Marc S

I saw that VM fretless, and think I may have commented on it. The gist of my comment was that I had indeed owned a Squier VM fretless Jazz.... I thought about upgrading, and got myself a US Fender P fretless, and sold the Squier Jazz Although I really liked that US P fretless...... I actually preferred the sound of the Jazz!! Of course, that may have been because I preferred the J pickup config - perhaps I feel it's more suited to fretless? Now I have a MIJ Fretless Jazz, and it's lovely.... but neither the US, nor the MIJ were that much better quality than the made in Indonesia VM fretless I wouldn't say that £300 is lower-mid level stuff - if you take inflation and rising costs / wages etc into consideration, it's comparable to the amount spent on cheaper instruments back in the late 70's / ear;y 80's. When I started playing in the early 80's there were a lot of cr@p 2nd hand 70's instruments around (but also some good ones too, don't forget) These days, you definitely get much more for your money if you're buying a "cheaper" instrument. Of course, you still need to beware of "cheap & nasty" - I've seen some dodgy stuff in Cash Converters, for instance But I wouldn't say it's "too cheap" as such - I just think you're getting a lot more for your money these days. And perhaps the step up to higher end instruments is less noticeable - so maybe manufacturers of such instruments need to up their game? I started with a really nasty Kay (the catalogue company) short scale bass - it was dreadful, and quite hard to play, as you just couldn't get the action down - so fretting around fret 10, you needed a G-clamp! I'm surprised I wasn't put off for ever... EDIT: In fact, I miss that VM fretless, and wish I hadn't bothered to "upgrade"

Ditto re heavy cabs and amp heads - the older I get, this is becoming more relevant I would also not buy another model of the bass I started with - a truly dreadful Kay 1970's Rick copy This was so dreadful, I'm surprised it didn't put me off playing bass.... forever Probably wouldn't buy another Warwick Corvette either

Hello Stew, Welcome back to the world of bass. I took an even longer break - almost 25 years! But I'm so glad I picked up the bass again, I enjoy it even more than before Sorry to hear of your woes mate. I went through a marriage break up too, years back. I can tell you, it does get better / easier and looking back, my life is so much better now anyway Music can be such a great medicine to life's other woes. Stick at it, and hopefully, you'll soon find a band of like-minded people who want to play the same songs / style BTW. How did your New Years Gig go?

Yes indeed! YouTube is not just your friend... but your bestest ever buddy

Me again! Just another thought... I've not tried one of these myself, but I've heard other upright players talk quite highly of them But a folding upright could be another option - mind you, it won't be as quiet for those late night baby-waking practice sessions .... more portable than a full size DB though, and a fairly affordable option I think? EDIT: I don't know Muzomatt, but he's on this forum, he's sold /selling a few items, and seems a decent sort

I also enjoy both. Obviously, the sound, the feel and the sheer joy of owning & playing a true acoustic DB is something else But the portability and ability to practice in near silence shouldn't be under estimated... I too started my upright journey with a Stagg EUB. It certainly gave me an introduction into the world of upright bass, and it made me want to then go out & buy "the real thing" It also gave me some good background info and some essential experience & knowledge about how to choose my first acoustic upright - signs and features to look for. So buying an EUB has benefits for when you want to start spending more too.... and you will want to spend more, I guarantee you Although I didn't keep the Stagg too long, I got back what I paid for it (another advantage of buying a used one!) and although I then bought an acoustic upright... ... I found I needed another EUB, for those open mics, jams & folk club nights or just whenever taking a full sized full bodied DB wasn't practical... Again, my experiences with the Stagg had helped me choose a better EUB second time around.... Nowadays, although I don't play as much upright as I had anticipated (projects keep collapsing, sigh!) I'd still rather keep my options open and have both. There are times when I can only practice late at night, and there are times when I just love the tones my acoustic upright produces, or there are occasions I'm asked to bring my acoustic to a jam..... Try the Stagg in the first instance - if you buy second-hand, you'll get your money back, or, there are websites detailing upgrades you can make to the Stagg to improve it... Alternatively, if you really want to spend some more money, buy something more expensive - but you still find you hunger for an acoustic upright! And I'm sure you'll still find space for your EUB Good luck with your search, and on this new, exciting journey

