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I'm rather fond of Ovation Magnum basses. I particularly like the outrageous styling of the Mk.II but there's nowt wrong with the Mk.IV either ... they share pretty much everything except body shape so they sound and play the same. I have one of each, but while my Mk.II is in a varnished natural finish my Mk.IV came to me in a rather unattractive translucent lilac 'wash', for want of a better word. It was neither transparent nor a solid colour, and the tint was unappealing. Apparently this was a popular finish at the time, although Ronnie Lane had the good taste to prefer a black one on Maggie May and Stay With Me. Apart from being unappealing, the finish had also developed a 'bloom' over the last 40 years. That stronger lilac tint that you can see on the upper horn and the upper bout is not a trick of the light or a reflection ... it was actually there. Not visible under stage lights, of course, but very obvious in daylight. It wasn't a surface problem either, that could be polished out, and I found it really, really irritating. I actually listed it for sale here on Basschat for a knockdown £800 because I was so irritated. Then @Beedster recommended Chris Bowling of Bow Finishing (near Godstone, Surrey) so I took the bass down to him. He agreed that the finish was way past its sell-by and also pointed out that the piece of wood being spoiled was an absolute cracker. So I bit the bullet and asked him to do a refin to match my Mk.II. This was NOT cheap, but By God what a job he did! Isn't she lovely? Isn't she beautiful? Ooh ... I've come over all Stevie Wonder ...

Here is the promised MKIII photoshoot after the refinishing job. The front of the headstock appears to have been left untouched, except for the rounded top bit, which is the same colour as the body. Two more of the near-twins together:

Chris and John at Bow are, for me, absolutely the best in the business. This came back last week - it needed a really high-quality polyester polish job. The work (again) was staggering. Really easy to work with, communicative, obsessive attention to detail, and skilled beyond belief. Not the least expensive but the results are phenomenal

I've indulged myself with a bit of arty photography. Not as good as @Andyjr1515 with his black cloth professional efforts

Got my first Spector yesterday. Euro 5lx in Matt black and blue. Absolutely love it. So addictive and so beautifully finished.

After having joined a heavy rock/mild metal band, I felt that my Sunburst Maruszczyk Jake PJV, Godin A5 or 5 string double bass didn't really fit the bill, image wise, so the hunt was on for a Thunderbird type bass. I narrowed it down to either an Epiphone Pro V Thunderbird or a Jackson David Ellefson Kelly Bird V, and with the help of the good people of BC, and the fact that I found a mint one with upgraded pickups and preamp on Reverb, I went for the Jackson. It arrived this afternoon, so, after managing to smuggle it into my home office without anyone seeing (yes dear, I've had it for years), I plugged it in, switched on my Darkglass Microtubes overdrive pedal and launched into the intro to Ace of Spades. Now, I'm not a fan of battery power ie. active basses, but the upgraded EMG DCX (instead of HZ) pickups and 18v BTC preamp made all the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. Oh wow. I was going to strip out the active setup and go passive, but I'm not going to now, this is so good. The strap buttons have already been moved (one to the body by the base of the neck, the other high up on the back of the body) so balance is perfect, with no neck dive at all and I also managed to buy a gigbag that fits the shape perfectly.

How, in all my near 30 years of playing bass, I've never listened to this band I'll never know! The pick is out!

I play the music of the Grateful Dead (known as the dead) to groups of people who call themselves Deadheads. So we should be exempt from the prohibition about playing live music to a live audience, right?

Better late than never... Good recommendations so far... I'd add 'Going for the One' too for some awesome bass goodness. And 'Close to the Edge' is sublime. Mr Squire's solo album 'Fish Out of Water' is also excellent with some great support from Bill Bruford and Patrick Moraz.

Will you tell him about patch cables, or shall I...?

Updated board for the upcoming gigs! Can’t wait to get back out there. New Ashdown rig and this board should see me through for a few years.

My favourite bass player (in context, obviously). End of.

I use a genzbenz nx2....212 cab and have to say, very happy.

You'd get disturbingly factual answers to that if you posted in the cycling thread. FWIW the dimensions of my posterior ischial tuberosities mean I require a 145mm saddle, as I have a massive ar$e. Matron.

I managed to find a nice 5-er: It is a great playing bass with low action. Initially I was looking for a 4, but I like the narrower spacing on 5ers. There is an obp3 fitted, which I'll replace for a simpler obp1. The bass sounds great anyway though

I don't think the op was asking which style of playing was correct, nor which we choose to play in which context. The question seems to be more which kind of player are you. By instinct, in your heart. So even though my style has matured (become less risky and adventurous) as I've gotten older, there's no question I'm a front of stage player by nature. I have always been excited by the bass. While I love finding a groove and just sitting on it, I adore hearing an ascending run climb from the swamp, muscle its way through the mix, and rise to glory. When I started out I couldn't play enough notes. I always tried to stay with the kick, but I matched every drum fill beat for beat. I loved it. I had no one to tell me it was too busy and therefore wrong. Listening to the very few cassettes I have of that band, I am astonished by the playing. I doubt I could play half the lines today; my memory isn't good enough, my hands get tired just thinking about it. So that's the player I am. But it isn't the style I play any more. Have I become lazier and boring as I've got old? Yes, absolutely no question. But luckily I have found Basschat where I've learned that I can justify this by saying I am 'serving the song', and 'less is more'. But come see me play and every now and then the music takes me, like a Tardis, back to 1982 and for four bars or so I'm that naive, enthusiastic young bassist who just can't get enough.

