I was the guy with the Ray 30th if you remember. The irony of the story is that about a year or so later I traded another bass for a Rick 4003 and it turned out to be your old one so we ended up reunited. I've still got it and it gets used for the odd gig in my 80s covers band, All the best, Mart

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1476735563' post='3156862'] I love the band I'm with, but my situation , musical wants and needs are different than the other members. If I find something great if not I'm stuck in the 4 hour $125.00 a man world. Blue [/quote] That's my point Blue, you're ignoring comments from members you believe are in a different place to you. If you only recognise/take notice of comments that agree with your own then the request for comments is pointless.

Blue, I think your mind is made up, but you're still requesting comments/thoughts? If you are dissatisfied with your current gig and truly believe you're worth more then go with it.

A staple in our 80s set also. Fretless 2 band Ray into a Markbass with a Boss Chorus. Lovely.

Never had an issue with the ergonomics of the Streamie. The strap placement and balance of the instrument is such that you can place the neck where you want it and it stays there which is always a bonus (for the Wymanesque moments....). I generally find it more comfortable to play than my MMs - certainly on a longer gig. The only learning I had was the 'singlecut' nature of the bass, you have to get used to the 'groove' on the back of the neck from 12th onwards, that didn't take too long but I would reccommend that you try one first to see how this feels for you.

I've had GAS for a Stealth2 4 string for a few years but they are like hens teeth second hand and c.£2k new is hard to justify. I've heard a few comment that the sound is a bit 'brittle' however which means I'll probably hang on to my Streamline which I've always found quite neutral and even warm with the right eq.

I always thought this FD. However when I switched to Status Hotwires I found no real difference between tensions on the same gauge (40 - 100s) on flats and rounds.

Loverlee, I've never got on with 5ers but I'd love to have a crack on one of these. Many underestimate the nice deep tone you can get from a Streamie, the MB 12s are a good match too!

My mother, a down to Earth Yorkshire lass, used to say ' everyone has talents and abilities, in some it is more apparent than others, in no-one is it buried so deep that it can't be coaxed out with gentile persuasion'.

[quote name='solo4652' timestamp='1470161217' post='3103754'] Folks, My medical woes continue, but I've been experimenting with different basses to find a way forward. I've found that: As suggested by many B/Cers, a well-balanced bass is just as important as a light one. Holding up a neck-heavy bass while playing very quickly leads to arm and neck pains. I've cobbled together a waist strap that takes a lot of the weight of a bass off my shoulder. I've discovered that the key thing is to have an extra strap running from the waist to an extra strap pin close to the tip of the lower bout. With my Yamaha BB's, this also really helps with the overall balance. 32" scale helps. So, my revised shopping list for a bass is: 32" scale Lightweight. Doesn't have to be as mad/creative/different as I was originally thinking. Just light, that's all. 3 Kgs would be good It[i] has[/i] to be nicely balanced on a conventional strap with no neck dive. P/J, or maybe P/MM pickup configuration. I've never really been a J-bass fan but, you never know... Budget is £500 max I thought about starting a new thread, but decided that slightly re-orienting this existing one would be a better option. Mods - please do advise if you think otherwise. Steve [/quote] I empathise with your pain Steve, I get bouts of spondylitis/spondylosis...always forget which - the one related to joint wear rather than being Rheumatoid. It manifests as neck, shoulder pain and arm weakness/numbness. I had to sell a particularly nice Limelight 63 Jazz which I'd bought new as a YOB bass because it was exacerbating the problem which was a real downer. In terms of basses that I can comfortably play when I'm 'having a bout', I've only found one that ticks all the boxes and that's a Status Streamline. I think it's because it's light weight and you can move the neck to whichever position you want and it just stays there. Hopefully that would make your scale length requirements obsolete, however you can get it in 32'' scale if you find one with the bendwell option. The major drawback is that it's well above your budget, second hand I think a standard one comes in around the £1k mark. If you can find one to try though I'd recommend you try as it could put you back on the road so to speak...you're welcome to try mine but I notice you're a good 90 minutes away. All the best, Mart

I tend to find that if I'm playing the same songs in differnt bands in differnt tunings then I spend more time looking at the fretboard than I'd like. My muscle memory doesn't likey!

Andy picked up one of my spare MM Ray pickguards.....what a geezer! Top bloke to deal with

I can sometimes feel this way on active basses. Not sure what strings you've tried but I tend to put Status half-wounds on my actives which dials the harshness out sufficiently for me. I've had a Sandy Basic in the past (a Ken Taylor 5) and I couldn't get on with it either, somehow the Delanos seemed to be both dark and harsh at the same time. I couldn't deny the quality of the bass; if it had been a 4 string I might have persevered a bit longer however.

[quote name='Dan Dare' timestamp='1469715419' post='3100595'] Easy. Just post an expensive instrument in the for sale section for 50 quid, no questions asked. You'll get barred in no time [/quote] Not a problem......I might have a spare £50 knocking about for a nice pre CBS Jazz.