RhysP

[quote name='Shedua511' timestamp='1398628715' post='2436020'] Very interesting, I was sure of the opposite. Live and learn as always Did he explain what he uses? [/quote] He did, but he lost me a bit as he was talking in terms of individual strings & not "Matched Reciprocal", "Baritone Melody" or whatever. (To be honest I was so awestruck at being in a little club in Cardiff talking to Tony Levin I couldn't really get my head around it). I've just sold my 12 string Grand that I bought last October - really couldn't get on with the extra neck width & narrower string spacing compared with my old 10 string.

[quote name='Shedua511' timestamp='1398103034' post='2430518'] ...but the Tony Levin/Bob Culbertson/Nick Beggs sound is light gauge, standard tuning, Stickup. [/quote] Tony Levin actually uses a custom tuning, not standard. I was talking to him about it at a Stickmen concert last year.

I love the way that "Jack of all trades, master of none" has now become "Portfolio Career".....

[quote name='silentbob' timestamp='1398453114' post='2434391'] ...drummer boy told me that that the new guitarist thought the guitar parts weren't very good and didn't want to do them..... [/quote] He thinks the guitar part for "She Sells Sanctuary" isn't very good but he wants to play Oasis stuff? Probably means he just can't play "She Sells Sanctuary".

[quote name='skankdelvar' timestamp='1398449936' post='2434347'] Singer-Songwriter in need of job? Join the Army. Worked for Bluntie. [/quote] I think going via the Sandhurst route rather than as a regular squaddie possibly made the whole experience a bit nicer for old Bluntie.

Bottom line is if playing music isn't paying the bills you need to stop worrying about "killing the dream" & get a job, unless of course your dream is living in a cardboard box & drinking meths. Sorry if that sounds harsh but that's the reality - I've known too many "full time musicians" who have only managed to keep up that charade by taking advantage of the good will of friends & family. It was sort of forgivable in their 20s but when they're still living like that in their 50s & have got nowhere it looks pretty pathetic IMO. Funnily enough I always seemed to be a lot busier (and earning more) as a "hobby" musician than they ever did, and I had a full time job too - go figure...

They did used to do a silver finish - it's one of the rarest pre-ebmm finishes as far as I'm aware. Ben Orr with The Cars used to play a silver Stingray around this time.

Since when has a sunburst Jazz bass enabled you to "stand out from the crowd"? - it has to be one of the commonest basses out there!

[quote name='xilddx' timestamp='1398378324' post='2433618'] Ummm, clever. But would any of you have given them much thought if you hadn't realised that was only a bassist? Would you have simply thought it was a mediocre song from a four piece band, switched your ears off and finished your New Scientist Sudoku Challenge? [/quote] I'm glad somebody else has said this, I was starting to think it was just me. To me they just sounded like a not particularly good band with a guitarist who couldn't do anything except play unison riffs with the bass player.

A friend of mine had one of the original Paul Stanley models & it was one of the best guitars I've ever played. If I could have afforded it when he sold it I'd have definitely bought it.

[quote name='skankdelvar' timestamp='1398009990' post='2429489'] [/quote] Is that a prototype for the next generation Musicman Bongo?

Gives a whole new meaning to "oil finished body". I'm sure they'll find a ready market with the irritating hipster crowd - if ukeleles can become popular then it proves that some people really will buy any old sh*t.

Musicman do use gunstock oil on their necks & recommend Birchwood Casey Tru-Oil and Gunstock Wax for treating the necks. It's available online in the UK - I bought some but never got around to using it as I sold my MM bass because I hated it so much.

[quote name='risingson' timestamp='1397925669' post='2428726'] I see the 'root notes only' thing if it's being used with a genuine understanding as a pretty closed off musical mind, that to me is a serious problem. [/quote] No more closed off than not accepting that, for some music, root notes may be all that is required to do the job.

[quote name='BassTractor' timestamp='1397900621' post='2428328'] Not written by him, but still luvverly, is Todd Rundgren's "Can We Still Be Friends", here in the version from RP's "Secrets" album: [media]http://youtu.be/iDzdy9LwNaE[/media] [/quote] As a long time Todd fan I was expecting to hate that, but it's OK - certainly miles better than The Isley Brothers' unforgivable desecration of "Hello it's Me".

[quote name='JazzBassfreak' timestamp='1397935353' post='2428854'] Always had GAS for a Bongo but let the fantasy go thinking I'd struggle to get my hands on a 4'er in white or black in the UK [/quote] Ironic really, when you consider they are the two most common colours for a toilet seat.....

Lovely colour - Burgundy Mist is my favourite of all the Fender custom colours.

[quote name='Kevin Dean' timestamp='1397846465' post='2427979'] I contacted them several times & they never bothered to reply [/quote] They're a really small family set-up (the sticks are made in Emmett's house by him & his kids) & they are usually really busy so sometimes emails get overlooked. Best bet is to give them a call & speak to Yuta (Emmett's wife), she's great.

The Railboard has been available for a while now & is proving to be pretty popular with the Stick community. Best bet is to go & have a look at what people are saying about them on the Stickist forum. Not sure if there are actually any in the UK yet. Haven't been on the forum for a while as I recently sold my Grand Stick. The same as with the wooden & graphite Sticks - if you want to try one you basically have to make the leap of faith & buy one. It's not like trying a new bass or guitar where you can get a good idea about it fairly quickly.

Need a better picture of the headstock - I'm assuming it's an import model. Looks like it might say XT on the headstock so it's one of the newer imports. Probably looking at £300 - £400 max depending on condition IMO.

I just did what felt most natural & comfortable for me, which is sort of halfway between thumb up & thumb down..

You can't go wrong with one of those. Very well made basses that are very well regarded.

[quote name='Geek99' timestamp='1397696831' post='2426633'] You can get them for less than that, I'm sure [/quote] Absolutely. Vintage & rare are incredibly expensive.

[quote name='molan' timestamp='1397671281' post='2426353'] Just for fun I slashed a hefty amount off the price of a lefty bass today to see if it might generate any interest [/quote] BUT IT'S NOT THE RIGHT COLOUR!!! DAMN YOU CRUEL WORLD!!!