bassbora

[quote name='RhysP' timestamp='1403887602' post='2487472'] There's a really lovely Chaparral with boomers on Ebay UK at the moment: [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Hamer-Chaparral-1986-Custom-/161344035074?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item2590da9902"]http://www.ebay.co.u...=item2590da9902[/url] [/quote] Now that is a nice Chaparral. This is the holy Grail for me. I always liked Vernon Reid and he had a custom Chap with the boomers neck. How can I convince the wife this is a good idea since I dont even play my Axis much?????? I was hoping to spend £250 to £350 so this is a bit more obvious if this appears at the house with a more dent in the bank account then I was thinking.

I am a gigging bassist in pub/rock band and play also with singer/song writer mellow songs which includes a jazz pianist and a fiddle player. I however play guitar at home as well and prefer it on the rock/metal side Metallica/Megadeth/Van Halen/Living Colour. I have always wanted a beat up '80s or '90s shred machine and was hoping some good soul here could give me advise. This is just going to be home use, I am not about to join a metal band on guitar. Would not mind that just dont have the time. I like the pointy headstock ones like old ESP/Jackson/Ibanez and since being a Living Colour fan I would love to own Hamer Chaparral with the boomerang inlays but they dont seem to be anywhere. I was thinking about maybe getting a beat-up body and a decent neck and put in maybe Bareknuckle Painkillers in but I guess that is just a waste of money for home use. I should point out I already have a MusicMan Axis but I am playing it through an old Fender practice amp and only have Boss DS-1 pedal. Any ideas and thoughts would be welcome

I remember years and years ago when Bass Player was doing these lists (when it still was actually good magazine) when they were picking funkiest bass players around Stevie's left hand was on the list. Thats how funky he is.

Most interesting thread on BC for a long time. I was planning on a pro career. Had studied for years and all the rest of it but along came my first child so I decided I wanted stability and regular income. Its now 14 years later after I made that decision and I have to admit I have often thought about the 'what ifs' and all the rest of it. I was asked to do some teaching few years back and I quite enjoyed that so I ended up finding a band again. Its only pub covers and we play roughly once a month but these days its enough for me. I would never have been able to live where I do if I would have been a musician and provide the stability that I wanted to be able to give them. The guys in my band are great (would you believe that with 2 guitarists) and they do encourage me to play what ever I want when ever I want. So I do get my musical kicks as well. The older you get you see more how there are no wrong and right things. You make decisions you feel are the best at the time (might turn out to be not the most wise thing you could have done) but hopefully you learn from them. To the OP it might suit you and your current situation to stay pro. Things might turn out great you never know.

I would hold on to it. Like the others have said why sell a bass you really like to get another one you might not like as much. Someone mentioned the weight. I would say it depends. Where are you going to be playing the 6 string if you get one? Are you just playing in your house or do you gig? I gig both a Thumb 5NT and FNA Jazzman. I dont find the weight being a problem for me when I gig the Thumb. I have a Thumb6 NT as well but its fretless so I have not gigged it yet. I dont mind the weight when I play it at home and the gigs I might gig it are more quiet acoustic type stuff and chances are I would be sitting down anyway. The Thumbs are quite something else I agree with you (not everyone likes them but so what) and that is the reason I bought the 6 string. I could not think of any other bass when I wanted to get a 6 string.

Hi, I also have FNA Jazzman I bought off here year or 2 ago and I use it as my main gigging bass. I didnt want to use my NT Thumb if it would get knocked over or worst case stolen. But I have been really impressed with the FNA. You will hear so many different views on Warwicks but its always just up to they player, how the bass fits their needs or expectation. I love the Thumb. I have 2 NT89s (5st fretted and 6st fretless) so the neck is really thin and fast and since my FNA is 04 it has the newer necks which to me are quite chunky. But I have gotten used to it now. The B string on the FNA is not nearly as tight and focused if you know what I mean and it does not cut through nearly as well as the Thumbs. Many people always talk about the Thumbs having only one tone (this is actually turning out to be more about Thumb than FNA) but I have always thought it was more about your right hand technique hand where you place it and your attack. Enough about Thumbs. It might sound like I dont like the FNA but I think its great. Really well built and having the option of the J pickup and the MM pickup gives you so many variations. I usually run it as a JJ config but just when you need that extra boost you can just change the MM pick up and you are cutting through. And having the 3 band Eq is always handy. But finally to get around to answering your question, yes I am aware of the screwdriver switch but since I have never felt I needed to change anything I have not experimented with it. Quite happy with it the way its sounding at the moment. Cheers

Hi, I was in the same situation as yourself. Looking for a good rig for pub/club gigs that would not be too big but loud enough for any occasion. I thought the BF combo of Midget and Compact would be great but didnt really have the money to spend on both since I was also looking for an amp. So I decided that 2*12 would be the right thing for me. So after looking at reviews and asking opinions I compared the weight/volume/price on the Bergantino, BF and Vanderkley. I would have gone for the BF as a first choice because (if I remember correctly) at the time it was cheaper and lighter than the others but not much so but the delivery time I thought was too long. I found a Bergantino AE212 on here and just decided to go for that instead (price was also lower than a new BF and was then within the budget for a new amp as well). I love the cabinet. Does everything I need and it does not matter how much volume I throw at it it never farts out or distorts. So I could recommend Bergantino as another option. This is all down to taste though I guess.

