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Great thread! Find a problem, try to throw money / gadgets at it before realising the simple solution! "My new bass is too bassy!" "What new pedal shall I buy to fix this?" "Lets come up with an uber patch that uses an LPF and multiple parametric EQs!" "Hmm, I'll just turn down the bass on my amp."

OK...so it wasn't technically today but I wanted to at least get a gig under my belt before shouting about it! Limelight 69 P Bass in aged Charcoal Frost. Plays beautifully and is quite a stunner. Looks like a different colour depending on the light!

Small : 1966 Fender Jazz with Daddario EXL165 -> Aguilar AG700 -> Aguilar DB112*2 Big : 2016 Sadowsky NYC Jazz with Blue Label SBS 45 -> Shure GLXD16 -> Aguilar DB751 -> Aguilar GS410*2

Ok, probably around 2 years ago I bought my first stingray 5, and it was a revelation. I decided that I was going to transition to playing 5ers full time, so I sold all my basses (including my previos go to bass a Spector euro) and bought a stingray 5 HS so I would have a spare, and to have some extra versatility. These two basses have served me well, and I thought it had cured GAS, until I woke up one day after a gig with sciatic pain from my lower back through to the back of my knee 😮. It took a couple of weeks to figure out that it was only after playing gigs that this would flair up, and could only put it down to the weight of the ‘rays (10.5 lbs each five or take). So I made the drastic descision to switch back to 4 strings, and today saw these two lovely ladies arrive. I have had limited time on them tonight, but they are just amazing. The fit, feel, weight and tone are perfect, familiar but new at the same time. I am still getting used to no low B, and wider string spacing which will no doubt take a bit but so far couldn’t be happier with the choice. I had forgotten how great these basses really are!!!

Well, after the 12 / 8 string debate, I decided there was no point getting an 8 string. So here it is - took a while to come as Andertons had it in their books but not in their warehouse, and it took a while to come. So it came the other day. I instantly loved it, then went off it and now I like it again - that was in the first two hours. It is harder on the fingers than a 4 but not excessively so. It does bring some more harmonics to the party. So the problem is, I now have this, and I have just got a dean 8 string as well, so I am going to see if I like the dean and if so send this back, otherwise move the dean on

Not quite the same as a neon pink G string so, pass. Sorry. It's completely the wrong gauge for my cleft.

If you're playing in Europe, you probably need to know 'The Final Countdown'. Well, someone had to say it 😁

Just to get back on track, I'm thinking of ordering another Mike Lull with a bradypus pygmaeus body, a brachylophus top and a honey badger fingerboard.

For an enormous chunk of the population of the planet, a bass is a guitar; end of story.

My band play on mainland Europe a fair bit. We approach the power requirement by buying a couple of European plug and change the UK plug on a couple of 2m single socket extension leads. They take up a small amount of additional space, are not expensive and then allow you to use your own extension leads from there on. Generally, the venues will feed and water you too. The audiences are also far more receptive and even seem to appreciate you being there. Pretty much the direct opposite of a UK audience!! If you go through the tunnel to get there, I heartily recommend the burger van in the car park where you queue to board the train. The 'dog and egg' is a wonderful creation (pork burger with a fried egg on top). I can guarantee you'll have a great time and drive on the right. It's always the first roundabout that (almost) catches me out!!

I picked up The Legend Lives On many years ago. I didn't know anything about him at all and have no idea why I bought it. I remember the quizzical looks from friends whenever it went on the CD player. I don't think I understood it either, but it remained one of my favourite CDs for years.

StingrayPete don't dress up as no Fedex guy

Any excuse to pop a picture of this 1981 SBR-150

I've just realized I haven't posted my NBD's on here yet, but I got some basses from the fine folks at Boult (Chris is great to deal with) I've not got pics of the headstock yet, but I will do when I get back home. Had it for a couple of weeks, requires a setup (I just like to do my own on every instrument I have) but the neck is insanely comfortable and it sounds nice and punchy. I still need a case for it, I've found Thomann do a case for this kind of shape that's pretty reasonable (£25 including shipping) I'm going to give it a go and see if it fits. Can't wait to gig this one. Thanks for the help with images Ped

Weird they became extinct, now I think of it. I mean, ivory nuts are famously less prone to hypothermia or cold shock than regular nuts are.

