Paul S

Hobbyist. This year I will probably end up doing around 20 paid gigs but that only breaks even with the cost of rehearsals and petrol money. However I can't think of many hobbies where you enjoy yourself so much and break even at the end of the year so consider myself very lucky!

Well, that's no good - you don't look anything like Bill Wyman.

[quote name='TheGreek' timestamp='1470847417' post='3108937'] Useless piece of trivia - Herbie Flowers wrote "Grandad" by Clive Dunn which made No1 (courtesy of "Pointless) [/quote] This has dredged up a memory from when this came out. In my class at school, at least, it was obligatory to sing this as: Grandad, grandad, you're a w@nker (then with the appropriate hand gesture) That's what we all think of you. In my defense I'd say I was only 14. However, it still makes me grin

Richard just bought my Westone Thunder Jet - he popped round, we put the world to rights etc. Lovely fella to do business with!

I would recommend trying a Musicman 5 string of some sort - Stingray or Sterling - before writing off 5 strings. I am new to the world of 5 strings. I had tried before but, like you, found the flabby B string not much use plus I never got beyond the extra string doing my head in. But that was a while back - never say never - I recently bought a Hohner B2V and discovered that I could get on with one as long as it was light and had narrow string spacing. However I wasn't happy enough with the Hohner for the band I intend it for - the B was still weak - so after considering various options and getting some great advice on here, I snapped up a lighter-than-average Musicman Sterling 5 that was for sale in the classifieds. And I am so glad I did - it wasn't exactly a bargain price but it was worth every single penny. A world of difference in the whole bass but most especially the B string, which is tight and growly just like the rest of the bass. I once had a SBMM SB14, so the 4 string Sterling in the series down from the 'proper' MM range and similar to your Ray34, and it was very good - but not a patch on this.

Bought a set of lightweight tuners from Simon in the most pleasant of transactions - good comms throughout. They were sent promptly and arrived beautifully packaged. Good price too! A pleasure doing business!

Not quite what you were asking but if you can get on with a short scale bass then a Danelectro Longhorn bass ticks a lot of boxes. Despite looking like something out of the Pink Panther cartoon they are actually proper basses with a wide range of tones and huge sound. All my basses are sub-9lbs to prevent my back aching next day. But if my back is actually bad and i have to play, this is the one I use - I think it is around 6lbs.

[quote name='PaulWarning' timestamp='1470233741' post='3104346'] I sort of know what you mean, re light enough, it is light but it's also bulky with only a handle on the top so it sort of swings around as you're walking with it, and I've run out of puff without an ext cab in larger pubs, I do like the sound though, so, it's not perfect but bloody good value for money [/quote] Yes, almost unbeatable value for money and difficult to resist. But, like you, I found it a little too awkward for a one hand carry. Not that it is much on topic but I now have a Markbass CMD121P that fills my lightweight combo needs. Compared to the Rumble it is lighter, smaller and I can get a tone from it I like If I need louder I use my proper rig and be done with it but this is good for rehearsals with my 'quiet band' and the odd small venue.