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One of the good guys 👍🏻

Been after a reasonably priced 5 string for a week or so, after trawling through the super information highway I came across this in the sale at Andertons. Now I love a white bass so I couldn’t resist. The specs are almost up there with some higher end instruments (3-D bridge, just-a-nut, wenge fretboard, straplocks!), the only things I thought about upgrading were the pickups or the preamp or both at a later date. This model (RB Streamer LX 5) is listed as having passive MEC Dynamic Correction J pups, with an active 2 band EQ (not listed as an MEC unit, so guessing it’s some generic cheaper preamp). So, when I opened the gig bag (included) the first thing I noticed was the pickups. They don’t have the same branding as the DC pups, and are noticeably different in that respect (see pics). A quick look at the MEC pickups website https://www.mec-pickups.de/en/bass-pickups/j-style tells me that the pups on my bass are active, with metal covers. It’s actually quite difficult to tell if these are metal or plastic, but there are no passive variants on the website that look like these. Anyway, I’m wondering if I’ve got more of a bargain than I first thought (price was reduced by £150 anyway). Have a look at the pictures, see what you all think. 😊

I remember buying the “Rock And Roll Swindle” single on 7” when it came out, with the American Express picture sleeve, and although I knew the band had split (and PiL were at least a year into their career by then) the fact that John Lydon wasn’t singing on it didn’t bother me, I just liked the record. Not as much as “Public Image” but enough to spend some pocket money on it. I’ve met Frank Carter a few times when he was in Gallows (one of my mates did guitar tech for them) and I thought he was a really nice, thoughtful, actually fairly quietly spoken individual. And he could certainly give it some! But I’m not sure he’d be my first choice to stand in for John Lydon. I’d prefer to see the Pistols have an all-star band, where various singers come on and do a turn for each different song. Maybe Iggy, Siouxsie, or Spizz or Steve Ignorant and some of the old guard could do some, and some newer faces could do some too. My personal choice would have been Malcolm Owen from The Ruts, but that’s not possible, sadly.

Do a similar thing to a Jazz bass - cut out a piece of thin stainless sheet that will cover the control cavity, then cut away the portion of scratchplate that it overlaps. As long as your laser cutter is up to the job...

No but maybe I should.

Well, for a tip on how to sound like the Eagles check out Wings of Pegasus on YouTube..... and prepared to be dismayed!

I like that idea. Might give that one a whirl! Perhaps not the Pacman or Star Wars route though!🤣🤣

And there's more.

😎

There's no need to get personal, mate.

A .065 G string?!?! Dang you might hurt someone!

While I wasn't specific in the same way as @jonno1981 I think my answer qialifies as correct too. Besides .65 is only ridiculous if you intend to use it as a G string. It will make a perfectly adequate slightly heavy D-string.

Similarly to the suggestion above, a photo of the body wood, possibly edited in photoshop to look like the body and inserted under the clear cover.

Whilst good advice often given for this kind of thing, its no excuse to just ignore emails. If a shop chooses to trade online but don't actively respond to emails, they're doing it wrong. As a working full time 9-5 fella, I don't really want to spend my lunch hour on the phone and shops are closed either side of my working day, so I will almost always choose to email.

Print pictures of sardines in a tin/badger/miniature city/death star/pac man/lava/outer space/pazuzu/hot dog/soup/etc. Cut to size, insert under scratch plate but above preamp. Change as mood suits.

Here's the relative position of the pickups on a Mustang, Jake, P bass, and Lionel, resized to be the same scale length. The Jake is more in the Mustang position.

After having had many many basses, these are the keepers and the elixir of bass ! Bass 1 ACG custom 5 string, 2nd and 5 owner 🤣. This had really light strings on it the first time I had it and I didn't think of changing them, just didn't get the sound out of it I wanted. Second time round put new thicker gauge on it as soon as I had it back and it was a completely different beast. Blooming love it now. Bass 2 Fender Jazz bitza, 1968 original neck , body unknown if real been messed with a lot. 1976 / 1982 pickups / newish John east pre. Sounds awesome. BITBY those sandbergs are awesome - the fretless is one of the best I've ever played. Basses I would like to have back 1 ) Anaconda 4 string fretless ( owned by BITBY also) 2) mayones Jabba custom 4string ( same as profile pic but lefty) / sold this on Ebay and the guy still has it - he has refused every year since to sell it back to me probably 15 years ago! 🤣. If anyone knows where the Anaconda is please let me know

If I send you an appropriately sized stamped, addressed envelope will you send me a prize? 😉