Paul S

I have 2 hearing aids and haven't found a good way around taking them out, putting in ear plugs, putting them in again. I use IEMs when gigging which gives a totally controllable volume in your ears but then as soon as we finish the first set/stop playing/whatever have to put the hearing aids back in again. All a bit of a nuisance, really.

Yes, thanks for that - both are on my radar. I think I'll sit tight and see what comes along.

Thanks for the heads up - I'll do a bit more reading! I'm in no rush - have to shift some gear first, too.

Thanks folks. I did a kind of 'test' at the gym with a 20kg plate and I think that taking my dodgy back into account anything close to that would be too much for me to manoeuver. Probably time to start saving for the Mesa Boogie - which weighs about the same as my current rackmounted Trace Elliot head - or forget it! Appreciate your input - for one thing I was unaware of the Mesa Boogie!

Thank you. A lot of amp for not a lot of money. Not as small or light as the Mesa Boogie but it is a grand cheaper!

That does help, thank you. Every little bit of info helps as I know nothing!

They are both interesting. I wonder if the Handbox would be loud enough? The Mesa Boogie wins on pretty much all counts except it is very expensive. Hmm.

The Rheingold is interesting and I particularly like the look of the Mesa four:88 but they are both quite expensive. Not sure the Ampeg would be loud enough for what I have in mind. Any other contenders?

I am toying with the idea of getting an all tube head but couldn't live with anything too heavy. 20kg would be about my limit, I think. From what I have read I could do a lot worse than the Stoneham Y1200 - [url="http://stonehamamps.co.uk/product/yi200-head/?"]http://stonehamamps.co.uk/product/yi200-head/?[/url] - it ticks an awful lot of my boxes. I am after an 'old school vintage tone' whatever the heck that is - nothing too broken or distorted. But what would be other possible contenders at that power/size/price/weight?

I used luminous stickers for a while and ended up putting a coat or two of clear nail varnish over them. That kept them in place but was still easy enough to remove when I moved the bass on.

Bizarrely I have come up with the names of all the bands I have been in. Some current, some lasted longer than others. Usually it has been after a brain storming with Mrs S. Old bands - 'May Contain Nuts' always got people's attention. After a couple of personnel changes we became '5 Shades Of Grey'. Classic rock covers band 'Xerocks' which some people got, many didn't. Current bands - Illegal Tender. A different classic rock covers band started as The Wayward Sons but we never got around to playing the Kansas track as we have now morphed into a Bon Jovi tribute called 'Just Jovi'.

Gosh, they are interesting - I am still enjoying my Bassblock and often use it with a BF 110 for rehearsals for a light carry in. Love the look of the Bassliner 1x12, and to be able to connect it up into a combo would be very convenient. Not in UK yet?

Indeed. A few years ago I had a sore bunion joint on my right foot so ended up walking on the outside edge of my foot. This threw my knee, hips and back out of plumb and I had all sorts of issues. A simple latex toe spacer between big toe and the one next to it straightened the joint, everything else went back into place. Once it was cleared up I stopped using the spacer. But I find it is not so much the lifting of heavy objects but usually the little silly things done unthinkingly that hurt my back, once the weakness is there. I have been locked up for days after twisting slightly whilst pulling out a tape measure, cutting my toenails (which I don't do any more) or even reaching round where the sun doesn't shine to dry with a towel after a shower (possibly too much information). But I would also add that knowing about something isn't the same as doing it. I knew posture was important but didn't dream mine was bad, especially after years of going to the gym. After a recent bout of lower back pain I went to see someone different to my usual team of osteopaths - a sports injury therapist who recently opened a practice at my gym. She took one look at me and said it was all down to my posture - hips slumped forward, back rolled over, shoulders hunched - typical bass playing stance! This, she said, was causing my buttocks to tense (!) which then pulled on my hips which dragged my back open etc etc. After so many years of so many different people saying so many different things I wasn't hopeful but she actually made more improvement than anyone else. Strong fingers (she is a power lifter) breaking up the muscle knots wasn't much fun, though! However ever since finishing a 6 week course of treatment I feel so much more mobile. For the first time in about 15 years I can touch my toes and rarely get the pain in my back even after long rehearsals. So my recipe for a pain-free lower back is lightweight gear and regular buttock massage

Is it any good for metal?

