Marc S

Thanks to Donnyboy for resurrecting this thread - as somehow, I managed to miss it first time around! How did that happen? Great work both Donny & Discreet. Really like the look of this HB Precision. The colour looks great too, and I liked it with the gold pickguard - even though a Gold PG is not usually "my thing". Every now & again, I get a bit of a hankering for a 50's P bass.... and those pics haven't helped! Nice tint to that neck too Discreet, and the re-shaped headstock looks great too

He's not too close to you, but I can't speak highly enough about Dave Dearnaley in Cardiff. He does lots of custom built acoustic & electric guitars too. Top bloke, really knows his stuff and nice guy to boot. I'm sure there'll be someone closer to home for you though.....

[quote name='paddy109' timestamp='1496658348' post='3312962'] ....I used to just slacken the strings a little before making adjustments on the bridge - never any dramas but jut keep an eye on the feet of the bridge and they remain flat on your bass. [/quote] Same here - I've not had any problems with the bridge falling over

[quote name='police squad' timestamp='1496675144' post='3313119'] you won't be disappointed with a Flea bass. I am amazed how good the pickups are, especially the bridge one. For the first time in nearly 30 years of gigging I find myself dialing in the bridge pickup..... [/quote] Another +1 for the Flea Jazz here too. Although again, it might be a bit more than your budget..... They are fairly light and nicely balanced, and somehow, like all the RW series, they feel "played in" and comfortable... Pickups definitely sound really good too, as police squad says Oddly enough, the Flea Jazz is cheaper new than the Fender Roadworn Jazz, yet Flea's are going for more second-hand! Supply & demand, or maybe they're just apparently more desirable?

If you could extend the budget a little further (assuming it's £500 +) I would say keep a lookout for a Fender Roadworn Jazz Yes, they're well over £1K new now, and they seem to fetch £650 or so second-hand on here But I did spy one in freeads a short while back, which was offers around £600 The Roadworn Jazz is the bass that made me fall for Fenders again. They're MIM, but they're a cut above that (or 3) EDIT: And I've played a few really nice MIM's too.... I've owned 2x US Jazzes, and the Roadworn was better than both those, and other US and MIM Jazzes I've played....

[quote name='TheGreek' timestamp='1496603210' post='3312637'] I've yet to meet anybody from this forum that I didn't like....everybody I've met at a Bash has been open and friendly and when I've done deals it's been a bind to end conversations as there's always so much in common...... [/quote] Yes, I'm in 100% agreement - I've met quite a few BC'ers, at local bass bash events and when buying /selling / trading... I've got to say I've really enjoyed meeting every one of them. I know several local BC'ers who I'd never hesitate to ask for advice or help.... Thanks BC - I don't know what I did before I discovered this forum (well, I probably spent much less money on gear ha ha)

Hi Rory Smith - are those Roto 4000s any good with a bow? I recall playing a DB with Roto nylon wound (black) strings - they were nice looking strings, and sounded quite "dark", but they were rather too "dead" sounding for my liking.... the Innovations sound much warmer to me. Also, those Nylon wound strings didn't seem to bow at all well... Just wondered what the 4000s were like? It seems to me that no DB string is a good "all rounder" - perhaps I'm wrong, but maybe the best on that front are the Spirocore Weichs? EDIT: I'm not much of a bow player - but it's nice to occasionally have the option of playing something simple with a bow....

Ps. I've got an adjustable DB bridge for sale atm. That would definitely need a luthier to fit though.... I do like having an adjustable bridge on DB - its helped me when swapping strings, as I can get the action I want, to suit the strings fitted, and I've gradually raised the action as I've improved my technique

Yes, the rev is spot on re changing strings one at a time - you don't want to risk the sound post falling over! Re string choice, I use silver slaps. They're good for slap, and they Pizz ok too. I find the E string doesnt seem quite as loud as the other strings - but oddly, it sounds fine when amplified. Of course, other factors like pickups, preamps and amps / speakers. The silver slaps are a good way into learning slap. They tend not to bow too well though IMO, and I've heard most other DB players say the same thing. I did have Spurocore Weichs fitted to my bass previously - I found they are one type of steel string I actually could slap, but the silver slaps have a better slap tone IMO... My EUB is wearing innovation silvers (as opposed to silver slaps) and these seem slightly higher tension. Again, they're good strings, but the silver slaps are slightly warmer, I think.... Silver slaps and gold slaps are apparently the same, appart from their colour. Not tried the innovation rockabilly's, which might be another option for you. With DB strings, there are a whole load more options, and it might seem mind blowing to the newcomer. Keep an eye on the marketplace though, as players often try a new set of strings, then decide to change to different strings and move a relatively new set ofstrings on to someone else Good luck in your search EDIT: I learned DB slap on a set of kindly donated "weedwackers" - they definitely helped me to learn slap - they were OK, but the E string was way way too floppy on these, so I'd advise against weedwackers, unless you find youre really struggling with the technique (I certainly was) - but I quickly swapped them for innovations

