chris_b

You can look but don't even think about touching!! If you want to do anything bass related, learn a totally new song.

I've shipped basses and amps in the UK and in Europe, but while the whole courier thing can be a lottery, over the last 10 years or so, I've never had a problem with Interparcel.

Before the shutdown, The Oak used to put on 4 gigs a week. Let's hope they can survive this. RIP Ermir. Very sad news.

True. It might be a good bass for £800, but that's not the point of a Sadowsky bass. The only thing on it in common with the previous basses is the name. We'll have to see if is it up to the Sadowsky standard.

Nice one, Dave. Now all you need are a couple of tort pickguards.

I have a shelf full of folders containing charts for every band I've played in in the last 20 years. There must be hundreds of songs in there. Some bands I can get by with a couple of run throughs, others need more work. These days, it takes as long as it takes.

Keep playing them, over and over. When I had a gig coming up that required me to do more than just wing it, I played the set every day for a week. It didn't stop me having blank spots but there were far fewer of them.

D A E F G D c a G C D A E F G D c a C A The lower case are almost ghost notes

I think a PJ5 and a JJ5 are a perfect combination.

Except. . . . . . Vodka is only good for a tipple after you've done the job. At 40%, there is not enough alcohol in Vodka or similar spirits to be effective in killing bugs. You need at least 60% alcohol.

If it sounds like 750 watts then that's the figure you work to when you are planning cabs.

I don't know if Novax are still in business, but they are the guys who started the fanned frets idea on electric basses.

IMO a small finger span doesn't cause problems, but a bad technique does. If you look at videos of players, the good ones will always be moving their hands so as to place their fingers over the note they want to play. None of the "good" players anchor their thumb or stretch to reach notes.

I play lots of songs that were originally recorded on double bass and 80% of the rest were recorded on a 4 string bass. I have never once thought, "I shouldn't be using a 5 string electric bass on this!" IMO it doesn't matter what instrument the original song was recorded on. You're the one playing the song/tune, so play it how you want. As Al says, there are very few "life changing" moments in bass playing, so little steps is the way of things. My move to 5's just meant I could play everything on the same bass. I played in an originals band and all the bass lines were written for 5 string. All the covers worked on a 5 string, where quite a few wouldn't have worked on a 4 string. For me moving to a 5 sting bass was the most positive thing I've done in 25 years. You've got to play what feels comfortable but please don't do the "Jaco only needed 4" thing!!! Just my 2p

Another upside down lefty. . . . . . Mono Neon. This guy might be an acquired taste but he's one hell of a bass player. This is one of his more "normal" outings.

My eyes told me that the Precision and Jazz basses sounded best.

I saw Stan with Keb Mo in January. Great bass player.

This is terrible news.

Like it.

Nice one. Always use the tools that enable you do the best job.

Apparently my Sadowsky is 19mm and 34" and my Mike Lull is 18mm and 35". I can't tell the difference. IMO when you've got a great sounding bass these small differences become less relevant.

I know a reggae bassist who uses an an EBS Valvedrive, into an MB LM800, through a Barefaced Super Compact. Sounds just right.

What is your budget? Squier basses are pretty good. There are also some good Fenders around these days, but IMO Lakland Skylines (there is at least one in the classifieds) are excellent 5 string basses. If you can wait a few months for the Sadowsky Metro Express models to hit the shops, they might be worth a serious look. Sandberg and Maroooochick (??) look very interesting. I believe all these basses should be 18 - 19mm.

Me too. Insurance is always a good idea, but the best insurance is the one you never have to call on. When I ship basses they are in a case or gig bag and that is in a cardboard bicycle box which is filled out on all sides with several layers of expanded polystyrene sheet.

Great song. Richard Cousins, love this guys playing. One of my bands in the 80's opened with Phone Booth for many years.