Urban Bassman

None taken Discreet. It was taken with a Canon G10 in Natural light, but it does look a little greener in the flesh but as I said it's probably faded a bit after 18 years...so who know what the original colour was like! If I get time I'll have a fiddle with the colour balance to see if I can get it closer to the actual colour on the bass.

I agree Jono, it's also probably faded since it was new. The thing is it looks great and sounds like P should

Oh, the other thing I forgot to mention is the neck. It's more like a Jazz, not at all like the P Basses I've had in the past. It's really slim and very comfortable for my hands, which are on the small side.

I thought the colour could cause some debate. I thought Lake Placid Blue was very pale...but I don't really know. It does have a bit of metallic finish also. Time to do some research methinks. If it has US made pick ups that would explain the unexpectedly high output, definitely don't need replacing if that's the case. Yes a most excellent mate...I think I'll need to say thanks with a bottle of some sort!

My sometime bandmate (plays guitar) and business partner and me were having a chat the other day about selling some surplus gear he has on ebay and he mentions that he has a Precision Bass sitting in his cupboard that he bought on a whim years ago and how much do I think it's worth. This is news to me, he's never mentioned it before. So being a fan of the P-Bass I said, "well I'll buy it off you", let's have a look at it. Yesterday he brings it over and says if I want it I can have it for nowt! So here it is. [attachment=141500:IMG_2587 (600x800).jpg] [attachment=141501:IMG_2588 (600x800).jpg] [attachment=141502:IMG_2589 (600x800).jpg] [attachment=141503:IMG_2590 (600x800).jpg] [attachment=141504:IMG_2591 (600x800).jpg] Now, it's an MIM and for some reason has Strat-style knobs but it's seems really well put together and the S/N dates it to 1995/96 and I'm liking the colour a lot - Sonic Blue I think. Not very heavy either and un-plugged it sounds good and resonant. I plugged it in to my Line6 110 and it sounds very good indeed. I initially thought that I'd need to replace the PUps but these seems to have a quite hot output and the tone control has a reasonable range. No crackles or pops - I won't even need to clean or replace the pots. All it needs right now is a good clean up and some Lem-oil on the fretboard, a set of new strings and replace those knobs and - presto a very usable bass. The only thing I might upgrade is the bridge, but there's no rush to do that unless anyone reading this has a high-mass bridge going spare - get in touch and we'll take it from there. Can wait to play it with my Ashdown rig it should sound fab. She'll be coming with me to South East Bass Bash next month that's for sure. So how about that? Christmas has come early

I use a Line 6 Lowdown 110 and it does the job nicely - MP3 in, headphones out, good eq and pre-sets, line out. Nice bit of kit IMHO.

[quote name='Jazzneck' timestamp='1376380521' post='2172930'] Goodo - does this mean there will be a corner for us old gits to sit down, talk and attempt to play the simplistic, non slappin' stuff through nice quiet amplifiers whilst drinking tea and smoking ciggies? Please? [/quote] Sounds good to me too. Not sure about the ciggies though but a nice cuppa is always welcome

[quote name='seashell' timestamp='1376313108' post='2171958'] I admire people who can play with a pick- I wish I could. Our guitarist reckons I should use a pick because I'm a bit slow with the fingers in some of our more frenetic numbers. Unfortunately however I'm even slower with a pick. I feel completely clumsy with it. It clangs against all the other strings and I feel like a chimp trying to play with a surf board. Guitarist says I should just practice more. Which is no doubt true. If I was 20 years younger and more ambitious I might persevere with it. But I just don't think I have enough years left in life to get profficient with a pick. I think I'd be better off devoting practice time to trying to get quicker with my fingers. That or join a band that doesn't attempt so many grungey and punky type things. But that is for another thread... [/quote] It's very much down to practice. It might be worth starting with a simpler song in your set and getting comfortable with that before moving on to something that's more frenetic. If you do any Green Day songs for example I'd start there.

[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1376319095' post='2172054'] I've tried that on a home-made pedal board. It sort-of works but it looks very ... erm ... home-made. [/quote] I used black ones and they don't really show up on the Footswitch. I agree it could look a bit "Heath Robinson", but there's not many options if Velcro is not wanted.

[quote name='Hobbayne' timestamp='1376258011' post='2171528'] I was brought up listening to pick players such as Bruce Foxton, JJ Burnell, Phil Lynott, and finger players such as Horace Panter and Mark Bedford etc, and I can switch between the pick and fingers without even thinking about it! I prefer the pick on heavier numbers though, it cuts through the mix so nicely! [/quote] Same for me really. I use either my fingers or pick depends on what the song needs. It's all down to practice (like everything else) but when using a pick the key thing is not to grip to tight and use up and down strokes to keep it even.

The other Cozy Powell album that had Jack Bruce on it was Tilt. In fact I think it had pretty much the same set of musos on it as Over The Top IIRC. Had them both on Vinyl...which I foolishly sold a few years ago - Doh! I feel a search on Amazon coming on

Plastic Zip Ties? I use a couple of large ones to hold down my Ashdown Footswitch on to my Pedaltrain Mini. Might work on smaller pedals. I use a Boss Chorus - works well for me.