In Europe the bass players is always on the other side of the stage. Most of all have fun, enjoy it and post a few pics with an update on BC. All the best Dave

I started this thread ages ago as a response to a couple of 'Isn't Jaco great' and 'Macca's the best, yes?' topics. Tongue firmly in cheek. I love The Sex Pistols and am saddened by what happened in the short time he had left following the bands' demise. I was only 8 when he died but I remember it being reported on the news as if it were yesterday. I had to ask my mum what heroin was. Poor old (young) Sid.

Well... new to me! Got it off ebay as a bit of a impulse purchase, but I've fancied a wee change for a wee while and I *Think* it was a decent price so i treated myself! Plays like a dream and the neck is lovely, although its a lacquered which I'm not used to. It came with a big chuck out the paint work, which I've simply gave a light glossing, and I've fired on a black 3-ply pick guard. Always fancied an allblack Fender with Maple neck. Now I have it! Doesn't seem to be much talk on here talking about the Special model, what what i gather it was just a cheaper level model under the US standard? Anyway... i like it!

Bass heaven - Instrument at waist height. Bass hell - Instrument at chest or knee height.

Probably going to get shot down for this but I'm not convinced that Sid made any contribution to Bass. Yes, he played with The Sex Pistols but was more a showman than a performer/musician, ask the layman on the street what instrument he played, I bet very few would actually know. I think unless they were actually into Punk many would confuse Sid with John, thinking that he was the lead singer, as he did sing on "My Way". Secondly, though JJB and Paul Simonon are often quoted, I don't think I've heard anybody cite Sid as the reason they started playing Bass. I believe Sid's contribution to music was more symbolic, somebody who you could identify, or identify with, somebody who represented the Punk movement rather than contributed to the Music, perhaps in the same way as Malcolm McLaren and Vivian Westwood can be associated with Punk. The Face of Punk possibly....innovator of Bass??? Naaaaa

Bass Heaven - chest-rattling lows, that new string zing, simple basslines which give the song life, intricate basslines which which give the song life Bass Hell - when slap meets pop and it makes a sound which is heard, look-at-me-I-can-play-lots-of-notes-all-the-time

Bass heaven Bob Babbitt. Bass hell - Marcus Miller slapping on a Jeff Healey performance of See the Light.

I do have the ability to play clean as well, Rich! It's amazing. There's this control on my pre-amp that has the word 'GAIN' on it, just roll that knob back and the dirt disappears. Who knew?

I tried with bass guitar and double bass. Its a great little thing but I couldn't use it for anything but the smallest gigs with the most attentive of audiences. May work better if you can DI into a house PA etc but I couldn't make it work..especially if it was a venue I didn't know well in advance. My best experience was with an acoustic bass guitar - it was easy to tuck behind the chair so it was invisible, and it actually felt like the bass was making a good acoustic sound (which it can't do!).

A kidney, perhaps? We are each granted one spare, after all

However, how certain can you be that the only difference between the 2 basses was the wood used on the board? Did the pups have exactly the same number of winding, was the Cu purity exactly the same, were the strings the same, had the woods in the rest of the constructions been seasoned exactly the same and for the same period of time? Lots of variables and potentially lots of unknowns. As people frequently state on here, wood is a natural product and cannot be definitively specified in terms of it's physical, chemical and thermal properties. Comparing anecdotes, I once did a 'shoot out' with a friend with nominally identical 3eq maple necked EB Stingray 4Hs (both on hybrid slinkies and both basses were early 2000s) and they sounded chalk and cheese on the same eq and amp settings. Do I have an answer why?.........no.

