Paul S

I'd add a Squier Bronco or Epiphone EB0 to the list. Both can be bought *very* cheap secondhand - under £100 - if he tries and doesn't like they can be moved on with next to no loss. Or, again sold on and something nicer bought if he does get on with it.

I like bass guitars. I have 14 of them at the moment. I am endlessly curious about what one will offer over and above another, so keep getting new ones. I enjoy them all and for home practice and rehearsals will use any or all of them according to whim. I have a couple that are main gigging basses, but will sometimes use one of the others just for the sake of it. None are boutique or particularly expensive (my JV0 Squier P Bass being the most expensive by some way) - most cost me between £150-200. But, even if they had cost me several grand each, what does it matter? If you can afford them, you want them and have the space to keep them then what the heck.

[quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1393102758' post='2376305'] Have to admit if playing higher notes - as in above a regular D - I prefer to play them further up the E or A strings, you get a really nice thick sound up there. [/quote] Yup - couldn't agree more. I reckon the best tones to be had out of a Precision are between the 5th and 12th frets. Having a nice time currently learning the opening bits from Sabbath's Fairies Wear Boots which is largely played in that territory. Strike the strings at the base of the neck and - vwahlah - sounds lovely!

I have a Wizard Trad on my bitsa Precision. I tested many different pups to find the old school, woody P Bass sound I had in my head and the Wizard Trad captured it.

I don't know where you are situated but I have a Ibby SR800, Precision with a Mighty Mite neck, couple of Squier Jazzes, Precision Lyte - all manner of shallower necks you could try to see how you get on with them. I am based in SE Essex. The neck on my Ibanez is both narrower and shallower than any of my other basses. Next skinniest is the Precision Lyte (equal skinny with a Peavey Fury), next is a Squier Jazz Deluxe, then the Mighty Mite. They all feel different.

Always wanted to play 'The Chain' Fleetwood Mac.

[quote name='Chris Sharman' timestamp='1393059052' post='2375638'] Also the Yamaha RBX range. Second hand they trade for peanuts and if you get one of the higher numbered models (270, 370 etc) they have more kit than the basic 170 for not much extra dollar. [/quote] +1... I forgot about Yamaha. I had an old RBX800E for a while that I bought for less than £200, which is remarkable as it was up at the top end of the Yamaha range back then. Incredibly well made machine - neck was phenomenal - with a totally incomprehensible bridge

Bought some straplocks from Paul in the easiest of transactions - great comms, posted immediately, well packaged. Wouldn't hesitate to deal with him again.

Thank you! It cleaned it up nicely: I put on a new set of Martin phosphor bronze lights, which were recommended by one of my guitarists, and it really sounds great. I am glad I decided to spend a little more, now I have it.

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1392455073' post='2368888'] One powerful but small and light cab to replace my two powerful but small and light cabs. [/quote] You've been getting those emails from Alex, Mark?

Agree totally about Westones. The Thunder range in particular are excellent. I would add some Hohner basses to the list. Hohner B2A in its various incarnations, the full-bodied Jack and full-bodied plus headstocked B Bass all go for not a lot of cash but are perfectly good basses. Squier Deluxe range - I have the Deluxe Jazz and it is ridiculously nice for a bass that costs around £250 new. Squier Silver Series I think are tremendously good value. I've had both a J and P, both cracking basses. The Precision, particularly. They can usually be found for under £250. I had a Washburn Scavenger, around 1980 or so, that was gorgeous. Heavy, though, so it had to go. To my eyes it is the nicest looking bass ever made... I think I may be in a minority, though. Recently bought an Aria Pro II Laser Classic for £140, which is a stupidly low amount of money for a bass like that.

[quote name='stingraybassman' timestamp='1392827680' post='2373205'] Shame you are set on maple, Lozz has a beauty of an MIJ Precision for sale!! [/quote] That would be an easy fix - stick a maple Mighty Mite neck on it, sell the original.

Quick update. I bought a Simon and Patrick Cedar 6 in the end, serial number indicates made in 2001. £180 inc a hard case, so a little more than I first thought but I think worth it. Picked it up today - a few scuffs and dings, absolutely filthy and in need of some new strings. But it sings!

Rather than getting one off the shelf it is maybe worth gathering together a bitsa for the perfect P bass? I bought a scruffy black 90s MIJ P bass on here with a Mighty Mite all maple Jazz neck on it and have fallen head over heels with it. Did a few other mods - P-retro, Wizard Trad pup, Hipshot bridge, La Bella Deep Talkin' flats - and it is my main gigging bass. The P-retro opens up the tone brilliantly - it will do Jamerson to Foxton.

I acquired a JV0 Precision about 4 months ago and, straight out of the case, it is the best P bass I have ever played. Oozes quality, lightweight, absolutely great neck (not too wide, quite shallow) and a tone to die for. I really couldn't be happier with mine. Maybe the bubble has burst, price-wise, but I don't care.

I would buy the white USA made Peavey Foundation that is for sale here if it were my cash. Unlikely to get a better bass for the money. [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/229735-peavey-foundation-bass-made-in-the-usa-white-with-rosewood-fretboard/"]http://basschat.co.uk/topic/229735-peavey-foundation-bass-made-in-the-usa-white-with-rosewood-fretboard/[/url]

Bit late. Maybe another night... something I've always liked but you never hear of the band - Randy Pie. The album Highway Driver is a forgotten gem imo. 1974, great jazzfunk. The whole album isn't on YouTube but all of the tracks are there singly. Here 'Super Sid' Great bass groove in this http://youtu.be/tXTkn85Pb_Q

I'd imagine an Ibanez SR300 will weigh less - probably substantially so - than any Squier VM Jazz model, even the lightest ones. I have an SR800 and it is one of the lightest basses I have owned at well under 8lbs. Current and past VM Jazzes have been 9-10lbs mark. There aren't many lightweight cheaper Jazz basses around - the lightest I have tried (and now own) is the Squier Jazz Deluxe, which is around 8.5lbs and a pretty good buy. Active, if you like that kind of thing. The Ibby and Jazz won't sound the same, though.

I've had Silver Series Precision and Jazz, both were lightweight and 'proper' wood, so I took it to be Basswood. I also had an E series MIJ Squier Jazz for a while that was made of PAF. Very heavy. Sounded nice though.

Thank you all for the input. Acoustic it will be. I think I will enjoy the thrill of the chase - always nice to have something new to look for. And thanks for the explanation, Mr. Skankdelver, sir. Pitched perfectly to a complete novice Actually, not a complete novice - I had a bottom of the range Fender acoustic when I was at school in the early-mid 70s. Wish I still had it.

I am looking at buying an acoustic guitar. Or an electro-acoustic guitar. I don't know which. Use - mainly for use at home but, never say never, might be used with one band for an acoustic set. Budget - secondhand, up to around £100, but this is subject to whether or not there is a huge leap in quality just beyond that. What are the pros and cons of acoustic vs electro-acoustic? Obviously, an acoustic is going to be easier to use at home but how easy is it to get to use on stage if need be? I assume it would need miking up? Or fitting with a pick-up? I have no firm idea! And are there any particular recommendations - I searched a bit and see Yamaha in general are good value, the F310 particularly so. Any info would be great, please! ta

Just checking out the PAL stuff - Bernie Marsden on guitar? Looks like a great band - went under my radar at the time. Thanks for that. http://youtu.be/f-_-KoGN_q4