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Bass cave. Been a few additions since this was taken like a Fender P Deluxe, an Orange rig and a TE small rig.

Summary: Wow, what great pickups - totally perfect - buy them now!. Bought from some bass happy chappy on a FarceBook bass group and fitted them to my VanderEnd the other day. My bass usefully has a route for either a P or a J under the scratchplate - it's messy but useful. I've been inquisitive for a while to try it as PJ rather than the JJ jazz it's been since I got it. I had scratch-it make me both a JJ & PJ plate shortly after I received the bass and it was clearly time to try out the PJ pickguard too, cue the new pick up purchase justifications. So now the EMGGB's PJ's coupled up with my Aguilar OB3 preamp (with passive tone), has made one hell of a versatile beast and I'm loving the passive sounds too. So next strap in and prepare for the worst sound description ever...hmmm, less mid honk than the typical Fender pickups, not as dark as SD Quarterpounders on a dark night and they've made me smile more than Lindy Fralin's have ever done (which I also really like lots). It does have a very smooth sound spectrum with a sweet warm and defined low end and slightly rolled off highs...it's more akin to the 'soul/Motown sound' in my opinion but clearly this Geezer chappy is a bit of a rocker so I hear....so it must be good for that music right? It's probably the most balanced pick up I've ever used across all strings. The P on it's own is defined and warm (warm is the key sound description). The bridge J is surprising, very funky and full, not brittle like some bridge pickups...it's funky, it's a fatter Jaco, Old Gregg has blessed this pickup, (funky is the key sound description). Together they're a good compliment too, smooth like chocolate, no power imbalance - they're friends, ...(Chocolate is the key sound description here!). I like em' a lot. Conclusion: Warm Funky Chocolate!

Looks great. Just thought of another popular bass that would fit well, an Ibanez Musician.

Yes. In 30+ years of swapping out pickups these are the best I've tried. The difference is massive. I'm a big fan of these blades and am considering put a set of P and J blades in my Valenti.

(I’ve just set the comment above as the headline to the thread to alert anyone who may come across this link, hope that’s ok!)

Im aware I've prob posted this before. But I think its worth a repost. I will skip names as many know them, especially Micheal. Outstanding for me is Jonathan Maron on that white Yamaha... He blows me away with incredible solo's and technical ability, on many a Groove Collective album and with Meshell, but can play simple groove of course. Just like this. Louis Cato's drumming is just soooooo great also.

It being a Sunday, I'm saying nothing.

Quite. I played exclusively with a pick for more than thirty years - I only started playing fingerstyle relatively recently, about five or ten years ago. I wish I'd done it much sooner, as of course both techniques are valid and both are very useful. I sometimes use both in the same piece.

Since I discovered flats I've never been tempted to return to rounds, (20+ yrs). I have Labella on my Mustangs and Hofner, both model-specific sets. To my ears they have a special warmth, and give the bass a voice of it's own, not just a guitar in a lower register. Add to that the smooth feel and don't forget the longevity. There are those of course that want the zing of rounds and that's OK. The trick with flats is discovering the right ones for you, gauge, tension, feel and tone, and for each particular instrument.

Any idea if that's him playing on After Midnight Chris? Fantastic, bubbling line; learning it at the moment! And thanks for the Chuck Rainey links everyone, I now have some very pleasant homework to catch up on..

To be fair, the big rig only comes out about 2 or 3 times a year at best these days, (mostly using one of the SVT rigs for anything decent, the PF rig for smaller stuff.) usually open air stuff, festivals and things like that. Last one was in a circus big top which was cool.

Living alone in a very small one-bedroom flat, I keep my gear exactly where I want it, which is more or less everywhere. Most of it fills one large corner, with my favourite bass in comfortable arm's reach from my work chair. A couple of basses have escaped to the other side of the room and guitar cases to the foot of the bed. Oh and also two basses at work and one with my son in Nashville.

Yes, he played many of the local venues/pubs around St Albans, and the last time I saw him play was in The Bull in London Colney which is just outside St Albans, and if I remember correctly, he had his sons Pete and Steve on drums and guitar, great music on what was then my local doorstep.

Here you go pal: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1BY09fOPV5nmZ5YgReFlPezbXq-VDahFs

Too true, not having a clue and an open mind can be the path to enlightenment. something will click and resonate

Ha, got it. The second sample sounds slightly more controlled and a bit more balanced throughout the frequencies, so reveals a little more complex harmonics/timbre. However the Cort gets so close you could just get the one that feels better!

