Paul S

The situation with my bands is the same - we split the cost of the space equally. If anyone wants to hire something extra over what is supplied they pay for that themselves. So, for example, one guitarist in one band often hires a cab because he can't be bothered to lug his own. Or sometimes a drummer might want to hire kit if he is short of time to load his own in the car. That's down to them.

Have you looked at the Epiphone Thunderbird pro V? They look like a Thunderbird but nothing much else is similar - they are active so you can get a decent range of tones out of one. I had the 4 string version for a while and it played well and sounded just fine. Just thought I was too old and too fat to get away with wearing it.

Andertons, too. Interesting. [url="http://www.andertons.co.uk/bass-amp-heads/pid15406/cid685/orange-tb500h-terror-bass-amp-head.asp"]http://www.andertons.co.uk/bass-amp-heads/pid15406/cid685/orange-tb500h-terror-bass-amp-head.asp[/url] Does anyone know - do these current models have any kind of mods at all to address the valve gain/hot DI issues?

Zombie thread time. I saw Spandau Ballet at the O2 on Weds just gone. They were quite good, which was disappointing as I think they can be superb. Martin Kemp was sporting a shiny black Wal mk1 like this (edit - not my pic, Daily Telegraph): Not that his basslines have ever been that challenging, but he ducked out of the few tricky bits that there were. Which, given he has had two grapefruit sized tumours cut out of his brain and he now has a raft of medical issues, is entirely forgivable. He still looks as cool as hell, the git. Not forgivable, though - Gary Kemp fluffed the fingerpicking intro of Through The Barricades. Although to be fair, the overwhelming number of 50-something ladies in the crowd possibly didn't notice. Nice food at the Brooklyn Bowl.

I'm firmly in the hobby bass player camp. I play in 3 bands, none of which are busy. I'd say 2 are a decent standard as pub bands go, one lot are a load of old blaggers but very nice fellows. I started bass late in life, got my first one 10 years ago, first gig at 50 which was 7 years ago now. I've been playing consistently since then. I think 'solid' describes what I do. I have no theory, I don't know my arpeggios from my elbow but can find any note on the fretboard. Eventually. Can't improvise, simply copy and paste. On the plus side I have ( so far ) been able to learn and play anything that has been asked of me with a reasonable enough touch to remain in bands with far better musicians than I will ever be. A deception that I hope I will continue to get away with.

[quote name='Raslee' timestamp='1426812144' post='2722372'] T-Bone on Thomann do a great 3 pack SM58 equivalent, surpringly good too [/quote] That was the one I was going to recommend. Accurately projects my low rumble.

Y5S - that is really helpful. Many thanks. Have to say that looks the business, too. I had a little lash up yesterday using the tripod stand from a cheap lights set I have, a couple of cable ties and some gaffer tape. As you say - getting the mount somewhere near the balance point of the bass would seem the key issue - I varied the footprint quite a bit and, if the bass is balanced, you can actually get away with a 'fairly' small spread on the tripod. If not, and/or you use the endpin for balance/weight distribution, the whole thing tips unless the spread is wide. Plus I am 5" shorter than you, so the whole thing would be less wobbly to start with. I think I will take the plunge on something I have seen on eBay and report back after I've had a go. Meanwhile thanks everyone for the input

That got me curious. My Stagg weighs around 14lbs, so for some reason a good deal lighter. Mr 5 stringer - look forward to seeing that! I am currently looking at tattoo arm/leg rests, along the lines of this: [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Getbetterlife-Black-Arm-Leg-Rest-Portable-Adjustable-Chair-Tattoo-Supply-Set-/271772349374?pt=UK_Health_Beauty_Tattoos_BodyArt_SM&hash=item3f46e4f3be"]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Getbetterlife-Black-Arm-Leg-Rest-Portable-Adjustable-Chair-Tattoo-Supply-Set-/271772349374?pt=UK_Health_Beauty_Tattoos_BodyArt_SM&hash=item3f46e4f3be [/url]

I don't do Twitface so the layout kind of confuses me but nice to have some promo on the shorties. I have two at the moment and really like playing them - Fender Musicmaster modded with a Precision pickup and Danelectro Longhorn. Especially the Dano which I am currently head over heels with.

Don't start... there was always that 'rampaging vikings' shampoo advert. Or was it conditioner? I didn't take much notice...

[url="https://youtu.be/SiMkJIS7Zw8"]https://youtu.be/SiMkJIS7Zw8[/url] Doesn't seem to want to embed. Anyone remember this?

Pictures, please! There were quite a number of variations of the Thunder II, some better than others. If it were one of the medium scale versions, for example, there are a few people on here that would start badgering you to sell it to them. Not me, of course.

