Paul S

Search 'Westone' on here and I am usually one of the first to chime in with praise. Awesome value for money - the necks are as good as anything I have played. Mine were all 40mm wide at the nut, incidentally. Too heavy for my particular brand of lumbar problem, sadly, so I no longer own one. My pimped Westone Thunder Jet is lighter and does sterling service.

Living on a Prayer, Bon Jovi?

[quote name='goblin' timestamp='1324831500' post='1478019'] I used to have one (PaulS now owns it) and loved it to bits. Sometimes I wonder if I should've sold it, but I couldn't get on with the extra scale length. They're easy to string and such and they look quite cool, and they also play and sound really well too. I'd reccommend one [/quote] Yes, I have owned three* and yours - now mine - is the best by a country mile. The drop D is extremely handy, albeit a bit in the way as that is where I rest my palm! I know exactly what you mean, though - I don't use mine much so the 'Phantom Headstock, plus full 2 octave neck means I really need to keep an eye on what my hands are doing. * this is a lesson in why you should never sell them.

Geoff, thanks for that, I will PM you shortly. [quote name='mercuryl' timestamp='1324774671' post='1477830'] As there is no headstock, the whole fretboard appears to have moved to the left. [/quote] Talking about this with a mate yesterday and he used the expression 'phantom headstock' - I don't know if that is an original but it sums it up perfectly.

I have a B2AD for a back-up, bad back bass. Fantastic. Remarkably it can sound like a P-Bass, really woody, despite looking as different to one as is possible. Without wishing a de-railment, does anyone know anything much about the B-Bass? It strikes me that it is a B2A with a body and headstock, if that makes sense.

[quote name='gary mac' timestamp='1324580604' post='1475965'] Nice choice Paul. Got love Stevie and the packet of three. Saw them a few times in a pub down Finchley way. [/quote] Garry - keep reading, the other 6 appear lower down under the Youtube link... Gary - only got to Stevie M live once - but what a gig. Humble Pie - same line-up as the Filmore album as far as I am aware. This was at the Kursaal at Southend in, at a guess, 1973/74. But only for an hour! Bitter sweet evening, they were superb but it went too quickly. great memories.

One band I play in do a final number which is an 'introduce the band' type thing during a 12 bar 'Messin WIth The Kid' - we all get a turn at it for 2 x 12 bars. I finish the 'solos' with my off the cuff, pre-arranged and much rehearsed solo, for the first 12 then in the second do 6 bars of something I nicked from 'A Packet of Three' live version of 'I don't Need No Doctor' It is the bit at around 4.25 into this: [media]http://youtu.be/RFy_xlzN5Sw[/media] Nice bass on this BTW - I think it is a classical piece but am not sure of the name? Then, as per above, everyone piles back in for the next 6 bars and we finish the track. It works a treat and usually goes down really well. In my other band we play Black Sabbath's NIB which, on the album, starts with a bass wah solo. The other guys keep pestering me to do this but I am not happy about it. What would YOU do?

Sounds like he comes back into the chorus too quickly, too at around 3.08... but, yes, anything by Bowie before or around that time was outstanding. Live Ziggy stuff was incredible. His voice had power and a quality to it that he lost IMO by the late 70s

Moonage Daydream. sigh.

I'm not remotely interested in what the headstock says. I have a couple of Fenders that I gig with because I like them and they are comfortable. But that also applies to others - I regularly use a Westone and, if my back is bad or space is short, a Hohner B2A which people will generally take the piss out of. I just enjoy using different basses.

I am a huge fan of Westone basses. I think they are superb quality and unbeatable value for money. The shame of it is that most of them are too heavy for me to wear now I have done a number on my lumbar. I had a wonderful Thunder 1A that I would often pick up in preference to my Fenders. My one remaining Matsumoku bass is a pimped Westone Thunder Jet (bought for £77) - made of alder so only around 8lbs, and fitted with better pups and a P-retro - that I use regularly. Sounds huge and plays brilliantly. I have a SPB-3 to fit into it when I get around to it - should be a little better still.

And what we all want to know is, when will you start production!?

Thanks again. Just need someone with some scales to make an empirical post and we are finished! Yes, John - it would be interesting to know. Ditto my SGC Nanyo bass Collection and Fender Precision Lyte, both of which are stupidly lightweight yet still made of wood. One on eBay finishes in a couple of days - keeping my eyes on it.

I learned to play a guitar with a pick, so when I took up bass it was the natural move to carry on with one. I practise using my fingers for the whole 'choose what's right for the song' thing but am still unable to play with the same control, subtlety and speed that I can with a pick, so for gigs I exclusively play with a pick. Maybe when I can play to the same standard with my fingers I will be able to choose which style but, tbh, I don't feel that playing with a pick restricts me. I think the most important thing is to play in a way that is better for you - if you have a decent touch with one style and not another I don't see any reason to 'do yourself down' by not playing to your strengths. 99.99% of the punters aren't going to notice - probably only bass players!

Thanks for that. Probably puts it sub 9lbs and nearer 8 maybe. Which starts getting interesting.

Thanks for that. Your endorsements were popping up everywhere I looked so I guess you are a fan. For me it is as much weight as how comfy it is - my particular brand of lumbar problem seems exacerbated by wearing heavy basses, no matter how comfy they are. I'll see if one crops up more locally so I can give it a whirl. ta.

I don't know about an S2 but my I can certainly hear my Compact better when it is off the ground. But it was the same when I just used the Trace Elliot 1x15 on it's own sometimes. At least the BF Compact is easier to lift onto something! If all else fails I stick it onto one of those aluminium tool cases that I tote my TC Classic 450 about in - it isn't much but it helps.

I work for myself, am exactly as busy as I want to be or need to be and pretty well please myself, lucky fellow that I am...