Paul S

I had to buy a 5er for a new project about 7 or so months ago - a Bon Jovi tribute band where some of the bass lines need the extra low notes. At first I thought I could cover most of it with a drop D but, it seemed, not everything. I decided to stop using 4 strings to make myself get used to the 5s and have played 5 strings exclusively since. Seven months on, to my surprise, I find I actually prefer using the 5er to the point of selling my 'non-keeper' 4 strings. As has been said, I can play everything I used to play on a 4 on the 5 but often with greater ease and I am enjoying this period of 'discovery' as to the best way to approach using the 5 strings. For some tunes, playing notes that used to be covered by the E string on the low B gives a more appropriate, darker 'timbre' - not always, but sometimes. Some tunes I am still in the process of 're-learning' to play in the middle of the 5er, some I kept as I used to play on 4 strings and not used the B string. I can see there are some tunes that I have played in the past that would need a drop D that can't be played easily on a 5er ('Slither' by Velvet Revolver springs to mind) but at the moment I don't play any of those. So, what worked for me was to abandon 4 string basses and use 5 strings. Be interesting to see what happens if and when I no longer 'need' 5.

.... and?....

If it all works it isn't a bad price but not an absolute steal. I have one. I find these cricket bats very useful for all kinds of reasons.

I've been watching L42 for as long as they have been playing and I reckon the band is better now than ever. The drummer is amazing and MKs bass playing has a maturity about it - no more slap fest at the front of the stage. To watch him play some of those complex finger style lines while singing is a joy. He even plays some with a pick! All imo etc.

I have a Hohner B2V which has very tight string spacing at the bridge of 16mm, nut is 43mm. I had a Peavey Foundation 5er and that was 43mm at the nut and 15mm spacing at the bridge.

Another GAS free person here. It is a strange feeling. I don't scrutinise the classifieds anymore - just a cursory glance. Maybe, in the new year, I won't even look! All I want to do at the moment is 'tinker' with the basses I have.

[quote name='Damonjames' timestamp='1482492933' post='3200992'] The issue of weight applies on both sides... Many people are obsessed with the weight of gear (basses in particular). If we all obsessed over our own weight, and did some regular excersize, maybe the weight of gear wouldn't be such as issue. I'm now in the "over 35" age bracket, and to be honest, was starting to let myself get a little "cuddly" for want of a better word. I have also spent years playing sport/weight lifting and have more injuries than I care to remember (particularly at this time of year). Last January my wife and I decided to make changes and joined slimming world, started running, bought a road bike and got out there. So, the obvious thing was the waist size of my jeans when down by about 3", and naturally felt better, but the one thing I wasn't expecting... nearly all those "niggles" went away. Playing/carrying gear is really no issue (I use a stingray 5)... fact is, we could probably all do with moving a little more. It's. I wonder we complain about "heavy basses" when we stand up and play for 4 hours over a night, particularly if like me, you sit at a desk for a large portion of your work day. Obviously, if you have an injury, that needs to be respected, and there is a lot to be said for correct lifting technique, so look after yourselves. But get moving, and equally get stretching!!! [/quote] if your niggles have gone away then you are a lucky fella! I was 59 this year and decided that I wanted to be 60 and fit, not 60 and fat. Back in the spring I changed my diet, changed my gym regime (under pretty careful instruction) and have since lost 4" off my waist whilst pretty much maintaining my weight. Subcutaneous fat and visceral fat levels have gone way down, muscle mass increased etc etc. I am much stronger and fitter - probably as strong and fit as I have been for a long while. But my back problem is still there. I still know about it if I use a bass over 9lbs, still have the weakness. I suppose what I am saying is that everyone is different - hitting the gym I am sure helps but it isn't always a cure-all.

I have bought 2 basses from a Japanese eBay seller. He used DHL to ship, who were initially a little more expensive. But it took 2 days door to door from Tokyo to Benfleet, I was able to pay the duty online (which somehow ended up being less than I had calculated), no £8 handling fee, no waiting at Coventry for a week for someone to rubber stamp the paperwork. So if you do take the plunge it is worth asking about this route. This was for two basses I was unable to get in the UK and when I finally moved them on I was able to do so at the same price it cost me without them hanging around for months.

