three

It's a really frustrating problem and I sympathise. I have dead spots on many basses (I'm pretty sensitive to this) including on a short-scale fretless at around D and Eb on the G. One of few basses that I have that doesn't have any noticeable dead spots is an early, headless Status SII. Another is a fretless J type with a Status graphite neck. This sort of adds weight to some of the comments re: NS and resonances above. Changing strings can make a short, frequently temporary improvement, as can tweaking the set-up - mainly truss-rod - though I tend to play with a very low action and a flat board (minimal relief). I've found over the years that dead spots are just something that I have to tolerate. I've not been able to remove them completely on any bass, though it has been possible to reduce their prominence. I've not tried a fat-finger, that said, I rarely play Fender-type basses. I tend to obsess a little with dead spots, though when playing live and even recording, unless they're really severe, they become a bit of a non-issue. Perhaps better to listen to the bass overall rather than the dead-spot (I'm telling myself this)?

Love this - I’ve not tried one but have a Spector Shorty - similar but heavier (my go to bass along with the Mullarkey). The Bantam appears to have the more dramatic, and nicer to me, body contouring. Gorgeous - I need to take a closer look

Excellent spot! It's my old Gibson Ripper, though a massively modded one - it's what we did in the '80s. Completely re-finished by the inestimable Ted Lee, plus fitting of a SD precision pickup between the Ripper pickups, and an active circuit cloned from the Fender Precision Special of the time. It's a beautiful bass but sadly a bit big for me these days and I only really play shorties.

Suspect the guitarist had tripped over his cable. Tight tee shirt, baggy lemon trousers, permed mullet. Must be the ‘80s

I’d tend to concur with most of the above re: the OBP-3, though it’s certainly one of my favourite conventional on-board pres! A little goes a long way and I tend to just cut the mids slightly at 800. Not for everybody of course, but much depends on your goals. For me, the OBP-3 is glorious with EMG humbuckers (in a Spector). Lots of different configurations of the pre too so should be able to accommodate 3 pickups

I was a fan of these years ago when the workshop was in Partington. A mate of mine has a gorgeous hand-built black P that was gifted to him some decades back and I owned a lovely semi acoustic bass. Good to see use of the Gypsy design in a bass but these get very expensive very quickly if one adds in some of the options. I’d be interested to see/feel the quality of the new instruments given the price (the originals were very lovely)

I've tried my Newport in a Fusion Urban guitar bag and it fits fine. There's not a lot of clearance at the headstock but the length of the bass doesn't appear to be an issue.

I like Hiscox but the SKB i-series are in an entirely different league. Not a cheap option but the quality and protection is exceptional https://www.skb-europe.com/3i-5014-44/

I’ll check tomorrow and get back

I just spent the afternoon listening to SC - I enjoy some of the tones that he gets out of his Series I but others not so much. I agree re: the low pass filters, they can produce some pretty mundane tones alongside the extraordinary. I too have an SII but it's a four. I was just thinking the other day, I'm not sure I've ever really spent much time with a Ric - I've certainly not owned one (or a Musicman). I shall seek out a Ric this weekend - thanks for the thread - I'm inspired.

I concur entirely, exactly the same experience for me - set-up not too bad, tuners fine for the price, probably best to avoid central position on the pan, and the nut just needs a bit of work. For me, all the colours in the range are brilliant and the quality of finish is pretty outstanding at this price point. That said, I'm just about to sell mine - lovely bass but I have a few (!) shorties and the Epiphone just isn't getting any play time

This is helpful, thanks. Maybe something like a Greenboy Crazy 8? They don't seem to come-up for sale very often and I'm not sure that a commission would bring one in on budget, though maybe worth a look around?

Probably a little bigger than your requirements but an Aguilar sl112 might be worth a look. Compact and 25lbs. Lovely, full and round bloom with fretless and plenty of definition and focus

Both fantastic colours! Capri orange with competition stripes has to be one of the coolest looks known to humanity. Reminds me very fondly of a Slazenger tennis racket cover I had in the early ‘70s. Cool as