Paul S

Smokers can''t see the fuss but they can't smell the smell. If you don't smoke it is very apparent. Like any smell - if you live with it you stop noticing it. A bit like dog owners don't smell their dogs but if you walk into a dog owners house it hits you right away. Cats, too, to a lesser extent. When I come back from holiday I walk into the utility room where the cats stuff is and notice the cat smell. A couple of days later it has 'gone' - it hasn't, I just stop noticing.

Thanks for that - but it is the X750, I'm after the X790! A rather special beast [url="http://www.westone.info/cats/86pantera/06.html"]http://www.westone.info/cats/86pantera/06.html[/url]

I found myself in a similar position. I bought an active bass (Precision Lyte) that had a great neck, decent pickups, faulty electrics and a god-awful finish on the body. First my choices were - move it on for a loss or use it as a project. I had never done anything beyond taking a bass to bits and cleaning it before, so was a bit apprehensive about tackling anything more involved. But in the end I decided to renovate it - I have the time and considered it a good way to learn about these things. Stripped it (including the painted headstock), refinished it, made a terrible job of that but learnt loads - I'll probably strip it again and do it properly at some point. I then put an expensive J. East pre-amp in it and am really pleased I did as it sounds and plays really nicely. As it cost me more than it was worth I will probably keep it forever but I also 'bonded' with it - having explored every mm I feel I know it quite well and it feels just right picking up and playing now. But one of the big spinoffs was that I have a much greater understanding of how a bass is put together and am no longer afraid of doing my own setups etc. So, nothing concrete, just some encouragement to have a go from a fellow technophobe numpty. If you have the time and don't need to recoup the cash I'd say go for it!

Possibly worth mentioning at this point that I am looking for a Westone Pantera Deluxe X790 bass. Just in case there actually is someone out there with one going spare who just so happens to be reading this...

John bought my Big Muff in one of the most straightforward transactions I have had on here. Good comms, friendly guy, a pleasure doing business!

I'm trying to pursuade one of my bands to cover 'Soap on a Rope' - great riff. Great band. Glad to hear Sammy H vocal was good as I've heard stuff live where he consistently sings flat. I saw Brian Setzer at Brixton recently and the sound was ok. I remember seeing Joe Bonamassa at the Albert Hall a couple of years back, where the sound is usually spot on, and the mix was absolutely terrible. Dire. Different engineers must have their own ideas, I suppose.

[quote name='Cygnus x-1' timestamp='1326498117' post='1498233'] That Peavey combo for £20 is a bargain, you could use it for 12 months and still get your money back [/quote] I just dropped the price by a fiver to £15 or £25 posted, too!! [/plug]

[quote name='Marvin' timestamp='1326412919' post='1497080'] Shallow depth is also what I was alluding to. I own a Rockbass Corvette that is 38mm at the nut, so not at all wide. However, the neck is quite deep and chunky to be honest. Hence I would never describe it as skinny. I've never tried a T-bird, I always thought they'd have quite chunky necks. Now I know different I'll have to go and try one [/quote] Of those I mentioned - in terms of shallower depth of the neck the Peavey Fury II wins. I am quite amazed by it, in fact. The Fender Precision Lyte and Jaguar would come second, then the others all much the same. I recall comparing a Geddy Lee with the Jaguar in the shop when I bought mine and the neck was pretty well identical in feel. The T-Bird Pro VI is, I believe, a different beast to the regular T-Bird in many ways - neck width being one of them. It is a funny thing, neck width. When I first started bass I bought a Peavey Milestone III in a starter pack, with a skinny neck. Then I 'upgraded' to a vintage Hayman 4040 - an absolutely beautifully made bass but immensely heavy (it came with it's own moon) with a neck like a floorboard. Much as I liked it I found some things very difficult to play. Then I 'upgraded' again to the Fender Jaguar and the contrast in playability for me was immediate. I've tried and owned other wide necked basses since but just get on so much better with skinny - and shallow - necks. Even though I have fairly big hands, the smaller necks feel more comfortable. I think it was ou7shined who said on another thread about it only being a mm or 3 difference and that is correct but, nevertheless, for me, it is important. It is the main reason I can't get on with a 5 string, much as I would like to, or why I don't get myself a nice precision. I guess everyones hand bones, muscles and tendons are arranged slightly differently, making subtle differences in hand position and therefore comfort, so it really is extremely subjective. Thebrig - any chance you could pop a picture or 3 up of your SR1200? Sounds very interesting.

This is my preference, too. I still have or have had Fender Jaguar Fender Power Jazz Bass Special Fender Precision Lyte SGC Nanyo Bass Collection Yamaha RBX800A Peavey Fury II Epiphone T-Bird Pro IV A Frankenfender P-Bass with a J neck All 38mm at the nut and, also, shallow depth. I think the Peavey is actually the skinniest of all those I have tried. Still not tried an Ibanez yet!

Theres a Kramer The Duke headless for sale in the classifieds here. Hohner B2A crop up regualrly and are really portable.

+1 for trying before you make a commitment. Both the MM SUB and P-Bass will have a reasonably wide neck and it could be that you don't get on with a wider neck, in which case you would be looking towards a Jazz style bass or an Ibanez Soundgear/Yamaha (there is an RBX800A for sale in the classifieds that is a huge amount of bass for the money). But unless you try both wide and skinny necks, you won't know. It has nothing to do with hand size, incidentally - I have big hands but prefer skinny necks. Some people find both comfortable.