Marc S

[quote name='BassTractor' timestamp='1471818320' post='3116182'] .......my Rockinbetter wants two new pickups for its birthday, and as a proud dad, I wish to oblige. Though I seem to remember one the the original pickups in the Rockinbetter does not need being exchanged, and at any rate, I suppose the bridge pup placement on the Rockinbetter would ruin it for even an original Rickenbacker bridge pickup? If anyone has any advice, it's received with gratitude. Thanks for any info! [/quote] Hi Bass tractor, Are you in the Rickenfakers facebook group? There always seems to be someone on there who knows about improvements and tweaking...... Also, is there someone nearer to you who is willing to hand-wind some pickups? Or perhaps re-wind / revive your pickups? I see you are nowehere near my neck of the woods (to say the least) but as an example, there's a guy 30 miles west of me who does custom hand-wound pickups or pickup re-winding / over-winding. Though I've not actually heard any of his pickups, people tell me they are excellent. Just wondered if there was anyone near you who could offer this service? Good luck with it anyhow

[quote name='jezzaboy' timestamp='1470939136' post='3109526'] Twice divorced at 42?? You have been a busy boy Bought the Kindle book. [/quote] Oi, stop giving the plot away! Mine arrived a few days back - but I'm in the middle of another book which I've got to finish first.... Had a very brief read of a few pages, and your book has queue-jumped a couple of others I was going to read before it

[quote name='bluejay' timestamp='1471529230' post='3113718'] I would pick up my other half's basses and play them, but they're all right-handed, so I have my own instead, and that doubles the number of basses in the house. Wait till I find and buy a lefty double bass... At least we can share amps and cabs. [/quote] Haven't you got any left handed amps and cabs then?

Oh no! That really is horrid.....

Some interesting responses on here. Never tried the La Bella low tension strings - are they as low as TI flats? Also, how do half round strings compare, tension-wise to round wounds and flats? Never having tried half-rounds....

[quote name='PaulWarning' timestamp='1471517250' post='3113563'] I'd rather have a cheap back up, in my case a £40 Hondo, than none at all, I've seen a bass pack up because a wire came unsoldered [/quote] For rehearsals, I don't usually take a spare bass (though I sometimes do, depending on where it is etc) but I wouldn't gig without a spare bass now. As PaulWarning says - you could just take a cheap backup. Others have said they've been playing for years and never needed one - but I do know several people who have been caught out. Personally, I'd rather have a cheap back-up and never need it, than not have a back up... It's all about the backup giving you peace of mind. I also take a couple of back up jack cables, spare mains lead, and I even have a tiny Euphonic Audio micro amp head in the boot of my car

Fortunately, my wife loves music, and moreover, often comes along to support what I'm doing - even when I was in a Ramones tribute / covers band, and while she does like some of my music, she really doesn't do loud, fast punky stuff.... As for instruments, she doesn't mind my basses, loves a mandolin I have (which I never play, but she has started) She particularly likes my Fiesta Red Squier CV P bass, and my Yamaha 5 string (which I only play occasionally, being a dyed-in-the-wool 4 string player) - mainly because of their colours. The Yam is a quilted red / orange / toffee-ish sort of colour. But what she really loves, is my double bass - a David Gage "Czech Ease". I almost sold it recently, as I also have an EUB. There was a tear in her eye as I left the house with it, and when I decided against selling, she was over the moon. EDIT: The DB lives in the lounge, and she says the place looks empty when it's not stood in the corner She seems to quite like most instruments really. I just bought a cheap Bouzouki and she loves that. Trouble is, it's all too tempting for me to just go out & keep buying more and more instruments. I really do have too many lol

I've always found flats to be a little to stiff, and not easy to get on with. Mind you, a few years back, I started on Double Bass, and if you think Steve Harris flats are high tension - try some orchestral DB stings! If it's lower tension flats you're after - try Thomastik Infeld (TI) flats. I swapped from Steve Harris's to TI's and the TI's are unbelievably low tension. They are way way lower tension than any other flat I've played. It's all to do with the construction of the core - I think the TI's have some non-metal core? (could be wrong there - but that's how some DB strings achieve low tension) I got them 2nd hand on this very forum They are expensive strings, at around 50 quid a set new, but the difference is huge. I can't imagine putting any other flats on my fretless. Mind you, some players who prefer traditional flats don't like TI's as the find them too low tension. But from my perspective, I'd recommend them. If you see them 2nd hand on here, snap them up as they go very quickly. On that note, if you find you don't get on with them - you will easily sell them on....

