Marc S

So many basslines - how can you choose a favourite? Which is best? - that will depend on my mood, what I wish to hear at any given time... and that constantly changes Also which ones do I like to play along to? That's maybe another question though Can't pick single "best" or "favourite" but in the running for me, already mentioned "Down In the Sewer" By the Stranglers. JJ Burnell's sound on that whole first album made me want to play bass "Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick" by the Blockheads - Norman Watt-Roy's bass is amazing on this song How about Chic's "Good Times"? - Bernard's brilliantly simple, groovy bass line to this song has been copied and re-copied so many times Several of Andy Rourke's bass lines from Smiths songs; "Heaven knows I'm miserable now" is just brilliant - love playing that (it actually makes me really happy lol) "This Charming Man" is just a great song, where the bass and guitar work superbly together - it's another one I like to play, as well as listen to "Barbarism Begins At Home" might be essentially the same all the way though, but it's a challenge to keep it going.... great bass line And on Double Bass, Danny Thompson makes Pentangle's "The trees they do grow high" sound simple - but it just oozes wonderfully chosen notes and a tone to die for Or perhaps pretty much anything he played on Nick Drake's "Five Leaves Left" album... But choose one? Just one? my head hurts now! Oh, I've just thought about yet more - that lovely Rick Tone Paul Gray gets on the whole of the Damned's "Black Album" "Therapy" "Dr Jeckyll & Mr Hyde" "Twisted Nerve" Oh, what about Paul McCartney on "Come Together"? and what about..... I'd better stop there and have a lie down

Yellow for me too. And with that pickup arrangement, and those blocks on the fretboard .... and perhaps with ebony, as others have already mentioned Go for the chambered body option too, if you can. That'll give you a really lightweight bass Let us know what you opt for EDIT: There was a rather nice looking trans purple one in the market place the other day too....

[quote name='scrumpymike' timestamp='1504170123' post='3363067'] Import duty might be the explanation for the high price: China>Japan>EU?? [/quote] On the ebay ad, it says import duty is still chargeable on top of the price though.... Straight from China would be the better option, especially if import duty is being charged from China to Japan, and then again from Japan to the UK.... I've got to say, these do look nice IMO Just wish I knew someone who had one EDIT: That said, I really do need to play my short scale - so I can get used to it! lol

[quote name='LeftyP' timestamp='1504129341' post='3362936'] The advert does say "Made in China". [/quote] You're quite right LeftyP - I hadn't spotted that before I wonder why they only seem to be available from Japan though? Whenever I've bought ebay items from China - I've not paid import duty - perhaps because that's factored in to the final price? Or more likely, I've mainly bought cheap goods that don't incur import charges..... Still odd that there are quite a few of these on ebay - and they're all shipped from Japan.... hmmm Back to my original question - anyone tried one of these yet? EDIT: I see a "compact Jazz" is also available http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Compact-Bass-Jazz-Bass-model-CJB-60s-NEW-super-short-scale-FREE-SHIPPING/122650278412?_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIM.MBE%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D45991%26meid%3D3f590afc93334c56918e08dd6b72f4a2%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D6%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D122638754885&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851

Apologies - I just assumed these were made in Japan, as there are several ads for them, in different colours, from different sellers... but all the sellers are in Japan. I may have read that they were MIJ in one of the ads - or maybe I'm dreaming that (wouldn't be unusual for me lol) Yes, I agree with Rumple - I too like the truss rod adjustment at the heel.... and I do like the look of that white one I only spotted these for sale a few days back - don't know how long they've been available And maybe they are made in Japan? Perhaps it's China - From a quality point of view though, as therealting says - that's not necessarily a bad thing, esp given the quality of the CV's and Matt Freeman's etc

As per the title. I've only seen these very recently on ebay... A 29" short scale P bass - They seem to be made in Japan. They look pretty good - perhaps not worth the price + import duty + postage? Just wondered whether anyone has seen them for sale in the UK, or if anyone has bought one? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Compact-Bass-P-Bass-model-CPB-60s-NEW-Super-Short-Scale-W-GigBag-FREE-SHIPPING-/122638754885?hash=item1c8dd6e445:g:grkAAOSwaEhZE9Jo

Hi there Aidan, Very nice of LewisK to say I'm a nice chap He obviously doesn't know me that well! lol Welcome to BC, from another Cardiffian

Hi Domino, I've got a Tanglewood Elfin Sorry, it's not here with me - so I can't give you accurate dimensions But I took it into a local guitar shop, and they guys there easily found me a gigbag I think it was for a 3/4 size student guitar? Anyhow, there were several that fitted it - I went for one that was quite well padded Even that is a bit too big for the Elfin, I'm sure it would fit in a strat bag - but the strat bag might be a bit longer Thinking back, I'm pretty sure my gigbag was for a student sized acoustic guitar..... which was cheaper than a strat gigbag and there was a 1/2 size student gigbag which it fitted too - but that was a bit of a squeeze Somewhere here on BC, I posted a pic of the Elfin alongside my Precision - to demonstrate their size It's an amazing bass for its' size, and sounds like any full-sized P bass. I rarely use mine - but it does come on pub jams / camping trips with me, and my Roland battery powered bass amp

It does indeed pfretrock.... well spotted - and I must have watched that clip several times! lol Anyone got any pics / links to earlier examples?

Thanks for that link ezbass - I think that's where I'd read some of the info on NWR's bass The line[b][i] "[color=#1D2837][font=poppins, arial, helvetica, sans-serif]Duly christened “Paddy” and tricked out with a Jazz pickup in the bridge position......[/font][/color][/i][/b] [color=#1D2837][font=poppins, arial, helvetica, sans-serif]Suggests to me that Norman, or his chosen luthier would have done the PJ modifications to the bass then?[/font][/color]

Thanks for your thoughts there Beedster Yes, I recall seeing a few early Ibanez PJ's. Just wondering whether Norman Watt-Roy's PJ was like that when he bought it in the early 70's, Or whether he added the J pickup, as he liked the tones on his other bass - that distinctive Gold Jazz I always thought he'd used the Jazz on the Blockheads records, but he says that he mostly used the PJ

I don't recall seeing any PJ's looking at old footage, such as OGWT.... Steve Browning - I much prefer a Fretless J to a Fretless P. The J pickups just seem to create a better, more rounded mellow fretless tone IMO I wonder if the first PJ's were fretless? Oh, that's another question

In the last year or so, I've become a convert to the PJ pickup arrangement I know several others have too - and quite a few who dislike their pickups this way - but each to their own I've just been wondering recently, when did the first PJ pickup arrangement appear on a bass? And more specifically, when did Fender produce their first PJ Precision bass? I recall hearing or reading that Norman Watt-Roy spent his rent (and more) on his famous "Rhythm Stick" PJ Precision in the early 70's (was it '74?) Did this bass start out as a PJ, or was the bridge pickup added? That's several questions, I know! lol Oooooh - who first recorded with a PJ? Was it a Fender, or another bass? Karlfer.... help