Paul S

Hohner B2 cricket bats were always my nemesis. No so much now I am more used to them - they are just so handy to carry around as a back up so I persevered. At first, 2 octave scale plus no head meant that my subconscious mental map of note positions was all over the place. Always seemed something of a lottery which notes I would actually be playing as my hand never seemed in the right spot.

[quote name='BassApprentice' timestamp='1496155774' post='3309186'] Keep your eyes peeled for the Squier Musicmasters. They have the 50's style single coil P pickups and are pretty well made to boot. I have one (my first bass) and it does the old school sound brilliantly! [/quote] This. Squier 'Vista Series' Musicmaster. Knocks spots off a Fender Musicmaster. Lighter, punchier, adjustable bridge, proper pickups. Different vibe to a Mustang. There is a lot of love on here for the Squier VM Jaguar shortscale but I have never played one.

I found the Fender Rumble 500 combo untameably middy for my liking (I like the scooped Trace Elliot preshape!) so that probably fits the bill ok.

Couldn't agree more. My BB425 (ahem, for sale in the classifieds..) is amazing for the price. The BB5000 I have replaced it with is superlative, plays and sounds so good.

Absolutely lovely - I also think this is the most attractive colour combination - despite migrating to 5 string basses I still have a JV Squier in these colours that is simply the nuts. Swapping the pickup for something else will depend entirely upon the sound you want it to make. For me the 'old school vintage' P bass tone comes from a Fender 62 reissue Original pickup. The old Wizard Trad was very similar, don't know what the Hot Rod equivalent is like. I had a bitza in this colourway and fitted a Ki0gon loom which made testing all different types of pickups much easier.

Ahem. I have this one for sale. I would be surprised if you could find better for the money. [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/301547-custom-built-fretless-precision-very-black/"]http://basschat.co.uk/topic/301547-custom-built-fretless-precision-very-black/[/url]

I bought two of these KAM Party bar thingies [url="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Kam-Lighting-Led-Partybar-V2/dp/B00603XK8K/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1495613218&sr=8-1&keywords=kam+party+bar"]https://www.amazon.co.uk/Kam-Lighting-Led-Partybar-V2/dp/B00603XK8K/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1495613218&sr=8-1&keywords=kam+party+bar[/url] Connected via a DMX cable they run together. I either set them up to give a changing colour wash or change to sound (which can be a bit school disco but lively enough). Cheap and cheerful but perfectly adequate. They will be in the classifieds soon, as it happens, as I am no longer the Keeper of The Lights in my current bands.

Charity shops usually have loads of old lap top bags for next to nothing.

As I was growing up in the late 60s and early 70s rock music inspired me to learn to play guitar and I played until my early 20s. This was followed by a musical void, playing-wise, until my late 40s when I bought a bass. Although my tastes are a lot more eclectic nowadays I've never really grown out of it and still listen to that genre/era through choice.

[quote name='hiram.k.hackenbacker' timestamp='1495495051' post='3304268'] (possibly 8 if Paul S asks me to step in for him). [/quote] I would say it is inevitable once (if?) we start getting busy, Warren. A few bridges to cross before then, mind. Seven bands - you must have fingers like old leather pruning gloves!