This exactly is the reason why I only buy stuff on basschat. I feel that everyone here is genuine and you can trust that we are not trying anything on (I think that is true in most cases).

I just dont have time to learn all the songs my band covers. If I would have the time I would. So I just learn the basic song structure and then fill in the rest. Now the years of studying jazz, theory and improvisation comes in handy even if its basic rock songs. Means I can be gig ready with number of songs (and lets be honest not that many people in the band or the crowed will ever notice if I am doing the bass line a little bit different) than if I was trying to learn it note for note. So I guess after my 20+ years of playing most of the time I am doing it a bit different.

Just bought a cabinet from Jon. He was very helpful and all communication excellent. I had to have the cabinet picked up by a third party and Jon was very helpful with that. Highly recommended for any transaction. Thanks that Bergantino cab is just amazing.

Bought a Genz Benz Streamliner from Chris. Communication was excellent all the way and the amp came very well packed. Pleasure to deal with Chris. Highly recommended.

[quote name='xgsjx' timestamp='1320789743' post='1431568'] If you're near Dunblane at all this coming Saturday, PM me & you can try my MB combo & see if it gives you any ideas. [/quote] Thanks for all your suggestions and offer to come and try out. I am not close to Dunblane on Sat so I have to decline but thanks much the same. I had not thought about GB at all. I used to read BassPlayer back in the 90s and read all the amp reviews and I dont remember GB back then so I had not considered that option. After this I think I would go for Barefaced + 400 to 500 W head. How are the SWR heads these days? I remember back in the 90s when SM400 was the thing to have. Have they suffered with quality like I have seen people here mention about Ampeg? I was looking into Amplite and Headlite amps and was wandering if they are worth a consideration. Same for the Gallien Krueger amps. Was also looking at the MB500. Cheers guys for all your input I really appreciated it.

So guys I am looking for suggestions and ideas for amps and cabs. A brief summary of my playing first maybe to give you guys better idea. I have been playing for 20 years now. I have been inactive for the last 9 years gigging wise but I am starting now again. I am subbing in a band and the guy is going to be away for a year. He has kindly let the band use his amp (Hartke HA3500 and transporter series 4*10 and 1*15 rig). That is fine and this is the amp I am currently using. The guy has indicated that when he comes back he is probably going to relocate and not going to be able to be with the band any more so this is most likely going to be permanent for me. This is just a cover band and the gigs are in pubs and small local halls. So in few months I might need an amp when the guy comes back or who knows if he would want to sell the rig. Here is my dilemma, I am not very fond of this rig at all. I have read here before that the amps are fine but the cabs are the week point. So my question is how powerful an amp do you guys think is needed and what kind of cabs? I have usually just used the amp that was available at the gig in the past and so I never really needed one so I dont really have much experience of amps. I have read plenty about them but never really had them myself. The band is a 5 piece rock band with a loud drummer and one of the guitarist is very loud. I dont ever use any effects so I wont need any effects loop and I would usually go for clean-ish sound. I play Warwick basses (Thumb NT and FNA Jazzman) and they are 5 and 6 strings and I play mainly finger style. I also have to take into consideration storage and transport so I have been thinking about size and weight of the rig. The Barefaced cabs sound like they would be the right thing and the Super 12 is then one I am thinking of but I dont know if that would be an over kill for pubs. I am also not sure what would be the appropriate amp for this setting and my style. EBS 350, TC Electronic (not sure which one would be enough or not too much) or possibly SWR. Any ideas or suggestions would be greatly appreciated guys.

When I started playing (as also so many on this thread have stated) Warwick was like a holy grail. For me it was like something unobtainable and only pros would use them and could afford them. I started playing in 1990 and started reading Bass Player almost as soon as it started coming out. I remember the Warwick ads then had the guy from Scorpions and John B Williams. I also remember some fusion and session guys in the States on the ads. So there were all kinds of players well before the Nu Metal. Hope its not going to be too long but there are few points I would like to make. There have always been hypes about gear as has been mentioned. I remember the time when SWR and Eden were the amps to have but I am not sure if the hype is the same now a days. On to Warwicks. After playing a Yamaha for few years it was time to move up a class I thought and I wanted a 5 string. And it just so happened when I was looking I came across ’89 Thumb 5. I compared it to few different 5 strings I could get my hands on and the Warwick was a different class. (Ok I will admit that I had always in the back of my mind hoped I would find one). I think if it would have been Streamer Stage 1 I would probably had felt the same way. The best way to describe the difference between my Yamaha (RBX1000) and the Thumb is like going from a mid-priced Toyota to a 911 Turbo. I later bought a Stingray fretless but it was never close to the Thumb. When I saw a Thumb 6 fretless on the Warwick forum 2 years back I had to have it. And it is perfect. It feels exactly like the 5. Same thin neck same incredible response to your technique and I feel you can get so many different tones out of it. And the B string is the tightest you can find. I have read so many times people saying its just one tone but I have to say I totally disagree. And it works so well in any style of music. I have played them in jazz setting with subtle ballades to bebop and then funk and Metal. It always fits in. Mind you if you have read this far this is just my opinion and you might totally disagree. I very recently bought a FNA Jazzman for gigging purposes and this is my first experience of other than NT Warwicks. It is quite different and I am still exploring it. I am loving it but its not my Thumb. I decided to keep it this long in case someone reading this who had not experienced a Warwick would possibly understand the hype that used to be about them and should be about them (in my opinion).

