Paul S

Graeme brokered the sale of Bass Collection bass on behalf of a friend of his. He made the whole thing trouble free and extremely pleasant - a pleasure doing business! Love the bass, btw.

I bought 2 recently from the US and, yes, they slipped through ok without duty. But make sure you get the right model. That's why I bought 2. If you email Hipshot they will tell you.

Well. I have a Fender Jaguar - that rather stunning all black one to the left. I haven't played the new Squier versions, but have owned a Squier VM Jazz and played a Squier CV Precision - both heralded as being as good as it gets for Squier. I'd say neither of those Squiers can touch the Fender Jag on build quality. It has something solid and smooth about it that just feels totally right. The neck is an absolute dream. It isn't faultless - I guess no bass is - but it is extremely nice. But. I actually suspect I might have chosen the Squier Jag over the Fender Jag if they had been available when I was looking. For me the shape was one of the major aspects of it and went a long way towards persuading me to buy it over a USA Jazz, the main competition. At the time the active/passive and series/parallel business was also appealing - I play in covers bands so being able to change my tone seemed, in theory, to be a good idea. In practice I don't fiddle about with it much and sometimes I feel that there is perhaps just a little bit too much going on with the electrics. The simplicity of the Squier I now find quite appealing. Plus I don't think the on-board electrics on the Fender are of a particularly good quality - certainly the roll on/off controls are a bit hit or miss - and can't help feeling that they detract from what is otherwise a great bass. I suppose it depends upon whether you want to have that extra build quality and the ability to change the sound almost infinitely with all the bells and whistles - in which case go for the Fender. But be aware that some of your hard earned cash goes towards a not quite up to it (IMO) pre-amp and control system. Or, if you just want a Jag style bass that is perfectly good enough to gig with, I reckon the Squier would be just fine.

I think it entirely depends upon what you said about the case in the listing.

just about like this is most comfy for me [attachment=70983:MeSLHMF.jpg]

IN Westone Thunder 1A Westone Thunder Jet Epiphone T-Bird Pro Hohner B2A Fender Power Jazz Special OUT Peavey Milestone Frankenfender pj-bass (missing you already) Squier VMJ Fretless Westone Thunder Jet Epiphone T-Bird Pro So my books are balanced. Almost . Then of course there are the bits - nothing much out but IN Trace Elliot 1818 Trace Elliot AH250 Zoom B2.1u Most of my cables replaced, courtesy of OBBM I'm not even going to think about counting the different strings I've tried.

There was a Gibson SG amongst it wasn't there? Could have been worth the BIN on it''s own.

No, sorry Clarky. Not unless it was the cover. I bought a TE head from Shonks - Steve Shone - and was captivated by some of his tales - he's been a pro for 40 yrs and toured with some big names - Tina Turner, Kim Wilde... sure he won't mind me mentioning it.

I use a Hiscox for my Precision and Jaguar - snug fit at the bottom but never a problem. And have quite literally stood on it - as you know I am no lighweight. I got mine from String's Direct/Holiday Music on advice from Hiscox

I fitted some to a fretless Squier jazz I had for a while - long scale, standard guage. They feel 'odd' - a bit like someone had strung the bass with black worms. Sounded great though, really thuddy and woody, almost like a double bass.

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Fender-Jaguar-Jazz-Bass-Mexican-neck-/270700316183?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item3f06ff0617"]eBay link[/url] Seller says Fender Jaguar with Mexican Neck. I think he speak with forked tongue.

Mike got in touch with me after I broadcast a plea for a Trace Elliot 12 band footswitch - which he offered to me for a really fair price considering it is unlikely either of us will ever see another! It arrived packaged well enough to withstand a direct missile strike - even Royal Mail! - and was padded out using rocking horse sh!t and hen's teeth. As trouble-free and smooth a transaction as you could possibly wish for. It has been a pleasure doing business with you, sir - cheers!!

[quote name='silddx' post='1109528' date='Jan 31 2011, 02:57 PM']And you also realise that our very own Craig Martini is the bassist in Gilbert's band, and is the bassist in the clip?[/quote] Penny has just dropped. Serious respect.

I enjoyed it - thought the track had a Foo Fighters quality about it - don't know if you like that comparison or not! Bass was good, driving stuff. The singer's voice has a nice edge when he stretches himself, which I liked. As far as the vid goes I couldn't work out if there was anything to 'get' about the girl driver or not, don't think it mattered. Nice one!

Good name for a band, then - The Blaggers? I couldn't believe it when I auditioned for the heavy lot - they were all widdling away and thought, Christ there's no way I can hold my own with this lot. We went through the half dozen or so tracks we'd agreed then jammed on a couple more and the main guy said - so, see you next week if you want to come along? Couldn't believe it then, still can't now.

53 yr old 4 string pick player. I played guitar in my teens, stopped in my early 20s. Bought a bass in my mid 40s which I played every day for a week, every week for a month then abandoned. Then at 50 I picked it up again, started practising seriously and looked for bands to play in. Had my first gig at 50 and the whole thing feels like I have now found a small piece of my soul that has been missing all these years. I play in 2 bands - one is largely lightweight modern pop rock and we generally have a blast - a couple of the guys are fairly well connected and we seem to get some good gigs, though mainly charity non-payers. We've been going in this incarnation for about 18months. The other band is heavy classic rock covers - the kind of music I grew up with in the early-mid 70s. Only been going for about 10 months and just started gigging but playing to a much higher standard. The guitarist and drummer are both pretty hot. I don't have chops, can't read music, can just about read tab but generally don't bother. In my favour - I have a good ear, good touch, good sense of rhythm and timing, am a quick learner and have so far been able to do a passable version of anything I have been asked to. But I am seriously aware of my limitations and feel it is only a matter of time before I get found out...

Ta. I think they are fine looking instruments.

Does the scratch plate hide any routing or is it just been plonked on? And is it the same neck as the other Mats - 40mm at the nut-type thing?

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Westbury-Track-2-Bass-/250765848308?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item3a62cf2ef4"]Westbury Track 2[/url] popped up on eBay - I think you are a fan, Jon?

[quote name='4-string-thing' post='1108034' date='Jan 30 2011, 12:22 PM']Some have mentioned earplugs.... For rehearsals yes, gigs no. What does it say to your audience if the band are wearing them?[/quote] That we care about the state of our hearing? If they think anything else I couldn't give a toss, frankly.

In my limited understanding most manufacturers go through a purple patch or two. The current crop of VMJ/CV Squiers get much praise but perhaps those of 5 years ago wouldn't. Mid 80s MIJ Fenders were supposed to have been top quality - that kind of thing. It just helps to pin down exactly what is on offer.

If it is 'Bad Case of Loving You' I play E, D, B, D, B, A, B, A, G, E, E.

Just as a brief aside, I happened to be in a Sue Ryder shop this morning and the Stratocaster they had in the window had THE most amazing quilted maple fretboard - it really was 3D. What's going on? Hamlet Court Road, Westcliff, in anyone is interested. I have too many guitars as it is.

Thanks guys. I had a thought last night that 'expression pedal' on the Zoom b2.1U might actually do this very thing - it does a dry/wet blend on some effects patches, let's hope it will on this one. I'll try it tonight with the AH250 head at rehearsal. In the long term I think a proper stomp box and one or two proper pedals is the way forward, though. I am finding it hard to get my head around the Zoom.