wateroftyne

[quote name='Musicman20' timestamp='1327615764' post='1514414'] 5 hours there, 5 hours back...day off work, cost of fuel, cost of staying over, currently have no car as saving for a much better one thus using the joys of the bus/train. [/quote] If that's what it takes... Specifically what don't you like about this one?

FWIW, the old/current head & combo aren't in the 2012 catalogue... just the new stuff.

[quote name='KiOgon' timestamp='1327491217' post='1512086'] I thought I'd been reading they were GHS strings? [/quote] Whoops.. you're right. It's been a long day...! I'll correct my post.

FWIW, I've just bought a set of 4-string Lakland Joe Osborne flats direct from Lakland, for just over £20 posted. They arrived within 5 days. They're re-branded GHS strings, apparently very similar to their Precision flats. They seem very nice, too.

[quote name='EssentialTension' timestamp='1327426806' post='1511061'] I think the 106 on the website is a mistake. The packet I had said 105. In fact even the picture of the packet on the website says 105. [/quote] My packaging says 106...

They have black silks...

[quote name='redstriper' timestamp='1327365640' post='1510223'] Glad you're pleased, which gauge did you go for and how do they compare to the La Bellas? [/quote] I went for the 45-106's. They're a bit heavier than the La Bellas, but I was thinking the lighter gauge might be a bit [i]too[/i] light. So far, so good.. they feel very nice, but I'll know more when they're broken in. I'll report back here when the time comes...

[quote name='redstriper' timestamp='1327321852' post='1509200'] Did you get them from Lakland? The stickiness does wear off quite quickly and they just get better with age. [/quote] I did! The stickiness has gone already.... the feel great now.

They've arrived, just over a week later. Very quick, and very inexpensive! First impressions are good... nice feel, slightly sticky (which I'm sure will wear off) and nice, fat, rich notes....

I asked him about what seems to be an additional switch between the jack socket and the tone knob: [quote]Your observation is correct , there is an additional switch that's part of the tone circuit (coil tap). [/quote] I've replied to politely suggest that he might want to make it clear in the listing. I'm sure he'll reply in kind.

Still very much in love... the flats suit it REALLY well. Here's a clip from last night. It's not a great recording, though... [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLFgaZpyypk"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLFgaZpyypk[/url] I've got some Lakland Flats coming soon to try for a change...

[url="http://www.ebay.com/itm/AGUILAR-DB-750-Electric-Bass-Guitar-Amp-Head-JMJ-Nine-Inch-Nails-Tour-NIN-/170757437102?pt=Guitar&hash=item27c1efb6ae#ht_11267wt_1189"]http://www.ebay.com/itm/AGUILAR-DB-750-Electric-Bass-Guitar-Amp-Head-JMJ-Nine-Inch-Nails-Tour-NIN-/170757437102?pt=Guitar&hash=item27c1efb6ae#ht_11267wt_1189[/url]

So.. let's get this right. A now-iconic bass, used by Pino with the Who, etc., and the subject of an uber-exclusive Fender signature model, was sourced via Grott Guitars? *chin hits floor* ha ha ha... who'da thunk it? Excellent.

[quote name='The Bass Doc' timestamp='1326969312' post='1504359'] Are you sitting comfortably?....... Long, long ago...... I was contacted by exiled Geordie Alan Rogan (Guitar tech for The Who among others) who told me Pino Palladino was seeking a Precision bass in order to change direction after becoming aware that his fretless sound was being cloned in quite a few recordings at the time. Being based dahn sarf it was felt he would be paying a premium for a decent bass in the likes of Denmark Street and that better bargains could be had up North. That was true then (pre-internet and all) so I was asked to track down a pre-CBS bass as I had my finger on the pulse as far as North-east basses were concerned and had already done deals with Alan involving early Fenders so he knew I would be able to find the right piece. Sure enough, I found THAT one - a fiesta red re-fin, all hardware original and priced it at £450.00 IIRC. After speaking to Pino directly, it was parcelled up and sent to him after I re-strung it with La Bella flats. This was in the belief that he would be going for the 'old school' sound and those strings were best suited to a 60s Precision. It turned out that Pino changed to rounds pretty quickly but then reported a few days later that he thought I was right after all and put the flats back on. The rest, as they say....... Quite proud of the connection, but it's ironic that, being retired now, I couldn't even afford one of the tribute models based on the one we dealt. [/quote] This is incredibly cool. Was it a 'local' bass?

[quote name='The Bass Doc' timestamp='1326926679' post='1504013'] In interwiews, I don't suppose he would disclose who supplied his fiesta red Precision all those years ago [/quote] What's the story there, then?

My own thoughts are that one of the great things about the 10" is the compact size. The 15" might be great, but if you're after a compact combo, then... It's a shame it didn't work out with the Prom. When you get a good'un, they're awesome.

[quote name='bertbass' timestamp='1326735478' post='1501287'] Shame about all the venues that have closed because of the smoking ban. [/quote] Yep, but future generations will be amazed that we used to let people smoke in pubs. They'll think we were mindless simpletons. We should be proud of that.

[quote name='Shambo' timestamp='1326731373' post='1501175'] That is news to me. I can't say I've ever been able to smell a bass in my entire life. Perhaps I haven't been trying hard enough. My sense of smell's shot anyways due to the erm... smoking. I thought it was ageing and sunlight that caused some finishes to yellow. If an instrument has developed a covering of smokey residue then surely it just needs, or did need, a bit of a rub with a cloth. Next time I see some dude with an old guitar in the pub I might go up and ask them for a sniff. [/quote] Well, consider yourself edumacated.

[quote name='Shambo' timestamp='1326730289' post='1501144'] As I peruse the for sale boards for instruments I can't afford, I regularly see them advertised from "smoke free homes". I was just wondering, am I missing something about ciggarette smoke causing damage? I know lots of people find smoking a dirty habit, and if you were buying a sofa or clothes second hand then "smoke free" would be an advantage, or maybe a mixing desk thats been used as an occasional ashtray or skinning up board would be something to avoid, but do basses aquire a smokey smell? Does nicotine clog up the pots or deaden the string prematurely? Perhaps it leeches behind the finish and causes crazing? If my basses look a bit grubby I'll give 'em a wipe with a clean cloth and without a second thought. Should tobacco packets come with a warning of the damage caused to musical instruments? Just wondering. [/quote] It makes them stink and go yellow. That might be a dealbreaker to some people.

Guy Pratt, eh? Talented, funny, successful... Yeah, what a loser.