Bought a Warwick FNA Jazzman 5 of Gadge. The whole transaction process was great. All communication was top both on phone and via email. Item was described perfectly and around 40 professional pictures provided of the bass. The packaging was an art form in itself. A cardboard case was built around a hardshell case and I am even keeping the cardboard box for future use. I had the pleasure of speaking twice on the phone with Gadge, he is full of information about gear and i have now decided on my next amp and cab when I upgrade! Great doing business with you Gadge.

I have had Thumb NT 5 (89 Emg) for 14 years. Bought Thumb NT (6 Bartolini fretless) and between these two I will never need any other bass to satisfy my needs. I dont care about the weight and they are just amazing. Over on the Warwick forum you will see that the main moderator thinks the Thumb NT 5 are among the best Warwicks there are. But I have played Streamers as well. Excellent basses and to be honest I guess if one would have been for sale when I bought my Thumb I might swear by the Streamers. I would probably recommend the Streamer. Like everyone says its conservative in shape and sound so it might appeal to more people than a Thumb. But then again only you can be the judge of this. Hope this was of any use to you.

First Bass Owned: Squire P bass 'Go To' Bass: Warwick Thumb NT 5 'Your' Bass: Warwick Thumb NT 5

[quote name='thodrik' post='1134806' date='Feb 20 2011, 09:03 PM']I for one have never liked the 'toilet bowl' look of Musicman Stingrays,[/quote] Almost pissed myself over this. I am guilty of having owned a fretless toilet bowl. My problem was it did not measure up to my Thumb.

Has anyone experience of a 5 string version??

Thanks guys for all the info (and please keep it coming). There seem to be more options than I expected. I always looked past Corvettes (guess its a snob wanting only old NT Warwicks). The opinions seem to differ quite a lot one player's dream bass is another player's nightmare. I love the bubinga tone so I will probably always lean towards them. My 5er is equipped with EMGs and yes it growls like there is no tomorrow. The Barts in the 6er are a lot mellower but deeper. But I am not too fussed about the pickups. I have an old Sadowsky outbord preamp which I would run with it and that piece of kit can make mediocre pickups sound good (bought it to use with Yamaha RBX 1000 if anyone remembers them). So I think the sound can be beefed up if needed. Has anyone experience of a 5 string version and then how is the B string? I think it will be pointless to compare it to my Thumbs so I am not too worried about that. If I in the end will get one (need to get this past the wife as most of you guys will have experience with ) it will have a purpose and by the sound of it Corvettes are well built and should be able to take a serious beating. You guys are really selling this too me. This is starting to sound more than a good idea.

I have been playing Warwick Thumb NT 5 for 14 years. Its an '89 and I bought a '89 Thumb 6 fretless over a year ago. Love these basses and they have always been everything I look for in a bass. I have been fairly in-active playing wise over the last 8 years, only done a bit of teaching so my trusty Thumb has been enough. Now I am faced with possibly gigging again (just a rock cover band in pubs). So I was thinking I am not that keen to take my Thumb where it can be crashed into by drunk people or worst case stolen. So I was thinking about finding possibly a gigging bass that I dont mind if it takes some beating. Since I have been playing Warwicks for years now (sold my Stingray because I never could get used to the body shape and it was not a 5 string) I can only think of Warwicks to possibly get. I have never looked seriously at other models than Streamers (I have always wanted to get an older SS2 5) and Thumbs so I dont really know much about the 'less pricier ones'. So I was wandering if anybody with experience of Corvettes could tell me their thoughts on those basses and possibly the differences between them (not $$). I am not sure if there are differences between Prolines (does that exist) and Standard and are there other options?? I would be looking for a 5 string so if you have experience of those how is the B string? Also the FNA Jazzman looks like a good contender but I dont think it would be within the budget. I am thinking about spending maybe £400 - £500 but this is all still at the maybe stage. But all info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks BB

[quote name='brick' post='1093153' date='Jan 17 2011, 09:35 PM']hey dude i was really looking for someone who could teach at pretty advanced level, really should have mentioned that in OP[/quote] Where abouts are you? How advanced are you looking for? I was teaching advanced reading, jazz chord progression and improve. Not sure if that is something you are looking for.