Meatbag

Greetings all. It was me what purchased the Vigier from Geddy's Nose all those years ago, back when the world was about to end (or so it felt). I purchased a Hiscox case for it, and left it in the loft for another 2 years as things like grandchildren and early retirement got in the way. Earlier this year I finally got around to taking it to JAck's Instruments in Manchester to see what he could do. The upshot is that the Benedettis could not be fixed ( by him at least) so the Seymour Duncans went back in. Likewise the original electronics board was too troublesome for them to fix. I get them to just put a dummy pickup selector swith in to make it look right, and took it back home. I've used it on a track in the studio and I was very impressed with the sound I got by messing with the EQ.....we did a Lizzy track and I got as near as I could likeness to Phil Lynott's PB / Yamaha type sound. I've just purchased a Vigier Passion IV board from Ebay, so when that arrives I'll have a go at getting the bass closer to original again ( Trigger's Broom, eh?) EDIT: I also had them make a rear control cavity cover becasue I managed to break the very fragile original one. And here it is today.....

My Status SmartBass.

I had a well gigged PRS Custom 22 I nicknamed "Fag Ash Lil". Beautiful guitar but the stink of cigarettes could not be removed, no matter what I tried. In the end I gave up and sold it to a bloke that smoked,.

I started collecting instruments around 12 years ago. I was in a secure position, kids grown up and gone etc, so dabbled. I made a few bob buying and selling, lost a few bob as fashions ebb and flow, so just bought stuff that appeals to me. I started as a bassist back in the 1980's and have still got my '84 4003 in Blue which is not going anywhere. I faffed about with guitars for some years though, and have acquired a few including a Flying V, Les Paul Classic, and have recently sold my PRS Tremonti. There's a couple of PRS SE Models in the mix too....a limited Bernie Marsden ( the first run, it's number 5 of only 25 with all the case candy, signed lyric sheet to "Here I go Again", the numbered truss rod cover and an autogrpahed autobiography....I met the man at an open evening at Sound Affects in Ormskirk a few years ago and got to jam with him for an hour...cool!) and a superb Torero which is a shred machine with real EMG's and a proper Floyd Rose. The bass collection grew to include a tobacco sunburst 2015 Music Man Sting Ray 4 with rosewood fingerboard that I traded another Les Paul against, which is the bass I play the most. Also in the collection: Yamaha BX-1 Headless from the 80's 1989 Vigier Passion 2 ( or is t a 4? Can never remember) that requires completing back to near standard A 2005 Status Smartbass with graphite neck ( Body has seen some bar fights! but the neck is awesome) A Warwick German made 2005 Double Buck in Ovangkol (?) And a Korean made Epiphone Thunderbird

I've now retired and may be moving some ofmy gear on.....stay tuned 🙂

That's not good! Where did you see them? I was at the Bridgewater Hall in Manchester and thought all things considered it was pretty decent. Th merch was crap though 🙂

Del Amitri's latest album " Fatal Mistakes"

Well, sorry for the delay in coming back....what's a year between friends? LOL. I bought the Double Buck. I'm pretty pleased with it, but like everything else in 2021, it had to take a big break. Lots of family stuff happened.....stand by for an update on all thing Meatbag shortly 🙂

Me noodling on my 1984 Azure 4003. I've owned that bass for 23 years now

Hi all. It was me what done it, Guv! I bought the Yamaha B-1X from RichTone. It's going to get played a lot more now I have retired. TBH it's been sat in its case since I bought it. It's a quirky, fun, weird but ultimately wonderful part of the strangeness that was the 1980's

My collection is growing and I like the odd and unloved stuff, but for some reason I’m really taken with the idea of a Warwick. There are a few Corvettes in my price range (6-700 quid) but I see some are made in Korea/China where some of the older ones seem to be German made. Some have single coils, others have HB’s: some passive some seem active. ive got my eye on one in particular that is made of Walnut, has HB’s and appears active as there’s two micro switches close to the pots. The seller says it’s 2001 and the plastic control cover appears to say Made in Germany. What’s the collective advice on Warwick’s please? My current lineup includes an ‘84 4003, Status Graphite Smartbass, Vigier Passion 4, MusicMan Stingray 4. cheers muchly

Oroight all! my recently acquired Smartbass. It’s been around the block and has Adair few battlescars but it sounds and plus fine

Thanks. Only in the 6 string department I’m afraid. I’ve got a 1964 Hofner Galaxie on the go at the moment, and a recently done 1980 Aria Pro2 600 I refinished a hand made bass a couple of years ago and now my son is in the process of re-doing it all over again to his own standard.

I’ve been a bass player on but more off since 1980. I’ve played guitar for decades as my first and foremost waste of time and money but rediscovered my love for all things bass around a year ago when I was diagnosed at 55 with Raynaud’s syndrome in my hands. (A painful condition that affects circulation and often leaves me unable to feel anything in my fingers making guitar playing and macrame/embroidery pretty redundant pastimes). So, i sold most of my 6 strings and I dragged my old 4003 out of the loft. I found I could still do a bit to amuse myself and got back into all things low-end. I do like pottering with rebuilds and refinishes and recently purchased a Vigier from Geddy’s Nose on this very forum (a top bloke and talented refinished himself) as a work in progress (but he’s done such a good job there’s not much I can improve upon. Here’s to a brighter 2021. Wishing you all as good a festive break as you can make of it. Andy

Evening all I haven't been ignoring you all, I've been abroad sunning myself ( alright, getting wind burn and a green suntan in Lanzagrotty with the wife) Thanks all for the greetings, and roger me rigid, there's plenty of Manc bassists about ! Later, Safe!

Thanks to all for the welcome. I've had a mooch round and added a few posts. I am impressed with what I have found so far and hope to be a regular contributor.