Paul S

Got to be a rare beast. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/WESTONE-THUNDER-II-BASS-LEFT-HANDED/124125606590?hash=item1ce67672be:g:7R4AAOSwjdFeW~UQ

Love these, love the shape. Boat anchor, though. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/174226830401?ul_noapp=true

^^This. Ever so this. If you want rude, this has Tourettes.

I think they may have been Innovation Rock-a-Billy.

They sit together nicely, don't they!

The best rig I have played through was at the Ipswich Maritime Festival last year. It is an event that BBC Radio Suffolk put on and the bass backline was an Ampeg SVT pro24 into an Ampeg 8x10. First and only time I have used one. Sounded amazing!

BTW, I am perhaps making an assumption here but are the better MIJ copies better guitars than the current crop of Epiphones? I did have an Epiphone EB-0 for a time, upgraded the pickup and bridge but still didn't quite bond with it for some reason.

The Tokai looks lovely! Funnily enough I sold just yesterday an Aria Pro II CSB 'Black n Gold' as my GAS is more Gibson-focused. I have the Les Paul Jnr Dc at the moment and fancy something that is 'same meat different sauce' Slotted headstock would do the job, Pete!

On the basis that a repetitive exercise with weight strengthens muscles, just at the moment I am using my newly acquired 'Sprackenbacker' as much as possible to build up the specific muscles that I need to support my back when playing this. It is much heavier than I usually play but I just love it to bits. Might have to restrict its use to short bursts!

Keep The Faith I found tricky to make flow correctly. Which, playing in a Bon Jovi tribute, was something I had to get my head and fingers around as it was one of the very first songs we put in the set It has to bounce along, springing off the low G almost silently before the fiddly octave bit. Had I been a competent fingerstyle player I imagine this would be made easier by raking downwards but I can't do that, substituting it with a hammer on from an open D string to the F. Getting the timing right playing like that without it sounding clumsy took me ages and ages.

Certainly. I did the usual cavity shield etc. I mounted it onto a tripod stand so it now sits much like the NS Design basses, which in turn meant I could ditch the endpin and potential for rattle. Then I moved the tailpiece up so it took regular strings - black nylon slap bass ones of a make a can't remember at the moment. I find it easier to play now and the nylon strings make it sound more double bass-y.

Thanks again Jon. I could simply give in and get a Gibson, of course, but there is something about finding a diamond in the rough that I find very appealing. Love that Faker I bought recently, for example, and everything it represents. Anyway, GAS is a cruel and fickle mistress, who knows what will be resting in my guitar rack this time next month.

Saw JST live a week or so back and still catching up with her stuff. Loving this at the moment

I guess this is mainly aimed @Bassassin but anyone with experience/knowledge please pitch in. There are a couple of these early 70s Japanese EB-3 copies on eBay at the moment, short scale ones particularly, I seem to recall some of them are very good - Matsumoku? What would be the pitfalls? How much would they be worth? I nearly bought one but the seller has zero feedback and doesn't do PayPal. That has vanished now, so maybe someone took a chance. This is the other one

It's just going to keep on coming this year. Stowblues Festival and Dereham Blues Festival - playing at both, both cancelled today. Had the promise of the Ipswich Maritime Festival again, if that goes ahead, but who knows - that is August.

I've seen these and been so tempted. Currently use a Stagg that I have modded a fair it and one of these would represent a fair step up. BUt I simply can't justify it, unfortunately the band I was in with any ambition to play 'acoustic' gigs has now folded.

Love the styling on these.

Stew bought most of the gear I was selling Trace head, Hofner Club... perfect transaction. And many thanks to Gary @cetera for baby sitting the gear for Stew until he got there. Marvellous

Sold an aria pro II to Gary in the most straightforward of deals. Used dropping off the bass as an excuse for a day out - perfect. And he took in some stuff for Stewblack to collect as it was 90mins nearer than my place for hm to collect. A pleasure doing business and nice when a potentially complicated plan works out

Good job we're in the driest part of the country. Just sayin.

I have had a USA Fender precision, couple of MIJ Fender precisions, currently own a JV Squier Precision and also a Maruszczyk Jake 5 and I would say go for a Maruszczyk. You can specify pretty much exactly what you want. Build quality on mine is remarkable, especially when I think it cost me under £1500 including an SKB hard case and delivery (and a free strap!).

Well, I own two Gibsons and I like them lots. So there.

I have setts in my garden and could see them every night if I chose to. I get somewhat complacent about it tbh. Bloody things dig my plants up if they are of a mind to. The latest game is to make their communal latrines in the middle of my borders. But to see baby badgers frolicking about is something rather special and I have adjusted my mindset re damage accordingly. I now consider it to be a small price to pay

Not even remotely as it happens - it is a really well balanced thing. The bridge is well back on the body, the tuners are Hipshot ultralite. Another great thing is because of the pickup position the tone isn't quite a muddy as the 'mudbucker' and has more bite to it. I play in a blues/rock trio and it sounds perfect for that.

The Gibson Les Paul Junior double cutaway reissue bass ticks all your boxes and, for a genwine Gibson, are pretty cheap, too. AND they smell nice.