Thanks very much. I’m sure it’s obvious in my posts that i dont have a clue what I’m looking for, but will find it one day. In the meantime ill just keep spending money and trying out new things. This time next year i might even be playing so i dont want to spend too much now. I know if i buy good gear I’ll get a good return on it when i do sell it. I also have my Zoom 60D at the end of the chain and that has loads of options in it so i may actualy use that for OD, who knows. Playing bass is a laugh, but GAS is a serious business.

I cut my D'Addario tapes regularly to fit my Precisions, never had issues. Can't comment on Pyramids but they shouldn't be any different. If you happen to have a cat, watch out for the cut off bits that go flying off, it's like crack to them for some reason.

Here's the Schecter 8 in a band setting at a jam this week. Drums, bass, loud guitar, vocal. Roughly recorded on a Zoom H2n and then a few tweaks. It's as rough as you like but gives an idea. Not as high in the mix as I'd like but...

Story of my life. All the Watts but no idea!

Yes. If we didn't keep him occupied he'd be out vandalising bus shelters.

... and designed by JK Rowling?...

RIP. I have the OGWT DVD with Argent doing God Gave Rock And Roll To You. With Jim playing a P bass with a modified pickguard

I'm sure they'll be other opportunities. I'll jotted your username down and can always give you a shout in the future. Thank you.

Just phoned and there’s an answer machine message from someone saying the site is a scam and advising you not to purchase. Apparently it’s been reported to the police and fraud squad. I presume whoever made the site just made up a phone number and some poor sod has been getting loads of calls.

Congrats! Lovely Spector, those NS-2As have a very good reputation. (Haven't tried one myself as of yet though.)

When we still had the cats, one of them used to follow me wherever I practised in the house. She'd find a spot just off the ground where I like to believe she found the best bass tone. She'd be totally relaxed no matter what I was practising with. She wasn't deaf but as kittens they'd both found that my waist height living room speakers were the best perches from which to view the birdies through the window. They'd sit on them for ages either preening or gazing outside. I suppose they got used to the rhythm and volume of my music very early in life. Loud musical noises were of little threat to them. I miss her during practise sometimes still. Sorry, I got a little nostalgic. Carry on.

I’ve got one, i’ll see what I can do tomorrow!

I have a B Bass, I really like it. Your new one looks good.

My thoughts are the Leeds pedal - having used Cosmos one it really nails that tone, especially when someone who knows JEs basslines plays through it - Cosmo, not me, I should add.

Nice colour on the Spector

Not being picky or anything but did he have a plectrum?

The last new Ricky I bought, a few years back, had the same problem. I'd actually bought a regular set of D'addario nickels (45-105), and it was my E string that was the issue! I filed the nut, and that solved the problem for me. Sold the bass soon after....I had a good run with Rickys (good few 4001/3/4) but sold my last early 2017. Forgot to add, there was a strong rumour that the Rickenbacker branded strings are simply D'addario Nickels .....so maybe go for those?

Yes - pick, music stand (well iPad on my mic stand) and 16 year old strings. The perfect combination. they don't even give you a Rotosound sticker in the packet anymore, and it's plastic! What the hell has happened? You turn your back for a little time and the world goes mad.

I have to say that I didn't watch the Muon clip because I can't stand Jason Bradbury's face. That's killed this conversation for me. I hope you're happy with yourself! Heeheehee

Google 'gain structure'. It must have higher gain than the Ashdown did. Throttle it back by using the amp pad switch or your bass volume control.

I saw them 3 or 4 years ago and they were one of the best bands I've seen live

Here's a digital sample for you to have a closer look.

OK - it's all packed up and ready to put Mike out of his very patient misery Here's some finished shots before it went back into its case. First of all - a 'before and after' : Then some standard shots - probably the same ones you've seen before but with a dark background : ...and yes, Mike, it fits! :

Nice to see Moonmadness get a mention! Means I still have 3 Albums from my life, that even now get regular Airplay Tubular Bells...natch Fields of the Nephilim....The Nephilim, and... Curved Air, Air Cut, can't find whole album on Youtube, so here is a taster. Its the rockiest album they ever did, mainly because Darryl Way had bailed by this point, and its a Cracker, thanks to Eddie Jobson and Kirby Gregory's input, probably my favouritsist album...evah!!!

It's just booze, 2 weeks without it won't be hard - I reckon if you try it you'll find it a lot easier than you may have thought.