Heard this last night. I think it is the best thing I have heard for yonks. Maybe it should go in the 'fewer notes' thread? http://youtu.be/iu0pewX67mE

I used to have a big and heavy Trace Elliot stack. Total weight was around 100kg! Then I hurt my back badly and went down the lightweight gear route, choosing Barefaced for my cabs. Initially a G1 Compact, then I added a G1 Midget, then I cashed them in for a G3 Supercompact and then I added another. I couldn't be happier with those, so that is my cab/s sorted. Together with a BF 110 I now have complete flexibility depending upon my needs. Amps are another thing. I was always a fan of the Trace Elliot pre-shape 1 button. I tried lots and lots of class D amps but nothing has ever satisifed my quest for replicating that tone. I've had TC Electronic, Genz Benz, Eden, MarkBass, Fender Rumble, forget what else. Loads. Always found something lacking. Then I bought on here a Trace Elliot AH-300 that had been rack-mounted into a 2U ABS case rather than the wooden box - now just 12kg. Perfect. A balanced carry in with the cab in the other hand. I subsequently got another that was 'out of the box' as well. I would say - give it a try!

The old Westone Thunder active basses used to have a tone knob that worked whether active or passive. Great feature. I am sure the Westone info pages would have a link to the wiring diagram. Page is here: [url="http://www.westone.info/wiring.html"]http://www.westone.info/wiring.html[/url]

I have learnt a few things. The three main things being: Being in 3 bands was too many for me, so I left one. I should have done it years ago, really. I learnt that not only can I get on with (some) 5 string basses, I actually prefer them. Didn't see that one coming. The most important thing I learnt was that being willing to compromise more has not resulted in my willy getting smaller, as I had always previously believed. As a result I am happier in the band.

Well, you nudged me along a bit in the right direction! I've ordered a set now from GAK, out of stock currently but I'm in no hurry. £185 for a pair, which is some way cheaper than anywhere else. Mind you anywhere else could justifiably say that when they haven't got them they are also £185

Heard back from the man at Aguilar [size=4]'[font=Calibri, sans-serif]The DCB G3 would be an excellent choice for your bass. You are correct that the G3 will be an exact fit. Since the bar magnet runs the entire length of the pickup, it will work fine'[/font] [font=Calibri, sans-serif]Perfect![/font][/size]

[quote name='Chris Sharman' timestamp='1482105375' post='3197736'] I use TI Jazz flats on my fretless Westone Thunder and love the sound. [/quote] Best value for money fretless out there, imo. Really gorgeous tone.

Possibly a bit 'belt and braces' but if I am shipping a bass abroad, not shipping with a hard case or using anything longer than an overnight service I will endeavour to double box it, with a layer of padding between the boxes. Within the UK I would always use Interparcel, and usually use their UPS next day service. Cost will depend largely upon insurance you take out ie value of the bass but somewhere around £20-£25 for a sub- £500 bass.

A bit like 'lipstick' can have anything inside it, as I found out when I asked some while back! Yes, some notional reading around told me that. The Aguilars say they have ceramic bar magnets, which implies they should work across the whole width but, just to be sure, a bit earlier I shot off an email to the Aguilar tech people so they will hopefully be able to give me a definitive answer. They are not cheap to buy without absolute certainty they will do the job!

That is the exact answer I was hoping for! Thank you.

A while back I bought a Hohner B2V that wasn't working properly by way of an introduction into the world of 5ers. Someone had converted it at some point from passive to active and I have now put it back to passive as I prefer passive basses. I now like everything about it apart from the tone, which hasn't changed a great deal going from active to passive, so I am considering changing the pickups to something better or, at least, more to my liking. It is currently sporting Duncan Designed EMG type pickups that are small! EMG35 sized, even though it is a 5er - it has very narrow string spacing. However, all the 5 string soapbars I look at are bigger! And yet these current ones work just fine. So this is the daft question - is a soapbar pickup capable of working equally well with a 4 string or 5 string bass? So if I bought, for example, an Aguilar DCB G3 4 string set, which are the same size as the EMG35 shells on my current pups, would they work? My guess is that they must do, otherwise it wouldn't work properly at the moment, but that comes from a position of not knowing anything Muchas gracias!

[quote name='itsmedunc' timestamp='1481946911' post='3196496'] I've got 2 bulldogs, 2 Boston terriers and the wife snoring away next to me on the settee. Sleep is not happening. There must be some more beer somewhere... [/quote] There's your problem, Dunc. Try sleeping on the bed with everyone, not the settee. Should be more comfortable.

What about a Yamaha?

[quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1481790272' post='3195094'] If looking at hard cases Hiscox always get my vote. [/quote] Hiscox are great. Also the SKB fitted ones - not so much potential for moving about inside.