Shaggy

The old Ovation Magnum 2’s (late ‘70’s) used to use 2 x 9V's. I’m certainly impressed by the way the newer systems seem to drain batteries far less – I use re-chargables and my pre-EB MM Sabre sucks one dry in no time whereas my ‘Ray with a modern Seymour Duncan replacement pre-amp/EQ goes on and on.

Can only speak from my own experience, but when I bought my Listerud 7-string from a fellow BWorlder last Xmas shipped from Norway, TNT wanted £300 and wouldn't insure instruments, the Post Office wanted £40 and insured up to £1000. So went with the PO - bass arrived safe and sound woithout even a dent in the cardboard outer box, but bizarrely with a bust top string. Also could track the package the whole way via the Norwegian PO and then Parcelforce web-sites. Haven't stressed so much waiting for it to arrive since the last time the wife was in labour though!

There’s some great and honest stuff here, but my attitude towards higher musical aspirations on bass has always been mixed. As a kid I trained intensively on violin, probably got pretty reasonable, but because I soon realised I wasn’t going to be Yehudi Menuin I chucked it in, and regret it to this day. At around 16 I took up bass, punk was just starting, and I thought “yeah……this is for me”, loved the energy and the band camerarderie, and avoided scales and any formal teaching like the plague. 30 years on that’s still as true as ever – although my bass heroes are highly individual virtuosos like Mick Karn and Percy Jones I don’t really aspire to play like them. In the context of the bands I play with I increasingly find that “less is more” – like others have said here hitting the right note with the right sound on the timing nail counts for so much more than flashy solo runs or “busy” playing. So maybe I’ve been selling myself short, but it’s been a whole lot of fun. And that’s why I play bass. (just bought myself a violin, mind …… where did I put those scales?…..)

1. Mick Karn. Out there on his own 2. Percy Jones 3. Tony Levin 4. Barry Adamson 5. The guy on Paul Simon's "Graceland" (anyone know?)

Umm…at last count; 4 basses 1 electric 12 string (Rickenbacker 360/12) 1 electric 6 string (’66 Vox teardrop) 2 flamenco guitars 4 mandolins (3 acoustic 1 electric) 1 banjo 2 violins 1 lute Amazing what you can fit under a bed. I like the empty case dodge to fool the missus – that’s what this forum is all about!

[quote name='joegarcia' post='5624' date='May 24 2007, 11:30 AM']Sunn 300t/70's SVT Stingray (all maple with black plate) Gibson RD Artist (maple, black plate) Rickenbacker 4004L Laredo (black)[/quote] Hey Joe Garcia - that your Ovation Magnum 3? Be interested in your impressions of it - I love my Magnum 1. Re the RD Artist; nearly bought one a couple of times but they're so dam [u]heavy[/u] Anyway; my permanent GAS; an early '80's Wal Mk 1 custom fretless my current GAS; a Trace Elliot AH500-12 head