Happy Jack

Not sure if this link will work: I think it likely that quite a few of these negative comments could have been chucked at my old Crinson. I do assure you, they would have been desperately misplaced and inaccurate!

Well, the headstock, the scratchplate, the pickups, the tuners, etc.

This is really rather tasty, reminds me of my old Crinson. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Super-Rare-Blackpoole-Relic-51-57-Precision-Bass-Killer-Spec/401851050701?hash=item5d90306acd:g:gF0AAOSwQKZdWCIu The given explanation ("Blackpoole Guitars were renowned builders of relic instruments. This bass dates to around 2008 to 2010 when the company was disbanded. It was the classic case of victims of their own success. Demand was so high they couldn’t meet it.") contains at least some weapons-grade bull stinky poo so I'm not convinced about the rest of it ...

They play a lot of shuffles?

You're all missing the obvious. You won't need any spares, because you look after your kit and you check it before every gig. What you need to know is which spares and tools will be needed by the rest of the band ...

That's no use to you, mate. Trust me on this. The second your guitarist sees that, he'll start nicking one side to hang his guitar. Don't ask me how I know. I now use a triple Hercules, even though I only ever take two basses to a gig ...

And for those of of a certain age (and purely for comparison):

Another reason to play flats ...

I really wish you'd bring back your original avatar (said the man living in a glass house).

I would need to stop and think pretty seriously if I wanted to count all the bands I have been a member of / played with / depped for over the last 10 years. The number is certainly in double figures, it's just a matter of how far in. Bands come and go for all sorts of reasons but IME aversion to diary clashes is one of the least frequent of those reasons. I don't get involved with bands who say up front that they want a bassist who is committed/dedicated solely to their band, so the problem only arises with bands who change their minds later. Dilution can be an issue ... but it can also be a strength and an opportunity. I have frequently drawn individual band members from one band into another band I'm playing with; sometimes they're still playing with that second band long after I've left it! Speaking very broadly, it's probably best to avoid generalisations.

+1

I rather like "Double Bdonkey", it has a nice ring to it. Might start calling it that when in discussion with bandmates ...

Perfect fret markers, every time ... https://www.amazon.co.uk/Snopake-PinPoint-Correction-Pen-7ml/dp/B00E3T8TU2/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=snopake+pen&qid=1567090979&s=gateway&sr=8-1

All sorts of stuff going on there! +1 to getting at the very least an introductory lesson from a pro, learn how to stand, how to position yourself, etc. Learn to pluck before you think about learning to slap; these are two very different techniques and you'll confuse the hell out of yourself if you try both at the same time. Re-think every bass line. DB is NOT like a big electro-acoustic bass, it's a totally different animal. Play only in the first five positions to start, use lots of open strings, play half as many notes. In haste ...

Personally I go solely with the year of manufacture approach - the date on which I bought a particular bass is of very little interest to anybody, even me. Even that is of course a minefield. Most manufacturers have parts bins filled with (no stinky poo, Sherlock) parts and the set of parts that goes into any given finished bass is highly unlikely to all match. There'll be a body and neck from 2011 with pickups coded for 2012 and the tuners have been knocking about since 2009. And don't get me started on serial numbers ...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MAYA-PASSIVE-PRECISION-ELECTRIC-BASS-GUITAR-1974-MADE-IN-JAPAN-MIJ/264436324171?hash=item3d91a2174b:g:q~0AAOSwxq5dSdm5 In my experience, these are very well-made instruments let down by poor electronics - stick a decent pickup in it, replace the speed knobs (and maybe the pots), maybe even fit a 4-saddle BBOT, and you've got a very nice Precision. All of which said, I don't recognise the fitted pickup at all ... is it original? @Bassassin

For the pub-rock covers band, never. It would just look really sad. But for the rockabilly outfit, very niche and brings a dress code automatically, oh yes. We all wear band t-shirts for the load-in and set-up, helps to whip up some apathy in the venue, then change into our 'official' stage wear for the actual gig. The band logo also features on both the bass drum head and the pop-up banner at the back of the stage ... we're not shy about telling people who we are.

By the time you've done that to it, whatever 5-string you started with will be plenty cheap ...

You're hardly the only Old Duffer, Michael. Most of the bands I play with are comprised of nothing else ... and without exception they're astonished that (i) Silvia and I want to play music before/between sets, and (ii) that we actually have the capability to do this, and do it well.

You've landed on your feet, by the sound of it. Nice work mate.

I bought a Zeller from Clarky (well, who else?) many years ago. It's one of the nicest-sounding DBs I've ever played, sufficiently so that I always try other Zellers when I get the opportunity, see if mine is somehow 'special'. Every Zeller strung with Silver Slaps (or similar) that I've tried sounds just as good as mine. Well, to my ears, anyway. I have no idea about current pricing, but I suspect that these DBs cost around £2k new. Mine was pristine when I bought it, now not so much. In the ridiculous event that I were to sell it (not going to happen, people) I couldn't ask for more than a grand. For context, I've used my Zeller with originals & indie, blues and jazz, rock and rockabilly. I never use a bow.

As ever, all good stuff here and nothing at all that I'd disagree with. One strong recommendation, though, would be that you try out as many DBs as you can before making a decision and a purchase. Use this forum to find DB players near you who would be willing to offer you an hour playing their DB (and a cup of tea, and maybe a digestive biscuit). Different basses obviously feel and sound different, just like electric basses, but the differences can be magnified with DB simply because they are so physical. You will usually find also that string choice is even more significant than on electric bass, so a bass that you try and fall in love with may be because it's strung with Silver Slaps (my personal favourite - blame Clarky) whereas the others you played were strung with steels.

@Silvia Bluejay and I just love Trader Joe's in Pasadena. So does Lee Sklar. Guess it's a bassist thing.