TheRev

Ha! Same here. Always fancied a Jazz but couldn't get on with what felt like a stretched out body. I ended up with an EBMM Sterling....

I'm 5' 4" and although I've tended to choose smaller bodied basses because I find them more comfortable to play, I never gave my height: bass size ratio a moment's thought. My main instrument is double bass, which is 6" taller than I am - never gave that a moment's thought either. As @obbm pointed out, Suzi Quattro spent most of her career dwarfed by a Precision but was still the coolest bassist on the planet at the time.

The original PJB Briefcase models could run off a laptop battery, though they didn't come equipped with the battery. Later models switched to an internal transformer and a standard IEEC cable, so unless you can find a used original model (the Briefcase is no longer produced), the only battery powered thing out there, specifically for bass is the Roland micro cube. There are tiny battery powered offerings from Blackstar - but IME they're glorified headphone amps and not powerful enough for busking. I have the Roland and It's OK, not amazing, but will do the job as long as you're not expecting too much tone-wise and your drummer isn't a nutter.

Not good....

Luckily, most of them are on Talkbass where they're easily avoided.

They're still part of the MM catalogue. You'll probably have to order one from a dealer if you don't want to wait for a used one to turn up. Edit. There's a used natural 4 string for sale at The Gallery in London.

I suppose a lot of electronic dance music could be considered instrumental music despite the use of virtual instruments? That stuff definitely gets played on the radio.

I lent one of my basses to the bassist from a band that were flying over from Belfast to play our festival in Somerset. I'd met the band at a previous festival, so they weren't complete strangers but I wouldn't say that I knew them well. Anyway, they were traveling light, literally flying from Belfast to Bristol, drive to the festival, play their set and fly out first thing the next morning, and asked if they could borrow guitars and a bass for their gig. I offered up my Musicman or my Italia - bassist chose the Italia, which was fine, I would have been happy for him to use the Musicman. I wasn't there for the gig - I was managing the other stage, but I was close enough for him to personally hand my bass back to me, along with a pint, after his gig. I doubt I would have offered my basses if I hadn't met the band previously or if they were playing a festival that I wasn't working/playing. I have lent amps and cabs out to touring bands who are on our 'scene' that I've never met and not attending their gigs and it's always been fine.

Oh yes. Mostly does living room duties these days.

I've tried the Black star - wasn't impressed. Mostly farty and not enough power to keep up with enthusiastically (i.e. drunken) played acoustic instruments. If your cajon and guitar players are going to behave and play gently whispery folkie type stuff, then you might get away with one, but otherwise, naah. Other's experience may vary. I ended up with a Roland micro bass cube which did the trick but it's way more expensive than the ones you listed and will only fit in your luggage if your luggage is quite big.

We've been reduilding our website and whie trawling back through old photos I found this from 2014 or 15. Jack Scrumpy is no longer with us, but it's still a decent promo poster

It's odd - I would think twice about attending a 3 day music festival as a punter but would happily work my ar$e off for 3 days doing stage management, monitors or FOH. I think I prefer to be busy.

If I didn't gig I probably wouldn't play. I don't enjoy the stuff that goes either side of gigs - the 2 hour drives, unloading & setup, or waiting around forever for the soundcheck, but once I get on stage, all that's forgotten. Making music with like minded people and entertaining a room full of punters at the same time is the best thing in the world.

Singer/songwriter-guitarists (for it is always these people) who expect you to be able to transpose on the fly when they put their capo on the wrong fret, or expect you to improvise to whatever they're playing without even telling you the key or meter.

The AER is a good shout. If you want to spend less money, there's a Markbass 802 in the classifieds that's perfect for your needs.

Depends on how many times you have to be slapped with the kipper to cure your tinnitus. I'd take one medium force kipper slap over 50 minutes of a face full of needles.

I've played a G4M bass. It wasn't awful but it wasn't great either. Not much in the way of tone or sustain, but if you're only going to slap the derrière off it, it will be OK

TL:DR. Do it. If you already like the bass, then a properly fitted bridge can only improve it. I think basses need to be played and gradually adjusted for a few years until you get the best out of it. I've recently been considering spending a considerable amount of cash on a new bass, but instead I had my current bass (East German 70s ply) fitted with a new soundpost to give the E string more punch and it's like having a new bass but for £80 instead of £3000+. I use a Stentor Student bass in our rehearsal room (it belongs to the guitarist) and while I don't enjoy playing it as much as my bass, it would only need a new bridge to get it playing how I would like it.

Have you considered Pirastro Perpetuals? Bit lower tension than Spiro weich and will work with a magnetic pickup.

I spent at least 15 years obsessing about my tone in the mistaken belief that other people gave a toss.

Yes. It would be dead boring otherwise. NSFW, etc.

If your'e not expecting to turn your amp up stupid loud, then there's no reason your mic shouldn't work - assuming you have a XLR input on your Trace amp (or your mic has a jack plug output)? Feedback can be mitigated by trying different mic placements and positioning yourself so your speaker cab isn't firing directly at the body of your bass. Some people find it helpful to raise the cab up high so it's at your head level.

My personal favourites are Rotten Apple by Alice in Chains, STP's Big Empty and Jeremy by Pearl Jam.

Thanks for your replies guys, much appreciated. I'm going to try some soundpost adjustment on my current bass before I do anything rash...

It looks like it's been chewed up and spat out. I think you're going to have to contact Kent Armstong to get that working..... Or just buy a Krivo😏