I'm a fan of full scale 34" basses myself. But the older I get, weight, stretching and shoulder aches are becoming more of an issue. So I got myself a 30" Fender Jazz (not often seen in the UK) it's a nice bass, but it does feel a bit "odd" I can tend to overshoot or over-stretch a bit sometimes - but these are all things you can get used to... Perhaps I do this because I also play DB - so 30" scale seems small. I also have a MIJ Squier 32" medium scale, and that, I must say is far easier to adapt to - it almost feels like a 34" scale, but it's incredibly lightweight My recommendation would be to try some 32" scale basses too - if you can find any. Oddly my Medium scale is noticeably lighter than the 30" scale Jazz I also found that by using a decent soft leather strap, it made my heavier full scale basses seem a bit more comfortable on my shoulder - definitely consider this too I must say, I usually tended to just get a fairly cheap strap and think that was that.... a nice comfy strap can make quite a difference though My backup bass, and the one I tend to take to pub jams (along with my Roland Micro Cube battery bass amp) is the one pictured below. It's a Tanglewood Elfin, I think it's around 25" scale - it's crazy, because it's so tiny & light, yet sounds like a full size P bass! It's odd when switching to something quite so short scale, but I can do it as long as I don't start playing high up the neck - or else I'm really likely to over-shoot or over-stretch... mind you, the intonation isn't quite spot on higher up the neck anyway.... Yes, it looks a bit toy-like, but it's so small, light and handy, and oddly enough I get more comments about it than any of my more expensive bass guitars Sonically, I find that both the 32" and the 30" basses are quite different to any of my full scale basses

As another option; Although I've not heard one, Blackstar do a very small battery powered bass amp. It has the additional advantage of an extension cab being available too OK, you couldn't gig with it, but might be sufficient for bedroom use.... and small enough to tuck in a drawer somewhere.... 49 quid brand new - and you can pick up the extension cab later, when you're more flush / if you ever need to https://www.gak.co.uk/en/blackstar-fly-3-bass-battery-powered-practice-amp/130750?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIgcyz6ra-2AIViQrTCh29Eg29EAQYASABEgKSWfD_BwE Not heard a Fender Rumble 30W either, but I know the 100W version is a cracking amp, and light as a feather - so I imagine the 30W version should be good

As others have said, a smaller combo is usually the best for playing in your lounge or bedroom. Giggable size amps tend to be a bit on the big size for putting under the bed.... I once had a Marshall MB30. Lovely neat little 30W amp that was actually quite loud. Nice range of tones & options... but it also had a headphone jack socket and input for MP3 player too.... In fact, I did rehearse it once or twice with a full band, in the drummers living room. If the rest of the band keep volumes relatively low, and the drummer doesn't go nuts - you could even rehearse with one of these Quite small, compact & lightweight too. Think I sold mine for about £70 Nowadays, I use a Roland Micro bass amp. It's even smaller, a great amp with nice tone & sound options. It can even be powered by AA batteries! I've used this in folk / acoustic pub jams - alongside a quiet drummer and guitarists & singers with Roland Street cube amps.... And it's loud enough! Mind you, these are now over £200 new, and generally fetch over £100 second-hand.... useful little beasts though You should get plenty of choice for under £100 second-hand. But I'd opt for something you only want to use at home or at acoustic type jams Make the gigging amp a separate choice IMO

Welcome back david, I had stopped playing too, and for much the same reasons as yourself Only difference - I stopped for nearly 25 years! Now I'm enjoying it more than ever though - so result @bazzbass - I'd never heard of that software either.... Looks rather tricky to see what's going on to me.... but that's probably just me lol EDIT: Mind you, at first I was watching it with the ad over part of the picture!

Dear FinnDave.... What on earth is "alcohol induced lack of sense"? Great that you got it for less than a classic 50's though... nice! It'll be interesting to hear your thoughts on both, once you've had chance to compare them, played through a decent amp... I'm surprised that the frets are a bit rough. I must say, the rolled edges on my RWP and RWJ felt lovely, with nice finishing on the frets Is there a noticeable difference in the weight between the two, or are they similar? I've got a Limelight incoming next week.... and I have to sell something too Also hate selling anything Fender

I read somewhere that the Roadworn is made from better materials, i.e.select woods Mine is certainly very light weight, and as others have said, feels "worn in" - as though it has had many years of playing I used to have a RW Jazz too (which I now regret parting with) and that was the lightest weight Jazz I've owned.... and the best Jazz I've played I'd also read that the Roadworn series are finished in the US. Whether that is true or not, I couldn't say for sure (as with the matter of "superior materials") But every Roadworn P or J I've picked up has been a superb instrument..... I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them. The necks really are something else - so comfortable to play, and with a feel of sheer quality and superb finish. I've owned & played quite a number of US, MIM, MIJ basses and for me, the roadworns are the best If you're thinking of getting a brand new Classic 50's - then may be a second-hand RW is a similar price.....

That looks like a nice, sturdy stand. Looks like it would be fairly unobtrusive / unobstructive, when playing too

Hello and welcome nobby I think those Hondo's from that era were actually pretty good A tad heavy, if my memory serves me, but pretty good quality / construction Nice loft find anyhow - hope nothing's warped

Interesting design basses there - not quite my taste, but interesting nonetheless... And yes, there is a difference between plywood and laminated wood construction Many very fine double basses (and I'm sure Cellos) are laminated construction Also, quite a number of 70's & 80's Japan basses were laminated, and far from being cheaply constructed are great quality I had a lovely 70's Japan P copy (sadly, the name / brand had been removed long before I got it) it was a damn fine body too Beautifully resonant, added to that, the pickups sounded wonderful - wish I'd kept them... and possibly should have kept the bass I got it quite cheap, and it was lovely - sold it for a small profit... but perhaps shouldn't have....

