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There are three types of necks: fat ones, slim ones, and those that need winding in

And then she looked at me with those big brown eyes and said…………

Tonight Matthew I am mostly going as a bi-amping basslord. Crossover sending the low end to the old Trace amp and new Trace cabs, while the high end goes to the TC Electronic. Nice.

Well I'm back in the Sandberg Gang and I'm loving it. I've recently had a cull of all basses over 9 1/2 lbs due to back/hip issues and was looking for something that would do lots of different sounds and was light enough for me to gig with comfortably. After spotting this at Bass Direct I went up to try it and took it home. It's a California II VT in an aged Gold finish with ebony board and blocks. It sounds amazing with the Delanos and the switching between active and passive has really no discernible change in overall volume. The slightly smaller newer body which I at first wasn't sure about is super comfortable and the overall weight is 8lbs 2oz. I'm really very pleased with it.

Discharge later today. Will doubtless be asking that section of BC that have experience of DVT/PE a lot of questions! Seems improved today, but there's no getting around it - anticoagulants for life is the new reality for me. The biggest thing to take away is that the goal giving me back a spine I can walk with = 100% successful. Job done. Three months off the bass/bike, minimum. But it's worth it.

Oh dear, it is the 'correct technique' can of worms again. it is a good job that, every once in a while, somone new to the forum comes along to show us the error of our ways.

You may not have intended it, but this thread comes across as "I have an opinion and everyone else is wrong". I've played bass guitar for over 40 years, pro and semi-pro. I think I know what kind of neck I prefer by now I'll now retreat back into the woodwork.

So, my trusty SR505 was the first "expensive' bass I bought around 10 years ago. I subsequently dropped a string and moved onto the P Bass where I've been for the past couple of year. I got bored of the Ibanez, although much loved, and was thinking of selling it on. Then I thought, how can I convince myself to keep it? Obvious. Personalise it in a way that you'll never want to let it go (and turn it into something that probably no one else will ever want to buy 😆). So I de-fretted it giving me (a) a style of bass that I don't have and always interesting to noodle on and (b) a 5 stringer which I can practice chords and other stuff on. The work was done at Charlie Chandler in Hampton Wick and, despite a frustrating five month wait time, I picked it up today. The work looks amazing and suits the overall look of the bass. It sounds fantastic and the stings are a lovely match. I had no idea how much La Bella Black Nylon Tapewound 5 Strings were but my tears of joy at seeing the bass turned to howls of pain when I paid the bill! Anyway, these are strings for life as far as I am concerned so I'll enjoy the endulgence whilst I can 🙂 Anyway, back to channeling my Pino vibes . . . .

My hands are different than yours, my reach is different than yours. I still may - or not - like your bass' neck. You are lying. I have two abyssinians.

Yeah, another one of those threads, but with a big thumbs up to GAK. I ordered an EHX Bass Mono Synth pedal the other day from GAK. I'm not particularly in a hurry. It was meant to be delivered between the 7th-9th. Ok. On the 7th I got an email to let me know it'll be delivered on the 8th, by DPD. No delivery slot yet. I decided to work from home and just be there when it arrives, as my girlfriend was not going to be around during the day yesterday. On the 8th I get the delivery slot, around lunchtime: 19:56-20:56. No problem. It's 20:30 (time is important) and I am downstairs talking to my girlfriend and thinking about preparing some food. Since we're exactly in the middle of the delivery slot I decide to wait. I go back upstairs to finish something on the computer. I notice a text from DPD: "sorry you weren't in, we'll deliver your parcel tomorrow at your local DPD shop" Yeah right. It was timestamped at 20:26. It's a very quiet cul de sac and my house is at the very end. I can see and hear from upstairs any car/van approaching, especially at night. Double specially if I'm expecing someone. No, they didn't attempt delivery. We all know that. Interestingy DPD allows you to set actions if you're not in: safe place, deliver to neighbours... My default is to leave with one of my neighbours. We all know each other and it's a good bunch, I got lucky. No, of course they didn't try my neighbours. They just lied. Now, I was not in a hurry. I don't care if they deliver it a day later, three days later. It doesn't matter to me in this case. But it matters to me when they lie. It also matters to me that the DPD shop they chose is around 4 miles away. Can I go to it? I could. Not convenient at all, 'though. And they lied. That really annoys me So I write to GAK last night explaining the situation and I ask them to please contact DPD and get my parcel redelivered at my home address. It'll probably delay matters but what can you do: DPD to get parcel back, back to depot, another day out for delivery... I'm ready to not seeing the pedal until sometime next week at this point. Then this morning: Text from DPD: your parcel is ready to be picked up at some Argos 4 miles away from my home. And hurry up, it'll only be there until the 15th. I also see a flurry of emails from GAK. GAK has already sent me a replacement, due to be delivered tomorrow. I'm not to be bothered with the previous parcel which will make its way eventually back to GAK somehow. I'm not 100% sure I'll get it tomorrow, because... experience. But GAK have been great, which means that in the future when I buy online, I'm going to remember this and will be more likely to buy from them than I was before this. Mistakes will be made, problems will arise, it's unavoidable. What matters most to me is their attitude when dealing with issues... and GAK got top marks.

