Paul S

[quote name='silddx' timestamp='1316689857' post='1381416'] I just sold Paul my John East U-Retro Deluxe. Paul's a great guy to deal wit, excellent and friendly comms with regular updates. This could not have been smoother. Thanks mate, I hope the East puts a massive grin on your face! Best wishes, Nigel [/quote] Thanks! As I said - this is a major kismet event going on - exactly what I needed, which couldn't be bought off the shelf, and exactly when I needed it! I've got a silly grin on my face and haven't even fitted it yet...

I bought a J. East U Retro unit from Nigel in one of the smoothest transactions I could imagine. He kept me informed the whole time and didn't even bother to wait for the money to clear in his account before sending it off. Top man. Cheers Nigel!

Good Lord - I know Steve Curtis. Damn fine player. Oh, and congrats on the curry night.

[quote name='arsenic' timestamp='1316634409' post='1380800'] No link on the site now, but exists here [url="http://wiki.basschat.co.uk/"]http://wiki.basschat.co.uk/[/url] [/quote] Ah, great, thanks.

I recently did the same thing - changed to lightweight gear. I play rock covers, went from a Trace Elliot set up with the pre-shape selected as it suited me. Sounds like that is similar to your mid-scoop arrangement. As far as the head goes I tried everything in the lightweight head ranges that were in stock at both PMT Southend and Bass Merchants in Colchester with no preconceptions other than I fancied the Orange Terror Bass. As has been said already you really need to try before you buy if at all possible - I had discounted Genz Benz, for example, as what I had read about them made me think the sound would be too 'brittle'. When I tried it I immediately knew I didn't want the OTB but I loved the Genz Benz. In the end it was a close thing between the Genz Benz and the TC Classic 450. I ended up with the Classic 450 which goes through a BF Compact. As has been mentioned - the onboard compressor and (especially) the tubetone are both handy and very useable. My fear was always that it would be a compromise, and that I wouldn't have the same sound as I got from the TE gear - wrong!! More clarity, just as much presence (more, in fact). And shifting around a 16kg rig compared to 60kg+ rig is a no-brainer.

Yup - top job. Quick question - anyone know where the Wiki is?

Well spotted that man!

[url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/bass-guitar-/250895225871?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item3a6a85540f"]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/bass-guitar-/250895225871?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item3a6a85540f[/url] Too heavy for me but these are built like tanks and would probably clean up a treat.

But maybe I am not looking in the right place. Also, if viewing new topics is it, again, possible to mark everything as read? Like the new look, though. Very progressive!

For me the word 'vintage' is purely a measure of age not quality. I'd always assumed over 20yrs made something vintage, but wouldn't argue with 25.

Yes, not exactly the sweet spot I quite like it....

[url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Electric-Bass-guitar-/110745194266?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item19c8ed8f1a"]Starforce bass[/url] Not much on the interweb, I wonder if anyone here has ever had one? Heavy or neck width or anything? An unusual and interesting shape, which makes a change.

Not sure how relevant it is (6 string and all) but the [url="http://www.chapmanguitars.co.uk/guitars/standard/ml1/"]Chapman ML-1[/url] guitar was designed by customers, and they chose a reverse telecaster headstock, so maybe the symmetry is better that way around?

Another endorsee here. Over the last couple of years I have changed my kit quite a bit, always had Roqsolid covers and always been pleased with the quality. Excellent service and VFM.

I use a TC Electronic Classic 450 (with a BF Compact) and am liking it very much - I preferred the slight warmth of this over the Genz Benz I tried. The on-board compressor and tubetone are extremely useable.

PM heading your way! Very nice offer. Nowt better than hands on.

No one used one?

[quote name='davey_one_visits' post='1370744' date='Sep 12 2011, 04:55 PM']Spot on. I've not been on here long but I have noticed a huge interest in gear and little interest in self improvement. It seems that the theory and technique section sometimes goes for ages without being touched. I'm always on the look out for worthwhile information being posted but have to trawl through pages of people showing off the gear they own or want to own. I own some nice stuff myself but I don't feel the need to discuss it on here at all. Each to their own I guess but materialism is a bad thing in my opinion.[/quote] Now maybe I am in a minority here but I am not interested in theory or technique per se. I don't know my arpeggios from my elbow. Self-improvement, yes - I improve by continually playing what I already play and learning new things to play. That does me just fine. I'm never going to set the world on fire, just a pub-gig player that enjoys himself. But I do think I learn a lot about the wider aspects of bass playing from owning and trying different basses. Nothing to do with my playing ability, just about the instruments - how to use them, different sounds, what suits me and what doesn't. The first 'proper' bass I had weighed a ton and had a neck like a floorboard. I subsequently discover that I prefer playing lighter, skinny necked basses but until I tried one didn't know. Same could be said for amps/cabs, effects, even straps, picks, cables. I like to read others' opinions about their gear as it helps me to filter out stuff I am unlikely to be interested in, herds me in the right direction. For me the two areas are not really related - (edit - or mutually exclusive) I don't buy or try gear to get better, I do it just because it interests me.