Hi mrbacco, As others have said - change that amp first & foremost. Get the best you can afford - save up for a while. Trawl through the markeplace on here Where are you based? Maybe some friendly BC'er will let you try your bass through a decent amp? It's worth asking anyway..... If you were / are anywhere near South Wales, you'd be welcome to come & try out an amp (or 2) Or is there a bass bash anywhere near you soon? Take your bass along & try out someone's amp (ask first, of course lol)

Hi there Don, My first bass was a truly awful Kay (the catalogue people) Rickenbacker sort of shaped bass. It really was absolutely awful. I got to play one again around a year or so back, and it was as bad as my recollection of these terrible instruments... Fortunately, that didn't put me off - although, due to "other stuff" in life, I stopped playing for over 20 years! I'm so glad to be back, playing bass again I can tell you Back in the day, I really disliked Chic and all that Disco music type stuff. But I have seen the light, and I have utter respect for Bernard Edwards - what a brilliant bass player he was. Nile Rogers was such a great song writer too, Bernard's playing just fitted the music perfectly. Welcome aboard, and enjoy the forum

Well done mate - good on you Might just order myself a copy... hmmm EDIT: Just ordered a copy

I'm not familiar with the AD200b myself. I have a few amp heads (for playing DB / BG and in different bands and different venue types). My choice these days is to opt for flexibility, and keep my rig as lightweight as possible. EDIT: One of my amp heads is an Orange Terror 550, and I love it Try a few cabs out, when & where you can. I think lightweight, compact gear has got so much better lately Are there any Basschat meetings anywhere near you? You might want to pop along, show your support and check out what gear other BC members have brought along..... We had a meet at Cardiff recently, hosted by Gelfin. We did an interesting comparison of lightweight cabs Good luck in your search for new cabs. Don't rush in to buying anything just yet - try out as many as you can

Welcome to the world of bass and welcome to the forum. Shame your parents put you off all those years back, but you are here at last Don't worry about being an "older learner" - I had a 20+ year break from playing So when I came back, I was basically starting from scratch again, and of a "certain age" Just enjoy your playing, keep doing it, and keep playing live music with other people - doesn't matter if some of it seems "cheesy" at times. As long as you are enjoying playing, and others are enjoying playing music with you

Some players also use the Markbass 802 [url="http://www.markbass.it/product_detail.php?id=241"]http://www.markbass....tail.php?id=241[/url] Although they're a bit pricey new, they sometimes come up for sale secondhand on here. I haven't owned one of these, but I had a Markbass 210 combo, and that was great with DB. Still have a Markbass 210 cab and that's brilliant too. You could also try the TC electronic equivalent of the Markbass, it's also a 2x8 - think it's BG250-208 (250W). I had one myself a while back. It was great - really compact & lightweight. Sounded pretty good with DB too. I sold it purely because I wanted a bit more headroom when playing bass guitar. Wish I hadn't sold it actually, as it was pretty neat for taking to rehearsals & smaller venues Don't be fooled into thinking that larger speakers would be better for DB. I've found the reverse to be the case - the smaller the speaker the better. Someone once did tell me that the smaller speakers have quicker "recovery time" which works better for DB string dynamics - or something similar! I definitely think there's something in this though, as whenever I've played DB through 15" speakers, the low end always seemed less defined and more "boomy" Good luck with your search

Just thought I'd share my feelings & thoughts here I double up, but play mostly Bass Guitar these days - not so much DB, unfortunately I used Markbass gear (a CMD 102P) and the 151 extension cab. This was great with BG, but not so with DB I tended to find that the lower end was a bit muddy, boomy and undefined when using the 15" ext cab. I switched to a Phil Jones 4x5 and what a difference that made! It sounded much clearer and better defined and focussed. A lot of DB players said that they much prefer smaller speakers when playing DB, for those very reasons. Incidentally, I now have a Markbass 210 cab, which I have played the DB through, and again, it sounds good I have gigged with just the PJ 4x5 cab and it sounded great - even outdoors, not going through the PA at a festival! Re that amp you posted a link to - I think 8" may be fine, or better still a 2x8 or 4x8 (if such cabs exist) What would concern me, is whether that amp has enough power / headroom I've heard a few DB players use the PJ suitcase (or is it the breiefcase?) and one who was using the similar Markbass 2x8 combo. The Markbass sounded great! It also depends of course, on what other instruments you're playing with. A loud drummer will mean you need more volume / power And if this is in conjunction with loud guitarists..... well

