Conan

Try one of the signature basses - particularly the Geddy Lee and Marcus Miller models. They are modelled pretty exactly on original seventies J basses and (particularly if you go for one of the Japanese-made ones) have excellent build quality. I can't speak for the more recent MIM ones as I haven't personally played one - but other members on here rate them very highly too. They come up second-hand pretty regularly on here and are usually very reasonably priced. I've had two Geddies and a Marcus and they were/are all excellent examples of what I would be looking for in a 70s jazz (except the price and potential QC issues...). But if you've convinced yourself that a "vintage" Fender J is the way to go - I suspect nothing else will do!

[quote name='monsterthompson' timestamp='1418167323' post='2627711'] they offer a 30 day trial on the website. [url="http://barefacedbass.com/ordering-and-availability.htm"]http://barefacedbass...vailability.htm[/url] [/quote] Yep. If you can afford it, that has to be the way forward. Although then you join the long queue of people waiting for their cabs (which is kind of the subtext of this thread!) Sorry Jenny, I don't use Twitter so I had no idea what the relevance of the link was

[quote name='Jenny_Innie' timestamp='1418146005' post='2627360'] This: [url="https://twitter.com/AlanMcGeoch/status/483218505081561088/photo/1"]https://twitter.com/...1561088/photo/1[/url] [/quote] Not sure what your point is...

[quote name='Jenny_Innie' timestamp='1418124486' post='2627017'] I have the use of a Compact for now and I can have it if I want it. I said in another post that I like the low down sound, but need a bit more clarity. Adding one of these, and putting it on top, would retain that low down Compact sound, but add more to it - and up at my ear level. I see a lot of people sitting a 4x10 on top of a 1x15 ...... so in my, less volume required scenario, I figured that sitting a 2x10 on top of a 1x15 of the same brand might be a interesing? [/quote] On paper this is a fine idea - especially as you already have access to the Compact. In practice though, the outcome may not be what you expect or yearn for. It is not always predictable! Also, the idea that ten inch speakers deliver more midrange or top end than fifteens or twelves is outdated at best and, in many cases, incorrect. If I was you, I would take chris_b's advice and e-mail Alex Claber at Barefaced. He is very good at giving impartial advice (and not just trying to sell you the most expensive BF cab!).

[quote name='TheRev' timestamp='1418044135' post='2626205'] I'd love a Marleaux Pagelli, mainly cos it looks like a Grouper eel. [/quote] Or maybe...

[quote name='taunton-hobbit' timestamp='1417776438' post='2623868'] Let's be cunning and stand the thing upright on the thoughtfully provided feet? [/quote] Aaarrgghhh.... no! Then the badges would be the wrong way round Thought I'd mention it before WoT did...

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1417741719' post='2623732'] Is that a port on the side? I'll be disappointed if it is. [/quote] Why? Is it the existence of the port or its location that is the problem?

[quote name='hiram.k.hackenbacker' timestamp='1417692726' post='2623062'] So you're saying that it s OK to have a dodgy singer i.e. the person that is the focus of your audience. There's definitely something wrong with that. [/quote] Depends what you mean by "dodgy". Some singers can be hopeless from a technical point of view, but have a certain "spark" or charisma that really comes across well to an audience. From that point of view, I'd be happy to play with a "dodgy" singer! Dodgy drummers will always make the job of a bass player more difficult, if not impossible. There are degrees of dodgy of course!!

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1417722487' post='2623520'] I think many stereotype cover and and originals bands. It's like anything else, there's good and bad in both. [/quote] Spot on that man! Over the years I have probably split my time between covers bands and original bands - not intentionally, but that's just the way it's worked out. When I look back on the bands I've played in, I think of them in two categories - the good ones and the not-so-good ones. What makes the good ones good is not the material they play(ed), but whether the band "worked" on a level that allowed me to enjoy playing with them. Some got good audiences, some regularly played to nearly empty rooms. That wasn't a big factor either. Some of the musicians were "creative", others less so. Again, this was not one of the big factors that made playing with them enjoyable. I think as musicians we tend to categorise audiences, not remembering that an audience is made up of individuals, and individuals can surprise you. IME, punters tend to react positively to bands that look like they are enjoying themselves, are tight and play accessible material. Whether that material is original or cover seems less important. Maybe I'm lucky. The songwriter in my current band seems to be able to write songs that sound familiar at the first listen, but are not derivative - perfect combination! Individual band members then stamp their creativity (or lack of it) by adding their own parts to the basic guitar arrangement that he provides (or [i]suggests[/i]). It is not a complicated model, but it works for us.

[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1417682628' post='2622917'] You put plates and beer mugs on him? [/quote] And flowers of course...

[quote name='CamdenRob' timestamp='1417699038' post='2623162'] I think second hand prices are pretty reasonable to be honest... some great bargains to be had in the BC marketplace [/quote] Yes. there are always a few ambitious ads, but generally they don't sell. The market decides...

[quote name='Beer of the Bass' timestamp='1417545593' post='2621580'] When you called the number it was apparently just the phone in their communal farmhouse, answered by whoever was around in whatever state of refreshment they were in at the time! [/quote] How cool is that?!?

[quote name='Japhet' timestamp='1417630415' post='2622470'] I suppose it all came from a time when bass in particular was largely ignored by the public. [/quote] Whereas now....

Sorry - I misread the thread title as "Who lives in Leeds?" And I don't even live in Leeds...

A true legend! Incredible player - not fast or flashy but plays beautiful melodic lines with a monster tone. Let's not get started on his Jazz bass though... He doesn't really sound like anyone else (except maybe the guy who played on Al Stewart's "Year of the Cat" album - who I thought for years [b][i]was[/i][/b] Herbie... ).

Agreed. He is the master of "note placement" if such a term exists (well, it does now!)

[quote name='Sibob' timestamp='1417619323' post='2622305'] No contact from Howard since 26th May 2014, despite being out and gigging actively. [/quote] I think we need to be careful with that one. To be fair, the Stax Brothers (Howard's band) have never been what you might call regular performers. Playing the odd gig because you feel commited to a band and don't want to let them down (yes, I am aware of the irony in that statement!) is not quite the same as being out three nights a week with a big-paying function band. The socialising thing seems to be mostly anecdotal and based on posts on Facebook. The whole thing has me feeling deeply uncomfortable and while I sympathise with those members who are owed money and/or services, the lack of communication with Howard means that none of us know what kind of a place he is in currently. Still, a couple of PMs or posts from him and a lot of this speculation would go away.

Sounds like he put a new set of strings on! Bass seems to have lost a bit of mid-range "authority" to my ears. It sounds more "modern" and "hi-fi" with the Thumpers IMO. Neither of which are sounds that I associate with a P bass!

A very enjoyable programme! Nice one BBC4 The Pink Floyd one that was on the same night was cool too...

[quote name='uncle psychosis' timestamp='1417519682' post='2621192'] 85% of the replies to this thread will recommend getting them from OBBM [/quote] And for good reason! I would certainly recommend them

[quote name='FuNkShUi' timestamp='1417522615' post='2621249'] our drummer ...plays fills when we are gigging that he has never played before. And they're usually quite fancy syncopations, that throw me off when i'm not expecting them. [/quote] Oh god yes! Our last drummer did that all the time, and he would always come back in a fraction of a second behind the beat - leaving the band sounding bad and losing our groove. Deeply unprofessional and very frustrating!