I've just joined, and thought I'd introduce myself. I started playing guitar back in the 70s, and switched to bass in the 90s, in Turkey. Blues, standard covers, playing out once a week with a 100 watt amp and beer on the Ankara bar scene. Lots of fun had. Moved back to London 10 years ago, and pretty well gave up playing - I left almost all my stuff in Turkey. So I'm getting back into bass playing.
Current arsenal comprises a home made five string (it was an experiment - 19mm string spacing and 35" scale. Made out of Stewmac alder body and ebony fingerboard blanks, and locally sourced wood for the neck - maple and purple heart), a Sansamp BDDI and a Sadowsky belt clip preamp. The five is a bit of a pig to play, but sounds magic, with two Sadowsky passive J pups. As from tomorrow, I'll be the proud owner of a Blackstar Fly 3 bass amp. I'll get a real amp when I find out what and with whom I'll be playing. At the moment I just need to play at home without annoying my wife.
Top of my wish list is a good P bass. But that's quite a way in the future.