Boodang

Ah, come back, your local friendly music shop, all is forgiven!

I agree, dual coils don't quite sound as good as single coils. I've fitted my jazz with a series/parallel switch for the best of both worlds.

Not sure about a comparison with Lotus. I mean, Lotus might actually have some 20th century technology in it, whereas Rics, like Harley engines, where designed in the Jurassic period.

Funny enough, EMG quote the impedance of their active pickups as 10K. An opamp would normally have a low impedance output but they've obviously not gone down that route so their pickups can just slot straight into a standard setup, and they have enough oomph for any standard passive or active preamp.

Well, I know you don't want to do much mod'ing but... my fav jazz bass I've owned, a Squier VM, I changed all hardware; pups, bridge, tuners, nut, preamp, and the whole thing came in at around £600. Played better than any USA standard version and I got exactly the setup I wanted. So, get a Squier and stick some EMGs in it.

Active pickup; so few windings the output is v low. Consequently it needs a preamp (normally an opamp) built into the pickup to boost the signal to a usable level. Fewer windings = greater bandwidth. Active preamp; an eq that can boost (passive eq can only cut).

Didn't I hear somewhere that Bruce Springsteen was born in the USA, born in the USA, born in the USA, born in the USA, born in the USA, born in the USA, born in the USA, born in the USA, born in the USA, born in the USA......

The trouble is 99% of the power produced by a Harley engine goes into making the seat vibrate (part of the self massaging seat feature built into all HDs).

Dictatorship or democracy in the end it all comes down to personalities. Mostly it's been democratic and for the most part worked well, except for one band many moons ago, which in retrospect was funny but at the time was a bit wearing. Everyone had an equal say but we all hated each other. Everyone would threaten to quit each week but the sum of the parts sounded so good no one would follow through with the threat. On one occasion we had a new manager and we all decided to meet up in the pub to discuss future plans. Always sounds a good idea to meet up in a pub, but alcohol, discussion, and this band were never a great mix. It soon descended into a slagging match, followed throwing beer mats at each other, then someone launching themselves across the table and knocking the beers over, followed by getting chucked out by the landlord. The new manager said, well I suppose that's the end of the band then, to which I replied, of course not it's like that every week, at which point the manager quit on the spot! Ah, fun times.

I've yet to come across an effect on a multi unit that sounds as good as a dedicated pedal. Plus the programming on a multi fx I've never found intuitive. And then there's the art work on pedals, multi fx just don't look as good. I buy all my pedals based on their art work, as this seems the most sensible way to do it. And they all sound great.... Seamoon funk machine, Photon Death Ray, Ripply Fall etc, no contest!

Had this custom made and 100% satisfied, and it's my go to bass..... until I change my mind and decide that a 7 string fretted or some such is the next thing I urgently need in my life!

You could always get a competent luthier to add a mid control. Would that make it 100%?

In terms of antiquated engineering there's definitely a comparison to be made between a Ric bridge and a Harley engine. Owned a Harley once, spent loads upgrading parts and eventually sold it... suspect I might do the same if I bought a Ric. PS if Harley made planes would you fly on one?!

No disrespect to John Edwards but at 15k I'd expect it to be Jaco's personal bass! (Well maybe I'm being a tiny bit optimistic).

Just had a look on the Bass Gallery site.... they have a huge stock of s/h basses, where do they keep them all?! And 15k for a 'Rhino' Status, prices are getting silly.

A few years ago I did something similar. I was working with a lot of keyboard players, so I started orientating myself around the C (8th fret) on the E string, rather than default to the first five frets. Two things happened, fingering is easier at this point on the neck but also my playing became more fluid and melodic as I had the freedom, or so it seems, to easily move up and down the neck (this might be psychological but I don't care as it works for me). More or less, I now find myself playing an octave higher than I used to but I'm liking the results and no complaints so far from the bands I play in.

I bought a NS Design EUB. I play it on its stand so it is self supporting and when I really can't be arsed to stand and play it, I use a bar stool style seat. Effortless. Also has a big sound, more like a giant fretless then an upright. I use it for all sorts of gigs, did a Hendrix tribute band with it once which was a bit of a laugh, and because it's an 'upright' it doesn't look out of place when you're playing seated at a gig as you can hardly leap around with it.

Lazy old toad, definitely!

I think that's the point being made here, by buying this you are making people pay more as you've set a benchmark. You only need one person with more money than sense and that's it, you're never going to see one of these go for less.

Where feasible I've always done multiple bands. It's not hedging your bets, it's just more fun. That way I can play different styles of music, the folk/ rock trio plays to a different crowd than the jazz trio or the covers band. Plus, I get exposed to different genres and styles or playing which helps me grow as a musician. Unless you're a purest (and nothing wrong with that), why limit yourself. Juggling gig dates can be a bit tricky sometimes but not impossible.

I think you're giving it too much credit to call it 'jazz' noodling, I think just noodling would suffice. Having said that, I do like the bass! At first I thought it was made from a toilet seat which makes it all the stranger that I actually like it.

Another shout for EBS flat patch cables. You'll regret getting Harley Benton ones. I've got the EBS flats on all my boards, thoroughly recommend.

More like Fender = Lada... or maybe a Trabant is more appropriate.

A cleaning kit is the equivalent and giving socks at xmas! Another vote for a pedal. Get a Zoom B1. Loads of fun and he can figure out what sort of sounds he likes best with the 70 effects and amp modelling.

I would probably say this is the wrong question when it comes to choosing a pickup. 1st up, do you want active or passive pickups, generally speaking active pickups have a greater bandwidth and are brighter. 2nd, single coil vs split coil vs humbucker vs P. 3rd, magnet type, ceramic vs alnico2, 3, 4 or 5. 4th, magnet shape, blade vs pole vs double pole (typically jazz), vs offset pole vs large diameter pole. After all that if you're going to look at resistance, as in how many windings it has and how 'hot' it is, don't forget to take into account the gauge of the wire. And that's all you need to consider when choosing a pickup... well almost!