Lw.

I've never encountered a "pound per head" agreement before, that's crazy! Maybe just live & learn from this one; you should definitely look at knocking up a basic 1 page contract for all your future gigs, just keep it simple; have blank spaces for the promoter name/address & payment amount (even if that is just expenses), keep a save of it then just fill in the details quickly for each gig. Both parties need to sign two copies then keep one each. It makes matters like this much easier to rectify.

Ibanez looks a bit like a peavey t40-alike? I probably wouldn't sell my Warwick for one, maybe save up for a couple of months and buy a second hand one? Means you can give it a good go but not lose the safety of a good Warwick...

Played in the Buttermarket cellars in Shrewsbury a few times - it's a decent size for DJs but doesn't work at all for bands as the columns holding the roof up arch & are everywhere so you're stuck in a damp corner stooping the whole time. Other than that; various dingy pubs in the suburbs of Birmingham/Wolverhampton & all those towns that merge into one around there - can barely remember the towns, let alone the pub names - can just remember the feeling of relief after we got back on the motorway in one piece with all our stuff.

I voted American Standard as after months of deliberation that's what I'm in the market for at the moment - feels like I've tried a lot of the Fender range in the last couple of months! Where are people buying these Jap re-issues? I've not seen any in the shops but people keep talking about how good they are...

Mex Fender jazz deluxe? Seems to fit the bill, one went on ebay the other day for about 400. I'd be careful with Warwicks; they generally add a growl that makes them quite distinctive & not particularly like a jazz. And they have a different shape to the neck - off-set shape so it's wider/flatter behind the E/A string then curves round under the D/G. Or they did when I bought mine anyway, I think it's quite nice but it doesn't feel like a jazz.

Look at those tuners! Nice.

I know they're a bit obvious but Fender P's of the 70's seem incredibly cheap at the moment - even if you're not buying as an investment, they're only ever going to go up in value...

[quote name='machinehead' timestamp='1395781575' post='2406322'] For what it's worth my advice would be to buy a used post 2008 US jazz and be sorted with no faffing about. No need to change anything, plus you get the superb SKB case. And if you want to sell, you get your money back. Frank. [/quote] Sounds like good advice - thanks! What changed in 2008? I know 12 was when they changed to custom shop 60s pickups, was 08 the last big change before then?

Played a couple of Squires & never really been blown away by the necks (they've been ok but I've got used to a REALLY nice feeling neck on the Warwick) though I do admit that you do have to try them first as they vary quite a bit. We'll see, maybe something interesting (that matches my requirements) will pop up soon in the classifieds & that'll make the decision for me!

Thought I'd dredge this thread rather than starting a new one - I could do with some Fender based help please fellow basschatters... Back Story; I've using my 5-string Warwick exclusively as my electric bass for about the last 10 years (though I do dabble with my acoustic a bit) but have recently found I have the urge to go back to 4-strings and have something with a bit more of that classic bass sound for times when the Warwick can be bit dominant (I love the Warwick sound but sometimes you don't want the brand of bass you play screamed over the track). After playing around with a few options in shops I've decided on a passive Fender Jazz - while in the US I played one of those vintage re-issue blue with matching head-stock ones & instantly wanted it, but unfortunately it's out of my price range, so I thought maybe this would fulfill my needs; [url="http://www.gak.co.uk/en/fender-classic-series-60s-jazz-bass-lacquer-3-colour-sunburst/84068"]Classic 60's Lacquer[/url] - esp as everyone raves about the playabilitly of the Roadworns (this is a roadworn without the industrial sander being applied). I finally tracked one down in a store & played it over the weekend - the sound was good but the neck was absolutely awful & the finish was quite poor (though maybe I've been spoiled by Warwick on these points?) - for this price I wouldn't be able (or inclined) to do any changes. It's left me unsure what to do in order to satisfy my desires! One option would be to wait for a Am Std to come up second hand that was suitable but am I mad for considering this second option; Buy a Squire Vintage Modified then add Fender Custom Shop 60's pick-ups & get a nice neck made by Warmoth. This would come to about the same price as a classic 60's or a used Am Std but would it be as good? Are the rest of the electronics in the Squire good enough to be used like this? Thanks!

It's worth sticking with it if you found any joy when playing. Bands/open mic things are good & help you engage but if no-one will play with you even playing along to the radio can be fun. Then again, if you're not enjoying it it could be worth investing the time & money into something else like a sport or something. There's definitely a healthy balance to be found somewhere...

And people complain that they can't find any high-end left-hand basses, I think we now know who's been hording them!

Am I being blind? Where's the buy button?

[quote name='Conan' timestamp='1394797719' post='2395325'] You mean sales-talk? In a slow market, you have to try harder to sell your stuff. As long as there are no outright lies, I don't see a problem with people bigging up their for sale items! [/quote] Yeah I'm fine with sales talk but sometimes it seems that a few people either have or have sold x-brand of bass all putting the usual guff about "being the best version", "just as good, if not better than x" etc... and they've all convinced themselves the basses are worth more than they actually are. Fine though, I'll always try to negotiate though the nature of negotiation is hard for one-off private sales as it's very one dimensional (as opposed to negotiating with shops or employers etc...).

I think the market has definitely slowed of late, some of it has to be down to hard financial times & the early stages of the year often being the tightest. But there does seem to have been a rise in the number of people asking WAY too much for their stuff! There's a few examples people all owning the same thing artificially inflating the prestige & value of their products - nothing particularly wrong with that but it's what I think is slowing the market. I'm sure it'll settle down eventually, markets always do - I just hope it sorts itself out quickly as my new bass fund will be available next week!

Bottom one looks good - I don't think I've seen too many maple+white block necks about so makes a nice change.

I think the tone of my bass is probably at it's best at about 3/4 on-bass volume, so sound check/start set at half volume then sneakily turn it up to 3/4 on the bass when I feel the need. I never touch the amp when I'm playing - both tone & volume changes are done with the bass.

It sounds like more practice would help but obv buy a new bass if you want one. Yes P basses have wider string spacing than some other basses (though I don't know about the two you already have) but worth bearing in mind that the neck thickness may be an issue if you have small hands (though you'll only know by playing one).

[quote name='Musicman20' timestamp='1392908217' post='2374050'] Let's face it, those on the Brits make a living playing music/creating/singing. I'd sell out in a flash if I could do it for a living and make real money from it. [/quote] Who performed on last nights show? The vast majority are actually on terrible money when you look at the deals long term. Though yes, I'm sure most of us would love to be on the mega bucks from music (I certainly would).

^ It's a strange mix of crowd in there because the screaming fans that stand at the front (I didn't watch it at all this year so the crowds might be different now) are paying music fans like any gig, but all the round tables (that take up most of the room) are all music company bought so everyone around them is just concentrating on looking "cool" & getting drunk, not really interesting in the show.

Okay, I just watched the above video & will admit that probably wasn't her best performance but I do feel she's a genuinely talented artist (though not actually to my tastes) that has developed her career very well & in the right way. Shame about the other 99% of our day time radio!