Marc S

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

[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