Yes, Gail has been discussed many times here, I think that OP popped up in a thread about SBL most recently. Anyhoo, I need no excuse to further discuss her work. IMHO, the version below is the de facto version of Under Pressure where she completely rips the song a new one. Here’s a video of her song Magical which she wrote about Bowie. Just beautiful and has some great backstage clips. .....and finally and predictably my Marilyn-a-like which I use in ChangesTwoBowie.

Barefaced Super Twin filled my need for One Cab To Rule Them All. I usually have to roll off some bass at the amp to get my preferred tone, so no shortage of low end. That said, having bought a One 10 I am now lusting after that sweet vintage-y sound in a more powerful package, eg 2x10...

You've missed out on a PR stunt there, you could have been the 'Flu Fighters'. Yeah yeah I know, Covid19 isn't a flu virus.

Genz Neox 212T are an amazing buy secondhand. Early ones in rat fur, later ones tolex. Weight around 23kg, so not heavy, vertical cone alignment so good dispersion - most of all, sound great.

Heads up -- The film is on BBC TWO (Wales) this Saturday night! 👍 https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000l3vn

It's all changed. . . . . . . . for the better. The average cabs are OK, but the good cabs are light years better. Today you can buy a 112 that is louder, has more punch, tone and projection than any 412 from back in the day and there are 212's that can take on 810's. It's a whole new world from when I started in the 60's. I'm just glad I'm still gigging and able to use modern bass gear. IMO I sound better now that at any other time. Buy 2 112's then you can decide how many cabs will fit the gig.

Choose your new Bass Bridge: Copper / Brass / or Stainless steel EVO-Cams

On the windows I'm guessing - would be Stranger On The Door (I'll get me coat 😐).

Not the singing then ?

Thought I'd share some pictures of my recently-purchased Yamaha RBX765A! I've always had a thing for Yamaha so I had to take a punt when this one came up for sale at a good price. It's got an alder body with a lovely Ash top (I tried to capture some of the figuring in the photos) and a maple neck. The electronics are awesome and I love that the bridge pickup isn't tinny or weak - it stands up by itself easily. As a bonus, it's had Hipshot Ultralite tuners fitted and has recently been setup so it plays beautifully. Not too sure if I'll be holding onto it but for now, enjoy the pics!

I've been through this a couple of times when I really thought I'd finally given up playing bass (or guitar) after over 40 years of playing and being in bands for much of that time, including a pro band. For me it was a combination of pub/club gigs attendances not being what they used to be and the disappointment of latterly being in a couple of (cover) bands that simply failed to meet my expectations. I used to check the ads on Join My Band and local FB pages several times a day sometimes, but either found nothing or timewasters. I was thinking something along the lines of 'if this is all there is I can't be bothered' and I totally lost interest in all my lovely instruments and music in general. As BB King sang, 'the thrill is gone'. I suppose in some ways it was linked to depression, which I am prone to sometimes. The final nail was my partner's cancer diagnosis late last year (she's ok now). But ... an oppotunity arrived out of the blue just before lockdown and I was invited to join an originals rock band with a couple of guys I've known for a long time. We've had several rehearsals and I couldn't be happier with the style or quality of the music I'm playing now (although we are agreed the drummer could do with pulling his finger out a bit). It's done a great deal to raise my spirits and enthusiasm with the band telling me how much better it sounds with me and they appreciate my pro attitude. Good luck - I hope you find something to help you along, whatever it may be.

If you really want to be talked out of getting another bass, then spend some time on this thread: However, if you actually don't want to be persuaded to make do and mend, this is the thread for you 😉

If you can afford it, do it. I’m similar, I have some nice basses and only a non-gigging band, but playing bass is my hobby so why not have the instruments I want, providing I have the funds of course.

Get Relayer if you want to hear something awesome Avoid Topographic Oceans. Well, maybe except one time.

I'm with @NicoMcJ That's pretty darn impressive, given the circumstances.

For modern bass cabs the cone size of the speaker(s) is probably the least important specification.

Can't believe that Basschat, with the collective intellect of an eleven year old, schoolboy totally missed one member asking another member to measure their backside.

I would strongly advise against building a custom instrument unless you are very certain what you want. My experience of ordering expensive custom instruments has largely led me to the conclusion that my wants are not consistent over time, and it is generally way smarter to buy what is available, rather than make what isn’t. Even modding is something I look at very carefully now - if it’s not reversible, I’m largely avoiding it. I love maple necks now. 6-7 years ago, probably turned down loads of great basses with them. I like P/JJ/PJ pickups now (Stingray pickups at a real stretch), years ago, I wanted modern humbuckers in some instruments. Gone right off them now. Other tastes re: finishes etc have changed as well for me. Don’t do it. Buy secondhand or new, but not custom. Not unless you are really really certain about what you are doing.

It's on BBC4HD too

A 2x12 is a wonderful all-rounder but I find a pair of 1x12 more flexible for the type of gigs I play, where a 2 x 12 is usually overkill. (Pubs, parties and the occasional wedding and summer festival.) Frank.

New bass day!! - Spector euro LX5 in Matt blue and black. Plays beautifully and looks amazing. Just need to throw it through the matamp at rehearsal next week but sounds great with the genz.

Not got round to the neck yet, but I've sorted the control cover magnets and sorted the layout of the controls. This bass only has a small cavity so it can take a bit of organising!! The controls are going to be volume, tone, coil split and LEDs on/off. I've tried these in a dummy piece to see how they are, re-jigged it and ended up with this. With a bit of luck we'll have some decent weather this weekend and I'll get a couple of coats of lacquer on the body whilst get on with the neck.

Latest version of mine. The OriginAL has replaced a SansAmp and Darkglass in my heart, it’s a great preamp/DI etc. Had great fun with the TonePrints on the mini Sub’n’Up

Flats and tone rolled off? That's just thump thump thump. She'll never get any gigs.