OutToPlayJazz

I've sold & traded loads over the years, but this is the one I'll always regret, after owning it for 16 years...

As to your original point about the E#, the traditional way to notate a chromatic scale is to use the sharp variant of any given chromatic note (where necessary) while ascending & the enharmonic equivalent flat notes when descending. Although, the only place I'd expect to find an E# would be in an F# minor/major scale. Also, the E# would be used as the accidental raised 7th note in the key of F# Minor (relative minor of A Major.)

I'm a professional double bass player & cellist as well as pro electric bassist. I suppose my second instrument(s) are piano, violin, viola, classical guitar & I've been seriously working on my electric guitar for the last year or so, if only for teaching purposes. (No delusions of becoming a great guitarist!) I really admire anyone who can play wind/brass instruments. Tried both trumpet & flute in the last couple of years and failed miserably! I am however, very inspired by Bela Fleck to get a 5-string banjo & learn that... Hmmmm...

Hey Mewsie, welcome to the forums from a reasonably close neighbour (just the other side of the Humber Bridge.) After all the talk of tea, cake, biscuits & VAT this may sound anally retentive, but what bass gear do you have?

Have you tried talkbass.com? Also, is there a Bacchus forum around?

Lovely collection, Jo I know where to donate my jazz to now, when I'm sick of it!

Boston P-bass from TheMusicKing in Brum. Excellent basses.

I've done a couple of recent setups on Mexican Precisions & have really liked both of them. I ended up playing the one I did last week live at a gig & it was a great bass to play... If I hadn't already donated all my funds to the Status-Graphite homeless bass charity last week, I'd go out and get even a Mex Precision. Great basses.

I'd string the 4-string section as a tenor bass (C-G-D-A) & leave the 5-string as it is. Very useful set up like that, but do watch your back... Looks very heavy!

I recall reading that the Bison was originally intended as a British alternative to the Fender Precision. Really must try one. I still love the idea of the white/gold one for some strange, tasteless reason. MB1, if you're still planning to play the buffalo, can you do a video that we can play at your funeral?

Great idea... I keep thinking of writing the definitive series of tutor books, but sooo little time! There really isn't anything progressive enough out there for beginner players who want to play bass well.

Sound wise I love the Bongo. Nothing (especially from the EB stable) sounds quite like one. I always find the StingRay neck too thick fingers to thumb, but the thinner neck of the Sterling fits like a glove. The twin HH version sounds biblical, too.

The Geddy Lee signature is a nice bass & finished beautifully, but it's neck is sooo thin that it pitch shifts when you lean backwards or forwards while playing, LOL. Just traded mine the other week at Sound Control for a new S1 MIA Jazz. BTW, Sound Control have bought up the last batch of MIA S1 models & they're selling them at £699 instead of the usual £900+

Plus one for the Yamaha, although I'd go for the BB614 with the 3 band eq. Excellent basses for the money!

Thanks, Mart... I think GAS is cured now (but don't quote me on that one!) The new KingBass is the instrument I should have ordered originally in early 2006 (instead of the 5-string version Ian now has.) Now through massive investment & patience, I've ended up with the best of both worlds... A new S2 to replace my original 1988 Series II & the KingBass I always wanted... With the correct amount of strings this time!

It seems to make a massive difference. Perhaps it could be compared to the differeence between a Precision and a Jazz. The KingBass 32" is much brighter & breathier like a jazz, but the S2-Classic 34" is much fuller and more rounded in sound terms. Some of it could be the extra wood laminates in the S2 body, of course.

Sorry to hear about the hearing loss, Nick. I know how it is, though. I suffer most with our drummer's cymbals. Have tried more recently to play with the earplugs with the little holes which protect the ears' high frequency sensitivity, but give more of a good sound of the rest of the mix. Seems to work for me

Depends on the strings... If you're on full DB strings like spirocores, go for a pot of Nymans rosin. Much less white dust all over the bass & instant grip after just one or two strokes of the bow over the block.

No mate, never did. Electro Music have a really old one up on the wall, but never got a chance to try one yet.

Well, finally got down to Colchester to pick up my new KingBass last Thursday. Got a chance this evening to appraise the two trogether. You guys can do the visual appraisal yourselves, but as for playing, the new KingBass is utterly stunning - A huge, breathy hi-fi sound with enormous bite! In comparison, the S2 Classic (Series 2 to us long term Status players) is deeper and even growlier (is 'growlier' a word??) I was surprised to find such a difference, being as the two have the same hardware, wood choices & electronics. Perhaps it's down to the 32/34" scale lengths & the extra wood/extra laminated parts on the S2? Enjoy - I certainly am! Oh, btw... Rob has KingBass Retroglide prototypes no.'s 1 & 4 (as played on tour by Mr.King) for sale at the moment...

I'd go with Mart and Lfalex and go for either a Corvette double buck or a G & L Tribute. Great versatile basses and amazing punch, too.

As Johhnylager mentioned, the MIA Jazz with S-1 series/parallel switching is very good & the P-bass effect you get with the pickups in series mode is quite astounding.

Mine has become my main gigging bass. I prefer it to solo on than my Status basses. Nuff said! Amazing sound, amazing punch, very fast neck when you run it on nice light strings. Get one!