NJE

Resurrecting an old thread here, but does anyone know how to actually test if it is just the tweeter diaphragm gone rather than the whole tweeter, or say a broken crossover? I have been googling most of the morning and they say you can test with a multimeter which are dirt cheap, but i don't know what I am looking for in the readings?

I have a Hiscox and although it is bomb-proof and incredibly well made, it has been a poor fit for virtually every bass I have owned. I know it is difficult to make a one size fits all case but I have ended up having to pack odd areas with towels/cloths so that the bass doesn't move around inside the case. Also on the odd occasion I have knocked the case I can hear the strings on the bass vibrate, which says to me the case isn't taking much of the impact. I loved my SKB case I had with my fender but the best I have had by far is my Mono M80 bag. I realise it isn't suited for everyone and not ideal if you stack your cases in a van full of PA kit, but it takes every knock and drop like a champ.

Another 5 star review for Andrew. I went to pick up an Aguilar cab which he did an amazing deal on for me, we had a good old natter about gear and basschat and he set up everything for when I arrived and let me test with his rather lovely Maruszczyk 5 string. Top chap, cheers Andrew.

I have really liked the Nordstarnd preamps and I think Carey Nordstrand will wire up pretty much whatever you need if you get in touch. Saying that I have never heard anyone say anything bad about John East and you could actually go and see him! So many pros use his kit and again there is a huge range of options not just J-Retro type circuits. Those would be my first two choices.

That's really bad luck, I had an item I was not happy with from them (it was the manufacturers issue not theirs) and I rang to say I wasn't happy. Got through to a really helpful guy who said they couldn't replace like for like as they didn't have the same colour in stock and would I take the item with a hefty discount? I said I wanted more of a discount as I could buy the same item somewhere else that day and they negotiated a little more off for me....brilliant result, money went back in my account in about 3 days. I think its bad luck and understandably it will impact on your decision not to use them again. They do have a massive showroom I think as well with some really nice kit.

[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1483531215' post='3207914'] Sorry mate, you can't have two No.1 rules. It just doesn't work. [/quote] I know, I couldn't decide which one was more important so decided to offer up my second rule as well despite not being asked for it.

My number one applies to every musician in general...... don't be a dickhead!! Its surprising how many musicians I have met in my life who cant even get this simple one through their heads. Second would be play in tune, again, very difficult for a lot of the musicians I have met over the years.

I find myself in the odd position of playing in a pub/bar band fairly often, however the last thing I would do in my spare time is go and see a band in a pub. I don't really drink alcohol, and when I do I do it at home as pubs are too expensive. Also I hate to say it, but almost all of the bands I have ever seen in pubs have been basically awful! (my band is pretty crap to be fair). I don't care for rock covers bands playing the kind of material you get on a 'classic rock hits album for dads' they sell for fathers day, and unfortunately that is what a lot of pub bands play. Also the thought of some over emotional singer/songwriter with an acoustic guitar at an open mic night fills me with dread, my brain just says its time to leave. There are obviously exceptions and I am just going on my experience, I know some of you might have sh*t-hot funk/soul type bands that play in your area, but they are rare in my experience. I have seen some amazing folk acts in pubs, but generally I have seen much better quality bands/musicians at private events where they are paid a huge amount more. With the best will in the world, no pub will pay a band £700-£1100 a night.

I think you will be fine switching if you have already been through that stage of just forcing yourself to play a 5. My advice to anyone who wants to try a 5 is to give up the four so you can't go back to what is comfortable. I have flicked back and forth but only really have a 4 string fretless as I don't need a 5 string one.

[quote name='molan' timestamp='1482243772' post='3198763'] I think I have one lurking in the loft. I'll have a hint later [/quote] God I wish I had a bass that nice in my house let alone sat in the attic Nice bass though and I completely understand the MusicMan GAS, I have had two and I need to go back to one ASAP.

As much as I love the look of the road worn flea, I agree completely! A jazz with MM pickup would be an interesting move from Fender and it would be nice to see a signature bass from Fender with some real unique features.

If you follow Fender custom shop on Instagram you will see some of the custom basses they are making flea with active eq and MM pickup on a jazz body. It long ago they posted a relic pink one and there is the well known sparkle silver one.

I used to own a Stingray 5 and now have a Lakland 55-02 and both are great. The stingray had an incredibly aggressive in your face sound that I struggled to tame a lot of the time, but for a lot of pop type stuff I was playing it was great. I sold it because the string spacing did my head in, way to cramped in every way for me. The Lakland is super solid, great build and very flexible. It does a fair representation of P/J/MM but doesn't have the up front aggressive sound of a stingray. My friend is a full time composer/writer/session player and uses one for everything, he calls it the Swiss army bass, it can do most things, I agree with that. As much as I love the Lakland, mine is most likely going to get sold as I really want a nice 4 string (probably a Stingray 😄) but I think it's about as close to the perfect 5 string I have come so far.

Ah balls....I was on the verge of selling all my kit to get a Stingray and this has just about tipped me over the edge.

