ezbass

Content vs sound quality I guess, subject to one’s musical preferences of course. For instance, I’ll listen to, let’s say John Mayer, on a crappy set of PC speakers and enjoy it. Whereas, I don’t care how good a system is, someone I don’t like (the list is extensive) will always going to have me each reaching for the off switch, despite the pristine reproduction.

Very much this and I think it is down to size of the format. This is what I miss about vinyl. Poring over the artwork of some albums, especially gatefolds, and finding some small detail that you’d missed before (difficult with cassette or CD, as they’re so much smaller) is something you can’t replicate without that 12” size. Regarding sound quality, I had a conversation, many years ago, with a colleague about hifi gear. We came to the conclusion that non musicians were more likely to spend more money on their setups, compared to those who played an instrument. Players being more concerned about the quality of the music, rather than the quality of the reproduction, that and the likelihood of many musicians to have impaired hearing anyway.

Life's A Gas - T. Rex

Bend Me, Shape Me - The American Breed

I bought Who Do We Think We Are? by Deep Purple and I wore out the intro of My Woman From Tokyo and it skipped like a beast. When I hear it now, it sounds wrong, without that jump.

Skweez Me Pleeze Me - Slade

Iron Out The Rough Spots - Paul Young

I have nothing to add to which is format is better, or which turntable drive system is best (other than they all have their shortcomings) and my shot hearing probably couldn’t tell anyway (no probably about it). However, I watched a video the other day about vinyl ownership. There were some statistics mentioned (they might have been complete BS of course) said that only about 50% of new vinyl purchasers actually an own a deck to play the medium on. For some, it seems, it’s about ownership of the latest cool thing, or displaying the sleeves as artwork (I can get my head around the latter, it’s what I really miss about vinyl, not displaying it, but interacting with it, whilst the album played. I gave all mine away).

Iron Man - Sabbath

GarageBand is free, so why not start there and upgrade to Logic if necessary? Use the saved cash for something else you might need now.

I started on bass back in ‘82 but was lured back to full time guitar playing until the early 2000s, when I ‘jumped ship’ properly. Both times my first bass was a Yamaha. They don’t make a duff instrument at any price point IMO.

And any decent shop will be happy to help as, if you have a positive experience and don’t feel ripped off, you’ll be back again & again & again… A trip to Bass Direct (no, it’s not all high priced exotica, there are a decent bunch of sub £400 basses, albeit not MM types) or Guitar Guitar in Birmingham will be well worth it.

It doesn’t really matter that you can’t play much right now, you know what feels comfy and is aesthetically appealing. These 2 things are the most important for your first bass, you’ve got to want to pick it up and if it doesn’t appeal to your eye and feels ‘wrong’, you won’t play it and that defeats the point. Set your budget, go to a retailer, play a bunch of basses in your price range and go home with the one that feels and looks right. Will this be your forever bass? Unlikely, but you’ve got to start somewhere.

I’d hadn’t had a duff bass string in 25 years or so, then I had 2 in fairly quick succession. Glad you got this sorted.

Can’t Keep It In - Cat Stevens

Roundabout - Yes

Donald, Where’s Your Troosers? - Andy Stewart

Enter Sandalman - Metallica

Slipper Sliding Away - Paul Simon

Cat Scratch Fever - The Amboy Dukes

Top knowledge there, Steve!

I am reminded of The Hitchhiker’s Guide… You just won't believe how vastly, hugely, mind-bogglingly big it is. I mean, you may think it's a long way down the road to the chemist's, but that's just peanuts compared to London. All joking aside, Greater London is fricking huge and South London (born & bred there) is a particular PITA to get around.

Combined with the added frisson of being able to alter the construction of your fingers. 😳😖

On The Road Again - Willy Nelson