Paul S

I had one a few years ago, sold it when I had no more use for a fretless. Bought another last year when I did, now sold it again. I find them perfectly ok. But I replaced my last one with a Westone Thunder 1A fretless which, for me, is better in every way. I prefer the bass itself, the way it is built, the unlined rosewood fretboard, the tone. It just feels more comfortable and of better quality. Status black nylon flats and off I go.

My old one had Seymour Duncan pickups fitted in both positions and as the covers both had 'Basslines' written on them I guess that is a straight fit.

Middle front row of the circle at the Cliff's Pavilion for me and Mrs S - booked on the 'priority booking' scheme to get a good seat. Not to be missed! Probably said it before but, for me, it is Mark King's finger style playing that impresses most. Some of the lines he plays are rather complex and he just stands there playing them and singing at the same time.

I could spend a fortune on gear - £250 on a socket, £3000 on a kettle lead, a few grand on a head and more on a cab, a boutique bass fashioned from tone woods .... but at the end of the chain there are always my ears, which are fairly royally shagged.

[quote name='gareth' timestamp='1399063646' post='2440717'] Yes c u at Jeff Beck Paul [/quote] I am in the same seat as the Yes gig, so I probably will if you are too!

[url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/171317936674?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649"]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/171317936674?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649[/url] Collection only in Baldock, Herts. Think Hohner Jack with a head or B2A with a body and head. That is an absolute bargain, good quality neck through bass, active with great range of tones, drop D detuner system, for less than the price of a Squier. These would usually fetch £200 +/- which is, itself, a bargain - so this one really is a steal. IMO etc.

[quote name='hiram.k.hackenbacker' timestamp='1399050150' post='2440517'] Us Essex BC'ers really must get our sh*t together next time. The Southend gig was great. [/quote] Indeed. It ends up I was sitting next to Gareth and his mate and was chatting with them in the intermission - no idea we were fellow Basschatters. So - anyone going to see Jeff Beck on 13th?

Addendum to this - did anyone else go last night to see Yes at the Cliff's Pavilion? Totally brilliant - exceeded my expectations. As a part time listener to Yes, not a dyed in the wool fan, I thought the 'new' singer is great and near enough to Jon Anderson for it not to matter to me. Howe and Squire were on top form. Even if they both look slightly odd these days. As tight as a band can be, especially given the complexity of the music. And crystal clear sound. Bass playing was a masterclass. And 2hrs 15 mins playing, too. I am so glad I went

I had the Power Jazz Bass Special in pearly white with a black headstock (the one Lozz played) - it had been fitted with Seymour Duncan pups at some point and was a rock monster, very gritty and raw. PJ pups, Jazz width neck (superb), the active tone controls are different to most - a mid sweep and a boost toggle switch (there is a thread on Talkbass somewhere explaining how it all works). A small bit of me regrets moving it on.

I always look upon it as the cost of getting to try the instrument for a while. Like a rental charge. And unless I got something incredibly cheaply, I usually take a bit of a hit on the selling price, too. I buy and sell basses because I am curious and want to try them, not to make money. Maybe that is why I will never be wealthy

Bought a mono gig bag from Gareth in the easiest of transactions, good comms, speedily dispatched. A pleasure doing business!

I had Bass Doc fit a MIJ Fender P pickup I had loafing around into my old Musicmaster - sounds great! Not a straight fit, needed some routing and a new scratchplate, but it was worth it.

I don't get all this woolly pulling. If you flag up something you like and other people like it - great. No need to cross people off your xmas card list if they don't. We all like different things.

You don't say what bass you play at the moment but, if it isn't lightweight, changing to one that is the single biggest difference you can make. It cannot be overstated what a difference there is between an 8 lb bass and a 10 lb bass. For me anything over 9lbs is out of the question but, between 8-9lbs that still leaves an awful lot of choice. Below 8lbs reduces the field somewhat but, as detailed above, there are a fair range to choose from. I have several, some have been mentioned, some not. I'd add a Fender Precision Lyte to the list at around 7.5lbs. Hohner B2A and equivalent also. I also have Shergold Marathon that is under 8lbs although I believe not all are that light. Just under 8lbs - Ibanez SR800. If shortscale is acceptable my Fender Musicmaster is under 8lbs, as was my Epiphone EB0. I am sure your Corporate Clients won't point and laugh if you turn up with any of those

I have a TC Classic 450 and a Genz Benz Streamliner 600. To me, neither is better than the other but each is more appropriate for certain bands/types of music. I preferred the TC for the heavy rock covers as the Tubetone was extremely versatile for adding overdrive on the fly witout having to fiddle with all the other settings and the way the overall sound was coloured I felt suited the heavy stuff. But for the bands I am in at the moment where I don't need much by way of overdrive I prefer the slight warmth and extra clarity of the Streamliner.

Aw shucks, I'm a hero Cheers Dave

Pleased to be the first to leave feedback for Julian. He bought my J Retro in the smoothest of transactions. Good comms, friendly chap, I wouldn't hesitate to deal with him again

I'd say that compared to the split coil P-type, the Magnabass is slightly more metallic, nasal and honky, if that makes any sense. With rounds I find it a bit harsh but a decent set of flats adds an organic warmth to the tone that is really lovely yet with sufficient bite with the treble up if needs be. I am not sure of the difference between the different Magnabass pups, though. I am the rather proud owner of Matsumoku's finest - a Pantera X790 - which according to the literature is fitted with a pair of Magnabass VII pups. But to my knackered old ears they sound much like the ones fitted to these 1A version III. I guess they can't be the same. Without wishing to derail the topic does anyone know? A quick trawl through the Westone site to match pictures to descriptions seems superficially confusing with no consistency between pickup model numbers and appearance.

[quote name='icastle' timestamp='1397850980' post='2428033'] Perhaps not the prettiest models to have come out of Matsumoku, but eminently playable and well constructed. [/quote] I actually like the look of them - I'd much rather have a Westone Thunder 1A and a few hundred quid in the bank than a bass with a fancy name on the headstock made of exotic woods. I was really sad to let mine go when I damaged my back as the models I owned then were too heavy to wear for any length of time. To my surprise and delight I recently discovered that the 1A version 3 weighs under 8.5lbs and now have a matching pair of fretted and fretless and a big smile. The version 3 also has Magnabass pickup, which is voiced differently to the split coil P style, and I prefer it. 22 frets, better high mass bridge, slightly simplified controls - win all round.

I keep buying them - got to be the best value for money out there. Just acquired a Thunder 1A version 3 on here that has really put a smile on my face - lightweight (!!), active, 22 fret neck. Great necks.