I am in a similar position - I love Precision basses but prefer skinny necks. I have tried several options. My best and favourite Precision at the moment is an 80s MIJ Squier, medium scale with a 38mm nut width. Superb bass. For me and what I need from a Precision it is the nicest I have played. The MIJ Fender Jazz Bass Special basses are Precision bodies with Jazz width necks and P/J pickups. Power Jazz Bass Special have active onboard eq. They are really nice basses that, for some reason, are still quite low in price to buy considering the quality. Usually under £400. I'm on my second one! Had a white one, sold it, missed it, now have a black one. There has to be a lot to be said for making a bitsa. I had a MIJ Black P body, mighty Mite Jazz maple neck, Fender Original pickup and it was brilliant. Just not quite as good as the Squier which, when it arrived, immediately usurped it. Fender Precision Lyte basses have *really* skinny necks, both narrow and shallow. But they don't sound exactly like Precision basses to me. At least mine doesn't. If it doesn't have to have Fender on the headstock how about a yamaha? I am a new convert - just got a BB414 and that does an acceptable Precision sound using the P type pickup together wit a narrow neck. Or, another idea, how about a Mustang? If you can play Short Scale they have narrow necks. Sound big and old school, though not exactly like a Precision.

[quote name='Erik' timestamp='1426518232' post='2718732'] @Paul: I do have a few of those stands including one that looks very, very similar and I am pretty sure that this not sturdy enough to take the weight of the Stagg. Maybe with endpin in place it might work. [/quote] I had a look at one last night and you are quite right - too flimsy. I need to have a peek at the laptop stand and also there are TV monitor stands that are similar. Failing that the cymbal stand is much sturdier. Or just upgrade to an NS Design and be done with it!

I wonder if one of these might actually do the job, too? Heavy duty music stand. [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/360848354708?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT"]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/360848354708?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT[/url] The gubbins at the back of the flat plate looks like it would be an ideal fixing for the back of the bass. Might need to keep the end pin, though, to help with the weight. I'll take a look at one in a music shop and see what I think.

[quote name='alyctes' timestamp='1426440470' post='2718073'] Whoa, you got a Longhorn for less than £200?! Congratulations! :jealous: [/quote] Yes, I know - a bargain And it was on here, too - I was lucky enough to see the ad sharpish.

Having just acquired my first Yamaha BB414 for well under £200 I would have to join the queue to recommend one of those. Very impressed with what you get for the money, especially the tone which has depth and character way above the price point. My other sub-£200 bargain buy recently was a Danelectro Longhorn. Uber-cool querky looks - not everybodies cup of tea perhaps - and an amazing range of tones. Featherlight and shortscale, I could comfortably play it for hours on end! There's a passable Jazz bass sound waiting to come out but also a rather unique Danelectro tone in the sweet spot that I just love. I gigged with it on Friday for the first time and, unusually, had people come up to me afterwards asking about it.

I'm confused as well - your pic shows a Gotoh 201 or similar? Anyway, heavy and brass calls to mind the Hipshot A style Fender fit. I had one on a P bass and, for me, it was the best aftermarket bridge in terms of functionality, build quality and looks. Superb bit of kit, though not the cheapest. Don't know if you can get it in gold finish, though.

That is very interesting - looks like it might do exactly the job I need. I'll see if I can see one in the flesh somewhere. Great bit of lateral thinking - thank you!!

New or secondhand?

Food for thought, thanks. Although I'd like to leave the end pin out of the equation completely, really, in the way the NS Design one does. More ideas I had - using the bracket that fixes to the bottom of a drum stool - take it off the stool, bolt the bracket onto the body of the bass them slot that into the cymbal stand. Should be able to adjust the angle of the dangle as well. Assuming all the bits are the same diameter.

Sticking the end-pin into the hole in the top of a drum stool wouldn't work in the way I am looking to achieve - my desired result would be like this: I can just walk up to it, play, then move on the regular 4 string leaving the whole thing standing firmly in place whilst doing either. That's the plan, anyway. A regular boom cymbal stand would be ok for the tripod bass and upright It is how I get the bass to fix onto this that I am querying, really.

Moving back to the issue of a stand, if I can. I prefer playing my Stagg whilst it is held on its stand, rather than balanced on the end pin and using the body brace. I've tried both and this way suits me more. I do, however, find the Stagg stand rather cumbersome and ugly. My thought is to get a cymbal stand and then to attach this with some kind of bracket to the body of the bass in much the same way as the NS Design basses but can't think of an immediate 'off the peg' bracket. There is a solid bit on the body just above the electrics compartment that I think would suit as a mounting point as it is roughly where the balance point of the bass is. Anyone done this or have any ideas? Ta!