If wanting to keep with Markbass I think I`d look at the 104HR. A 410 that handles 800 watts (well that`s the advertised spec). I had one, with the 500 watt version of the LMT and it sounded great, plus at 22kg easy enough to move about. You could get the 4ohm version to get max power from the amp but the more-clued-up-guys-on-here-than-me will advise that there won`t be that much difference in volume between the 8ohm and 4ohm versions of the same cab, but adding an additional 8ohm 410 cab to an existing 8ohm 410 cab if necessary down the line would make a huge difference (and look great too). So maybe the 8ohm version would be the better purchase.

@WrexhamBassist - I have one of these files, it works an absolute treat to very quickly resolve this exact problem with minimal effort and minimal skill needed!

Nor the same as paradiddles on a snare drum (I'm a drummer...); what has that to do with the price of fish..? Some folk play 'fast' on whatever they're playing 'fast' on. Most folks never pay 'fast', ever. There's just no benchmark, nor science, behind any of this. The World has its flaws and foibles; live with it and celebrate the diversity. There are much more important and deeper proble... Ooo look, a bee..!

@WrexhamBassist - If you do go down the file route, to save you buying one (as they're not super cheap), Im happy to send you my one, just send it back when you're done with it. Let me know. 👍

You can call me Al. PS (obv.)

Okay...I'll take a whack at this.... I've been teaching music students for over 40 years. I have both a BFA and my MMued (from University of North Texas). I have taken bass lessons from some pretty good players, and also been playing electric fretted, fretless and DB for a long, long time. Bottom line, there is a "right way" to play any instrument...it's how we teach beginners. But..the "right way" is always up for discussion. How high do you set a flute embouchure? How bad is having a brass player puff their cheeks? (I see you, Dizzy), What's the right way to teach a young guitarist a barre chord? What i would say to this particular discussion, however, is that, once you cross a certain level of experience or technical ability, the "right way" is only defined as the way you get the desired results. You have got to balance your technical and pedagogical knowledge with what you are actually seeing and hearing from the player. I wish I had a nickel for every great player I've seen and/or heard with "bad technique". Every single musician plays in a way that is physically unique to them. If they are well trained, they have enough of the "right stuff" to reach whatever goals they desire. If not, then something (also maybe to include gear) can be nudged toward the direction of the goal. I spent some time playing both my Jazz bass (very thin neck by the nut) and my MPV-5 (wider neck, but pretty thin for a 5er) and my thumb floats and also rotates a bit depending on position on the string or fretboard. My fretting fingers are pretty consistent, however. I'll be I could find a teacher who would tell me my technique is all wrong, but they would also need to convince me of the need to change, as I really enjoy playing in the manner I currently do. Now, about the "marketing gimmick" statement.....would you consider a Jazz Bass to be a marketing gimmick? Are you going to tell Lee Sklar, Duck Dunn, or about a thousand other bassists that they need to practice more a get a fatter neck? Is the first, original P Bass profile the only "correct one"? What are the approved dimensions of a non-gimmicky neck? Profile" How about fretboard material? String height? Where does this end? Your "Facts" are, at the end of the day, informed opinions. You are fundamentally right, and practically wrong. I think that is called Hubris. Just my opinion....

Surely, that’s the crux of it, it’s a preference/opinion, yours included. There was another thread where the thumb position was part of the argument and there were plenty of photos of the great and the good wrapping their thumbs over the top. If a slim or narrow neck helps folk to play better, the way they prefer to play, then it’s all good, as it’s surely the music that is produced that is important. The same applies to the skinny stringed thing. Modern electric bass and electric guitar are certainly an evolved versions of the DB and classical guitar, but technique evolves too, although it’s not necessarily a prerequisite. Telling people they should just go and practise could be regarded as somewhat arrogant and not considerate of other’s needs or physicality. If you think skinny/fast necks are a marketing ploy, you’re entitled to that opinion and you don’t have to use them, but don’t be surprised if others disagree and keep buying slim, skinny necks (FWIW, I prefer a bigger handful, but that’s me).