Welcome, there are plenty of us over 50s on the forum. You're in good company.

Don't Believe A Word by Thin Lizzy or the slower version by Gary Moore are quite easy bass lines and even I manage to sing these (well I use the term "sing" in it's broadest possible tense) and play at the same time.

I'd been viewing this bass on the Gallery's web site for a while and thought that I'd like to have a go on it....oh well, I'll have to join Machinehead in the jealousy club. Fab bass - enjoy!

Here we go two...three....four They don't make em like that any more. And, what was the bass that his bassist was using? This could on and on and on...

[quote name='bob_pickard' timestamp='1374903712' post='2154574'] What a hugely underrated band they are - Jim Lea created some great and original basslines [/quote] +1 on that. A very underrated bassist and he co-wrote most of their songs.

Not the version I saw last night this has Tony Blackburn last night's edition had Peter Powell, but it's the same bass!

[quote name='YouMa' timestamp='1374764218' post='2152928'] I thought this song came out in the 70s. [/quote] Yep my bad. Not 1987 but 1978....doh! Edited to save further confusion

Agreed Cosmo, a talented chap. I've been doing a bit more digging and there's a reference on talk bass about a guitar maker called Dick Knight who may have made it for Jon. Jon also names checks him on that article you attached. There's no reference to it on the Knight Guitars web site though - they seem to specialise in arch-top jazzers. That may be it...unless anyone else knows more.

I happened to watch a bit of TOTP last night from 1978 and it featured Renaissance and their single Northern Lights. Not a bad song but the bass line is pretty good - very Chris Squire-esque I thought, However the bass player was playing a double necked 4 string and 6 string which was clearly a based on a Ric but wasn't. I've done a bit of googling and found that the bass player was Jon Camp but nothing on this instrument. It was very ornate and slotted headstocks (as seen on some Gibson EB-Os and SGs ) I also found some photos. [attachment=139775:joncamp.jpg] [attachment=139774:edincamp1.jpg] But I'm none the wiser. So your starter for ten - who made this bass? Just for fun

Nicely done Sir! I must admit to being slightly green with envy here...one day, one day.

[quote name='ped' timestamp='1373972330' post='2143671'] Excellent, can't wait. I'll be sure to bring some goodies for the raffle and to give everyone. [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]1. Hamster - Tea, coffee & biscuits[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]2. Silverfoxnik - BC Rich Eagle, Schecter Diamond P5, Levinson Blade B15, amp & cab tbc[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]3. Happy Jack - Matamp GT120 with Barefaced stack[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]4. Bluejay - something left-handed[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]5. OBBM - Bergantino CN212, Aguilar TH500, A couple of old Fenders, perhaps a Sadowsky UV70.[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]6. chris_b[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]7. Clarky[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]8. Russ - Sei 5-string, Spector 5-string, Markbass 6x10"/Ampeg SVT-7[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]9. Irvined - Retrovide RV4 and home brew bass pedals[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]10. xilddx - 1983 USA Fender Jazz / 2010 USA Fender Stratocaster Deluxe V-Neck / POD X3 LIVE[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]11. Sibob[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]12. Tayste_2000 - Rickenbacker 4003, Overwater 5 string, [1970s Ampeg B-15, Custom Matamp GT200 MK2, Matamp 8x10], the pedalboard[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]13.Barneyg42-Status S2 Classic five, Ibanez BTB 6-string fretess,TC BH500, TC BC 2x10, Barefaced Compact and various pedalage![/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]14. Walman - the usual culprits - [/font][/color][i]though it rather depends on where if anywhere gets booked for the long hols as that is the last Sat of those so I may have to bale[/i] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]15.Paul S - some stuff. BF rig, maybe a Westone Pantera X790 in case anyone wants a look?[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]16. BetaFunk - I will bring a selection of British 60s basses (Vox, Burns, WEM) plus my Shergold Marathon.[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]17. Billy Apple. Matamp GT200 Rig. Ruttmoth P Bass, TBird too maybe. Some Pedals.[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]18. [/font][/color][color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Jazzneck (gig and her highness permitting) - Ampeg AEB and my £60 OLP MM alike.[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]19. Simonedward (with blessing of authorities) - Jaydees (Series II, GA24 custom and fretless), a Trace amp (probably), lots of TC toneprint pedals.[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]20. Walbassist - Veillette Archtop fretless 5, Sandberg VT5 and BSX Allegro 5[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]21. Phil Adams [/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]22. Fat Rich - Fenders, Status[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]23. Molan - Ritters, Celinders, Alleva Coppolo etc.[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]24. 51m0n[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]25 Dropzone[/font][/color] 26 Ant - Aria, Fender, BG250, compulator 27. ped - Vigier passion 4, Buscanti Jazz, Vbass 28. Urban Bassman - Shuker JB5 Custom, US Masters EP53 Fretless, Ashdown Kylstron 500 and 4x10 [/quote] I'll be there. Really looking forward to this.

+1 for Greenslade (although they did allow a 6 stringer in on Spyglass Guest and Time & Tide ) Can i also suggest The Bad Plus