Bassfinger

I can't stand Olympia. They're either dull or boomyl sounding, and feel stiff and heavy. For the same money Adagio nickel flats are miles ahead, would be worth 40 quid in a differently branded packet.

Thats to ignore the simple engineering elegance of a joint that is typically stronger than both the neck and the body.

I don't think it ever made any sense. It's just people being snobbish, often for no reason. As you rightly point out, different product ranges from the same factory can vary in fit and finish significantly, often with much overlap and overtake between the different factories and price ranges. On top of that Fender's, and to a much lesser degrees Squier's, quality can be so variable from instrument to instrument that it can differ significantly between otherwise identical bits of kit. The idea that an MIA, for example, is automatically superior in "quality" when individual instruments from Fender can vary so greatly is frankly laughable. This all oft mooted idea of a hierarchy of quality was always so riddled with exceptions to the rule that it never made a great deal of sense, and these days that is true more than ever. You can't even use it as a rough rule of thumb.

If one uses friends and family as a means if avoiding fees on a transaction then one is commiting a fraud. That being the case, you know you're dealing with an inherently dishonest person right from the off, so why have any expectation that they will suddenly become all honest and send the goods?

It makes no odds whstsoever to my playing.

1600 rpm is 70mph in my old boot. The jaaaaagggggg is turning around 2100 rpm at the same velocity. The Jag is a mighty hot rod and in a performance battle would steal my cars lunch money and flush its head down the toilet. However, it is spinning a fair bit faster at the legal limit so the extra performance, nice as it may be, doesn't make it any more adroit at cruising. And it is tiny, but ive come to terms with it. Luckily I have a 6 inch tongue and can breathe through my ears.

I doubt it. Not feeling the need to compensate for my tiny schlong, and not caring what anyone else thinks, that sort of thing didn't rate whatsoever on my list of requirements.

My old burner is only doing 1600 rpm at 70, and that won't get anywhere near 200!

Indeed, but youll look like a bounder who'll swipe the nights takings and deflower the landlords teenage daughter. Us Volvo drivers are seen by venues as a safe pair of hands, and excellent musicians to boot 🤔

You get just as many nodules as sellers. A while back I made a polite and fair offer on a bass, which was advertised as O.N.O. The brusquely worded response advised me that the seller had already been offered far more. To which I responded by way of asking why, if that were rrally the case, he had not accepted it then? I was friendly and polite. If I'm not offering enough then just be straight and politely say so by way of a reply. No need for bullpois to go with it.

Know, they don't - I should have read the thread title! But it is so appalling its unreal. If I recall correctly it was an American production with some awful accents and terrible translation jnto real English. I think at one poi t someone in the film refers to Yorkshire as Yorkshireland, and I don't think where were being ironic or cracking a joke. The bit where the drummers arm falls off at 43 minutes or so is just hilarious. It shouldn't be, but only the Americans could make it that way...

Nah. Ive fairly big hands and in 4 decades of guitar playing hadn't had to stretch at all. When I switched to bass at 50 my hands are big enough to use the pinky well, but never really having had to do so before my pinky was as weak as the Italjan navy. As a consequence was I trying to compensate by gripping harder, and thus getting aches in much the manner the OP describes. Not debikitating, but annoying. I mentioned this in passing to a chap I know who is a guitar tutor and straight away he identified the problem. I bought the grip, and after a few months of suffering finally saw an improvement in about 10 days as the weakling pinky manned itself up an - along with everyrhing else - and I could gradually ease the death grip when playing songs with a wider range. I can now blat out My Sharona with much pinky actuon and no aching.

Spinal Tap, the best documentary ever. That Def Leppard biopic, can't remember its name, acting so bad it would make Isn Beale look convincing.

2 basses (I prefer a spare bass to relying on spare strings). 2 x instrument stands. Bag containing pedalboard, power supply, luthiers toolkit, selection of ernie ball leads, XLR leads, 10M mains extension lead. Dependent on venue, Orange Crush 100 amp and stand. Dependent on setlist, Behringer mic and Hercules stand. Cash. Condoms. I travel fairly light and in venues of any real size go through the PA and sub, so only need to lug the amp for small pubs and the like. Our sound engineer/rhythm guitarist takes the PA, speakers, monitor, sub, mixer etc home with him.

More to the point, even if my gear were to fit I couldn't fit myself in that! 🤣

Nice work Brian. A wonderful looking bass.

Im in the same spot, but I've just turned 54 and I'm happy with my lot. Had I been 20 I might be wanting to go onwards an upwards, but I'm happy to be showing off to a crowd and playing bass with my mates, even if the other bits are sometimes an enbuggerance. Still, despite never being in the next Cream and having a record deal I do occasionslly get recognised locally. 2 days running last week two different ladies stopped me in the street to express their admiration and ask when we were next playing. That was kinda nice. Just try and enjoy it for what it is. I certainly do.

Worked for me...

XC90. Huge boot, seats fold aaway for a flat floor, including the front passenger seat. Split tailgate makes sliding gear in and out a doddle. The R Design has privacy glass so Johnny Lightfingers can't see your gear. Best of all youll look like a safe and sensible sort who won't start fights or play any Gary Glitter songs.

I really like the standard tuners. A lovely feel to them, very stable, and because they're nickel theyll age pleasantly.

I habe an HB beatbass. After trying the Hofner at 300 sheets I doscovered the HB at half the price sounded much the same and was better finished. As much as I like it the appeal is very limited. I trot it out live to play Beatles numbers and thats about it really. Overall though Im happy to own it. They say every peteolhead should own an Alfar Romeo, perhaps every bassist should own a violin bass?

In terms of inspriation I would agree wholeheartedly. However, in terms of construction and the ,anner in which it is held and played it is very much a member of the guitar family.

Although a surprising number of bassists, like myself, are accomplished guitar players.

Aren't we over thinking this? Surely its just a member of the guitar family intended for playing the bass part? That encompasses the numerous variants quite neatly. Whether some people use it for true bass or as more of a baritone guitar doesn't really matter, its the physical archtecture and the intended use that define it.

Said the pilot who lost both legs because he ignored the rules on aerobatic flying, and then got shot down and taken P.O.W. because he ignored the rules on staying in formation. Hell, he probably writes bass tab! 🤣