chris_b

One thing I do know. . . you know nothing about Foderas business model, running costs and expenses.

Yes I do.

Two points: certainly in the early days, some of the guys on TOTP would not even have been playing on their own records and there have always been differences between the gear that players use in the studio and on gigs. Having known someone in the hire business, when they're on national TV, quite a few bands will hire "something special" for the show. I don't understand why the simple fact that P basses were and still are the instrument of preference in many studios has generated so much comment, most of which has nothing to do with the video in the OP. The P bass "thing", as mentioned in the OP may not be relevant down the Dog and Duck or in niche genres, but it's a fact. Get over it. Use your bass and do your "thing". Don't take any advice from anyone, what do they know anyway. If your band is successful then guys like you will want to know what gear was used so they can buy it sound the same. The cruel part is that they will spend a lot of money and they won't sound anything like you! The players at the top of the industry, as in the OP, will have a flexible and positive attitude because they understand the business they are in. 16 pages of this thread only illustrates that many here don't understand that business at all.

Mass manufacturers may give gear away to generate sales, but if you are a boutique manufacturer and have a full order book stretching ahead for several years, you do not give away your products. Everyone, including Paul McCartney paid for their Wal basses and, from what I've read, the same goes for other boutique makes.

Slightly different situation here. . . . BE was the producer so he was able to give the bass player a good talking to and the bass player was able to answer back!

Jamerson's career went down the tubes because mentally he couldn't move from being "king" to just "one of the lads". He decided that as his sound had been so special for the last 15 years he didn't have to change it or do what the producers wanted. His strings were so old the intonation was out and an out of tune bass was never going to last long in the LA studios. The guys who called the shots stopped calling him because there were equally great players who would take care of their sound and do as they were requested. Most of those guys who replaced him were also playing P basses with (not quite as old and manky) flats. It wasn't a problem or fashion with the instrument, it was Jamerson shooting himself in the foot with his intransigent attitude.

Leo Fender and the guys must have heard an improvement to the sound of his basses to decide that it was worth adding the extra time and expense to the build process. I didn't noticed a difference when I tried through body stringing on my Lakland, but I don't discount it having an effect on the sound of some instruments.

If you want to get a different sound there are dozens of great cabs out there, but if you don't want to be out of pocket. . . keep what you've got. The danger of tailoring your rig to a specific band is that most bands don't last for ever. A 112 might not work in the next band and you might be grateful for the ST. Any solution which reduces the size of your cab will cost money and you run the risk of getting a cab that doesn't sound as good as your current rig. The ST is about an inch wider and deeper and only 7 inches taller than an SC. The ST has castors and a 112 will have to be carried. IMO Going to a 112 brings very little size benefit and some 112's will weigh as much as your ST. If you really have to downsize, I'd get a good SC when one comes up in the classifieds. Then you can test it on a gig, before you sell your ST.

For an impressive power to weight ratio the Barefaced Big Twin 2 would be hard to beat. 42lbs/21kg and 1600 watts.

If I read your post correctly you're able to cover the high notes on your 4 string bass, but you can't cover the low notes. To start with I'd go for the standard B-G tuned 5er. There are more benefits in a 5 string bass than just 5 extra notes. You'll find walking bass lines become easier with more notes falling under your fingers before you have to move your hand. You'll also cover lower keys more easily and effectively. Put the 4 string away and just play the 5 until you have reorganised your muscle memory and the 5 comes naturally.

I have linked my central heating to Basschat and I'm converting all the negativity to energy which is heating my house. We've been at 80 degrees for weeks. Keep it up.

Get a rack case. They are designed to work together.

When I was starting out I listened to Charlie Mingus, Charlie Parker and Herbie Hancock.

So the OP wants us to tell him why there is a price difference between these basses? No can do. I can't explain your preferences, or what you perceive as good or bad value. These threads are always so pointless because the guys who can't tell the difference between products from the opposite ends of the range don't accept the points made by those who can.

Again, I'm amazed how many of you guys are qualified to judge the value of the work that goes into making basses.

He's actually just outside Woodstock. That's New York State.

Isn't it just easier going from one side to the other? If you tuned odd then even strings or from the middle out or the outside in, you'd get lost.

G to B to put the bass into tune, then G to B again to double check.

You can always buy the Behringer BDI21 for £18 but £300 is not that expensive when you look at the other bass pre-amps on the market. The value totally depends on the performance. Phil Jones will always be using quality components and prices himself at the higher end of the market. If you can hear the difference then £300 may be worth it.

Tips? Never mind the back of your bass. Don't you realise how uncool bullet belts are?

You do that too. . . . !

Not the ideal comment for that post in this thread??

Completely? Forget bass. Get a piano and start lessons.

Sorry to hear about your heath problems. My view would be, iIf they sent you home you're OK to gig. I'd dust off the Wal and do the gigs on that, sitting down. Get someone to roadie for you..

Don't worry about the scale. I have both 34 and 35 and I don't notice any difference between notes. I'm a Fender fan so I'd try the Sire JJ or PJ first. If you are recording you might find the fatter sound of the PJ to be more useful. I'd suspect that the B strings would be better on the Sire basses. MM seems to have had a big input to these instruments so I'm sure he'd have looked into that "issue".