Paul S

Missed it - too subtle Or I am too dense today, more likely.

Enjoyed the link - thank you. I am a man of simple pleasures, like PawelG a JV does it for me. I have never tried a pre-CBS one, mind you!

Maybe they realise I was joking.

More proof, were it needed, that such tasks are left to women. Guitarist in a former band once dislocated his little finger whilst changing the bottom sheet of the bed. I rest my case, m'lud.

I like this version - the way it builds at the start with Mr Etcetera kind of changing the bass line around.

I fear not - I put a set of licensed Ultralites on the BB5000 I had, same issue. Hope yours workout different as it is a bit of a nuisance, especially if you have OCD about the angle of the tuners. Yes, it has. It certainly feels weighty. I used the bass at rehearsal last night and it really has made a massive difference. During a rather enthusiastic bit of playing I managed to flick the toggle switch over to 'mute' as it is now so I need to change the wiring but overall I am pleased with the result.

If Southend is nearer this place is where I take mine: Electronic Music Services

Hah, I know what you mean but I prefer the P solo - different ears... Mind you, the middle position on the toggle sounds just like the front position now!.... Unfortunately the holes don't quite line up. Nearly but not quite. Rather than going to the bother of plugging, glueing, re-drilling new holes I just moved them along a bit with the end result that the tuners sit at a slightly rakish angle. They work just fine and don't actually look that silly. Were it a 1025X I might have done it more carefully, but this was only ever going to be a cheap fix for a cheap bass. The weight thing got me curious so I just stuck the pickup and the old tuners on my kitchen scales. Pickup is 200g, tuners pretty heavy at 500g. But then there is the added weight of the Hipshots, so perhaps my luggage scales aren't quite as accurate as I thought! Anyway, makes a difference. Be quite a few g light once i remove the toggle switch and associated surplus wiring.

I have a Yamaha BB425 that I bought as a backup bass and which, for the money, is an incredibly fab thing. I love the neck and find it immensely playable. It is a P/J - the P pickup is absolutely lovely but I never ever use the J. It is also a bit too heavy at 4.6kg. It has taken me a while but I finally joined these two dots and cut off the J pickup just now. I also have just bought a set of 4 Hipshot Ultralites secondhand and fitted them (yes, I know, one short). Now I have a bass that weighs 3.9kg - SO much better. I didn't realise quite how heavy that pickup would be. There is, of course, a hole but I am not worried bout it - it is already painted black in there and doesn't really show. I may do something with the wiring and remove the 3-way toggle switch completely but that requires a bit more thinking than cutting through the pickup wires Put a smile on my face this afternoon That is all, really.

Good looks and a sunny disposition. OK, maybe not.

Search system doesn't throw up an existing thread, even though there should be one, so it is my pleasure to write the first feedback on this new sparkly site for Gary aka v8bass. I bought a set of Hipshot ULtralite tuners in the simplest of transactions. Good price, posted immediately, arrived well packed and better than I thought. Can't ask for more!

Most of the problems I have had are due to trying to play some trickier bass lines that were originally played with fingers. I play mainly with a pick - I have greater control and speed so all of the trickier bass lines I have tried to learn have been done out of necessity with a pick. As an academic exercise I tried to learn Rhythm Stick but even though I nearly got there it just didn't sound right played with a pick so I abandoned it before making it home. One I had to persevere with a couple of years ago was Bon Jovi's Keep The Faith. I can see that this is so much easier played finger style, just grazing across the strings but as I can't do that with enough control I had to get used to playing it with a pick. It is not so much about playing the notes, it is more the feel and timing as it is tricky to keep it bouyant and sparkling along. There are little extra ghost notes here and there that most covers I have heard seem to miss out - even Hughie McDonald does sometimes and he recorded the original! Still, like most things, if you practice enough you get there, it just took me longer with this. Didn't help that the drummer, who usually plays everything way too slowly, decided to learn this from a speeded up live version and always played it fast! Maybe I should practice my fingerstyle more!

I have the twin of this, except it is the Fender logo Squier. Fabulous bass.

Related story - guitarist in my little band learnt the solo in The Carpenters' Goodbye To Love note for note for his ex-function band. At the rehearsal they were due to run through it one of the singers said - 'I've chatted with the other girls and we don't want to do this now.' Notice my use of the word 'ex' in relation to the band

I broke a string at rehearsal once and once at home. So twice. I guess I'd miss the B string for the same reason as people have said E string - although I can't imagine breaking one of those.

Do 'best of' albums count? If so 'Steppin Out - the Best of Joe Jackson' would be in my top 3. Made In Japan, Deep Purple and Black Sabbath, Black Sabbath would be the other 2.

I have one of these that a Trace Elliot head fits into (just). Similar to a Peli but cheaper. I weigh approx 100kg and can stand on it with no fear. https://www.maplin.co.uk/p/large-high-impact-case-with-pre-cut-foam-interior-n14gr?cmpid=ppc%3Apim_products%3Apla%3Agoogle&gclid=CjwKCAiA3o7RBRBfEiwAZMtSCQQh9U3ogbZjXis8qbtTG0GS-tGZey9leLMZg7HclfHVwYzOwam1DBoCGNIQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds But rugged tool boxes are worth looking at - I keep my MesaBoogie Prodigy Four:88 in a Stanley Fatmax tool box - I can stand on that, too.

I'm liking the look of that S type. Does this mean I need to turn off my ad blocker?

There, that's fixed. Makes a difference to some people - me included. Although FOR ME it is actually string spacing, rather than the actual width of the neck. I struggle to play a 4 string bass with a neck that is 43mm wide at the nut but happily play a 5 string bass with a 45mm neck.

Anyway, anyone who thinks the Bon Jovi puns are finished please Raise Your Hands. Have a Nice Day!

No, These Days I am Just Older. I guess I need to Keep The Faith that I can keep up with the young'uns. And I don't suppose it will be for Always.

That must be the definitive reply. How did you choose your online name, tall_martin?

I hope so. Not so easy now I am turned sixty but I reckon I'll Sleep When I'm Dead.

Not guaranteed - Tribute bands are potentially a Bed of Roses.