Paul S

I have a certain number of boxes to tick for my fantasy 'gold medal' bass. I don't currently own one that ticks all the boxes, though. Black double cutaway lightweight body, no pickguard, maple neck/fretboard, short scale, 40mm nut width, 18mm string spacing at the bridge, single pickup in the P bass sweet spot, passive, lightweight chrome hardware. TI Jazz flats. Things that won't pass my finish line: Red body, those funny single cutaway things that look like stranded whales. Tort pickguards. Anything else is more a case of 'never say never' as long as a number of boxes are ticked.

For me, unless there was fully documented evidence to show who/what/when/how of the repair I wouldn't go near it because otherwise you just have someone's word for it and people sometimes tell fibs.

How heavy are these, please? I looked on the DB website and they tell you pretty much everything other than the weight. There is a small part of me that is whispering to the rest that the croc finish is a must have

Damnation, I seem to have just bought one despite having a Boss unit. Bloody Basschat.

Sold my old Trace Elliot head to Graham, who arranged a trip over from Ireland in order to collect it! Top man, great comms throughout, it's been a pleasure throughout.

I had a Yamaha BX-5 for a while. I bought it as an upgrade to the Hohner B2V I had and it was by some measure a far superior instrument. The 'vestigial' upper horn made the instrument hang in a way that kind of negated the 'missing headstock' phenomenon that can happen with these. It sounded totally fantastic, absolute quality, yet I sold it - completely mad to have done, it was a truly wonderful bass. You're probably as unlikely to see one for sale as a Hohner Jack V but if you do jump all over it. Assuming you see it before I do

Having a quick look online I think it must be a hollow-body one for 335 shapes. There are a few that would fit a mustang with a little wiggle room at the sides of then lower body. Gator one is under £60 at some places, ditto the Thomann.

Does one of these little beauties count?

I believe that is the key to most things. I'd rather be part of a band that plays a song I don't like well rather than one I love badly. Of course nothing beats playing songs I love really well, which is the current situation with my blues rock trio.

There are a couple of guitar hard cases that fit a Mustang/Musicmaster. I think it is this one, which at £66 is a lot less. Gator XL I bought an old LP double cutaway style guitar case at a boot sale that fits my Mustang like a glove but I've not worked out which one it is yet.

Can I just say @stewblack that your descriptions always make me smile

Great picture! I'll mention it to Nat when I see her next 😁

Sold a pickup to Jeff in the easiest of transactions

Aussie Pink Floyd at the Cliff's Pavilion in Westcliff. Not seen them before, what a performance! Absolutely spot on in all respects (maybe the bass could have had the tone rolled off a fraction) They lost the backing track on the left hand side for a short while but it came back again. Can't recall seeing a better light show.

Not bought 'that' much stuff but the best is without question my Gibson Les Paul Jnr DC. It is immensely good fun to play and sounds awesome. It has also re-ignited my love affair with short(er) scale basses. I made a few not quite so good as that purchases but nothing nasty springs to mind.