Marc S

[quote name='interpol52' timestamp='1479842018' post='3179741'] I've just got one of these [url="https://www.thomann.de/gb/thomann_e_bass_gigbag_premium.htm?sid=ddc5d687ba9db40280eee90a7eca25ae"]https://www.thomann....0eee90a7eca25ae[/url] Excellent quality, and an absolute steal. [/quote] I bought one of these several months back now, on FuNkShUi's recommendation. Very reasonably priced, well made and quite well padded Also, have you considered one of those semi-hard cases? Haven't got one myself, but I may well sell one of my hard cases & get one

I had a G4M case which was about a hundred quid. They're not absolutely rock-hard shaped / formed cases, but they're fairly tough, or at least much better protection than a gigbag. However, as has already been said, they are rather huge and cumbersome. OK if you've got a van. But I had a biggish estate car, and I had to put all the seats down, then put the front passenger seat as far forward as I could, and it only just squeezed in, and I couldn't see out of the passenger window very well at all - let alone not being able to see the passenger side door mirror.... (there was no room for a passenger in the car, and not much room for amplification & stands etc) More trouble than it was worth IMO - but if you're taking it on a plane, or have / share a large van, fair enough

[quote name='Conan' timestamp='1479821164' post='3179528'] I hadn't quite got as far as exact details, but the main one would be colour: purple with matching headstock! Passive, maple board with pearl blocks, probably his own pickups (as I've heard very good reports about them) or EMGs... I'm still pondering! Oh, and four string. A bit like this one..... [/quote] Ooooh, that looks stunning!

I recall seeing that model around years back. Although I don't know what its' name or model number is.... Although someone I knew had one, and I'm sure it was mid to late 80's Have you just bought it Kert? Or will it be a future project? i.e. are you gonna make this one sparkly too?

[quote name='bornagainbass65' timestamp='1479735001' post='3178815'] ..... there are some simple upgrades that can improve them. These include: New strings - I have innovation honeys on mine...... [/quote] Shameless "plug" for a set I have for sale atm http://basschat.co.uk/topic/290765-db-string-set-innovation-honeys-sale-or-trade-for-gold-or-silver-slaps/

The Stagg EUB also has a couple of "wings" / fake body bouts Did the Stagg you tried have them attached? There's been one in a shop near me for a while, and it's not got them attached Some shops may just leave them in the case / box. Due to the nature of the shape of EUB's, I think they pretty much all have a tendency to spin. So I don't think the HB will be any better than the Stagg in that respect Adaptations to the end-pin may help - i.e. something chunkier, made of rubber, with a bit more grip I've heard of some people using the end piece designed for walking sticks... I started with a Stagg EUB, and at around £250 s/h it was a bargain, and got me in to playing DB Good luck with your search

[quote name='Grangur' timestamp='1479792988' post='3179273'] I live in Bishops Stortford and would be happy to get together for a chat about getting started. There are also others nearby you. Maybe you should start another thread on that question too. [/quote] That's one of the things I really like about BC - there's always some friendly type on here offering to let someone try out their bass, amp or pedal, or someone willing to give up time to help others. What a kind offer Grangur Re gauges of strings, yes, they differ in gauge - it might be best to take your broken string along to the shop with you, to compare gauges. It is possible (well online anyway) to get single strings - maybe you can pick up a single string, so you have a whole set of spares? Good luck with your new start on bass, and take Grangur up on his kind offer. Don't forget to look out for the next local bass-bash event near you. There you'll meet other players, who may help, advise & support you, as well as let you play with their amps etc EDIT: If you buy a new set of strings in a different gauge, you will possibly need to set your bass up accordingly i.e. you may need to make adjustments to the bridge, and or tweak the truss rod - please take care and read up / watch youtube videos before doing this, or better still, get some other kindly BC'er to help you out, or let a local luthier do this