I suppose I can post this in here.... I made a simple USB-host midi switcher for my Source Audio C4 using an Adafruit trinket m0 and some code I found on Github!

I tried the Elf, preferred this one..😄

Pending a new family photo, here are the latest additions. A 2022 Fender Player Plus (white) and a 2021 Fender Player (black). The black one has an aftermarket pickguard and the hi mass bridge.

Our rehearsal room has these now instead of their previous Ampeg SVT450s. I`ve used these Peaveys a few times and not been that impressed however last night for some reason I happened on a sound that was really good, sounded a bit GK-like being crisp and clear but with good defined low-end, I was impressed, helped make the band sound great. I`m not going to look at buying one as I love my Ashdown amps but I suppose the moral of this story is that sometimes a good sound is in there somewhere, you just have to persist/work at finding it.

Spot on kev, I never let accuracy get in the way of a tenuous link 😂😂

Last post on this for a while - unless the neck falls of it or something! 🤣 Since it's arrival, I've spent some time getting it setup just how I like with low action and generally 'easy' feel. The Squier certainly seems to have settled nicely now as I've not been near with an allen key for over a week which I take as a good sign. Given that it is new, I fully expected some tweaking to be required but now I'm super pleased it appears to be happy and settled in it's new home - this and the V4 get along very well indeed. 😀

The stars have aligned! The pickups I wanted appeared on eBay (US) - moved some money around and snagged them. Hopefully will see them in a couple of weeks. Also, eBay UK is having a £1 final fee/no insertion fee weekend, so I'll get my EMGs listed and hopefully sold to offset the cost of the new pickups. Also, some small round brass things might be arriving soon...

You don't have a factual argument, you have an opinion.

No it isn't. You are completely and utterly wrong. Slim necked headless active basses with at least five strings are the only way to go and anything else is rubbish. I say so so it must be true.

Maybe Tomorrow ～ Stereophonics

These were really rushed and didn't spend any real time dialing stuff in but this is just my J4 into the Capo and straight into my Scarlett 2i2 and logic. It's pretty rough but just to try and show a little diversity. Barely touched the EQ or made use of the J/F preamp blends either.

I like to have Star Wars stickers on my pedals when there's a bit of space, I can't bring myself to do it the the Capo.

Here's a photo of the original Enfield bass with it's integrated pickup and electronics: Yours appears to be a much later design using the same pickups that were available separately. It's only less versatile in the fact that it uses passive balancing of the volume differences between the different coil options and there's no active EQ which IMO you really need in order to get the proper Stingray and "Modern Jazz" tones. If the controls on yours are typical Jazz VVT you should be able to trace the wires back to the two volume controls which should give you the signal + and - for each pickup which can then be cut or de-soldered and attached to the relevant terminals to the J-Retro.

I might have been out shopping when they were delivering "The only irrefutable way to slide your hand/thumb on an electric bass - vol. 1"

I had a (very) few lessons on the saxophone when I was a youngster, didn't feel I got anything that useful from it & I pretty soon concluded that I was better off going my own way with musical endeavours. Then discovered Bass.. Being the punk era of course helped tremendously on the basis you could go out and "do it" anyway.. 😁

Think this board is a keeper. Still just getting to grips with the Capo but love it so far. Polytune2 > Capo Then in the Capo pre fx loop I've got the Longsword > Model FeT > Thumpinator V2 > Hyper Luminal Toying with the idea of just having the longsword in the pre and having the rest in the post fx loop. Still on the fence about removing the Model FeT completely too but gonna need a lot of testing.

Righty ho, time I kept all you lovely people up to date. First op was 20th Jan. This was anterior lumbar interbody fusion and basically bangs a titanium cage between L5 and S1 vertebrae, spine and pelvis partial fusion. Done from the front. Can be dangerous but went well. Next up, spine reshaping and fusion from S1 to T10. That's a long way. During this op, I managed to effectively bleed out, most being recycled and put back in. Nine hours straight, in one position, so I have a collection of pressure injuries too, although fairly trivial. Couple of days in ICU, then to normal ward. Progressing well, then oopsie, leg turned into a blimp. DVT at top of leg/groin area. Further investigations show there are also one in each lung. Much imbibing of anticoagulants! This is sometimes addressed with surgery also, but they've decided against that. I'm pleased, I look like a badly patched rag doll as it is. What counts though, is that my spine has been restored to something like a normal shape - I can stand upright again! Weak as a kitten, and will be for months. Will effectively have to learn to walk again also, as those muscles are very weak after 3 years not doing a lot. Home on Friday, loaded down with dressings, anticoagulants, and pain killers. Even this is a trial, as home is 125 miles from the hospital. The tunnel end is approaching!