Marc S

Hi there, Just wondering this, as I got my Eminence second-hand. The seller also gave me a set of nylon strings, and I put those on right away, as the strings that were already on the Eminence seemed very light gauge... I'm never going to use them - so I thought I'd flog them, but want to be sure these are the strings that originally came with the bass... Cheers now - any helpful advice would be appreciated I know, I really should post a pic! Perhaps I'll do that tomorrow

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1472170039' post='3119173'] I don't know if it's been mentioned, but an amp is a lot more likely to fail than a bass "Gigging Without A Spare Amp" Blue [/quote] I've broken far more strings than amps. BTW, as I mentioned in an earlier reply, I have a spare amp! Mind you, it's tiny.... I mean really tiny. It's a Euphonic Audio 550W head, and it fits into the pocket of a gigbag, with room left for spare leads. I keep it in a hidden compartment next to the spare tyre in the boot of my car. I'm not massively keen on its' sound - it's rather too "clinical" and hi-fi like for my ear, but it's just so small, it's really handy as a spare... But I really doubt that players break more amps than strings - unless they're seriously overloading the amps? Maybe you should start another thread Blue?

Just spotted this thread. I was about to advertise that I have a set of used innovation Honeys. They were on my last bass, which I restrung with silver slaps. I kept the honeys, in case I wanted to try them in future However, I'm now using spirocore weichs. Sorry I didn't spot this earlier. You couldve bought the honeys from me lol

[quote name='Musicman20' timestamp='1472113061' post='3118544'] The Flea pickups are the American Pure Vintage 64 set. The standard Road Worn pickups are Mexican Standard Vintage Alnico pickups. Both sound great. I assume the Mexican pickups are different to the average Mexican Jazz bass......... [/quote] yes the pickups in the Roadworn are definitely better than the pickups in a standard Mex Jazz. (Mind you they are fine too) I played a MIM Jazz and a roadworn when I first got my RW, and they sounded better, more bite to them, more powerful and a better range of sounds - a better defined bottom end of the tonal range too... That said, I then went & replaced the pickups in my RW, for some old DiMarzios, and it sounds even better Really wanting to try one of these Flea sigs.....

[quote name='Painy' timestamp='1472075529' post='3118387'] That gives me an idea. Maybe we should start a Basschat "Gig Assistance Service" (see what I did there ) for people who can't take a spare bass with them to their gig. If a string breaks then we'll come and replace it. If an electrical connection goes then we'll resolder it. If for any reason we're unable to repair your bass there at the gig then we'll tow it to the nearest garage. I might need to give the last point a bit more thought... [/quote] Sign me up for this service! No, wait...... I carry a spare - I don't need it!

For those who may be limited on space in the back of the van / car. Looks like a relatively inexpensive backup, small & lightweight too... 2.9Kg [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/221904870728?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT"]http://www.ebay.co.u...K%3AMEBIDX%3AIT[/url]

[quote name='Woodinblack' timestamp='1471969713' post='3117350'] I think that a lot of modern cars no longer have a spare tyre. But anyway, why a spare tyre? I have blown more engines (or related things that make the car go forward) than I have tyres, and I have never blown a tyre away from home - except once on a bike, which A) didn't have a spare and put me in hospital so wouldn't have really helped. So yes, a spare engine would have been a lot more useful in life. [/quote] Yes, some of the smaller modern cars don't carry a spare tyre / wheel Such as my colleagues Smart Car - the sport version. However, when her tyre was punctured on a Sunday night, down a very dark country road in the Gower Peninsular, miles away from a street lamp or a lay-by, let alone a garage - she certainly wished the designers had factored a spare in, when developing that car. It is true that many people never get a puncture, but I've had a few, and wouldn't buy a car which didn't have a spare. Are you seriously blowing engines up on a regular basis?