I have been through a few 5 strings now and would say that my top two would be a Lakland 55-02 and then my old MusicMan Stingray 5. I loved the sound of the stingray but the string spacing was way too tight for me. The Lakland has been super reliable and consistent for me, good B string definition and the EQ on board I find very subtle, and musical and I only ever need to cut or boost a small amount.

I know its easy for us to talk about what Fender should and shouldn't be doing but did no one in Fender think to take some test pieces out into the public domain, bass shows or something and get opinions on these instruments?? The same old sh*tty colours and some new sh*tty additions, why not throw in some of the cool vintage colours from the past that aren't being used on other models? Another thing with the US standard/pro instruments that has always done my head in, is the router hump by the neck joint, why in gods name cant they sort that out and grade it in and finish the instrument properly? I have had 3 Squiers that don't have it and they play fine and the necks never fell off or anything drastic like that. I have a huge in-explainable sort spot for Fender, the RW and vintage USA stuff seems to be well received, but they seem to be losing the plot IMO. To think what superb quality instrument you could buy for £1500.......the mind boggles as to why anyone would buy a new USA fender.

Does the reissued old smoothie actually have a pickup cover stuck together with tape? I saw some pictures online that seems to show tape. It's fun I guess but would seriously bloody annoy me if so.

Like someone said above, there are a lot of types of blues so an idea of what your playing would be useful. Joe Bonamassa's band is great and lots of good audio on youtube to listen to. Willie Weeks does some great stuff with Eric Clapton or have a listen to some Stevie Ray Vaughan, cant remember his bass player but there is a class live concert of his on youtube as well. Oteil Burbridge is pretty great too..

Firstly NICE BASS!!! I have found with any P bass I have owned over the years that I love the sound live, it seems to just sit perfectly and like you, I can hear the notes so much clearer. The issue I always find is that for some reason I hate the sound in rehearsal rooms and when I practice and play at home. I think the ideal for me is to have a nice PJ that could do the P thing live but then dial in some bridge pickup for home and rehearsals and more disco type stuff.

I think he is bloody superb, yeah he can talk a bit of bollocks every now and again but who doesn't?? I fell in love with Stings solo material first I guess, I was aware of the big police hits but it was 10 summoners tales, mercury falling, and brand new day, that were the albums I loved. I still think Mercury Falling is a fabulous album with some incredible lyrics and songs. He was also a huge inspiration as a bass player for me, I think someone said it previously, such simple but brilliantly clever lines that support the songs so well. I saw him on the brand new day tour and he was phenomenal, one of the most incredible musical experiences I have ever had.

I agree with the comments above, he seems like a very genuine chap who just enjoys his music and basses, very humble as well. This has not helped my GAS for a stingray at all, but does anyone else get p*ssed off that MusicMan wont do any decent options on basses for the general public, but almost every artist I have seen on their Instagram and facebook page seems to have custom options on basses!! For example, classic stingray hardware in black, roasted maple neck on natural body and dual pickups as per Tim Commerfords bass. I saw a Classic stingray the other day that had contours as well with a roasted maple neck, and a classic stingray with ebony board. I know they do special runs but its usually one color.....anyway rant over, lovely chap and nice gear too.

I subscribed for years and years and then just stopped as I got fed up with the same old people being featured and I had very little interest in any of them. Also I think the internet and forums are so much quicker at getting information on new products, I have already seen reviews on youtube or on forums before BGM get their hands on them. Ibass magazine which has now merged with Scots Bass Lessons is a great online magazine with superbly shot videos and interviews. I can also highly recommend iGuitarmag which has some ace reviews and videos of gear with our very own Dood and its FREE!!!!! you just need a tablet or clever-phone.

I am exactly the same, I have serious P bass GAS most of the time, but I have owned a few now and I just cannot get on with them for all of the music that I play. Superb for soul and rock type stuff but I just cannot get on with the feel and sound when I need to play a lot of disco funky type stuff. Now I know you can play any type of music on any bass, but I miss that bridge pickup to mix in with the P pickup to get a tighter sound for a lot of what I play. A PJ is probably my ideal bass but I cant find one I like that wouldn't require me to mod it. In a perfect world I basically want a Pino Signature with a bridge pickup.....sorted! I also struggle with my right hand position on precisions, I don't like playing over the pickup for a lot of songs because I don't like the slack feel of the strings there, I guess I don't get the attack I want.

I saw this guitar on Instagram and really liked the idea behind it, if recall correctly even the guy that builds them wasn't sure how it would work out. There are a lot of smaller companies making Metal/Djent style guitars (I am sure they do other guitars but I am generalising) with some incredible finishes at the moment. Mayones/Daemoness/Skervesen/Ormsby are all producing fantastic looking pointy 6/7/8 string guitars with amaing burst and colour combinations. Its a shame none of them make a decent looking bass (apart form Mayones) with some of the finishes. This is one of the best finishes I have ever seen, it looks like the photos they take of galaxies and nebulas in deep space....