Paul S

Kiogon route is what I would do. I've bought many looms from John over the past few years and always had exemplary service and top quality product. And they couldn't be easier to fit.

Just for completion's sake of my input in this, my new Musicman Sterling 5 string has just arrived all the way from Greece. Wow. Everything I hoped for and more - quality bit of kit - really powerful, growly, light, narrow neck. And it is black and maple!!

I bought a Sterling 5 string bass from Steve. What can I say? Really friendly guy, superb comms throughout, made it as easy a sale as could be possible, didn't scrimp on the courier. I couldn't be happier. An absolute pleasure doing business!

[quote name='Chienmortbb' timestamp='1469784163' post='3100994'] For me it would be the other way around. In my experience most Westones are better than most squeirs. [/quote] Fair point I had in mind my JV but, yes, I would agree - a lot of Westones put a lot of Squiers to shame.

I've had a few Hohner B2As and currently a B2V to ease me gently into the world of 5ers. But best of all of them is a B2B, which doesn't get a lot of press. This differs from the others by being passive with P/J pickups and a bolt on neck. Doesn't have the leg rest or drop D facility, neither of which I miss. For me, and the tone I like to hear, it is better - more P/J like - then the EMGS on the active ones. I think these little cricket bats are just perfect as back up - they take up no room in the car or on stage - or tiny space gigs where you would be otherwise forever smacking the headstock against the drums/guitarists/singer etc with a normal bass.

I'm proud to be Man at Mencap. Can usually find what I am looking for at a charity shop - I've had decent Levi's jeans, a quality waistcoat, most of my shirts, some cowboy boots - all sorts.

I voted 'other' as it depends. I don't always gig a beater bass but I have in the past and would happily again. But if I ever landed a prestigious gig somewhere I would certainly be more conscious of what was on the headstock. So break out the Squier instead of the Westone

I Fought The Law - another song that was more famously covered by The Clash and Green Day than the original by Bobby Fuller. I can't believe this thread has carried on to 9 pages.

Yes, I do like Hohners! That might well have been a contender, I think. Do you know what the string spacing/neck width is? I recall yours is a 6er? BTW I ended up splashing out on the Sterling 5er that was advertised on here. After all, it is only money.

I've played lots of Precisions including long term use of a 90s USA Standard one. Of those I have played the best 3 are early 80s Squiers. I currently have 2 JV Precisions - one is an early Fender logo in tobacco-burst, the other an '83 Squier logo in black. Both '57 RI models. Both are totally fabulous basses but I actually prefer the slightly later one. The Fender logo one weighs just under 9lbs, the black one was just under 8.5lbs but I swapped the tuners for Gotoh lightweight ones that I bought on here (and a Schaller 3D bridge) and it is now around 8lbs. The black one has a quality about the tone that the Fender logo one doesn't quite match and it has become my main gigging bass, especially in view of the weight. Plus it has some lovely subtle figuring in the grain of the maple neck, which itself has aged to a warm caramel. It actually cost me half as much as the Fender logo one, too, which is nice The necks on both are just amazing. However, and with the disclaimer that all of this IMO of course, every bit as good as those, and the one that just suits me perfectly, is an A serial no. 32" scale Squier Precision that I have had for a while now. The stock pup was swapped by a previous owner (hi Ted) to a Fender Original with a quality pot/wiring loom upgrade and it has the exact sound that 'the Precision bass in my head' has. It is around 7.5lbs in weight, white aged to cream with a white scratchplate and a rosewood board - the neck is 38mm at the nut and a really comfy radius. It is my joint favourite bass and, shallow person that I am, if this were black with a maple neck it would be the one I use all the time. But it is certainly the one I would grab in the 'house fire' scenario. Not an exhaustive test by any means, but I have no need to look for any more Precisions.

made from oak, presumably?

Nice basses. I had one for a while, not entirely sure why I moved it on (same old story ) If you are modding it, rather than restoring it, you could perhaps consider not replacing the pre-amp as they sound nice passive?

Phil answered my plea for a Schaller 3D bridge - great comms, good price, sent immediately, a pleasure doing business with!

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1469105958' post='3095794'] Another step on the way to having children killed and stuffed so they don't make any noise or mess. [/quote] As a 'non-parent' I am struggling to see the negatives here....

Dingwall is around £1700 too much for me, sadly.... Specific question - Does anyone know the weight of a Sterling by Musicman SUB Ray5? Ta!

I would pipe up for (and muddy the water further with) Japanese Squiers and Fenders. To me they seem more consistent - at least the ones I have had. The two nicest Precision basses I have owned (and still own) have been MIJ mid 80s Squiers.

For me it entirely depends upon the band and what range of music I'm playing. With my rock covers band I can largely keep the tone in the same place and vary it by playing with fingers/pick at the bridge or neck. With my other band we play such a mix of styles that I like to open and close the tone quite a bit - open and aggressive for 'Psycho Killer' or 'Pump It Up', say, compared to almost completely rolled off for 'Midnight At The Oasis' or 'Blue Hotel'.

^^This^^ I found the same. When I first hurt my back badly I wandered in the class D head wilderness for a few years, tried all sorts of manufacturers and ratings, never quite got there. To my knackered old ears a TC RH750 got close but not close enough. I bought on here an AH300-12 SMX that had been rack-mounted into an ABS case, making it 12kg. A nice balanced one hand carry when I have my Barefaced Supercompact in the other hand. Couldn't be happier.

[quote name='mattbass6' timestamp='1468837677' post='3093609'] I'm amazed at the weight in the sense that it is pretty light. I was expecting it to be heavy for some reason but, it isn't. No idea of the weight I'm afraid and, I don't have scales at home. I will try and find out for you though. As for width at the nut, I believe it is 1.75" It is very comfortable and the neck has a compound radius ranging from 9.5" to 14". I hope that helps [/quote] Thanks!