Paul S

I've spent most of my adult life going to gyms in one shape or fashion. The last 10 years I have been mainly doing core and back strengthening exercises but sadly Life gets in the way occasionally. Almost a year ago I 'upgraded' my weak sacro-iliac joint to a prolapsed disc (and a hernia, for good measure!) when shifting some heavy potted plants back into my greenhouse from the ridiculously inaccessible but artful places I had stuck them in spring. So a decent interval after the hernia was fixed I booked a series of sessions the guy at my gym who specialises in lower back issues and has acquired something of a reputation for getting people back on track. He gave me a whole set of exercises that were pretty much a 'reset to default settings' basic regime, then building on that a progression from there. 6 months on I was feeling pretty good - core seemed in a good way and other than a few niggles I've been able to carry on as normal doing some, at times, heavy work n the garden. Yesterday I bent down to move the hose sprinkler to a different bit of the garden and - bingo! - back went again. Over the years it generally seems to be the silly little things you just can't prepare for that do the damage. At least, that is how it has been for me. Mind you, shifting a few kilos of excess fat wouldn't hurt...

What is the difference - if any - between the weight of a graphite neck and, say, maple neck? They look amazing. As does that bitza.

Just realised I missed out an important 'NOT' in my post above. So it should have read 'I certainly do not know much about jazz.' Surely it comes down to more than purely snobbery and elitism? I would hope so.

When it comes to music I like what I like, not really an aficionado of anything much and not stuck in any particular genre. I certainly do not know much about jazz. But, at risk of being pilloried - to me 'Moondance' sounds like jazz. And I actually quite like it. This is a genuine question, I am not playing Devil's advocate or trolling or anything. What exactly is the issue with 'Moondance'? Why does it constantly get a slating and why isn't it jazz? OK, that is three questions. But if, like you say, jazz is a broad church why does something that, to me, sounds like jazz get left standing on the church porch?

That'll do.

I still can't believe my luck with the BX-5. A couple of months back Alyctes flagged it up on the forum after seeing it on eBay and when I read his post then followed the link, after a few minutes hesitation, I bought it - BIN was extremely cheap. It was only when it arrived and I played it that I realised exactly how cheap. I'd seen the 4 string version a few times but never the 5er.

Here's the Jake. I don't seem to have taken a picture of the Yamaha BX-5 but is is exatly like this one, nicked off t'net.

Question - do you write the songs in your band?

A few years ago I had to look for lightweight basses after an occasional acute back issue became a chronic one and had to sell off some favourites. Particularly sad to see the back of a Washburn Scavenger that was in museum condition. I loved that bass - loved the fat bottomed double cutaway symmetry of it - but it weighed nearly 11lbs. Since then I have moved over to 5 string - the problem then being basses that are light enough, despite the extra wood on the neck and hardware, and that I like. For me, and my back problem, a wider strap helps but is not the answer. Not short scales but I now have four 5 string basses that are 8lbs or under and comfy enough to wear for a couple of hours at a time. I still ache next day but nowhere near as much Maruszczyk Jake 5 - you can specify what you want - mine was chambered basswood with lightweight hardware, single Delano pup, passive. No QC issues with mine, it is fabulous. Musicman Sterling 5 modded to passive with the same pickup as the above - having all the original electrics removed lightened the load considerably. Although, to be fair, it started off as an unusually lightweight one in the first place Yamaha BX-5 - I love this. It does the Hohner B2V small body/headless vibe but with an upper horn so it sits better on the strap. And smashes the Hohner out of the park in terms of quality. Fender MB-5 - the 'forgotten Fender'? MIJ, basically a different shaped Jazz. The lightest full body of the bunch at just 7lbs.

Couple of my favourites. Not complex but just define the song.

Cameo was the original.

yes, everything the Duffy version lacks. My little band do it like this but stripped down to guitar/bass/drum. I really like Christopher Cross' 'Ride Like The Wind'. But I also like this cover by Saxon. Not keen on Biff's voice, never have been, but the riff seems to flow nicely as heavy rock And here is one that is kind of reverse - famous cover of little known original but I actually prefer the original - at least how he plays it live. 'Rio De Janeiro Blue' was a massive hit for Randy Crawford but written by a guy called Richard Torrance. Again my little band does this, lovely to play.

