Paul S

The most unusual bass I own now is a recently acquired Yamaha BX-5. Unusual enough in black as a 4 string, let alone a white 5 string. Not my bass but it looks exactly like this: Edit - so there must be at least one other!! 😄

Bought some cables from John. Couldn't have been easier - good comms, immediate dispatch, well packaged. Deal with confidence!

I swapped to 5 from 4 a coupe of years ago. I am used to it now and, with no plans to mess my head up by swapping around, will stick to 5. Having said that, I recently acquired a Dean Pace 5 to see if a 5 string EUB worked for me. And in all honesty I prefer playing the 4 string Stagg I already have - the longer scale length, string spacing and curved fingerboard radius just seem easier for me to play upright. Maybe it is more a factor of how different the Dean Pace is rather than the extra string, but I reckon the Stagg's 4 strings will cater for all my EUB needs.

I have Line 6 G50 and it is very good. I had a better lead made by obbm for the transmitter unit>jack, as many people do. My only complaints about it are the battery life indicator on the transmitter tells outrageous lies and the whole unit is a little bit clumsy. Those are the main reasons why I ordered the Boss LW50 - I much prefer the idea of the direct plug-in bug, the rechargeable battery in the transmitter that docks into the base unit, plus the small size of the base unit. Incidentally, it isn't going to be available until Januray, it seems.

I think my biggest problem with effects was (still is, tbh) I never really understood how to get the best out of them and it always sounded, to me, rather clumsy. I went through a phase (!) of using a few pedals, then changed to a multi-effect pedal but for the past 3-4 years have been pedal free. I recently bought and now habitually use a compressor but I don't think of that in the same way as an 'effect'. I remember if felt quite liberating not using them, when it happened.

Unusual name - I have a number of large specimen 'tropical' plants in my garden bought from a nursery called Akamba. Turns out to be the same people. I knew they had diversified but had no idea there was a music venue as well.

I'm assuming the test was carried out around 11am when it was nice and quiet.

My Mesa Boogie is still here, Bas, if you are desperate to break your run. Just sayin'.

I see this as a reaction to wireless technology. Now all you simply do is connect Guitar>jeans>pedals>amp - as long as you either get a/ very long leads or b/ aren't very mobile I see a lot of mileage in this. You'll save a fortune in belts AND never be unplugged again accidentally. Bit complicated if you need to nip off to the loo, I'll grant you.

My experience of this is the old Trace Elliot scenario, discussed at length in other threads. My old AH250, with 250 Trace Elliot Watts, is the loudest amp I have ever owned - the list of shame includes TC Electronic RH750, GenzBenz Streamliner 900, Mark Bass Little Mark Tube 800 and currently (although the loudest of the bunch) Quilter Bass Block 800. Even the Mesa Boogie Prodigy Four:88 is quieter. Edit, perversely it is louder than my AH300.

You may have to wait a while, it was gutted by fire in June, sadly. Like Old Slapper, I can't even cut straight to always stand in awe of people with the skills to carry out these builds and your Ric is absolutely beautiful. I've never played a Ric, not even picked one up. I had a Jolana copy for a short while but that was a copy in shape only. I absolutely love the look of them.

I can't speak for anyone else but I have never, ever bought anything - bass, car, stuff for the home - with impressing other people in mind. I get stuff for my own gratification.

There is an official Trace Elliot authorised agent/repairer, whatever that means, near to me in Southend and they haven't been able to get 'proper' rack ears for many years now. It is worth doing by whatever means, though - taking the heads out of the heavy wooden boxes lightens the load considerably. I have one which is the exact replica of Deedee's and it is very portable.

It is all clearly explained in this video, with graphs etc

For me - and I am sure an awful lot of us on this forum - the words 'need' and 'want' are very different things. The way I look at it - if I want something nice, have the money to spend on it and the space to keep it, then I will get it. The fact that I might not actually need it is largely irrelevant.

3" is ideal for me but it can vary according to the material it is made from. Wider is nice of if is well cushioned and soft.

Same meat, different gravy - the Hohner B2 variants. B2, B2A, B2B, B2AD etc.

I saw him a couple of years back at Leicester Square and was left with the same opinion. Beautifully played, creatively brilliant solos around a selection of dull tunes.

Edge of Heaven is a sublime song in all respects, imo.