simon1964

Mine would be: 1. 2004 Stingray - still own this one and my main gigging bass. 2. Rickenbacker 4003 - another one I still have, and a definite keeper 3. Warwick Corvette $$ - sold it to Budget Bassist and have missed it ever since. Very versatile and an incredibly nice neck. 4. Shuker Singlecut - another keeper. Really well made, looks great and sounds great. 5. Ibanez ATK405 - one of the cheaper basses I've owned but incredibly well spec'd for the price. I sold it as I had no need for a five string. Very close to the Stingray tone for a fraction of the price.

A lot of people recommend the Nordstrand as the closest to the Stingray tone, although I've not sure how they sound passive. I've got Delano MM Pickups in my Shuker and Sandberg and would highly recommend them, although they're not the cheapest option. They've got the Stingray character but, too my ears, they have a bit more clout in the bottim end.

I used to have one of the passive five strings. I quite liked it for the money. Nice playable neck, and although the components may not have been the best, it was fine for the money (I got it for £100 off ebay). I have heard the quality control was a bit hit and miss though, so you may just have been unlucky.

[quote name='Delberthot' post='836927' date='May 14 2010, 10:04 AM']They've never been highly sought after like their big brothers - unless you're a huge Mani fan. I forget if he used a 3000 or a 3001[/quote] Mani uses a 4005 doesn't he? Agreed that the 3000 series is not as highly sought after as other rickenbackers. I would have thought this is at the very top of the reasonable price range.

[quote name='BigRedX' post='836252' date='May 13 2010, 03:23 PM']I have a chance to enquire about availability for the room at the Grosvenor tomorrow. Can we have a rough consensus on dates? Sunday June 6th - please make sure that there are no major sporting events on that afternoon that people might rather want to watch.[/quote] 6th June is good for me

[quote name='Mr. Foxen' post='818165' date='Apr 25 2010, 04:25 PM']Ashdown Lomenzo hyperdrive is a good start, leaves the lows clean so avoids the fart. Is quite a lot like guitar distortion + blend, which gives you huge options.[/quote] +1 on the Ashdown Lomenzo. It distorts the mids, giving a great drive sound without losing the low end. Its as good as a lot of pedals costing twice as much IMO. The Hartke Bass Attack is a good pedal too, but you can't bypass the EQ section on that, which can be a pain.

Bruce Foxton plays it with a pick here: [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkwDpH5eSWQ"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkwDpH5eSWQ[/url] And on an Aria!

[quote name='FlatEric' post='833056' date='May 10 2010, 01:41 PM']For the unwashed, what exactly is a Bass Bash? Please enlighten the uninitiated. Cheers.[/quote] In essence, local Basschat members turn up, share a few beers, have a go on each others gear, and come away with lots of GAS!

[quote name='Johngh' post='831856' date='May 9 2010, 12:09 AM']I've spent most of the afternoon trying to find a suitable venue for this bash. So far most pubs are booked up in July and August. I did try the Festival at Trowell before I decided to head home. He wanted £150 for their small function room and only had it free on the 15th of August. If anyone knows of anywhere suitable and can get a few dates that's free it would be good.[/quote] What about the Grosvenor again? Their room was £50 last time, and parking is reasonable.

Sold Matt my Italia Maranello. Very smooth and easy transaction. Cheers!

[quote name='BassJase' post='826839' date='May 3 2010, 09:12 PM'][url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Fender-HMT-fretless-bass-guitar-/280501750516?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item414f350af4"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Fender-HMT-fretless-...=item414f350af4[/url][/quote] The HMT was produced late eighties, early 90s I think. They look great, so long as you ignore the headstock!

That's a pretty good price for a $$. I regret selling mine. They're very versatile, and very playable. Personally I preferred mine to the Warwick Thumb I used to own. The Thumb did one tone really well. The $$ actually had more variety of tone with the coil tap options.

[quote name='skej21' post='822994' date='Apr 29 2010, 01:30 PM']In which case, I personally think the answer is no. The build quality of most Squiers may be good on the scale of basses but is not as good as the hand built early Fender basses. I just feel that a machine-built bass cannot match the feel and quality of something hand-made.[/quote] Although standard Fenders, even early ones, cannot really be described as "handmade". When Leo Fender designed solid body, bolt on electrics he was was designing something which could be massed produced to a budget. They were bolted together by hand, but not handmade in the sense that a Modern Fender "Master Built" bass or guitar is.

[quote name='El Bajo' post='822873' date='Apr 29 2010, 11:37 AM']If you have a Squier do you secretly wish it was a Fender?[/quote] In truth, I think you've hit the nail on the head with that question! IMO the Classic Vibe Fenders (I've got a Jazz) are very good indeed. Certainly better than the Mexican Jazz I used to have. Probably not a good as my old MIA Jazz, but to be honest, there wasn't £600 plus worth of difference. You can certainly get some very nice Squiers these days which will hold there own against a lot of Fenders. But it doesn't have the "F" word on the headstock, which may be a clincher for a lot of people (probably me included, if I'm honest!). Part of owning any leading brand is the prestige that goes with it, and some people will always pay more for that.

I recently agreed to loan my band's PA to a venue for a charity gig, and to do the sound for the bands who were playing (my band couldn't play the gig as our drummer was abroad) I turned up with all the equipment only to be told I would have to pay to get in. Stupid thing is, I would have made a contribution to the charity anyway, but I must admit I got a bit miffed and refused (I still did the PA and sound of course). Not sure whether that was unreasonable of me or not!

[quote name='yorks5stringer' post='822371' date='Apr 28 2010, 07:44 PM'].....other than the UK phone number 0161 2146161 and [email protected]? Neither avenue has resulted in me being able to contact their sales team.....yet![/quote] Depending on your query, have you tried their head office?: [url="http://www.warwick.de/modules/support/request.php?katID=14549&cl=EN"]http://www.warwick.de/modules/support/requ...14549&cl=EN[/url]