Thank you Silvia. 'Need' is a word that rarely enters my vocabulary so I get what you are saying completely....

A Westone Thunder Jet had 22 frets, fabulous necks, too. I believe some of the later 1A models also sported 22 frets. Might be possible to get either as just necks.

Thanks Mick. Not a million miles geographically but I suspect financially it would be

Here's another that been covered by a list of bands, originally recorded by someone most people have never heard of Billy Joe Royal but soon after covered by Deep Purple then, some while later, Kula Shaker. I like the power of this version by Gotthard - I believe this was flagged up on here a few years ago in a similar thread, which is when I first heard it.

Thank you, I may well take you up on that. Thanks. Thanks. I have been convinced to ditch the 5 string Stagg idea and will look more closely at the NS Design ones. I am sorry - having reread your post I seem to have misinterpreted what you wrote. Apologies. And, yes, I will think carefully before splashing out. It might be, when all said and done, that 4 strings will suffice for the amount of use it gets. Thanks again all for your input.

Thank you both. Interesting that you both report the same issue with the B string. The stand isn't an issue as I modded the Stagg to play on a tripod a la NS Design but it makes sense to see if I can try a 5 string before either carving up the Stagg or shelling out.

Your advice started off nicely with the first sentence, which actually makes a lot of sense. But then you just spoiled it by being rude for two paragraphs. What a shame.

Oh learned ones I seek opinions and expertise. Since moving on to 5 string basses it seems logical for me to swap my 4 string Stagg EUB for a 5 string one. It is for just occasional use at the moment although my little band keep threatening to do a lot more 'acoustic' gigs which would see any EUB I owned getting a lot more use. No bowing, just piz. I see 2 main options: Convert the Stagg to a 5 string - there is a thread on here somewhere about it. here, in fact I would have to buy a whole new set of strings as well, not just the tuner/nut/bridge change costs, as I currently have black nylon Innovations and they don't do a low B. There does come a point when I would think - it is only a Stagg and, after spending perhaps £200 on it it is still only going to be a Stagg. Get one of the NS Design EUB models, of which there seems a confusing array. For my purposes the WAV5 link here would probably do but what are the differences between this and the more expensive models? I 'think' the omni is just a strange shaped 34" scale fretless - bit like a posh Dean Pace? An Eminence 5 string would be luvverly but in reality a bit too rich for me, I think. Converting the Stagg would be the cheapest option but is it bending it out of shape too much? I'd really value some real life experiences of the various NS Design models, if anyone has played a few. At the moment I am finding it hard to decide so any thoughts are welcome.

To my mind a back up amp should be capable of doing what the main one can do so it makes perfect sense to have a similar amount of oomph. It is, for me, more about size and weight that makes an amp qualify as back up, not how much it costs. I use a Quilter Bassblock 800 which is tiny but perfectly capable of doing the job. Which is a good thing as the first time I took my Mesa Boogie Prodigy Four:88 for an outing one of the valves blew taking much of the pcb with it. Quilter to the rescue.

I have to say that being a cack-handed, clumsy buffoon with zero patience I always enjoy reading these build threads with awe and admiration. But you seem to have elevated the craft to a higher level - I guess it is because you have spent a lifetime working with wood professionally to then turn your hand to making these instruments. The detail on the inlays and bindings, just the sheer quality of the workmanship (can I say workmanship?) are just sublime.

So all those years of study at University, then internship then general practice are a waste of time. Just hang out with those that are qualified and that'll do! Amazing - could solve all the problems in the NHS that way. 😂

'Heart attack' is a catchall term for so many different problems - advice for the wrong one could be misleading at best, life threatening at worse. If I were in your shoes I'd be looking for the advice of those who treated you and know exactly what your problem is, not a bunch of random bass players who have never met you.

Or this one - love the stripped down feel of the playing. Maybe not so much the shredding...