Happy Jack

It's a fun bass. I don't know when it was designed but I'd happily guess that it was the late 60s. I've had a shedload of those 60s basses (Hofner, Klira, Hagstrom, Futurama, etc.) and this fits in perfectly with them. Despite appearing to be a shortscale, it actually takes medium or even long-scale strings. The pickups are as thumpy as you'd expect, and all the electronics actually do what they're supposed to. Hangs well on a strap ... courtesy of the amazing telescopic upper strap-pin. That 5cm steel pin slides through the bullet-shaped bit back inside the body.

Excellent! In that case, you can hardly go wrong. Even if it's a complete pile of poo it will still be a gateway to DB for you. My first was a no-name Chinese jobbie that I bought for £300. It really wasn't very good, but I've never looked back.

Not sure how anyone can offer advice on this if you don't mention the price! Very affordable might mean £200 (do it) and might mean £2000 (erm ...).

Y'know, I completely misread this first time.

So, no change there then ...

Easy, Dave. Take a large mirror to the jam ...

Given a £3400 start price, it would have to be bloody cheeky!

And the ESTA to get back out of the country afterwards ...

In all fairness, you only have to play one note at a time so that's easy, right?

Of course zombies and vampires exist. Have you never watch Today In Parliament?

Maybe he means that you have to be able to play all five styles simultaneously.

They probably looked a little less intimidating before Brexit wrecked the Pound ...

Try spending a few hours with your radio tuned to Absolute Radio (or similar Oldies station) and see how many of the big hits from the past you can successfully busk based simply on the fact that you grew up listening to the song. If you have a talent for that, then you'll do fine at any jam session.

That's because he's not advertising the rubbish he puts in his adverts; he's actually advertising his shop. His adverts are so outrageous that they attract the curious, looking to scoff. When they see his actual site they realise he's a shrewd businessman with some pretty decent stuff at decent prices. Then they buy something and leave 100% Feedback. Simples.

I dunno ... the English are very fond of saying that Germans have no sense of humour, and then get all po-faced about a very obvious joke.

I don't have a few Musicmen, but I get your drift.

Ever since I first saw the nature of a typical YouTube comment I have ensured that any videos I post have Comments disabled. YouTube truly is the natural habitat of the Internet Troll. Now I see this: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-46559772 They claim to be removing nearly one billion comments a year. Really? If that really is the case, then I guess they need to target 5bn removals a year in future ...

And in celebration ...

Yup, absolutely agree. Which is why the "woodiest" sounding bass I own is ... erm ... a Status Streamline, comprising 100% fibreglass / carbon fibre / plasticky stuff / whatever. Pickups? It has a set of Status P/J in it rather than soapbars.

Regardless of origin, it's a wondrous beast to be sure. I have to say that I remain genuinely and constantly amazed at the number of people who try to sell a £4k bass using 50p worth of photos.

That's a lovely thing.

Don't get excited Douglas, he stood up to to it!

Ah yes, the The Bassic Theory Of Relativity, in which the relative weight of a bass can only be tested by your relatives.