[quote name='rushbo' timestamp='1471618856' post='3114539'] I have the luxury of a spare bass, so it comes with me to every gig. I've broken about five strings at shows since I started gigging in 1986, so some people might think that carting another instrument about is a waste of effort. I would disagree. It takes seconds to swap basses - certainly less time than it takes to change a string. I have also had the strap button come away from the body of my bass at a gig, so the spare was pressed into service on that occasion, too. I gig a lot (for a weekend warrior anyway), so, in my opinion, it makes sense to have back-ups for as many things as possible - I have a Behringer BDI 21 in my gig box along with spare leads, mics blah blah blah. Fortunately, that's the only bit of spare kit I've never had to use. I keep my basses well maintained, but there are circumstances you cant foresee, so I bring back-ups. For me, it's insurance - the mild inconvenience of having one extra thing to bring to a gig is out-weighed by the piece of mind. And, if I'm doing a two set gig and I'm feeling saucy, I might give the back up a run out too.... [/quote] Absolutely. If you can afford a spare (even if it's a cheapie) and if you can transport it to a gig then take a spare. I have a Hofner violin bass which is lightweight and small enough to fit in even the fullest of car boots. I rarely use it, but it was cheap and I only ever take it as a spare, and plug it in once in a while, to check it's still fine. I know some of you have asked "who breaks bass strings?" But I'd ask "Who's never broken a bass string?" It may be a rare occasion, but I've broken a few. Also, I have known pals who've had a pickup die on them mid-gig, and another pal who had an electrical fault (turned out to be a dry solder joint) which didn't show up till the bass was a few years old, and had been gigged many times. He didn't have a spare!. You really should never ever need the spare, but as rushbo says, it's an insurance policy. Yes if your amp blows, go through the PA, but for a paid gig, I wouldn't turn up without a spare bass - that's my insurance My wife informs me she's never had a puncture in a car tyre, in 30 years of driving - does that mean she should drive without a spare tyre? I think not..

[quote name='Burrito' timestamp='1471881463' post='3116668'] I use Gut-a-like as they are more stable for tuning. I can't imagine ever using steel again. [url="https://www.thomann.de/gb/gutalike_vintage_double_bass_strings.htm"]https://www.thomann....ass_strings.htm[/url] [/quote] Thanks for that info Burrito, Due to having read this thread, and being inspired to experiment a bit more, I have ordered a set of "Weed Whackers" They are fairly cheap on ebay (cheapest DB strings I've seen!), but the seller is in the US - so they'll take some time to reach me

[quote name='Musicman20' timestamp='1471948512' post='3117145'] I played a Roadworn Jazz a few years back now...in fact I think I tried a few. I wanted one, and I should have gone for it. The wear and tear is very similar in terms of how it 'looks', but obviously the pattern is different and I think the Flea is a heavier relic. The feel is very similar. The worn in neck feels great, except all of the hardware is new, as you know. The differences? The rather fun v/t/v/t and the absolutely superb pickups....it really is one of the nicest passive jazz tones I've personally experienced. Oh, and I love Fiesta Red, but faded Shell Pink is amazing. [/quote] Thanks for that Musicman20, I was completely "off" Fenders, until I tried my Roadworn Jazz (Bought 2nd hand, from another BC member) I was so instantly smitten by it, that I bought it there & then, following a trip to the nearest cashpoint. I took a gamble with my Roadworn P, as I hadn't tried one, but everyone who owned or had tried one rated them - so I bit the bullet, and again, I was amazed at just how good the RW's are. Yes, I sometimes wish my Jazz was Fiesta Red, instead of sunburst - but I completely agree - Faded Shell Pink is stunning. Hmmm..... should I consider re-painting my RW Jazz into Shell Pink? Now there's a thought.... Anyone else compared the RW Jazz to this new Flea Sig?

[quote name='petebassist' timestamp='1471948587' post='3117146'] Marc, thanks, that would have been great to pop in and have a cuppa, a very kind offer. Not sure you would have appreciated my being covered in mud and "unwashed and somewhat slightly dazed" from the festival. Was just thinking about having something more portable for rehearsals & tiny venue gigs. Let me know when you're playing a gig and I might just be able to come along. [/quote] Ah, I've been to a few festivals myself, and am well aware of the dazed and unwashed state of those attending such events. In fact, I didn't mention that the cuppa & play on my bass wasn't in the garden, did I? I've not been playing DB / EUB much at all lately, owing to a foot problem, and a band folding. Foot now appears to be on the mend (slightly anyway) and new band joined, in which I can play DB - so I'll let you know The Eminence is much more portable than even my David Gage Czech Ease (which has a reduced size body) And as the Eminence has a small acoustic chamber / body you do get some acoustic qualities, unlike many stick basses. Having said that, have you ever heard a Yamaha SLB Silent Bass? From the soundclips & demos I've heard, it sounds very DB-like Cheers again sir

Also, anyone out there got / played one of these and a Roadworn Jazz? How do they compare? Are they similar build quality / sound / playability etc?