Yes, I was thinking it's weird too. My old SR had knurled black metal knobs & they were fine I would have thought something similar on this one would be a good choice.....

Quality workmanship here Jabba

I've had a dabble on the newer Affinity series, and they're not bad. In fact, they're a damn sight better quality than much of the cheaper end of the market when I started playing (anyone remember the Kay's catalogue brand? eugh!!!) The Affinity would be a good starting point, and they do a P/J which is quite commonplace, I believe. There is a VM series P/J - I know, cos I had one. That's less commonly available, but not "rare" exactly.... For me, better value for money would be the 2nd hand option. And the VM series are definitely a notch up from the affinity. But perhaps, if you saved just a tad more, you could go for a Classic Vibe series (or a Matt Freeman, which are made in the same factory) The CV series are another notch up again from the VM's - but they are starting to go for more money second-hand, as they are now (mostly) discontinued. That said, I've seen a few going for relatively low money on eBay - so keep your eyes open.... There is a CV 70's P bass in the marketplace on here, and I can't recall the asking price - but I think it's around or just over £300. I know, I know - you can go on wanting to add just a bit more money - but in a CV you get great quality. As others have said though, also look at some Ibanez basses. I've seen a Ibanez SDGR (Soundgear) SR500 go for not much over £200, and that's amazing value, given the high quality construction and the superb Bartolini pickups & active electrics it's fitted with. Most important of all though - try as many as you can, and go for the one that feels most comfortable to you.... Sometimes, you just feel a "bond" with an instrument - it may be several factors, it may be down to your hands feeling more comfortable on the neck, it may even be that you can't quite put your finger on exactly why you feel more comfortable with that model.... but I think it's essential to try as many as you can.... Pop into your local shop (s) are there any BC members who live near you, who don't mind you having a try of their bass? (most BC'ers are very friendly and open to this). Is there a tutor near you? Tutors often know a pupil who is looking to upgrade... Best of luck in your search EDIT: If you try a Squier Affinity and like it - remember, it's a good entry level instrument anyway, and if it's the most comfortable you feel playing, then get that one

Funkfingers is right here. Apart from the quality of pickups and electrics, bridge and nut - the woods used by the manufacturer of the "higher end" bass should be of higher quality, be subject to a high degree of selection / quality control, and better seasoned. Add to that, the finish in the higher end instrument will / should be of a higher standard. An example from my own personal experiences here, is the quality & finish of the Mexican built Roadworn series (Yes, I know I bang on about them! lol) - leaving the relicing / roadworn finish aside, I've owned 2 Roadworns (a J and a P) and played several models of their more standard MIM counterparts. Apart from being lighter in weight, the quality of the woods used just seemed / felt another level higher again, plus, the finish on aspects like the rolled edges on the necks, and the edges / smoothness on the frets was what set them apart, along with the quality of the (aged) varnish on the neck.... You could take a Harley Benton, and put top end components in it - it may sound much better, but I suspect the finish and comfort of aspects like fretboard and fret edges would also need attention. Then of course, would you need to re-sand the neck and re-apply a higher quality of varnish / finish? By the time you have done all this and costed your time (even at sub minimum wage) you'll have spent more on the cheaper bass. Of course, I think everyone should try some upgrades and / or repairs to an old bass anyway... it's a valuable experience and can teach you a lot about how instruments are put together. Aside from all this, there's then the question of resaleability (is there such a word?) You can spend lots of money on a cheaper brand bass, buying pickups, electrics, bridge, brass nut etc etc - but when it comes to a resale, you rarely get that money back... that is, unless you part the bass out and flog all the components separately. Having said all this, I'm really tempted to one day have a go at doing an early Fender P bass, using the HB 50's P clone - like Discreet and several others have done such a smashing job of... Of course, if you're doing it to teach yourself some useful skills, or you just want a model of bass you can't afford the genuine version of, and you are willing to write the costs of the components off (or simply, you aint ever going to sell it) - then to my way of thinking, these are the best reasons for upgrading an inexpensive bass

Only just caught up with this thread, and I'm in complete agreement What a kind offer iKay But can you please tell me - what's this "time on my hands stuff"? eh? Never heard of it

Yep, I have one of these too, also bought second-hand for just under £100 It's great for keeping under the coffee table or in the corner, plus it's damn handy for carting to guitarists (other musicians are available!) houses for a jam I take it along to acoustic pub jams too. It's really handy, as it will run on AA batteries. Fab little thing, and louder than you might think