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This journey, into bass playing? What made you pick up that first bass at the start of this long and winding road? There seemed to be a lot of bass driven music around, growing up in the late '70's and early '80's, no matter the genre, though thanks to an older brother, I heard a lot of hard rock & metal, Sabbath, Hawkwind, Purple, etc. Hawkwind's "Space Ritual" stands out as the "wow" moment, then discovering Rush and others. Tried convincing my parents i needed a bass, but it wasn't til I was 16 that I got a Kay P bass and dodgy amp from a bloke that worked with my Dad... Do you still have the same fire and enthusiasm? Do you still love it? Fits and starts. Still love to play when I get around to it, but getting around to it takes a bit more these days, as I'm not in a band at the moment. What has changed along the way? Your taste in music, taste in basses? Taste in music has waxed & waned, visiting numerous rabbit holes, but still mainly hard rock & metal. What was the first bass? And what’s the latest? First: Kay P bass. Current: 4003 Always lusted after a Rich, took me 20 years before I finally bought one, but it was like coming home. Love them.

But Liszt was also a good looking man who knew how to dress stylishly. Something I'm not detecting in any of the "bass virtuosos" being discussed here.

If you’re going to this level of mods, I’d get the frets levelled by a top luthier to make it play like butter. That and the nut will make the biggest difference.

The Mexican Fender plant at Ensenada is putting out some lovely quality instruments these days. Obviously, try before you buy still applies to all Fenders if you can. As for the Player/Player PJ Mustang, it's a nice bass overall. But... Don't expect it to sound like a Mustang. It sounds like countless other full-scale PJ equipped Precisions. Basically, like a much larger, more generic bass. In order to get the true Mustang sound, you need the smaller Japanese split coil pickup used in the Mexican Vintera II Mustang and the American Performer Mustang. So back to that Player II PJ Mustang... Yes, it's a nice bass, but that big split coil makes it sound like a full size Precision. If that's what you want, then go for it. There's a nice satin Surf Green American Performer for sale in the BC classifieds, and a friend of mine has an Aubergine American Performer, a Competition Burgundy Vintera II & a Cherry Burst Player PJ for sale, two of which I previously owned for a short time. Hope that helps!

Think I’m the same but the strings are starting to suffer and GAS has struck for an amp in the classifieds I find myself trying to justify…..

Not wonky just slanted for warmer D and G 🤣

I use this brand too, but the 5mm variant. Also purchased from a UK eBay seller. Mark

Not me Guv. Honest.

YET

What made you pick up that first bass at the start of this long and winding road? A bunch of mates decided to form a band in 4th year at school. Usual collection of folk - some had no instruments; someone a broken-down drumkit, etc. Mucho racket later, those who were only there for the 'pose factor' dropped out or were kicked out. I had bought an Avon EB0 copy, was paying it up at the time, so was determined I'd learn to play the damned thing. Do you still have the same fire and enthusiasm? Do you still love it? Definitely not - never really 'loved' being in a band and to this day, hate gigging. Enjoy buying and trading bass gear though. Few believe me when I say I don't like live music, but it's true. Don't go to concerts and most likely never will. What has changed along the way? Your taste in music, taste in basses? My taste in music is eclectic but certain styles I refuse to have anything to do with are hippity-hoppity, metal, punk, heavy rock and disco. I've always enjoyed jazz to listen to, not play; some country, and blues if not featuring Bonamassa, Walter Trout and other racket-makers. Taste in basses is also varied, but if pushed, I'd pick a fiver over a four. Like Gibsons and Ricks and Overwaters. Also a fan of Fender, MM and G&L. What was the first bass? And what’s the latest? First was the Avon and the latest, a Precision 4 American Vintage, as recommended by @Stub Mandrel (cheers Stubs - a fine call on your part). OP @Rayman asked for honesty here, so although some comments made by me may seem 'odd', all are my true reactions to the set questions.

Hi I have owned a couple of Fender PJ Mustang basses in the past but foolishly moved them on due to gas making me want newer, shinier but not necessarily better things, I remember them being really solid basses, not sure what series of Mustang they were but were easy before the player 2 series. Anyway I am at the point where I would like another bass and want something a little nicer than the cheap £200 basses that I tend to end up buying (and then moving on a few months later), anyone here own a player 2 series Mustang bass? How are they? I really liked the Mustangs I played in the past and hoping these are as good Thanks

Genuinely not bought a string, plectrum, or bass. Nothing, nada!

Personally, I'd be looking for a cheap used Yamaha over either of those choices, consistent quality and great playability at any price point. 👌

I have a question... Did anyone here actually put their money where their mouth is and actually buy a Pino Signature Stingray yet? (Just curious!) 🤔 Btw, don't look at me - I already bought a couple of eye-wateringly expensive instruments earlier this year. I was considering ordering a new bog standard Stingray Special in 'Brulee', but I think I'd be hard pressed to better my '95 Aguilar equipped 2eq Stingray which sounds amazing.

FTFY.

Oh I bet there are more than that. like… I don’t have a bass guitar problem. there. I just lied to you.

I have done the Luthier thing. It is impossible to tell how 2 pieces of wood will mate together. If it is built by someone who knows what they are doing it will work. Will it float your boat? That is another question. And you are financially in deep by then. Having being doing this for a LONG time, I have found that a TC Spectracomp lets all my basses speak clearly all the way down. Part of me sees this as cheating. But it works so I do not fix it. I find 33" scale basses really comfy to play. I bump the bass eq on the pre, hit the compressor and can forget about the planks of wood I am playing. The one there is not, the chase only there is.

Behringer has of course acquired many brands, giving it legal access to many designs. Go back to the 1990s and they blatantly copied other companies gear, like Mackie and Roland, without the benefit of owning those companies. They're still at it, the Klon Centaur pedal being one example. Not that plagiarism in the gear business is unusual. Jim Marshall copied Fender circuits, and there are innumerable clones of Strats, Les Pauls, P Basses and J Basses. Behringer was a bit different, as at one time it seemed that everything they made was a copy.

I've been looking into octave violins and violas (curiosity only my violin playing is not good). Scale length seems to be almost irrelevant. https://www.sonicviolins.co.uk/electric-violin-blog/octave-violins

That's gorgeous. Would love to try one. Does it help and make playing a bit easier at the nut end. Dave

I tend to use the same black 4" strap with straplocks on all the basses i gig with. I also keep a spare strap that's good quality but not quite as comfy. Because of the Glam gear and wigs etc its easier to throw my strap over my shoulder and under the hair so as not to pull on the wigs and then attach my bass. Sometimes i just put my bass on in changing room and put the wig on last. The things i do for Glam 🤩 Only my Warwick Thumb has its own strap because of where it sits the strap is shorter. Dave

At 16 I got asked by a (then) girlfriend’s brother if I knew any bass players. My brother had a P he didn’t use so said ‘me’ (I’d been noodling on a guitar for a bit) and just joined in with them playing root notes. As a group we used to regularly see a band in a local pub that had John Currie playing bass who was amazing. He agreed to teach me (after much begging (and if he’s on here please do get in touch!)) and this fired me to learn (reasonably) ‘properly’. Moved on to other basses and the P went into my brothers cupboard for over 30 years. Recently he needed to sell it and I couldn’t let it go so bought it off him. It’s a poorly made boat anchor of a late 70s P. But two drummers (yes drummers!) have told me it sounds like the dogs doo dahs so that’s what you usually see round my neck. With my 2017 Status S3 as spare (😂). Had a few years over on the ‘dark side’ playing guitar in a couple of bands but actually sold two guitars recently - the only instruments I’ve ever sold…