Recently, I haven't been suffering with GAS at all. Now have both a Fender Roadworn Jazz, and a Roadworn P (which I've had P/J'ed) I think I have the best of each example of a J and a P I've ever played. Sometime back, looking at the Limelight thread, when someone posted a pic of their Limelight J in Shell Pink, I couldn't help but feel that was the best looking bass I'd ever seen. Now Fender have gone and released this, I'm thinking I can feel the GAS building up again. I've not played one of these, and I don't think any of the shops anywhere near me stock one - probably just as well. I already have waaaaay too many Thanks to the owners of these for posting reports though - it's good to hear such glowing reports about them. To anyone who has never played one of the Fender Roadworn basses, I really can't tell you how superb they are. If this Flea signature is anything like as good as the other Roadworn basses, I'm sure it'll be great. And as someone else mentioned, it really is quite liberating to gig a roadworn instrument, as you aren't quite so precious with it - I don't mean you're chucking it around - just that it doesn't matter terribly if it gets another scratch or ding. EDIT: I'm off to Bristol for a daytrip soon, and the pal I'll be with always want to look around the music shops - so if they have one in stock in any of the shops there.... look out wallet Lol

I've got an Eminence EUB too. I saw some youtube footage of a few different players, and it's an EUB that sounded good to me, albeit on compressed youtube footage on a laptop lol. Anyhow, I saw one for sale second-hand, and went for it. It does need some careful EQ'ing, but you can get a great sound from it. Mine wasn't set up very well, and I've done that myself - that said, it could do with a visit to a proper luthier Saw an instructional video on them somewhere, and in that video (taken by a US shop, selling them) they said the action was very high out of the box, and said they set up the ones they had before any were shipped out to customers. I contacted the guy who sold me mine, and he admitted he hadn't really done anything much to it before selling. In fact he admitted he didn't find it particularly easy to play - so that's why he sold it.... I really like mine, and it's so portable compared to a full bodied BD. Not quite as small and compact as the Stagg EUB I previously owned, but much better to play, and much better sounding... If you'd have posted this before returning home from the festival, you could have popped in to my place in Cardiff on your way home, for a dabble on mine, and had a cuppa too Cheers and good luck with finding one PS. At one time, there were 2 for sale on here EDIT: PPS, saw the Unthanks at Cambridge a couple of years back, and I think he had an Eminence there too

Though I've not actually played gut strings myself, I've heard others complain about maintenance, having to re-tune frequently etc. I use Spirocore Weichs myself, and quite like them. However, on my first DB, I fitted a set of Innovation Silver Slaps, and now I find myself wanting to play with these strings again... They are nylon type material, or something very similar. And I've heard people describe them as similar to gut strings in some ways - but without so much hassle... Innovation Silver and Gold slaps are certainly lower tension than steel strings (Weich's are quite low tension for steel strings, as they have a synthetic core). I'm hankering after using Innovations again, as I want to try a bit more slap style playing, but find the Spirocores are tougher on my fingers. I've got a piezzo pickup, and a mic pickup, so I'm not worried about metal strings. But if you have a magnetic pickup, the Innovation strings won't work (though someone previously mentioned wrapping that small part of the string in foil, to make the mag pickup work.... Unlike Bass Guitar, DB is a whole can of worms regarding strings & string types - it all seems a bit daunting at first Also - this is important to note, as you may not be aware - when changing strings on a DB, place the bass on its' back, and change one at a time - or the soundpost will fall over... you don't want that! Good luck

Hello from a fellow South-Wales based low ender. Yes, there's some great advice & info on here. BC is the best forum anywhere, of any kind Why not come along to the next local bass-bash? Meet up with fellow local BC'ers and put faces to names, have a chat & cuppa etc Welcome to BC Cheers / Hwyl Marc