Al Krow

So was a single action truss rod a feature of the 414 that got sorted when the 424 came out, together with Yamaha providing a laminate neck? I think otherwise the models are pretty identical, right?

Sounds like a great sister thread for you gents to be starting!

Great thread - following!

P10 of the manual: EB Owner's manual_EN.pdf (yamaha.com) Have to 'fess I've not had to touch the set-up on my 1025 and certainly not had to adust the truss rod - was perfectly set-up for me straight from the Yammy Store in London.

Yeah try both @Reggaebass. I've ended up with the opposite love to Andy. Well not that opposite really, given they are both Yammy BBs, lol! Wouldn't the world be a boring place if we all liked the same thing. 4 billion blokes all after Scarlett Johannson...

The 1024 and 2024 (x => scratch plate and a bit more chrome) are very close indeed in terms of spec (I guess think Mex vs USA Fender as the analogy); the 424 is a little "flatter" and the 1024 / 2024 more harmonically rich in terms of pups. If you really like the 2024 then I'd have no hesitation in recommending a used 1024 for less than half the price of a used 2024.

Which goes to prove how great my short term memory is eh? If I can't remember what I posted on here 6 weeks ago, what possible chance have I got of remembering yours from 18 months ago? 😂

Well if I can squeeze into this loophole then I am back in again 😂

Now given we can't go into a store at the mo, the closest thing is trying on sale and return. So if you return the goods having tried it out (for a full refund, and don't keep it) I'm guessing that's OK too?

Would you be allowed to go into a store (in normal times!) and try something out, but not buy it? Or is that going against the spirit of gear abstinence?

John I agree with all of that. Amazon were however arguing that 18 months lifespan for a laptop was reasonable. But frankly I would have said the same for a £500 laptop, but @TJ1 is suggesting the opposite in his post above.

Just had an email from Line 6. I think 3.01 has been out a while, however the fact that there is a severely corrupted audio output issue it is addressing is worth being aware of: " We have just released an update to version 3.0 of the Helix® and HX firmware. The 3.01 update addresses potential severely corrupted audio output. Due to this, we recommend updating your Helix or HX firmware as soon as possible."

Ah that's really helpful and interesting. Amazon, as the laptop retailer, refused any form of compensation saying that it had lasted a normal / expected "wear and tear" period. If your friend has the legislation reference that he was able to make use of would be very useful to know.

I agree with that Woody, it's just when I paid £1k for an Asus laptop I certainly didn't consider that to be "disposable".

Yeah had an Asus £1k. Screen went after 18 months light use. Ugh!

Speaking of TV's I had a bloomin' Sony colour TV, you know the usual 'tube' type before flat screens arrived. Would it break down so I could get a widescreen plasma? Like heck it would! Just went on and on and on working just fine... What is scary these days is that a laptop is only supposed to last 18 months or so before something like the screen will go and that's considered normal wear and tear. Decent cheaper basses are more like Sony TVs.

Fixed. But yes, you're right I should go see if I can get to a store and try one out. Or maybe buy online and try out on a "try and return" basis, but I'm generally loathe to do that as I know returns are cr*ap for retailers' margins.

Very nicely summarised, Lozz, and you've quite rightly included recording use for good measure which I had failed to mention. In terms of connecting with an audience, albeit not in the same way as on a gig, that's gotta be right up there. I think you're probably due an eye test soon though, mate, given how much you and I seem to be seeing eye to eye on a lot of things recently 😁

So they seem to produce the best and worst of necks then? I wonder if you were maybe subconsciously marking down the new Dave Ellefson because it fell short of the high expectations from your previous Jackson 5?

Walrus Audio Kangra arrived this morning. Not a bad unit and relatively unique, from what I can tell, in offering a combined filter fuzz in a relatively compact single pedal format. The fuzz-->filter meshed well and for me as a combined filter + fuzz (both engaged) I felt was it's strongest point. As a standalone fuzz it wasn't too shabby - I found 'the vintage' fuzz settings usable but 'modern' was far too thin for my taste. Would I consider using it as a stand alone fuzz over my Tech21 Red Ripper? Definitely not: the Ripper has a great deal more versatility and, with its 3 band EQ, allows you to preserve low end in a manner that the Kangra is not able to deliver. The filter for me was, however, it's weakest suit; it's ok but simply not outstanding - but then I am comparing it against the very capable 3Leaf Proton on my board. Conclusion I was kinda hoping the Kangra might displace my Proton and Red Ripper from my little board and free up some space, but that's not going to happen. It's not a bad unit, but as fuzz / filter combination my Ripper and Proton together blow it out the water. I guess I shouldn't really be too surprised given that they are two specialist pedals and, together, cost double what the Kangra does. Will be interested to see if @GisserD reaches the same verdict when he has had a chance to put his through its paces.

You've hit the nail on the head and that's where we disagree. I clearly missed the memo where it said that as a bass player you could only choose to be one.

For me, the key point that you're missing Pete is clear from your thinking of basses as just "tools" to do a job. Yeah for sure they can be just that and I've got a couple of super work-horse basses that do me proud (the OP Yammy being one of them). But basses are also musical instruments and many high-end basses can also be fantastic pieces of craftsmanship. A musical instrument should be played. No disagreement from me on that, but where and when it is played is up to the owner - there is no "directive" that says if you're in a band you MUST gig all your basses. A lot of us get a lot of fun playing our basses at home whether we are in bands or not. As you say "people are more than welcome to use their hard earned money in whatever way that makes them happy". Amen to that.