[quote name='dave_bass5' timestamp='1469455184' post='3098408'] .....The low end market has matured a lot since the JV's, and while that doesnt mean they arent good, i always laugh when i see one for sale for £600+. These are basses that cost £199 new,and while it was a long time ago are they really worth the current asking price? [/quote] As a matter of interest (well, to some anyway) when JV's first came out, and were around £200 new, I bought a US Fender P, which was a 1970's model, and just a little over £200. Although a JV might be around £600 now, I guess that 70's Fender could fetch £1500 - £1800, Which is an even bigger escalation in price. BTW The US P was heavy as hell, and had a really chunky neck. I bought it because I was obsessed with the logo on the headstock. I played a JV shortly afterwards, and recall thinking it was much nicer than my US P. Again, many people at the time (including guitar shop staff) used the awful term "Jap Cr@p" to define these now sought after instruments... I suppose in terms of relative quality, they probably aren't worth the 2nd hand price now, as you can get some fabulous quality instruments for less cash. However, my bet is that that JV I played is still a better bass to play than that US P I owned. Of course, as those older JV's become older and rarer, they become more collectible, and the perception is that they are indeed worth the asking price of £600

[quote name='Bassassin' timestamp='1469366343' post='3097714'] ...Unless it really. really has to have "that" serial number, don't get hung up on JVs, though. The later MIJ SQ, E and A - serial instruments are excellent quality and will cost you a few arms & legs less than a JV..... .....There are also various 80s MIJ replica-standard brands to consider - Fernandes & Tokai are the best-known brand & likely represent excellent value compared to JVs. Jon. [/quote] I'd agree with this sentiment. Don't get "hung up" on your next bass having to be a JV Squier Yes, JV's are superb, very collectible, very playable and in some eyes as good as or better than many US Fenders But there are other superb P basses out there too (if it has to be a P bass, that is) I recently played a Squier "Silver series" Precision, and it was lovely, and very reasonably priced As Jon says, so are earlier Japan made Tokai Hardpuncher / P basses I currently have 3 precisions; a US Fretless, which is lovely But my 2 fretted P's are IMO the best I've ever played - One being a Squier Classic Vibe P bass (made in China - not the same factory as the Affinity series), and the other being a Roadworn Series Precision... The Roadworn series are built in Mexico, and are absolutely brilliant (different line to other MIM built instruments). These can go for very reasonable prices second-hand, and I would try one out before you rush out to buy any US P bass But the best value for money I think, is the Squier Classic Vibe. The ethos and thinking behind this series was to try to replicate the build quality of the JV series, but in a factory in China. I had a Fiesta Red Classic Vibe, but then sold it, as I had too many basses - instant regret though! So much so, that a few months later, I went out & bought another identical instrument. Since then, I got a luthier to convert it to a P/J and it's even better Definitely check out as many as you can, before splashing the cash on a JV. Try a roadworn series - they look, feel and sound like they've been round the block, and I don't know how they get the necks to feel well played and "worn-in". And if a second-hand CV P bass comes up for sale on here - try it out, or better still - grab it while you can. As they've stopped making the CV in Fiesta Red - I'm glad I bought one back.... I'm sure in years to come, they will be regarded as highly as the JV's are now Good luck with your search EDIT: Though I've not tried one, the Squier Matt Freeman P basses are built in the same factory as the Classic Vibes, and are said to be brilliant! These are still available in shops btw

As has been said. Some Fender MIM's are superb. Far better that my awful bass I had when I first started Bartolini pickups - good choice there. And lucky you, a handed down free amp! Welcome to BC. Keep playing and keep enjoying it

[quote name='Manton Customs' timestamp='1469093781' post='3095618'] If that's the worst of it then there is enough material there for a fret job. [/quote] Yes, I thought this too. I'm sure a decent luthier could do a fret dress, with plenty of life left in those frets still

Hi stingrayPete, Sorry to hear this has happened. How old is the bass? Were you the first owner, and has it been transported around a lot? Just wondering what other factors might bring this situation about... I'm sure a decent luthier will solve the problem for you. Let us know how it pans out Best Marc