Paul S

Nic bought a rack case in the simplest of transactions. Nice fellow to deal with!

Thanks for that Mr Eric. All very interesting. Just had a quick look at The Rail online - there are a couple of demos. I see what you mean!!

Interesting. I have no idea how the various Steinbergers compare, either with each other or with the 'others'. How do the Alien and Duke compare with each other? How much do they weigh?

Its just what I have read, so interesting to hear actual experience.

I have a love/hate relationship with these. Over the past few years I have bought and sold three Hohner B2A basses. I go through periods when I consider them to be very practical to take as a back up bass in case the one I want to use fails for some reason. They take up no room in the car and no room on the stage. But I don't like them enough to want to gig with them as a main bass, although I have done very occasionally, and so I sell them and use of of my 'normal basses' (ok,l Precision basses) as back up. Then I find myself again on a small stage with very little space to stand two regular basses and I think 'why on earth did I sell my Hohner B2A?' After all, it is just insurance - I only intend to use the one main bass. Thus I currently find myself in the market for one. But I wonder if I should try something else other than a Hohner B2A? If so, what are the choices for headless body-less basses? pros and cons for each? I'd be very interested to hear of other recommendations. One I would jump at is a Riverhead Unicorn bass. I've seen and heard one of these in action and it was lovely. But I understand they are quite hard to come by . Westone Quantum - possibly a bit clanky. Westone Rail - never heard one. There are Steinbergers - some are cheap and some are expensive but I don't know the difference. Kramer Duke bass, unstable aluminium neck? Anything else, cheap and cheerful? Hofner Shorty?

[quote name='Twincam' timestamp='1454065577' post='2965932'] Whoa there. I never said they were not a choice or that they couldn't happen too anyone and I think I also said I can understand why people like lighter gear. And I certainly don't think any injury is funny I've had a few myself, or that anyone is less manly so really you've put words in my mouth I've never spoken. And I certainly do not judge anyone on how much they can lift. The thing that annoys me is people rejecting gear these days because it's heavy like it should be feared. And as you said your injury was from weight lifting and not from lifting gear which is normally less heavy than weights. [/quote] [size=4][font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Yes, you said those things but the overall tone of your post seemed, to me, to criticize - "[color=#282828]a man should really be able to haul heavy gear without injury " seems fairly unambiguous. If that isn't what you meant then I apologise for wading in.[/color][/font][/size] I didn't actually say my back injury was from lifting weights. It wasn't - it happened doing something totally innocuous. Although I grant you it could read like it was from lifting weights. My point is that at the time of my life when I first injured my back - I was a little older than you in my early 40s - I used to be very strong: had a strong back/legs from squats/deadlifts/rows etc, was completely used to lifting heavy things but all was to no avail when my back went - just leaning over to measure with a tape measure.

[quote name='Twincam' timestamp='1454059832' post='2965811'] Just realised I'm 33 this year. Starting to get gray hairs too. I really believe in staying fit, weights and cardio. And so it does slightly annoy me all this talk of lighter gear although I can understand why. I'm using older TE gear and it's a pain in the arse. But a man should really be able to haul heavy gear without injury and I hope I will still be able to do just that long into old age. [/quote] You do realise, though, that back injuries are not a choice. They can happen no matter how fit you are. First time my back 'went' I was doing heavy weights and probably about as fit as I ever have been. I can see nothing for you to be 'slightly annoyed' about. If anything I -and I am sure other people who do suffer with back problems - am 'slightly annoyed' at your attitude, that we are somehow less manly because we can no longer heft 50kg cabs about. If you consider 'being a man' is measured by how much weight you can move I would suggest you have a close look at your life values.

58. Happy to gig unless I have to get up early next morning.

There's lots of choice for inexpensive short scales now. EB0 have other inherent issues such as neck dive and 'muddy' sound that may put you off. Squier Bronco or, especially, SS Jaguar are good ones to dip your toe in the water. Danelectro Longhorn is quirky and individual. And an array of others - stick Shortscale bass filter on Thomann's listings and there are a couple of pages of basses at all price points. Harley Benton do some, for example.

Well done! Pics please, when it arrives.

Daion Performer black/black/maple £110 BIN. Aren't these supposed to be quite nice? [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-DAION-Yamaki-Performer-BASS-ELECTRIC-GUITAR-Black-Made-in-Japan-/201512152847?hash=item2eeb0f6f0f:g:gZkAAOSwoydWp3bT"]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-DAION-Yamaki-Performer-BASS-ELECTRIC-GUITAR-Black-Made-in-Japan-/201512152847?hash=item2eeb0f6f0f:g:gZkAAOSwoydWp3bT[/url]

SGC Nanyo Bass Collection 5 strings also have narrow string spacing and, despite the quality, usually sell for next to nothing secondhand.

I check in a few times a day. I have insatiable curiosity about gear - what people use, how they use it. Costs me a fortune in the classifieds, too. I mostly enjoy the off topics - I don't usually bother reading a paper but if anything worth mentioning in the world occurs it gets reported here. On the whole I think this is a wonderful, friendly and helpful community and compared to most it remains reasonably even-tempered. I love the humour of some posters and the forum is guaranteed to make me smile a few times a day. I also find it amusing to see the new heights of arrogance to which a couple of regular posters rise... there seems no limit at the moment.... IMO

Ziggy bought my Mono gig bag. Easy peasy. Nice friendly chap to deal with

Too many - rich time for music. Songs From The Big Chair, Tears for fears? Dire Straits Live in Wembley Arena?