[quote name='molan' timestamp='1479586375' post='3177714'] I spoke to a pub manager about this one night and he said the fact that he has live bands every week means that his customers keep coming back. Many of them come on nights that bands aren't playing and he believes that if he lost the bands he'd lose these customers completely. By 'investing' in music once a week he keeps his loyal customer base happy and, in a very competitive local environment, that's his livelihood. [/quote] This is a good point, actually Re the options. I don't need the cash desperately - I play for the love of music, but I do play a lot of freebies, and I'm starting to prefer not to play too many gigs for nowt or very little cash, as you sometimes play those to few people, or drunken punters who moan that you haven't played their favourite song etc.. In principal, I'd take option a over option b, but would prefer to get paid a fair amount AND have the pub full of dancing, singing punters (of course, we all would! lol)

Definitely strings... Even more definitely.... whisky

It does sound a nightmare. An old band I was in a few years back had this sort of problem at one venue. It too was L shaped, and the sound was not as good as we usually got it to be. Is there anywhere else in the room you can play? Or any other arrangement? Can you play the far end of the larger wing of the room? Leaving chatting punters to the smaller wing of the room? If not, as others have said - play to the room you're in...

I had a Roadstar II, from back in my first spell of playing (I had a 20+ year break in playing, family, mortgage, house renovation etc) It stayed in its case all through my absence from playing, and was the only bit of bass kit I'd hung on to. I had no intention of playing again really, as although I had missed playing, I was just way too busy with the "other stuff" of life, and on the very rare occasion I decided to have a quick dabble on bass - I 'd completely forgotten how to play anything, or what little I could actually remember, I found I couldn't stretch to reach notes, or I'd miss the correct string, and my timing was ragged - so back in the case it went.... Anyhow, I took up playing again quite some years back now, as my ex wife had bought our son a bass, completely out of the blue. So I started playing again, playing along with my son, and it was great! My enthusiasm now rekindled, I went out & bought several more basses and all new amp gear. I still liked the Ibanez, but found it wasn't suiting any of the bands or duos I was in... My lad loved it though - so I gave it to him (he now has too many basses too! lol). Not sure which model my old one is, but it looks very similar, but doesn't have the 2 humbuckers. You don't see many of them around these days, but they are a great design, I think. Very playable, nice fast neck (if a tad slim for my taste now). In fact, I'm sure mine was the first active bass I'd seen or played. I'm pretty sure mine came from around 1982.... I don't think you will regret buying that bass. It's a cool colour, and I'm sure it sounds & plays great. I'm glad mine is now with my son, as if I'd sold it, I wouldn't have got much for it - plus I may have looked at the empty space it occupied and thought "what have I done?" Hope you continue to enjoy it. PS. Sorry about the rambling life story of my / my son's Ibanez

Hello Bazz, Nice to hear from a fellow bassist so far away. G'day to you, or as we say in Wales Shwmae I too had one of those "breaks for life" from playing - mine was near enough 25 years! Wish I hadn't taken that break - but there you go. There are many things I probably shouldn't have done lol As Oopsdabasist says - post long & often Cheers Marc

I'm not a great bower myself - I just have a dabble. But I have noticed that of the different types of string I've tried, there are huge differences between them all. Some are much easier to bow, and some are not suitable at all.... But as TheRev says above, it is probably a combination of all 3 factors ....and maybe some other factors you haven't thought about yet? And yes, try different strings more suited to arco Most of all, welcome back to the wonderful world of DB / EUB, and best of luck

It can be hard to spot a fake, if the person doing them has got everything as close as possible to the original. I don't think it's a Squier, as I'm sure they don't do an option for through body stringing, which is what this bass appears to have. Though I could be wrong there - someone on here will know whether that is correct..... It looks pretty much OK to me. But closely check those decals - run your finger over them, to see if they have been changed and oversprayed. Look for edges on the decals. Check the quality of the finishing on the neck binding and check for any sharp-ish edges to the frets..... Look for quality of finish in general; check pots are smooth, check quality of nut - is it straight + routs are clean & neat. Check pickguard screws are dead straight, and also not loose Most of all, good luck - looks a nice bass but of in any doubt - don't buy it.... something will come up EDIT: I didn't spot the additional holes in the bridge - has the bridge been replaced? Are they holes? Is there a close-up photo of the headstock? (Front) EDIT2: Should this model of bass have the newer, lightweight style tuning pegs?

Hey Kert, you deleted all the earlier pics already (or at least, I can't see them) And I wanted to do a before & after comparison Keep going with this project matey - you'll be gigging with this bass, and wearing matching sparkly short trousers before you know it