[quote name='hiram.k.hackenbacker' timestamp='1493380226' post='3287919'] Gotta love black and gold. Very nice Paul. Hope to see it in person soon [/quote] Yes, Warren - very JPS. I was considering putting those Optima gold plated strings on it but then thought that might be a touch ostentatious... Actually in truth I would have sucked up the disdain but a read a review that reckoned the B wasn't much cop... I haven't forgotten your track list, btw. It isn't straightforward! [quote name='Marc S' timestamp='1493391768' post='3288044'] Wow, that does indeed look a stunner Paul Bet it sounds great too..... But is it your "ideal" bass? You seem to flit from one to another lol BTW. It looks even funkier on that zebra striped rug - funkay! [/quote] I do seem rather fickle, don't I. Perhaps better to say 'one of' my ideal basses and probably my ideal black 5 string Yamaha.

Just noticed my last dealings with Mike were the first entry on this page Just bought a guitar stand from Mike in a very simple transaction. Great comms throughout, he even delayed sending it off until I had returned home from hols. Top bloke - thanks Mike!

I definitely feel like that cat that got the cream They are out there but not that common. Looking at recent selling prices they seem to command a higher price in Japan, strangely, but I was prepared to pay a premium for what could well end up as my ideal bass. Nevertheless it was still under £1350 all in which, considering the quality, really is small beans. Still grinning Going to put some new strings on it this morning.

After a 3 week transit from Japan my Yamaha BB5000 arrived safe and sound. I wanted one because, a few months back, I bought a new BB425 and was completely blown away by how good it was for the price point. Which, naturally, got me thinking about what the more expensive end of the range would be like. A bit of reading convinced me that the model I was looking for was the BB5000. Top end of the range when it was made, fairly lightweight, very slim neck, through neck construction, passive P/J pickups and electronics. Not too common, though, so I prepared myself for a long wait. I kept my eyes peeled and also got in touch with Danny 'The Bass Hunter' in Japan, who turned up trumps and managed to buy this on my behalf then send it on, luckily for me without too many weeks passing as my GAS was very strong. Serial number dates it to between 1986-89 as in this case it doesn't seem possible to date it more accurately. Black, no pickguard, ebony fretboard, painted neck and headstock. Gold hardware (pickup surrounds are oddly quite badly tarnished, especially compared to the bridge and tuners, which are not. Not that it bothers me), mother of pearl inlays on the neck, bone nut, At 4.3kg it is not too heavy. The cutaways are a little deeper than in my BB425 and it sits very nicely on the strap. The shaping of the area where the neck meets the body is a joy. Neck is super slim for a 5er - 43mm at the nut but slim for its whole length without the widening flare that you often get when the bridge spacing is wider - the string spacing is a very tight 15mm at the bridge - which I really like. I haven't had the chance to play it loud yet but at home levels it sounds amazing. Split coil P humbucker sounds immense with real character - rich and organic but capable of a massive growl with the tone open, a real bite that gives it an edge beyond anything my Precision basses can do. Amazing sound. Bridge pup solo'd is tight and nasal - not my thing - but middle position sounds incredible - burpy and rich, everything you would want from a P/J. Sustains forever. My expectations were high but it has exceeded them. The neck, in particular, is just incredible - everything I would want from a 5 string neck. I can hardly wait to use it in anger [attachment=244173:bb50001.jpg] [attachment=244174:bb50003.jpg] [attachment=244175:bb50004.jpg] [attachment=244176:bb50005.jpg] [attachment=244177:bb50002.jpg]