ezbass

My simple answer to the OP is, no. I’ve played less, which I know is not good for my mental well being, never mind my chops. The double whammy is that I, like most folk, not only have I no gigs on the horizon, but I now have no bands either, having moved from the SE to Scotland. This also means that I only have one bass with me, whilst the other 3 are elsewhere in storage or being sold via The Gallery. Other than an online recording collective (which has only done 2 tracks in the past year), I have nothing and the small lodge I’m temporarily in isn’t exactly conducive to playing as Lady Ez needs to work in the same space. However, I’m hopeful that once the local music scene gets going again, it will provide me with an outlet.

What, altogether, or temporarily (hopefully the latter)?

On two of my basses, I’ve taken a piece of dowel, split it down the middle, shaped it and attached it to the p/g with double sided tape. Once I was happy with the size, shape and position, I removed it, finished it with a couple of coats of black nail polish and fixed it on with two small spots of super glue (to facilitate easy removal, if required). I would post photos, but they’re away in storage, 500 miles from my current location 😢. If I find an old photo, I’ll post it.

The Trail of the Lonesome Pine - Laurel & Hardy

I’ll take that as a no. 🤣

Have any of the posts helped you focus your search?

Hello Hooray - Alice again

Boris The Spider - The Who

C'mon Everybody - Eddie Cochrane

Finish What Ya Started - Van Halen

I had the 4 string version and whilst it was weighty (just like every MM I’ve owned) it was perfectly balanced on the strap. With this in mind, I’d probably shy away from weight reduction behind the p/g (contour that bad boy for sure though), especially given the additional headstock weight of a fiver.

Cigarettes, Whiskey & Wild, Wild Women - Jim Croce

Closing Time - Semi Sonic

World Shut Your Month - Julian Cope

Proud Mary - CCR

When Tomorrow Comes - The Eurythmics

Time and a Word - Yes

😬. As my mum used to say, “You have money burning a hole in your pocket.”

With the one you sold 16 weeks previously.

From what I can see, you’re asking a 5 string to be a panacea bass, whereas, you don’t look for this in a 4 string, at least according to the above, bold paragraph section. However, in answer to how do you find ‘the one’ 5 stringer; try as many as you need to until you find it, remembering what it was about the previous ones that weren’t right. It may be a compromise at the end of the day (as you already realise). If sticking with a 5 is where you want to go, you’ll probably want to try Sadowsky, Ibanez, Sandberg & Yamaha at least, but I wouldn’t get hung up on the pickup configuration given how differently voiced just soapbars can be. Perhaps, as has been suggested, a custom instrument may be a way forward, but don’t count on that. I wish you luck, @TheGreek and don’t beat yourself up about the search, it’s meant to be fun surely? Finally, I have a question, albeit largely rhetorical - is there a ‘the one’ bass for everyone? I suspect not and the for sale section on this hallowed forum alone supports that suspicion. There is a ‘the one’ bass for some players certainly and they fit into a couple of types (I’m sure there are other groups, however). First, those who learnt to play back when choice was very limited, found something that worked and that bass is now like a pair of comfortable (insert clothing simile of your choosing) and change would be anathema to their being. Then there are those lucky folk have found a level and style of playing that they’re completely happy with and have a bass that suits that. They’ll occasionally dabble with new techniques and try something new gear-wise, but they’ll come back to old faithful quite quickly (NB of course some ‘fall off the wagon’ and are down the gear rabbit hole with the rest of us). Others are still finding their way as players and their gear requirements change with that evolution (I count myself in this group and I don’t think there is a ‘the one’ for me, probably more a ‘the four’ and I’m homing in on the last of that quiver). Finally, there are the bass junkies, beloved by the musical instrument industry. There isn’t a ‘the one’ for them and they’ll try anything and everything, new, old, weird, you name it. Vive la difference!

Strange Brew - Cream

Never Ending Story - Limahl

It was hearing a Serek that sent me down the short scale, rabbit hole.