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Hi all I've just had a shiny new Yamaha catalogue through the door and couldn't help but notice the new AIR bases. Has anybody tried one at all, either 4 or 5 string? I think they look the part but wonder if the performance matches the hype... Alain

[quote name='Maxcat' post='203384' date='May 21 2008, 12:02 AM']Cant get her to stop asking why do you want 6 basses when you can only play one at a time tho. Bless [/quote] Have you considered the "well you've only got 2 feet why do you need 28 pairs of shoes" argument? I tried it once...won't make that mistake twice.

[quote name='tauzero' post='202866' date='May 20 2008, 02:15 PM'][1] Why do they still get called "babysitters" when the baby in question is 12?[/quote] ...they still get called babysitters when the baby is 15, is about 6ft, plays rugby in the back row of the scrum and gives his (6ft3) Dad a hard time in "mock" Dad/Son battles for supremacy! I think referee would be a better description for this age group! Alain

I have no complaints about my wife of 22+ years. She tollerates the bass playing although she prefers it when I play the violin! We (the family) have taken over her dining room and turned it into a music room with my bass gear, my son's drum kit & tuned percussion plus a piano and assorted violins. She will come to gigs despite not being into the heavier rock music I am bless her and harbours an urge to learn the sax. I have been trying to convince her that the 23rd Wedding Aniversary is the Rickenbacker Anniversary, but she said it's not listed as such on the tea towel (note to self - consider knocking up a list of suitable bass anniversaries). Anyway she's lovely and I wouldn't swap her for anybody! Alain

[quote name='paul, the' post='200893' date='May 17 2008, 09:36 AM']I think if you had been literal, that would have been a very good excuse to buy the bass.[/quote] Damn, didn't think of that! Was very tempted to make an offer, but I would have been hung, drawn and quatered when I got home with it. And then the really bad stuff would have started! Alain

Firstly I think that your girl friend is to be roundly applauded, placed on a pedestal and perhaps held up as an example to all womankind of a loving and supportive partner prepared to make sacrifices for GAS afflicted bassists worldwide. I got a cheepie Yamaha RBX270F (lined) to see if I could cope with a fretless bass and once I had the fretboard reprofiled and fitted proper strings, it plays and sounds pretty good (when played by people that can play bass properly that is)! The whole project cost me £160 so quite chuffed really. Now finding it hard to justify upgrading as fretless bass playing is definitely something I want to keep on with. Alain

Hi all With Soundcontrol in some financial disarray, I popped into the Manchester (Salford) branch yesterday to do some bargain hunting. I came across (not literally you understand) a Spector 5-string bass of USA manufacture in Cherry burst I think they call it. Looked gorgeous - I think I successfully managed to wipe all my drool off it before replacing it. They were quoting £3k for it but I reakon they will negotiate...however still too rich for me sadly, I'll just keep on keeping on with Legend 4. A few nice Warwicks too for those of that persuasion. Alain

[quote name='thedarxide' post='185902' date='Apr 26 2008, 01:26 PM']Well I've mentioned the weight but I'd say it's actually quite comfortable. It's less uncomfortable than playing a thunderbird, it's nicely balanced. It's very playable, the necks are very chunky which i like, a good D sized profile. The low B is very nice, I've had some 5 strings where it hasn't felt like part of the rest of the guitar, tension feel and tone have all been off but this is consistent. The instrument quality on mine is fine, but I know they have been hit and miss. Common account is a the jack socket hole, which could have been sanded better but then I tend not to look down it Looking like a prat..... well, I play mine with a leopard print strap. If the bass was bright pink I'd be set Mine was well worth the £200 ish I paid, not seen anything similar. There is another German company offering similar guitars but they do different configurations of neck.[/quote] You could set that look off nicely with some luminous green trousers I think! Final question if I'm not bugging you too much. I notice there was some talk earlier about buying similar bases in Lancaster, and you mention another German alternative...do you know which companies/websites and are they all manufactured in the same place in the far east do you think? Found an intersting clip on youtube of some dude playing both necks at once - I think I'd get beaten up if I tried that at rehersals!! [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MW-EsrNl7yk"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MW-EsrNl7yk[/url] Thanks again for all your help Alain

