Marc S

I'll try to get to see the Explosive Light Orchestra if I can BTW, I may well have met your "Jeff Lynn" last year... Someone from an ELO tribute played some solo stuff at an open mic at the Red House in Merthyr He was handing out flyers to promote an ELO gig - was that him, I wonder? Sorry to hear you're leaving Cardiff Ashweb - always sad to see a bass player leave South Wales Especially after I just heard another friendly face from here is soon to depart And yes, you should definitely grow old disgracefully - I'm all for that Hope to meet up at some point aidenthorne - looks like I'm busy on Saturday - but keep me posted re further ELO gigs please

I quite like that colour. Maybe, as others have suggested - try a different colour pickguard? Perhaps an off-white / aged white / ivory, or a white pearloid. You might find you like the colour then - in any case, that's the cheapest option.. If you want a high standard of re-fin, that's going to cost you. And this bass has its' own mojo

Sorry to be late to reply - just saw your link and mention of this on another thread These were indeed, seldom seen, even back when they were made A pal of mine had one in natural, and the Fresher logo looked rather different - in fact, it had been made to look more Fender-like Also the headstock and machine heads looked more Fender-like.... at least from my ailing memory... What isn't in question though, was its' quality - it really was a nice bass to play. Sounded good through an amp too. My pal gigged his quite a lot I do recall it being rather heavy though..... EDIT: It suddenly came to me, that my pal bought his Fresher Jazz in a (long gone) music shop in Cwmbran shopping centre, South Wales - Must have been either 1981 or 1982 ...in case you needed such useless information

There have been various threads about backup basses and the thoughts of those who have never needed one, those who don't think they are needed etc. I haven't snapped a string mid gig for a long time. But it could happen. Also, yes, you can change your battery regularly in an active bass - but as Paul S says, electrics can fail - as I said in my earlier reply - I had a pretty new battery fail on me in an active bass... it can happen. I'd rather not play the "gear lottery" and it seems the OP is thinking along the same lines. Again, it's up to the individual.... The question here, is whether or not to go for a near identical backup, or one that produces a similar sound / tone. But I'd definitely think about a cheaper alternative, and just getting used to adjusting your EQ between the 2 basses. Thea cheapest option being to keep your MM copy, and carry a spare battery of course. Perhaps you'll even get used to playing the MM. I've got way too many basses - but I think it does you good to swap between them from time to time, getting used to slightly different set-ups, getting used to different dimension necks and string spacings etc.... BTW. Paul S - glad you opted to keep your BB425.... It was just going to cheaply for such a nice bass EDIT: My son had an electrical fault which was hard to trace, and very intermittent. It was a nearly new bass, and the battery connector was at fault It may have been down to him being over zealous when changing batteries, though I doubt it, as like me, he's pretty careful about such things... I've spoken to several repairers and luthiers who say that some electrical faults may not be obvious or easy to trace.... And pmjos - you are absolutely right when you say if you're being paid you should make sure you have a backup...

For me, it depends on the gig. Most pubs I play, the punters wouldn't notice whether I'm playing a Jazz, or a P or a Stingray etc And I'm sure they wouldn't notice me swapping basses, unless there was a lengthy period of silence between songs, followed my much twiddling of controls I usually play passive basses, so my backup would have to be passive. In fact, one occasion where my main instrument let me down mid-gig, was due to a battery failure in an active bass - and the battery had only recently been changed! Which caught me out, and convinced me of the need for a backup If your main bass is passive, then at least get a passive backup. Backups tend not to be used too much - so you may encounter a sudden battery failure Alternatively, you could rotate using each bass as your main bass - that way, you would become more adept at swapping basses, and switching to suitable EQ more quickly My own backup requirements are often simply - as cheap and lightweight as possible. Something like the Anygig travel bass guitar (do an ebay search- these look ok, they're small & light and around £160) I have a Tanglewood Elfin, which is around 25" scale, really small & light, and sounds surprisingly like a full scale P bass... oh, and it was cheap If I know I'm going to be parked near the venue, and there aren't too many stairs, and if the gig is a bit more "high profile" or better paid I take along my backup PJ. Even though my main bass is a passive PJ, with identical pickups... there's still a noticeable (by me anyway) difference in EQ

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