Sorry, but if you don't hear the difference between ebony, rosewood and maple, it's about time to make an ear test as there are huge differences in tone. I know that most the musicians are almost deaf and only hear harmonics, but stop this please : it's not only a cosmetical difference, it's a tone difference. At a time, for some personal reasons, I had two identical Leduc MP 6 strings fretless basses (neckthrough abd bubinga wings), but one had a pau ferro fingerboard and the other a Brazilian rosewood one : there was a BIG difference in tone between the two. Strangely I ended up keeping the pau ferro one that had more bite and high mids, which was what I was looking for at the time. In November, I bought another Leduc MP 6 strings fretless I was hunting for 10 years : quite similar in contruction but the wings (flamed maple top over ash with a mahogany veneer in between) and the fretboard which is Brazilian rosewood. Soundwise you get a more present fundamental, more low mids and less high mids, so a hugely growling and mwahing fretless. I know I'm a bit harsh on this subject, but I'm really fed up with these comments. It's like saying that a carrot tastes the same as a cabbage.

Sounds like the perfect support for 36 Crazy Fists!

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We did a maple/rosewood shootout and whilst not getting people to guess which was which, the overwhelming fave on each category - Precision/Jazz/Ray etc - after playing one maple, one rosewood of the same bass was rosewood. We tried to keep as near as possible, but obviously strings/year of manufacture can all get in the way of pure objectivity but, even then, rosewood triumphed across the board (pardon the pun).

He has now

Sorry guys, that came off as a really sarcey comment. Not intended that way - I was finding it hard to keep up!

Ooh is this a "post a photo of your SB-1000" thread?

Thieves, the lot of em!!

Or you can add your own relic on top of the Limelight supplied relic! I wear a few bangles/bracelets etc and it soon added that authentic 'genuine' roadwork look on top of Mark's original work

It's quite a practical design, really - it doubles up as a bottle opener

TC Polytune clip. Never failed at all. Even in Very noisy situations.

PM sent.

Absolute agree. I switched to these a good year or so ago and they are perfect for my band’s tunings (drop C/drop C#). I really wish they did the same set in steels though, and I don’t really understand why they don’t!

The rest of the black hardware finally turned up I’ve just swapped over the tuners, strap buttons and string tree So now the bass is finished apart from a setup Sorry for some reason the picture has gone a bit grainy I’m happy with the finished look it’s no frills and simple!! (Bit like me!!) 1 down only 3 to go!!.........

Actually to be fair when I left school in the 70s I was able to get a job that paid enough for me to live independently. I think that would be next to impossible today and I'd probably end up dead in a ditch within a week. It's heartbreaking that young people now have to live with their parents for years on end because they cant afford to move out. It prevents them from becoming true adults, imho. I think that may be part of the problem.

This is exactly how my old “band” worked and I’d love to find something similar again! I doubt I’d ever be the type to to want to play gigs every other night but a social jam with some like minded mates (who are willing to do at least a bit of “homework”) sounds perfect! Sounds like a reasonable ad to me.

Love Bootsy on this. He comes thumping in around the 20 sec mark then gives way to one of the funkiest bass lines ever. Proper in his pomp.

B*njos. Always make me think of that film, Deliverance...

Loving this thread, keep them coming! This never fails to get me moving -

here's mine: Basses: Sadowsky Will Lee NYC 4 (rounds) Sadowsky Metro MV5 (rounds) Fender Custom Shop Precision bass Pino Palladino (flats) Upright bass thinking about getting a jazz bass passive (but to be honest it's only because I want to get one, not really because I need one, as the Sadowsky 4 is so great) Amp Markbass Combo CMP 121P this is the only amp I got because most of the time the venues I play have an amp for me. But I m think about getting a cab and a head ( markbass or aguilar, not sure right now) Pedals Boss OC2 Boss OC3 Electro harmonix micro Qtron Digitech synth wah envelope filter EBS wah one mxr Dynacomp Ibanez tube screamer Avalon U5

It does make a difference (to me) what type of person they are. I haven't read the Gary Glitter thread but my opinion of Metallica ( the band members) plummeted after watching Some Kind of Monster.