Conan

[quote name='Inti' timestamp='1357595154' post='1925193'] Are you implying that a musician who improves the whole paying attention to the details is egocentric? [/quote] To a certain extent, aren't all musicians egocentric?

[quote name='Mudpup' timestamp='1357601389' post='1925358'] It sounds like a very resonant growly jazz with both pups on but if you back off the bridge it turns into a pbass and the bridge pickup on its own sounds like a thicker hotter jazz. I tried it out right next to a few other jazzes, precisions and a Lakland including actives and it was much stronger sounding. Its pretty in your face but has a lovely depth to it and seems incredibly versatile. You can make tiny changes to blend and tone and it really changes the character. Its a floorshaker with real definition and cut. Bloody love it! [/quote] Hmmmmm..... Sounds good!

[quote name='lettsguitars' timestamp='1357596210' post='1925228'] I would say it's a status thing [/quote] Hmmmm, yes. A [i][b]Status[/b][/i] thing.... now there's an idea!

"We’ve developed this new 10" loudspeaker to better handle the riggers of bass reproduction." Heck of a deal though, but it's a big MOFO of a cab...

[quote name='Adee' timestamp='1357602035' post='1925368'] Not sure how old or fit you are...[/quote] This is a major factor! In my twenties and even thirties I would happily heft a Trace Elliot stack in and out of pubs, but not now! In fact Even after a one hour set I feel it the next day Definitely invest in a good, wide, padded strap. Even then, as you will be earning from every gig, maybe buy a cheap lightweight bass (Squier, Ibanez, that type of thing) that will be easier on your shoulders and back. IME different pubs have different expectations of how many sets and how long they should be. Try to speak to the venue first so you know what to expect. If it's in a town centre they may prefer one longer set to avoid losing punters at half time. Out in the sticks it is often more flexible. Some bars have curfews, so check out what time you need to finish. No good saving your show-stopping tunes till the end and finding out that you can't play them!

I think we also have to be careful in suggesting that touring is a way for bands to make money. There is a certain economy of scale involved there, and many bands/artists are currently scaling down their live appearances for the very opposite reasons. Too many people trying to take a cut of the profits! An example, for those of you who remember eighties neo-prog outfit Marillion, comes from their original singer "Fish". I have copied this from his recent blog - the whole thing can be read here: [i][url="http://fishheadsclub.com/2012/12/22/not-the-end-of-the-world/"]http://fishheadsclub...d-of-the-world/[/url][/i] but this part is pertinent to this discussion... The "FishHeads Club scenario of which he speaks refers to a three-piece acoustic stripped-down version of the material, toured with minimal personel and therefore expense. [i]"(Stage and tour manager) Yatta has booked around 6 weeks of electric band touring from September. Dates will be released as soon as I have full confirmations. This will be the limit of our touring capabilities this year. Costs have increased and promoters are nervous with guarantees in this economic climate. It’s been tough for Yatta to get the routing together and to make financial sense of it all. Everyone wants to tour these days and venues are getting booked up and are in the driving seat re deals and percentages being taken on merchandise. I refuse to play venues who take percentages. They are just becoming retail outfits where we bring in the customers. Everyone concerned with touring wants bigger slices of the pie but there is just not enough pie to go round these days. I may go back to a more affordable Fishheads Club tour scenario in 2014 but the full electric outfit is doubtful. It’s time to examine other options."[/i]

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1357560393' post='1924383'] He's just calling a spade a spade. [/quote]

[quote name='redstriper' timestamp='1357564968' post='1924487'] I suggest closing your eyes and opening your mind. [/quote] Excellent advice! Especially when it comes to Fenders and their clones.

Sounds like there is a problem somewhere - maybe with the amp itself if both cabs are "farting" at low volume. Could it be the bass? Does it have an active circuit and if so, are the batteries fresh?

[quote name='Rick's Fine '52' timestamp='1357560033' post='1924370'] Of course, I forgot to mention those snow shovels[/quote]

[quote name='Musicman20' timestamp='1357559356' post='1924342'] virtually all headless basses....[/quote] Aaaw, come on!

Greetings! The "North East" is a big area (especially in the minds of southerners...) - so where are you exactly? There are a lot of us in the Newcastle area...

[quote name='Spoombung' timestamp='1357553123' post='1924216'] If only I could! God, these [i]ugly basses[/i] threads are boring.[/quote] You don't have to read them man...

[quote name='machinehead' timestamp='1357338285' post='1921462'] Like everyone else will do, I'll recommend a bass that I own. [/quote] Although presumably we own them because we tried them and liked them enough to buy them... But of course everyone is different, and my personal preferences may not suit anyone else - which is what makes these "recommend me a ..." threads so interesting but ultimately so useless.

It's a lovely looking bass... but I just can't get used to those pickups! Does it sound more like a J or a P? Does it combine the best of both or the worst of both? The bridge pickup in particular seems to be oddly positioned - it's [i]very [/i]close to the bridge. How does that sound compared to a J in that position?

[quote name='1970' timestamp='1357406574' post='1922253'] why do YOU play a fretless?[/quote] This is why... [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CpzAO73rqNc"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CpzAO73rqNc[/url]

Can't decide if I love or hate this... but it sure is ugly! [url="http://www.gak.co.uk/en/danelectro-wild-thing-bass-blue/57711"]http://www.gak.co.uk/en/danelectro-wild-thing-bass-blue/57711[/url]

The cab on the right (as we look at it) looks like an earlier version of this? [url="http://www.eaamps.com/products-detail.asp?REC_ID=7"]http://www.eaamps.co...il.asp?REC_ID=7[/url] Actually, hang on - there seem to be three speakers in there! Maybe a flightcased Ampeg 410 next to it. Can't see what the amp is...

[quote name='White Cloud' timestamp='1357126923' post='1917703'] One thing that always surprises me is the misconception amongst loads of bassists that Maple is harder than Rosewood. It is much brighter...but certainly not as hard. [/quote] I'm surprised at your surprise! To those of us with no training or experience in woodwork, maple just kind of "looks and feels" harder. Maybe it's because of the closer grain, or maybe the colour has an influence? I dunno. But I'd always assumed that maple was the harder of the two woods!

Interesting question! I don't know the answer but await it eagerly! In the meantime, depending on what you like in a J, I would thoroughly recommend the Geddy Lee model.

[quote name='LukeFRC' timestamp='1357299265' post='1920497'] Yeah- I stuck alembic on there and then took them off. Mainly because apart from music only bass players listen too I couldn't think of one Alembic player. I guess John Entwhistle? [/quote] John McVie? Joe Bouchard (Blue Oyster Cult)? OK - hardly A list celebs that your average MOP would recognise...

I haven't met Sacko, but I like him!

[quote name='postpunkbass' timestamp='1357138110' post='1917942'] Hi mate. and sorry I did not see this earlier but I went for the Ashdown Tourbus 10,[/quote] Crikey! You didn't wait long for advice, did you? Still, sounds like a good price.

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1357162879' post='1918574'] Unless you have [url="http://www.truetemperament.com/site/index.php?go=0&sgo=0"]true temperament[/url] frets, only the 12th fret harmonic should be in tune with the fretted note. [/quote] Gulp! Never seen them before!!

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1357164385' post='1918610'] Really? Oh dear. Three on that list really get on my tits! [/quote] Yeah, but not Geddy Lee though, surely? He's da bizz!