[quote name='EliasMooseblaster' timestamp='1496406766' post='3311160'] You'll have to excuse my choice of words - "mismatched" was chosen long before I'd had any coffee this morning! What I was trying to get across was that there's something about two well-matched jazz pickups which produce certain distinct tones - e.g., the scooped sound (both p/ups on full) and that bright, piano-like tone (bridge backed off a bit) - which I've never managed to replicate with a P/J. [/quote] Ah, no "excuse" needed EliasMooseblaster - great name BTW! I know where you're coming from. Actually, I recently traded my Fretless US P (which I absolutely loved) - but I got myself (in another trade) a Fretless Jazz - and there's definitely something in the sound of 2 Jazz pickups that just seems to suit Fretless - or at least the fretless sound I'M after anyway. Otherwise, I'd have kept that fretless P.... I love the sound of a fretted Jazz too, and I still miss my Roadworn Jazz like crazy - but again, it's down to the setting and band / genre you're playing in - but in the band I really need vintage Fender type tones in, the P/J definitely cuts through better, and just has a nice edge when dialing some J tones in. EDIT: Since P/J'ing my 2x P's, I've found the sound to be so flexible for any of the bands I'm playing with. In one band in particular, where we cover Rock, pop, Reggae, Ska, Blues, Punk, Folk etc etc! I can just get what I want from a P/J, and that can be very different sounds between 2 songs right next to each other... And sorry to bang on lol - but the simplicity of just having 3 controls in V,V,T arrangement is just what I need for quick changing of tone, as opposed to 6 or 7 knobs, some with dual controls / stacked controls and switches.....

[quote name='EliasMooseblaster' timestamp='1496393816' post='3310994'] P/J...an odd beast, probably because the dominant frequencies of the pickups are quite mismatched. I'd say treat it like a P-bass with the option to add some more trebly 'bite' where you need it. Personally I've never managed to get a tone out of mine which sounded that much like a Jazz! [/quote] Re "dead spots" - in the past I've had and played a couple of basses which had them. Usually a good set-up should help to remedy this. I've got a Squier Classic Vibe P that had a bit of a dead spot (it came with slightly dead, second-hand strings I didn't know the origin of) - think it was on the D string around 3rd or 4th fret, from (ailing) memory - however, a change of strings & set-up and that went! In fact, I've changed strings again on this bass, and still no dead spot - so it may even be partly down to the materials used in different strings, not always suiting a particular individual bass? who knows? Re the P/J pickup arrangement - I had said Squier CV P bass P/J'ed professionally by a well known, brilliant Cardiff based luthier - and I loved it so much, I had my Roadworn P given the same treatment. I have to say P/J really works for me. I wouldn't say it was an "odd" arrangement at all - in fact, I've come to the conclusion that all P's should be P/J'ed - I might even start a petition! lol I wouldn't say that P and J pickups are "mismatched" at all - but that may depend on different pickup brands too? Both mine have Entwistle PBXN and JBXN pickups, and I'm not kidding, these are the best value passive pickups out there.... I would say that I don't particularly like the sound with both the P and the J pups both turned up full (or near full) but I don't think that's mis-matching - I just don't like it myself. I tend to use the P pickup as the "dominant" one, and dial in a bit of J at a time, until the sound has a bit of Jazz "burble" to it. This varies, depending on which band I'm playing with, and what happens to my sound at the venue - which seems to vary more than most other factors... Neither bass ever sounds exactly like a Jazz- but it wouldn't, given that it would need 2 J pickups to do so. Although, I can play with the sound until I've got as much J in there as I want. Go on - get your P P/J'ed!

Another fan of Markbass combos here My CMD 102P was a great combo I only sold it to get separates, and a flexible arrangement of different amp heads with different cabs for flexibility..... I still have a Markbass 102 traveller cab, it's stupidly lightweight, and sounds brilliant

[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1496391808' post='3310966'] So it was a double divan bed? Did it have a headstock or a headboard? [/quote] Lol

[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1496391335' post='3310957'] Really sorry to hear that. Try buying a fretless Harley Benton bass uke from Thomann. I've routinely used one at DB gigs where there simply isn't the space for my DB. They're cheap, sound great, and actually work remarkably well as a DB substitute. [/quote] I was just about to add the suggestion of a Kala U-bass or something similar (other brands are available lol) - but I see Happy Jack beat me to it.... I don't use my Kala very much, but it's an interesting little instrument, and I keep mine as every now & then I take it to an open mic night or pub jam - they sound a bit like a DB and they're a bit of fun... and they're much more portable than a DB

Me again lol I've noticed some bass players using their ring fingers, when playing long slides - song's like "Give it away" by RHCP, or "Come Together" by the Beatles. This includes a couple of close Bass playing pals - they know they're doing it, but don't really think about it... Again, me being a lefty, I would always use my pinky for such slides

