Steve Browning

I've looked at the usual suspects that have been mentioned. I've always been a big fan of Kent Armstrong pickups. I guess the only thing is the lack of visible pole pieces (how shallow is that?). I am suspending thoughts of changing the pickup at the moment as I think the pre-amp change has done the job I wanted done on the sound. My guess is any pickup change would still lead to a pre-amp change whereas you may find a pre-amp swap may not lead to the need for another pickup.

I have for now. In truth, it is more likely to be pure snobbery that would make me change it. I had a pre-EB Stingray many moons ago and the combination of the stock pick-up and Retrovibe pre-amp get me a sound that is pretty much the same as my recollection of the sound of the original. I was careful to get a pre-amp that set out to emulate the original 2 eq pre-amp and the Retrovibe nails it.

I have a 4 string SUB and it was transformed by a Retrovibe Stinger pre-amp. I would strongly suggest you think about that as your first upgrade. I may even stick with the stock pickup as a result.

I have both a rack tuner and a tuner on the pedalboard (although it only house a switcher for different basses). It is useful to have the pedal tuner there, I find.

Bought a Zoom pedal from Terry. It couldn't have got to me any quicker, was well packaged and exactly as described. An excellent transaction and recommended. Steve

I sometimes dep with a great soul band. They cover Everlasting Love and the bass player (@rumblefish) took it upon himself to suggest the bass plays the little figure over the triangle about halfway through the song. I have tried to re0plicate the song with a pick (my only use of one) but just cannot get that bit right (it's played using 3rds), It's such a great song I hate balls'ing it up every time.

I would suspect a statistician would take issue with the 100% certainty. There is a possibility (however unlikely) that that is not the case. Not wanting to be a pedant, mind.

Also, be mindful of the effect of a nitro finish on the vast majority of stands. I have had both Hercules and Ultimate stands (and they're great stands - though the Hercules ones gave out after a while) and have resorted to a beer towel across the bottom to prevent the finish sticking to the stand. I would still go with the Ultimate stand though.

Be kind. It took them 11 years to think of the answer!!

All good but remember, somewhere out there is a chap who'd have bought you a Precision. Don't give up!! 🙂

My good chum @rumblefish has a great Berg 2x12 and I was impressed with the sound. Similarly, my dream John Deacon rig was a mixture of 18s and 12s. This will be my version of that rig. Mind you, it's overkill on an heroic scale!!!

The amps finally got a run-out on Friday night. It was a pub gig so no need for PA support. In addition to the amps, I have invested in Evidence Audio cabling throughout the rack and put a Mike Hill hum loop eliminator in so the two amps are permanently ready to go. I used the Evidence Audio monorail cable with the solderless plugs. The speaker cables are also Evidence Audio. As I have two cabs I will take the rig to the rehearsal studio soon and do a side by side comparison of one wired with my previous cables and one with the EA Siren cable. Anyway. The amps. I was really pleased with the result. Depth, clarity and warmth. Note the rack has a graphic eq in the path but it was in by-pass mode so no influence on the final result. The amp was everything I liked about the Bass 400 and more. An awesome piece of kit. Given that the power rating of the TT is double that of the 400, I am glad I didn't have to lift a rack containing 4 of those!!!!

Finally got to use the amps in a gig last night. Just superb. There's a bit of a wait (I am waiting for a 2x12 to come next year) but it will be so worth it.

That reminded me that, in one band I was in, I would play some songs deliberately missing out a string just so I wouldn't be phased if it ever happened. I would be for changing the string in a break, if there was one (if I were carrying the one bass). Ironically, I did have a spare (as always) in that band but just gave myself the challenge. Reading that back, I don't know why either!! 🙂

I'm kind of going through that at the moment. I had one back in the mid 80s but am so dyed-in-the-wool Precision minded that I found the string tension where I plucked the string a bit disconcerting (the MM pickup being closer to the bridge). The current Sub has a Retrovibe eq and will get an Aguilar pickup and (when I pluck up courage) a fretless neck of some make. The aim is to have something to just noodle on without spending (or wasting) a fortune.

Not really a dream bass. I bought a 1961 ex-Entwistle Precision. Looked wonderful but the E string was just completely dead (even with new strings). No sustain at all. Never understood why.

James Jamerson also had one.

You can just picture the scene at Madison Square Garden as JPJ's bass suddenly dies and he walks across the stage forlornly - only to see Peter Grant waiting for him!!! ... or Ian Faith.

I do choose my basses quite carefully now. Much as though I like them, an early P-bass neck is not for me. I have had a couple of 50's reissues and moved them on. The fact that the neck was huge also figured in me parting company with my 1953 P-bass. It was just too uncomfortable to play over a prolonged period. I am too used to a B profile neck and all my basses have that profile (except the Tokai Jazz). That said. I could cope with a bass that was different if needed but it wouldn't be one I own.