[quote name='thedarxide' post='185567' date='Apr 25 2008, 08:42 PM']*Very* It's a one-two song instrument. Personally would have preferred the fretless on top, as it takes more pressure to fret and it can be uncomfortable reaching round the lower neck. The sound across the necks is very consitent however, alkthough there is a noticable volume drop with both necks on, so you have to be quick with the switch. depends what you're playing I guess.[/quote] Umm..food for thought. I have tended to use either my fretted (Spector Legend 4) or fretless (RBX270F) bass in gigs and we (the band) have tried to arrange sets to minimise guitar swapping by any of us so this bass looked like a good solution - plus having a low B. However what you describe is rather cooling off the GAS fervour even though the finance committee has reluctantly Okayed it! Any other pros and cons that I should take into consideration bearing in mind I'm not an expert bassist (intermediate I think is about right). I've only been playing about 3 years but before was a violinist so not scared of unlined fretless instruments, in fact I think playing a fretted bass has actually made me a bit lazy about listening to my intonation if anything. I suppose my concerns, in no particular order, are weight/comfort, playability, instrument quality and looking like a prat! Any advice you could offer based on your experience would be most welcome. Thanks very much for your guidance so far too!. Cheers Alain

OK thanks for the reassurance. Just out of interest how heavy are these instruments to dangle around you neck? I've a nice broad padded Overwater strap (only thing I could afford of theirs) so I hope that will even out the pressure a bit. Cheers Alain

There's a double neck bass on e-bay at the moment from Leicestershire by these guys. I am quite interested in it for various sad GAS related reasons and was thinking of bidding. The seller says he received it a couple of weeks ago and didn't like the 5 string fretted part and has ordered a 4string/4string double. It all sounded reasonably plausible until I read this post. The seller is quite happy about cash on collection to be fair though. Should I be worried/cautious? Thanks, Alain

Bought a Hartke Bass Attack pedal from Adam. Prompt, helpful, good value, exactly as described. What more can I say. Top dude!! Alain

Hmm... 45 but feeling 28. I've been playing for 3 years now and own a 4 string Spector. I have just bought a Yamaha RBX270 fretless just to see if I can! As a former violin player I am unphased by this. Into prog rock and am probably of "intermediate" standard - although pretty tight rythmically (I hope)! Just love playing with the band I'm in! Alain

I had an excellent and very rewarding day. Nice to meet jwbassman and to drool over the Overwater basses. One day... Personally I thought Jeff Berlin's was the top set (by a narrow margin) even though I not a natural jazz fan. But I found him entertaining and his evident enjoyment for me really shone through. Seminars particularly useful for me as an intermediate standard player looking for a bit of guidance. I hope the next one is not too far away! Cheers Alain

[quote name='jwbassman' post='83849' date='Nov 5 2007, 08:56 AM']Hi there - anyone going from the Ormskirk/Southport/Preston area - interested in sharing a lift then drop me a PM Also does anyone know what the parking situation is like - I don't know Manchester very well... cheers[/quote] I'm driving from Chorley so if you would like a lift let me know. There's car parking around the area so not a problem. Alain

How about Pictures Of Home (Deep Purple)? Alain

I'm having dark thoughts about an accoustic bass (subject to getting the GAS ban lifted by she-who-must-be-obeyed). Does anybody have any experience and advice they couil offer me please. I've seen a few cheap ones on evil bay and don't have hugely deep pockets so any recommendations etc most gratefully received. Cheers Alain

I'm some of my own early work must qualify!

Hi all Back after the mysterious disappearance of my registration details from the old site. Anyway good to be back in the "care in the (gated?) community" programme once more. It's scary out there.... Still owning a Spector Legend 4 bass and a Washburn Force 4 bass played through a Hartke HA5500 amp with VX215 cab for maximum trouser disturbance. Alain