discreet

If you've still got your hair, I don't think it matters much.

I have full-range studio monitors, and it IS surprising. The best natural-sounding bass I've had was a Road Worn P. I don't know what the stock pick up is on those, but it sounded very sweet indeed - the epitome of P Bass.

What, Paedo Pellets?

I get that 'the public' are unlikely to have systems that reproduce true low end, thus the bass sound also needs a component in it that will represent it adequately through crappy computer speakers et al. Back in the day a gang of us would congregate at the house of whoever had the best HiFi and do nothing but take drugs and listen to music for hours on end. I miss that.

I ignored that comment - it's a thread finisher. Dammit!

Nor does the smell of Ralgex and the endless bottles of Wincarnis...

We'll never know. Could be he was just crap and/or an insufferable pain in the bum and the band took a while to find a replacement...

I used to warm up my Little Mark with a BDI-21 and always used the DI out from that, so the MB DI thing never revealed itself. Except at the Jazz Cafe using their house MB rig, but I didn't notice...

Markbass sounded good to me when it first appeared and it still does. I'd be delighted if the fickle finger of fashion pointed away from them - presumably this would cause a glut of used MB gear to appear on the market at knock-down prices..?

Bass player 'has issue with a product from a manufacturer that is always 100% perfect in every way' shocker! Stock market down, etc...

I like Barefaced Cabs, but if weight were not an issue I'd use Markbass cabs. I love 'em. If they are guilty of colouring one's sound, then it's a colour I like. I've used Markbass rigs a lot as backline and I'm always pleased to see an MB rig because I know I'm going to be heard, I'm going to hear myself, and I'm going to sound good. So I play better. They're relatively expensive because they're well-built. They're not actually that heavy, either - only when you compare them to boutique, ultra-lightweight cabs. I'm a fan of Markbass combos, too - the 1X15 combo in particular is fantastic. I have a theory (possibly insane), that bass gear manufacturers know that a large percentage of their customer base never play outside of their rooms and tailor their products accordingly. Markbass may sound a bit flat in your bedroom, but at a venue they really kick it out and sound very punchy, articulate and lush at battle levels and 'in concert'. OK, I'm done!

Absolutely this. Two negative situations occurring isn't a 'sign', it's just a coincidence. Anyone can do anything regardless of age, etc. it's simply a matter of having the will and the conviction to do it. If you want do be in a band then you will make it happen - but if you've had enough and can't be bothered, then you won't. I agree with Lozz, I'm no spring chicken but I'm enjoying my playing more than ever. As usual, it's all in the mind. Which, when you think about it, is obvious.

But isn't playing bass something that a twentysomething bran-dead asbo-collecting failed guitarist would do?? I mean, really - if you were worldly wise and have gained some wisdom from being on the planet for a number of decades, playing the bass in a band isn't going to appeal, is it? I MEAN, COME ON, MAAAAN!!

Thank you sir... yes it has. I knew that fitting the Ultralites would have cosmetic consequences, which is why it took me so long to get round to fitting them - but function trumped form in the end - and though the tuner-hole issue is annoying, there is NO neck dive whatsoever. The bass hangs on the strap exactly in the position that I play it and no effort is needed to hold the neck up. That, plus the fact the bass is incredibly light for a Jazz, makes it a delight to pick up and play so it was well worth doing. My P Bass seems like a real boat anchor by comparison, though it's still less than 9lbs. I've also realised that most basses do have some sort of neck dive issue, though it only really manifests itself when it becomes extreme. I think Ultralites are a great affordable upgrade if you want to instantly lose 1/2lb of weight from your bass. Except where originality or style would be a consideration, of course. I just wish I'd fitted them in the first place instead of the Schallers.

After quite some messing about I FINALLY got the Hipshot Ultralites fitted - with the KickAss also fitted (a relatively heavy bridge), the bass now weighs a total of 7-1/2 pounds. And more importantly, it balances really well on the strap. I tried to hide the screw holes made for the previous Schaller tuners, but you can still see the headstock has been Swiss-cheesed somewhat. I filled the holes with Milliput (white) which stood out like white standy-out things, so when dry I coloured them in with an orange crayon, then a brown crayon, then used a pencil to try and incorporate them into the grain a bit more. Then I gave the whole stock a couple of light coats of dark yellow nitro. The result is more or less acceptable given the weight advantage (1/2lb), but ideally if you're going to use Hipshot Ultralites it would be a lot better to fit them to a virgin headstock that has had no previous tuners fitted. Or get a proper luthier to cut plugs and do an invisible repair. The Ultralites are really good. These are the Licensed versions which can be got for £13 each. They're exactly the same as the USA-produced versions, but they're made in the far east. They do need bushes to make them fit a standard Fender-type headstock, but these can be got direct from the company. Finally all done! Very pleased with this bass, it's light, resonant, the Entwistles sound really great, it looks good and it's currently my go-to instrument. Result. The trouble is, any other bass I pick up now seems ridiculously heavy.

And that is the very definition of GAS.

She's got lovely firm, calloused hands, too. Phwooar!

Holy Mother of God, this plus about a billion. Very fortunate at the moment to be playing with a pro drummer who is just on it the whole time. Makes my job a delightful breeze. But when you get a drummer who is, er... less than stellar, it makes bass playing a dreadful, miserable ordeal. Obviously trying to migrate to Europe in a flimsy rubber dinghy with no food or water after your family has been killed by government forces is a lot worse, but we're talking bass playing here...

I don't remember complaining about gold hardware...

I dunno... I actually get on better with women I dont like. It's not necessary to impress them, so the pressure's off.

It's valid. If you don't like the look of a bass you're not going to 'respect' it as much and this could conceivably have a negative effect on your playing. This is a theory, btw.

I don't like Warwick shapes but I do like Spector basses, so work that out. Maybe it's because I see Spector as the real thing and Warwick as the pale imitation. But generally, if a bass isn't roughly J or P shaped, there could be a problem. I've never been convinced by T-Bird, Les Paul or singlecut shapes. I like the concept of Ritter basses and looking at them as art, but I wouldn't want to own one.

That's acceptable and just about on the limit for me. Trouble is my 7.5lb Jazz is spoiling me a bit... but I'm sure the advantages would be worth it and a well-balanced bass goes a long way to offsetting mass.

I suspect I'd find a Wal a bit too heavy for me, but if I had one I'd damn well play it, even if it crippled me!