I use mine all the time too. I'm actually left handed - but play the same way as right handed players. Surprisingly, this is not so unusual, there are a couple of threads where BC'ers discuss this, and I was surprised to learn how many of us lefties play this way.... Anyhow, to matters of the OP - my left handedness helped me to learn to use all of my fretting fingers, including my pinky really early on in my playing. Other learners at the time were really struggling to be able to coordinate their pinkies, and build up strength, whereas, the coordination and strength and stamina were pretty much immediate for me. I usually play 1 finger per fret all the way up the neck, until I get fairly high, when, like Beer Of The Bass, I often skip using my ring finger. This is probably mostly to do with me also playing DB. Every now & then, I sometimes use an alternative finger to fret - but this is usually down to a bit of laziness, or just because I feel like it at the time...

Oh no! Sorry to hear of your problems Steve / oggiesnr For me, playing DB is secondary to playing bass guitar, as I'm involved far more with bands / musicians on BG. However, I had a problem with my foot, which meant standing in one position for any length of time caused me absolute agony. The result was, that I played far less DB than I'd have liked to for quite some time..... Fortunately, I'm now playing a bit more, and the problem with my foot is now (mostly) resolved. I really really, truly missed playing Db whenever I wanted - so I feel for you on this. It's a huge shame, and I'd hate to have to stop it now Have you considered playing something "similar" - as Skidder says above, maybe fretless? Or perhaps a smaller DB type instrument, like the Omni bass, or something from the KYDD range? I recently took a KYDD "Carry on" EUB in trade. It's same scale length as a short scale bass i.e. 30" - Is it the left hand stretches that are causing you grief? Sorry to hear this matey Hope your hand is back to 100% soon Marc

[quote name='NickA' timestamp='1495472307' post='3303991'] The Roland Micro-Cube is surprisingly good for the size and cost (lots of knobs to twiddle too!).... [/quote] [quote name='JPJ' timestamp='1495554679' post='3304751'] Can I throw the TC Electronic BG250 208 into the mix? Yes its a 2x8 but it does make a lovely noise. [/quote] Just recently bought myself a Roland Micro Cube. It's a really tiny amp, with great sound and volume, considering it's size. Indeed, there are lots of "knobs to twiddle" and some really nice, useable sound effects / pre-sets. I got it cos it'll run off AA batteries too! - highly useful for me, for acoustic jams & pub sessions. Of course, you can't be heard if you've a loud, or even moderately loud drummer, or amped up electric guitars etc - but that's not what I bought mine for... Re the comments about the TC Electronic BG250 208. It's a great amp. Yes, it's 200W as is, and 250W with an extension cab - but as it's a vertically oriented box, its' footprint is very small. It's a very lightweight amp, given its' output, and it can be used for acoustic jams & even gigs - where the drummer isn't overly loud. So you could put it to multiple uses, instead of having one amp for this situation, another for that, and yet another for that... I had one, and really liked it - but I foolishly sold it, thinking I'd win some brownie points with Mrs S. On reflection, as I said, the footprint is small anyway, and looking back, I really could still do with one of these amps Lately, the price has gone up considerably too... damit! If you see one going second-hand, I'd consider it - it may cost a tad more than your budget, but they're great amps

I don't own one myself, but several musician pals of mine own a Faith acoustic guitar They all love them, and one bought his, so he could take it to some gigs, rather than his more expensive Martin... He now prefers the Faith anyway! lol Another friend recently bought herself a really beautiful dark wood (mahogany?) Faith, and decided her older Faith had to go, to free up some space.... But she has kept her old Faith as well, and sold a lovely Fender strat, as she couldn't part with the Faith I've played a few Faiths, and though I'm not really a guitarist, they've all sounded lovely, and felt like they're sheer quality construction Good luck with your search

[quote name='hubrad' timestamp='1496239514' post='3309821'] Talk to them. Also perhaps make a recording of a live set, so all can listen and comment accordingly. If it's still doing your head in then move on or take on another project. [/quote] +1 for this answer I've been in bands where some people don't want to rehearse, and it usually annoys those who do want to rehearse.... Rehearsal always helps tighten the band up, and helps improve the dynamics. Repetition helps with learning, however, I can understand those who don't want to rehearse too often. Sometimes over rehearsing means some people can get bored of over-playing songs. But once you're tighter, I'd use those rehearsals to suggest new material, and try varying the set a bit.... You say that you all get on well, and it's a shame to leave a band where this is the case - but you are obviously frustrated by others' lack of commitment to rehearse..... and that isn't going to go away or get better by itself....

[quote name='scalpy' timestamp='1496221104' post='3309587'] This is why our set list reads Johnny Bb Goode! [/quote] lol

Being in several bands, I've had those moments too - where you start playing a song with one band, and realise you're playing it in a key you play with a different band! Also started the wrong song once or twice too We've all done it mate - you are not alone, so don't worry lol