Paul S

Jap not-so-crap? A nice pointy headstock 80s Aria Pro [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Aria-Pro-2-Active-Bass-Guitar-SLB-Series-1981-/161256645925?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item258ba52525"]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Aria-Pro-2-Active-Bass-Guitar-SLB-Series-1981-/161256645925?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item258ba52525[/url] Could go cheap. Any good? I imagine so, though not for me.

I do 'Break Down' in one band and it is a joy to play. Just get in the groove and enjoy!

I was having a look at this but decided to leave it. Might regret that... it doesn't say in the listing but it is an active model. I think the toggle gives it away but wasn't sure so I asked.

Spot on. Glad to see Wilko looking so well, too. Thanks for that.

I like slap bass when it is used for a reason, same as any other sound or technique. I wish I could do it better. Two of my favourite slapping songs, but for different reasons. Chicago Song, David Sanborn - powerful and percussive http://youtu.be/JGuO_noj4zM Go West, What You Won't Do For Love - subtle and effective. Love the bass on this in particular. Anyone know who it is? http://youtu.be/Jj9ORgevBAM

[quote name='tedmanzie' timestamp='1395051130' post='2397984'] This! > [media]http://youtu.be/G1KhY2FDBzs[/media] [/quote] That was nice, not heard it before!

[quote name='skankdelvar' timestamp='1395082742' post='2398475'] My next project may be a 51-bitsa with a Jazz width neck and Tele-type headstock. Mr Jazz headstock ... meet Mr Router. [/quote] If that were mine it would be '... meet Mr Slatterly'... I hope you are as handy with wood as you are with words, sir. Good luck!

That is gorgeous.

[quote name='Hank Scorpio' timestamp='1395080443' post='2398436'] I've been tempted to get a Jazz bass, sell the neck & a maple-board Precision neck because I feel more comfortable with the slightly wider nut width. So I'd imagine comfort is a major factor, as well as changing the fingerboard type (I'd like a maple board, as most of mine are rosewood, for example). [/quote] For me it is the opposite - I like Precision basses but prefer Jazz width necks. I have a Mighty Mite Jazz neck on my MIJ P body and it is really nice.

Bought some strings from Andy - arrived next working day, good price, good comms, wouldn't hesitate to buy from him again! Cheers Paul

Interesting! She/you must be doing well to get a slot in the first place. Which spot and at what time? I didn't see any of the acts with girl singers. Well, apart from the Dixie Chicks and Martina McBride in the main arena. What was it like from a performers point of view? I assume you don't get paid for this?

Another Essex chap here from Benfleet down at the Delta - welcome aboard. Obligatory Essex girl joke - best advice is don't get the heels of your white stilettos caught up in the handle of your handbag when playing. Right, that's got that out of the way... SE Essex bass bash more like. Wasn't there one on Canvey a while back?

I went to the c2c festival yesterday, which is a country music weekend at the o2. [url="http://www.c2c-countrytocountry.com/"]http://www.c2c-countrytocountry.com/[/url] 4 bands on the main arena from late afternoon until the evening, with small sets from 'up and coming' country bands on pop up stages dotted around the venue. Yesterday and today, although I only had tickets for yesterday. What a great day! Headliners were the Zac Brown Band, who were a phenomenon. I expected them to be good, but they blew me away. I have watched a lot of bands over the last 40-odd years and they are as good as anyone I have ever seen live. Amazing. 8 piece band tight as anything, 4 piece vocal harmony, all top musos. Alll underpinned by the fact that Zac Brown is one heck of a song writer - superb melodies with poignant lyrics. And a Metallica cover They don't come here often, sadly, but I will seek them out if possible. Some of the small bands in the pop-up sets were really good. A couple of Scottish bands - of note Dirty Beggars, great country band writing honest country-style music. And particularly good - Stevie Agnew. Rather special, I'd say - he has a great voice and a great band. Bass player was really very good indeed with great touch and feel. I though he looked familiar - I just looked him up and I was right - someone on here a while back posted a couple of tongue-in-cheek videos ' I slap My Bass and Doing the Meerkat - same guy, Chris Agnew. Brother of singer Stevie and son of Pete Agnew, the 70s rock band Nazareth's bass player. Still going, i think? If you get a chance to catch the band they are superb and bass playing a masterclass.

I have always played with a pick but for the last year or so have been trying to teach myself playing with fingers - so the other way around to what you are doing, really. Aside from the choices of size, shape and material, I think most of the subtleties and nuances of pick playing only come with practice and experimenting. How hard you grip the pick, how much of it protrudes, the angle of attack, whether you hit the string or kind of roll the edge of the pick off it for a gentler note, using the fat end not the sharp end, varying the position along the string, muting at the bridge, playing dead notes - all need to be found and experimented with. Just the same as all the various nuances of playing with fingers, really - both techniques have a lot to them but really need to discovered. One thing I find is that sometimes I do think it is more appropriate to strike a string using movement of my whole arm, not just from the wrist, and when doing so the movement rubs my lower forearm above the wrist on the edge of the body when playing with a pick, especially on slab bodied basses, so always wear wear a double length wrist band on that arm. And I use flats - must be the uncoolest player ever.

'Is She Really Going Out With Him', Joe Jackson. Jazz bass, tone off, clicky pick.

^^ This^^ I have a Musicmaster and the intonation/simple bridge is not an issue. The output from the pickup was, though - quite a weak sound and not a great tone. I had Bass Doc rout a space for a MIJ Precision pickup I had kicking around and make a new scratchplate for it - sounds brilliant now. I call it my Mustangmaster

Rather than a paint job, perhaps stick some vinyl on the headstock if you fancy a change? White, as per your bit of paper, might look nice? Black would give it a 'Duff Mckagan' look. If you wanted a Duff Mckagan look, that is

[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1394706584' post='2394167'] The whole haggling / low-balling thing has frequently left me dumb-founded. On at last half a dozen occasions in the last two years I have made a serious offer for a bass on Basschat, that offer being lower than the asking price but driven by my assessment of the "true value" (if such a thing exists). With one exception where my offer was accepted, the vendors have chosen to refuse my offer or even ignore my PM, only to end up three months later selling the bass for less than I offered in the first place. I have no problem with people disagreeing with my assessment, and I don't feel hurt or let down because I didn't get those deals ( ) but it is alarming how many vendors seem wedded to their initial, inflated asking price ... [/quote] This pretty much sums up my feelings on the classifieds. If I fancy something and the asking price is what I imagine is about right, I'll pay it. If I think it is a bit high, I might make an offer. If I think it is way too much I ignore it. Nothing to hyperventilate about, really. There is a particular bass I am gassing over at the moment. For some months now there has been in the classifieds for sale from Abroadshire that, with shipping and import duty, would end up being over twice as much as I believe the model to be worth. So I ignore it and wait for one to come up for sale in the UK that I can afford. It will eventually, they always do.

So - was your's the winning bid? can't wait until morning to ask, even though I am just off out!

Traded some strings with Aidan - nice friendly guy to deal with, good comms, happy with my end. So to speak. Cheers

And I bought some straplocks from Chris. Thinking of having him permanently on the payroll.... anther speedy and easy transaction, great bloke to deal with.

Another approach to that might be a bridge with lateral adjustment of the saddles, like the Hipshot A.

Drat, beaten to it....

Simple explanation - a one-off custom for an ambidextrous guitar player. Play bass right handed, flip it over (presumably a la ZZ Top) and play geetar left-handed. Can't imagine why no-one has thought of it before... Just given me an idea - have a 3 necked guitar, bass, fret-less bass, 6 string, radiating out like an aircraft propeller. Spin it round to the one you want to use next.